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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Congrats! And the headstock is still attached. It's good form to have them come off and repaired!
exactly, read somewhere that switching was devised to differentiate continentals from loyalists back during the revolution days…..otherwise it makes zero sense eat like that other than digestion curbing the appetite due to slower eating?
Typical. They missed the obvious solution for that, then: eat with chopsticks.
but then you need everything chopped up…..westerners don’t fancy that…
Very nice '15! Welcome to the club!
So, I got my Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro this monday.
I am an old school P bass lover (counting a couple) and I just loved the Bird style but never got along with the small tuners and the plastic pickups. In February I got an Epi EB3, and found a dirty muddy sound to be a cool feature and a hell of a bass to have in my arsenal. Then I found this bad boy and it is a beast.
I can say for sure that if the guys at Gibson decided to stick the Gibson logo in that beast and sold it it for 2k it would still be a great value, I got it for less than 600€ and I cannot believe the monster I have in my hand. I have played and own a couple MIA P bass, this feels like a P on steroids. In all this years I have never played with such joy. I look like a kid when I pick it up.
Plus, today I took it to a jam with my old friends, they were expecting some P bass (as usual) and their faces where pure gold looking at my beast and they lost their mind to the sound, funny how we never thought about getting a bird..
Well this is a game changer, I will probably get another one, since we are about to start digging again and this has everything to be my number 1 bass and a new one will be a nice backup.
I just cannot understand how this bass is considered a "not for everyone" type of bass, this thing punches and can get very jazzy if needed.
By far a game changer, it screams for louder and louder. Makes the valves explode
I am an old school P bass lover (counting a couple) and I just loved the Bird style but never got along with the small tuners and the plastic pickups. In February I got an Epi EB3, and found a dirty muddy sound to be a cool feature and a hell of a bass to have in my arsenal. Then I found this bad boy and it is a beast.
I can say for sure that if the guys at Gibson decided to stick the Gibson logo in that beast and sold it it for 2k it would still be a great value, I got it for less than 600€ and I cannot believe the monster I have in my hand. I have played and own a couple MIA P bass, this feels like a P on steroids. In all this years I have never played with such joy. I look like a kid when I pick it up.
Plus, today I took it to a jam with my old friends, they were expecting some P bass (as usual) and their faces where pure gold looking at my beast and they lost their mind to the sound, funny how we never thought about getting a bird..
Well this is a game changer, I will probably get another one, since we are about to start digging again and this has everything to be my number 1 bass and a new one will be a nice backup.
I just cannot understand how this bass is considered a "not for everyone" type of bass, this thing punches and can get very jazzy if needed.
By far a game changer, it screams for louder and louder. Makes the valves explode
For our newest member, here’s some info about his rare bird, including a brief synopsis of the different pickup settings. Note, there is no three-way pickup selector as the article mentions.
“Gibson Guitars introduce the 2015 version of their offset-body Thunderbird Bass, now with improved features.
The updated Thunderbird bass is part of Gibson's upgraded line of instruments for the year 2015, which introduces multiple new features to many of their popular electric guitar and bass guitar models.
The most notable improvement introduced in the Gibson Thunderbird Bass 2015 is the use of Babicz Full Contact Hardware bridge, a recently developed type of bridge that lets you fully "lock down" the bridge saddles for improved tuning stability, easier adjustments and sustain.
The body of this bass is still the same, built using multi-matched mahogany wood and carved into the distinct Thunderbird shape. However, the official description speaks of improvements in wood selection called "comprehensive wood selection and grading", where they only use wood that meet the qualities that they are looking for.
The neck receives a bulk of improvements, including a thicker rosewood fretboard and better looking pearl inlays. The playability of the mahogany/walnut neck is improved via smoother sanding and buffing, the fretboard is also oiled to give it a broken-in feel.
Gibson also spoke of an updated "comprehensive setup" where they improved the Plek system to have better action and Intonation.
The pickups and electronics were also improved, with the official description saying that the 2015 Thunderbird Bass now has increased tonal Versatility, with eight distinct sounds.
This sonic versatility is made possible by the dual EB Bass Alnico pickups that feature Gibson's novel "tuned coil tapping" design. These 8 bass tones are selectable via the three-way pickup selector and the two mini toggle switches that sit right below the three control knobs.
Unfortunately, we cannot yet see this "Tuned coil tapping" system at work, because they haven't released a video demonstration yet. It definitely would be interesting how it applies to the bass, and also to electric guitars.
Gibson provided some details on each of the sound:
Neck pickup: Balanced tone, most bass, mids give some “bark.”
Tapped neck pickup: Scoops some mids, rounder sound, retains low end.
Bridge pickup: Less low end, more midrange bite.
Tapped bridge pickup: Scoops mids, lighter low end, defined highs, good “pop” bass sound.
