Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

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

Same for the Classic Pro.

 

[GonePlaid]

Same for the Classic Pro.

And the 'new' NR? Wuzzit?

 

[Bassmike62]

Not much leaking out of NAMM ? Saw a thread about the new Gibson non-reverse and new Ernie Balls, but not much else ?

 

[D.M.N.]

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

I sure hope so, if all we get is the Gibson NR I'll have been more than a little letdown. But if they didn't announce it at NAMM I'm skeptical of when we might see it, Summer NAMM? Here's hoping for a Epi NR in the vein of the Vintage Pro.

 

[TBird1958]

I sure hope so, if all we get is the Gibson NR I'll have been more than a little letdown. But if they didn't announce it at NAMM I'm skeptical of when we might see it, Summer NAMM? Here's hoping for a Epi NR in the vein of the Vintage Pro.

I recall with new ownership there was discussion about doing some different things with Epiphone, including some domestic production. Don't hold me to that, I just remember that from LBO.

 

[Gaolee]

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.

Yours would have a smaller neck, most likely.

 

[D.M.N.]

I recall with new ownership there was discussion about doing some different things with Epiphone, including some domestic production. Don't hold me to that, I just remember that from LBO.

They have started some domestic production, there's now USA made Casinos.

 

[Bassmike62]

They have started some domestic production, there's now USA made Casinos.

And the Epi Texan acoustic guitar, which is going for 2699$ US

 

[11th Street Kid]

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 is some uncertainty that comes with the renaming of the Vintage Classic Pro to the Thunderbird 60s Bass. Epiphone say that they’ve renamed it but the Vintage Classic Pro was a through neck construction whereas the 60s Bass is listed as having a glued in neck. I only found one store online that had a listing with the new name and they were in Holland, so I called them and asked them to have a look. They called me back and said it was a through neck. Part of me still won’t believe it until I see it as everywhere else I’ve seen still has the listing as Vintage Classic Pro.

 

[GBassNorth]

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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

Just for reference, all of my birds have 1.5" necks except for my 2010 Korean Goth and my 1977 Greco which both have 1.75" necks. So 2017 Eppi VP, 2017 Goth, 2013 Gibby, 2015 Gibby and BaCH NR all at 1.5".

 

[Bassmike62]

I know others and I have said so in the past, but there's no place on TB like the Thunderbird Club

 

[TBird1958]

I know others and I have said so in the past, but there's no place on TB like the Thunderbird Club

View attachment 4142506

It's all you fine guys and gals that make it so - Cheers!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

There is some uncertainty that comes with the renaming of the Vintage Classic Pro to the Thunderbird 60s Bass. Epiphone say that they’ve renamed it but the Vintage Classic Pro was a through neck construction whereas the 60s Bass is listed as having a glued in neck. I only found one store online that had a listing with the new name and they were in Holland, so I called them and asked them to have a look. They called me back and said it was a through neck. Part of me still won’t believe it until I see it as everywhere else I’ve seen still has the listing as Vintage Classic Pro.

The image clearly shows through neck. Epi is indeed notorious (as others have noted) for having the wrong info in their fields. Sometimes they have it right but the stores have it wrong. It's utterly absurd.

 

[Bassmike62]

It's all you fine guys and gals that make it so - Cheers!

View attachment 4142522

Nice .

I saw your pic of basses line-up on the sidewalk next to your Subaru the other day and of course drooled over it, mais couldn't but wondering what my neighbors would've thunked if I did the same with my 5 basses lined-up against my Rogue. Not that I care much about what they think, but I'm guessing it would be somewhere along the lines of :"confinment is getting to Mike". Whatever. Music and all things related protected my sanity for the last year, so I'm grateful.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Just for reference, all of my birds have 1.5" necks except for my 2010 Korean Goth and my 1977 Greco which both have 1.75" necks. So 2017 Eppi VP, 2017 Goth, 2013 Gibby, 2015 Gibby and BaCH NR all at 1.5".

Mine are Epis: 2012 BO: 1.73 2019 VP: 1.5" 2019 CP: 1.5"
The Pro V obviously had a wider neck, but that doesn't count here.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It's all you fine guys and gals that make it so - Cheers!

View attachment 4142522

Starting with you.

 

[TBird1958]

Nice .

I saw your pic of basses line-up on the sidewalk next to your Subaru the other day and of course drooled over it, mais couldn't but wondering what my neighbors would've thunked if I did the same with my 5 basses lined-up against my Rogue. Not that I care much about what they think, but I'm guessing it would be somewhere along the lines of :"confinment is getting to Mike". Whatever. Music and all things related protected my sanity for the last year, so I'm grateful.

To be fair that's not a recent pic, a few of the basses have left and others have come to take their place - the Subie is still around, 22 years young and 261K, not fancy, fast or pretty!

 

[MCF]

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...


View attachment 4141672

Vey nice! Congrats on the new Thunderbird. And those older Epi cases are nice too.

 

[MCF]

Did a little recording with my VP

I like it!

 

[MCF]

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

It’s hard to judge from the scant info just which Pelham Blue they’re going to use. We should hopefully know soon.