Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

I've heard about places where people dance on tables....

Safe travels in advance Chuck.

I'll drink to that.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Sorry if this has been covered but I'm dipping my toes in the T-Bird world for the first time. Is there a difference between the Epi Thunderbird 60's model and the Vintage Pro? They both appear to be the same price and specs, is it just a name change?

Gibson & Epi aren't always real forthcoming, but as far as we can tell, it's just a rebrand of the same bass. I mean, they were selling like hotcakes, so clearly something was wrong and they needed more marketeering.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

They will get my guns Thunderbirds when they pry my cold dead fingers off.... (Well, applies to those other things as well.)
"The Government shall not infringe upon the right of the people to own and use Thunderbirds, or hinder the free assembly of those who do." Can I get an amen?

A M E N ! ! !

 

[GBassNorth]

They will get my guns Thunderbirds when they pry my cold dead fingers off.... (Well, applies to those other things as well.)
"The Government shall not infringe upon the right of the people to own and use Thunderbirds, or hinder the free assembly of those who do." Can I get an amen?

I’ll give you 45 Amens!

 

[GBassNorth]

Sorry if this has been covered but I'm dipping my toes in the T-Bird world for the first time. Is there a difference between the Epi Thunderbird 60's model and the Vintage Pro? They both appear to be the same price and specs, is it just a name change?

The thing that is throwing me off is the stock images for the 60s & the VP. I guess it is a lighting thing.

60s


View attachment 4459939

VP

View attachment 4459937



I prefer the lighter brown look of the 60s but I haven't seen any normal pics of ones that look that way.

As others have noted, very little change between the two. The first six or so months they had slightly different tuners (both work equally well) and the first year we’re about $100 less in cost. The current rendition seems to be fairly hard to find in white. Somewhere along the line they switched fretboard materials (early copies were an engineered wood called black tech) but again both work equally good. The good news is they sound and play exactly alike and even a trained eye has a hard time spotting the visual differences. Most are in the mid 8 to mid 9 pound range. If you can find one in the low 8 pound range grab it. Balance on all the ones I’ve tried was very good, no real neck dive.

Buy either with complete confidence that you’ll be getting one of the best Bass buys in the sub $1000 market.

 

[JIO]

They will get my guns Thunderbirds when they pry my cold dead fingers off.... (Well, applies to those other things as well.)
"The Government shall not infringe upon the right of the people to own and use Thunderbirds, or hinder the free assembly of those who do." Can I get an amen?

One of my favorite Onion headlines:

Charlton Heston's Gun Taken From His Cold, Dead Hands

 

[darren1970]

how much does that model run?

I'm in the UK so it cost £1550, unsure of the $ equivalent.
Well worth the money.

 

[Larry V]

Some people have really sexy feet... You ain't one of them.

You really need some nail polish!

Like these?

...and don't get me started on that Rosary tattoo.

In this Catholic boy's fantasy, she likes Thunderbird bass players.

 

[dagrev]

Gibson & Epi aren't always real forthcoming, but as far as we can tell, it's just a rebrand of the same bass. I mean, they were selling like hotcakes, so clearly something was wrong and they needed more marketeering.

Very good point. I guess if finally dawned on them. Market share is overrated as an aspect of a business model. I think the grounds keeper gives them weird suggestions for kicks to see if they bite. Apparently they do.

 

[dagrev]

Like these?

View attachment 4460278


...and don't get me started on that Rosary tattoo.

In this Catholic boy's fantasy, she likes Thunderbird bass players.

OK, so those aren't your toes?

 

[dagrev]

I’ll give you .45 Amens!

There!

 

[Larry V]

OK, so those aren't your toes?

Nope... not even some that I can... ahem... get ahold of.

 

[Gaolee]

The thing that is throwing me off is the stock images for the 60s & the VP. I guess it is a lighting thing.

60s


View attachment 4459939

VP

View attachment 4459937



I prefer the lighter brown look of the 60s but I haven't seen any normal pics of ones that look that way.

Some are a little lighter and some are a little darker. They are hand finished, so each will be a little different. I don't know of a way to automate a burst finish.

 

[WillyW]

Some are a little lighter and some are a little darker. They are hand finished, so each will be a little different. I don't know of a way to automate a burst finish.

that is your next assignment

 

[Gaolee]

You forgot the Corvair.

I kinda want a Corvair. With a V8 engine swap, of course.

 

[Larry V]

Some are a little lighter and some are a little darker. They are hand finished, so each will be a little different. I don't know of a way to automate a burst finish.

Robotic spray booths are a thing for sure and they can consistently give a repeatable finish but guitar manufacturers don't have automaker deep pockets.

 

[Gaolee]

As others have noted, very little change between the two. The first six or so months they had slightly different tuners (both work equally well) and the first year we’re about $100 less in cost. The current rendition seems to be fairly hard to find in white. Somewhere along the line they switched fretboard materials (early copies were an engineered wood called black tech) but again both work equally good. The good news is they sound and play exactly alike and even a trained eye has a hard time spotting the visual differences. Most are in the mid 8 to mid 9 pound range. If you can find one in the low 8 pound range grab it. Balance on all the ones I’ve tried was very good, no real neck dive.

Buy either with complete confidence that you’ll be getting one of the best Bass buys in the sub $1000 market.

The black one I have is on the heavy side and it is not as well balanced as a post-1989 Gibson. I tried one of Veronica's bicentennials a while ago, and its balance reminds me of that one. From a balance perspective, I prefer Gibson reissues, meaning 1989 and later. My VP has a 2017 serial number and the slightly smaller tuning machines, for what that is worth. I like it well enough, but it is not going to be a main player any time soon.

 

[dagrev]

Nope... not even some that I can... ahem... get ahold of.

Good. I was getting nervous for one of us.

 

[Gaolee]

Robotic spray booths are a thing for sure and they can consistently give a repeatable finish but guitar manufacturers don't have automaker deep pockets.

Especially in Indonesia where VPs or 60s are made.

 

[Gaolee]

One of my favorite Onion headlines:

Charlton Heston's Gun Taken From His Cold, Dead Hands

I won't be buried with a bass guitar. That would be a waste of a bass guitar. So my cold dead hands will be kept to themselves, but that is later, I hope.

Besides, a bass guitar wouldn't fit in the trebuchet sling with me very well.