Neck and bridge pickups: Retains strong low end, adds midrange but there’s an apparent slight scoop in the lower mids because the higher and lower frequencies are louder.
Tapped neck pickup and bridge pickup: Major scooping around 500Hz-1kHz, good lows, a hint of brightness, lays back in a track
Related Feature:
Tapped bridge pickup and tapped neck pickup: Like the tapped neck pickup and bridge.
Tapped bridge pickup and neck pickup: Adds some upper mids back in compared to the tapped neck pickup and bridge pickup
pickup sound, but adds slightly lower midrange frequencies back in.
Other notable features of the Thunderbird 2015 include the improved contact output jack, which is now more secure, as well as the cables that are now more robust for improved signal strength.
The MSRP for the Gibson Thunderbird Bass 2015 is $2,599.”
You can visit Gibson (Link Removed) for the complete specifications of this instrument.
Gibson Thunderbird Bass 2015 (Guitarsite) 1/30/20
“Gibson Guitars introduce the 2015 version of their offset-body Thunderbird Bass, now with improved features.
The updated Thunderbird bass is part of Gibson's upgraded line of instruments for the year 2015, which introduces multiple new features to many of their popular electric guitar and bass guitar models.
The most notable improvement introduced in the Gibson Thunderbird Bass 2015 is the use of Babicz Full Contact Hardware bridge, a recently developed type of bridge that lets you fully "lock down" the bridge saddles for improved tuning stability, easier adjustments and sustain.
The body of this bass is still the same, built using multi-matched mahogany wood and carved into the distinct Thunderbird shape. However, the official description speaks of improvements in wood selection called "comprehensive wood selection and grading", where they only use wood that meet the qualities that they are looking for.
The neck receives a bulk of improvements, including a thicker rosewood fretboard and better looking pearl inlays. The playability of the mahogany/walnut neck is improved via smoother sanding and buffing, the fretboard is also oiled to give it a broken-in feel.
Gibson also spoke of an updated "comprehensive setup" where they improved the Plek system to have better action and Intonation.
The pickups and electronics were also improved, with the official description saying that the 2015 Thunderbird Bass now has increased tonal Versatility, with eight distinct sounds.
This sonic versatility is made possible by the dual EB Bass Alnico pickups that feature Gibson's novel "tuned coil tapping" design. These 8 bass tones are selectable via the three-way pickup selector and the two mini toggle switches that sit right below the three control knobs.
Unfortunately, we cannot yet see this "Tuned coil tapping" system at work, because they haven't released a video demonstration yet. It definitely would be interesting how it applies to the bass, and also to electric guitars.
Gibson provided some details on each of the sound:
Neck pickup: Balanced tone, most bass, mids give some “bark.”
Tapped neck pickup: Scoops some mids, rounder sound, retains low end.
Bridge pickup: Less low end, more midrange bite.
Tapped bridge pickup: Scoops mids, lighter low end, defined highs, good “pop” bass sound.
Neck and bridge pickups: Retains strong low end, adds midrange but there’s an apparent slight scoop in the lower mids because the higher and lower frequencies are louder.
Tapped neck pickup and bridge pickup: Major scooping around 500Hz-1kHz, good lows, a hint of brightness, lays back in a track
Related Feature:
Tapped bridge pickup and tapped neck pickup: Like the tapped neck pickup and bridge.
Tapped bridge pickup and neck pickup: Adds some upper mids back in compared to the tapped neck pickup and bridge pickup
pickup sound, but adds slightly lower midrange frequencies back in.
Other notable features of the Thunderbird 2015 include the improved contact output jack, which is now more secure, as well as the cables that are now more robust for improved signal strength.
The MSRP for the Gibson Thunderbird Bass 2015 is $2,599.”
You can visit Gibson (Link Removed) for the complete specifications of this instrument.
Gibson Thunderbird Bass 2015 (Guitarsite) 1/30/20
Thanks. Admittedly, I don’t think I’ve heard the term “bee’s wing” before. What is it?
Congrats! And Yep. But keep it between us. We don’t want any price raises. Best $700 bass on the planet.So, I got my Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro this monday.
I am an old school P bass lover (counting a couple) and I just loved the Bird style but never got along with the small tuners and the plastic pickups. In February I got an Epi EB3, and found a dirty muddy sound to be a cool feature and a hell of a bass to have in my arsenal. Then I found this bad boy and it is a beast.
I can say for sure that if the guys at Gibson decided to stick the Gibson logo in that beast and sold it it for 2k it would still be a great value, I got it for less than 600€ and I cannot believe the monster I have in my hand. I have played and own a couple MIA P bass, this feels like a P on steroids. In all this years I have never played with such joy. I look like a kid when I pick it up.
