Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

Have the neighbours commented on your tone or playing yet?

I'm thinking the box opening must have done him in. Not a peep from him at all. Marshall doesn't disappear like that even when he gets a PB bass. I'm getting worried. Maybe the Mesa was WAY louder than his wife thought and he's "away," using those boxes as affordable housing that seems common out that way. We need a search party if he doesn't surface soon!

 

[BklynKen]

So is it just the images, or is the Pelham Blue on the 2013 NR different than the 2021 NR?

 

[Gaolee]

And here we are

Mint Epi bolt-on model with hardcase, at less than the Bird's original selling price excluding the taxes. Felt like a deal I couldn't pass, after seeing an Epi Goth (never played those...) and a Pro IV (tried one and didn't bond with it) come and go in the locals within a few days since last week (not sure about my english here... ).

I rented one of those in the past and was amazed at how good it sounded. This one also sounds beautiful and was well taken care of by its previous owner. Original strings, low action, no buzzing. Will get Chromes and a Hipshot Bass Xtender shortly.

If I'm not mistaken, this is a Thunderbird IV, right ? I don't think they make those anymore, at least they're not on the Epi website.

God it feels good to play a Thunderbird again...


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Even though I have three Gibson Thunderbirds, I still have a bolt-on Epiphone. They are far better than they have any right to be, and they are just a little different from a Gibson. Mine has a baseball bat sized neck, which I like a lot. I'm used to Gibson noodles now, but it feels great to play the bolt-on every now and then.

 

[GBassNorth]

More than "Like"!

Ditto!

 

[GBassNorth]

So is it just the images, or is the Pelham Blue on the 2013 NR different than the 2021 NR?

Probably very different in sound and a little different in looks. Actually kinda close in cost.

 

[Bassmike62]

Even though I have three Gibson Thunderbirds, I still have a bolt-on Epiphone. They are far better than they have any right to be, and they are just a little different from a Gibson. Mine has a baseball bat sized neck, which I like a lot. I'm used to Gibson noodles now, but it feels great to play the bolt-on every now and then.

My IV definitely has a deep sound, at least through Ath-m50x headphones. Can't wait to try it at band rehearsal.... whenever. A quick browse didn't yield anything on my IV's neck shape, but I'm not sure it's in Hank Aaron territory though (RIP), so specs must've varied ? According to Guitar Dater Project, it's a 2014 model.

 

[BklynKen]

Probably very different in sound and a little different in looks. Actually kinda close in cost.

Sorry, I meant the color. The 2021 looks faded, more green, compared to the much more blue 2013.

 

[11th Street Kid]

My IV definitely has a deep sound, at least through Ath-m50x headphones. Can't wait to try it at band rehearsal.... whenever. A quick browse didn't yield anything on my IV's neck shape, but I'm not sure it's in Hank Aaron territory though (RIP), so specs must've varied ? According to Guitar Dater Project, it's a 2014 model.

Here are the Epiphone 2013 and 2015 catalogues, although the specs for the Thunderbird 1V appear to be the same. Mine’s a 2011, so has the 1.73” nut, shortly after this they switched to the 1.5”.

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[Chucky Stiletti]

happy Monday....

 

[GonePlaid]

Sorry, I meant the color. The 2021 looks faded, more green, compared to the much more blue 2013.

I'm not color blind, but I don't see a helluva lotta difference between the PB and IG. May be those images but they seem to be lacking in in intensity.

 

[Bassmike62]

Here are the Epiphone 2013 and 2015 catalogues, although the specs for the Thunderbird 1V appear to be the same. Mine’s a 2011, so has the 1.73” nut, shortly after this they switched to the 1.5”.

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Thx, I didn't know about those catalogs.
So they narrowed the neck a bit over the years ? I had a Classic Pro IV for a while and those necks were slim-tapered, which is probably the thinnest Epi/Gibby made on their basses. Interestingly enough, not a peep on the IV's neck profile... ah well.

No matter. I likes it, I plays it .

 

[dagrev]

happy Monday....
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OK, that's just braggin' this early in the week.


But brag on brother, brag on!

 

[11th Street Kid]

Thx, I didn't know about those catalogs.

So they narrowed the neck a bit over the years ? I had a Classic Pro IV for a while and those necks were slim-tapered, which is probably the thinnest Epi/Gibby made on their basses. Interestingly enough, not a peep on the IV's neck profile... ah well.

No matter. I likes it, I plays it .

They did, yes. As you’ll see from the attached 2011-2012 catalogue, the Thunderbird IV had a 1.73” nut and somewhere between then and the 2013 catalogue, it got slimmer. You’ll see some of the other Thunderbird variants already had the slimmer neck at this point.

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You can also put the serial number from the back of your headstock into the site below to learn a bit more about when and where your T-bird was made.

Epiphone Guitar/Mandolin Serial Number Decoder - GuitarInsite

 

[Bassmike62]

They did, yes. As you’ll see from the attached 2011-2012 catalogue, the Thunderbird IV had a 1.73” nut and somewhere between then and the 2013 catalogue, it got slimmer. You’ll see some of the other Thunderbird variants already had the slimmer neck at this point.

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You can also put the serial number from the back of your headstock into the site below to learn a bit more about when and where your T-bird was made.

Epiphone Guitar/Mandolin Serial Number Decoder - GuitarInsite

Thx. Ran it through and it gives the same as the GDP, so they're at least consisten with each other .

As for the neck profile, mine has a feel that reminds me of what Gibson calls its Advance Response profile they have on some of their acoustic guitars: on the chunkier side, but still comfortable.

 

[GonePlaid]

Here are the Epiphone 2013 and 2015 catalogues, although the specs for the Thunderbird 1V appear to be the same. Mine’s a 2011, so has the 1.73” nut, shortly after this they switched to the 1.5”.

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OK. So what's the nut width on the 'new' ones?

 

[11th Street Kid]

OK. So what's the nut width on the 'new' ones?

The current range, which they’re now calling the “Thunderbird 60s Bass” is 1.5”.

 

[Bassmike62]

The current range, which they’re now calling the “Thunderbird 60s Bass” is 1.5”.

You have to wonder why they changed the name from Vintage Pro ? It appears to be the same model and to best I saw over the years, those Vintage Pros got the TB/Thunderbird Club stamp of approval.

 

[TBird1958]

You have to wonder why they changed the name from Vintage Pro ? Its appears to be the same model and to best I saw over the years, those Vintage Pros got the TB/Thunderbird Club stamp of approval.

There may be something to be added to the Epiphone line of basses we don't know about yet.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

It is! I have this Thunderbird and case. I don’t think they’re the factory strings though, from the red silks and coloured ball ends, I’d say they’re Rotosound Swing Bass strings.

FWIW, mine came with red silks on only the tuner ends, just like in the photo.

 

[GonePlaid]

There may be something to be added to the Epiphone line of basses we don't know about yet.

At least, most of 'we' don't know about.