Plus, today I took it to a jam with my old friends, they were expecting some P bass (as usual) and their faces where pure gold looking at my beast and they lost their mind to the sound, funny how we never thought about getting a bird..
Well this is a game changer, I will probably get another one, since we are about to start digging again and this has everything to be my number 1 bass and a new one will be a nice backup.
I just cannot understand how this bass is considered a "not for everyone" type of bass, this thing punches and can get very jazzy if needed.
By far a game changer, it screams for louder and louder. Makes the valves explode
So, I got my Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro this monday.
I am an old school P bass lover (counting a couple) and I just loved the Bird style but never got along with the small tuners and the plastic pickups. In February I got an Epi EB3, and found a dirty muddy sound to be a cool feature and a hell of a bass to have in my arsenal. Then I found this bad boy and it is a beast.
I can say for sure that if the guys at Gibson decided to stick the Gibson logo in that beast and sold it it for 2k it would still be a great value, I got it for less than 600€ and I cannot believe the monster I have in my hand. I have played and own a couple MIA P bass, this feels like a P on steroids. In all this years I have never played with such joy. I look like a kid when I pick it up.
Plus, today I took it to a jam with my old friends, they were expecting some P bass (as usual) and their faces where pure gold looking at my beast and they lost their mind to the sound, funny how we never thought about getting a bird..
Well this is a game changer, I will probably get another one, since we are about to start digging again and this has everything to be my number 1 bass and a new one will be a nice backup.
I just cannot understand how this bass is considered a "not for everyone" type of bass, this thing punches and can get very jazzy if needed.
By far a game changer, it screams for louder and louder. Makes the valves explode
Great story and very similar to what other new Thunderbird owners have said. I personally played bass for many years and never even considered playing a Gibson/Epiphone, much less a thunderbird. I was pretty much of the mind that Gibson made nice guitars not basses.
Fast forward to about 2015 when I got my first Thunderbird, a golden anniversary model that I purchased as an investment not as a player. I was shocked at how nice it played, how good it felt in my hands, how fast the neck was, and the broad range of sounds I could get out of it. It was then that I decided I needed to purchase a player that I didn’t need to be worried about wear and tear on. Enter the VP, as good as my anniversary bird was this was even better. Consequently I’ve purchased many more birds, each set up differently and each with their own personality and sound.
Sure I still have my Jazz and P basses along with many other Fender and non Fender basses, but they don’t get a fraction of the play time that my Tbirds get. Welcome to the Tbird world, it’ll change your life.
May not be Thursday in these neck of the woods yet.
Both just work in my very humble opinion.
JAE thought so.
Both just work in my very humble opinion.
JAE thought so.
I was born a lefty but broke my left arm at age 5 and became a righty outta necessity. I still do a few things lefty-like deal cards, which gets some 'looks'-and am fairly adept with my left. When I became aware of the knife, right/fork, left thing I started eating that way, which also gets some looks. At my age, IDGAS.
"I cannot believe the monster I have in my hand. This feels like a P on steroids. In all this years I have never played with such joy. I look like a kid when I pick it up."
AHEM!!!!
AHEM!!!!
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
So, I got my Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro this monday.
I am an old school P bass lover (counting a couple) and I just loved the Bird style but never got along with the small tuners and the plastic pickups. In February I got an Epi EB3, and found a dirty muddy sound to be a cool feature and a hell of a bass to have in my arsenal. Then I found this bad boy and it is a beast.
I can say for sure that if the guys at Gibson decided to stick the Gibson logo in that beast and sold it it for 2k it would still be a great value, I got it for less than 600€ and I cannot believe the monster I have in my hand. I have played and own a couple MIA P bass, this feels like a P on steroids. In all this years I have never played with such joy. I look like a kid when I pick it up.
Plus, today I took it to a jam with my old friends, they were expecting some P bass (as usual) and their faces where pure gold looking at my beast and they lost their mind to the sound, funny how we never thought about getting a bird..
Well this is a game changer, I will probably get another one, since we are about to start digging again and this has everything to be my number 1 bass and a new one will be a nice backup.
I just cannot understand how this bass is considered a "not for everyone" type of bass, this thing punches and can get very jazzy if needed.
By far a game changer, it screams for louder and louder. Makes the valves explode
I love it!
Try it with the bridge pickup rolled off and a pick - Much goodness there!
Replace the nut and bridge so you can string backwards, and away you go.
I read somewhere in this club that you need to say the headstock broke and killed your guitar player, that is what I will be saying now on, will be hard for people to believe cause I will be with a big smile and a huge thunderbird in my hands .
Absolutely, shocked is the word to describe it
A whole lot of "proper etiquette" makes no sense. That's because it was designed to differentiate "us" from "them" (as in "commoners").
