Hey, well i own a Epiphone Thunderbird IV bass. I really like the bass, but want some better sounding pickups for it. Im pretty sure Thunderbirds requier a certian size of pickup. Anyone know what sounds good in thunderbirds, and what will fit?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Thunderbird pickups?
- Thread starter brokensilence11
- Start date
In my experience w/ a Thunderbird I didn't care for the tone either and replaced the pups w/ Bartolini's ? (I can't remember, it was a while ago). The outcome didn't make a big difference. I believe Thunderbirds simply have a sound of their own and you either like it or you don't. I personally don't. You might be wasting $ by switching pickups.
Some people have used the Duncan BassLines SSB4's soapbars. They are the same size as EMG's and do require a little routing to fit, but would be a good improvement. Even the Gibson's don't fit the Epi route, you need to do some routing for those too.
I've heard the lollar replacement pickups are epic...but they come at a price. There's a thread on here about them somewhere...
Yeah but the set comes to around 600$
, that's twice what I paid for the epi t-bird on ebay.. although they do sound absolutely awesomeI'm also on such a quest OP, although I want chrome pickups in mine
, I've been looking up the rio grande pitbulls and they look nice but will require routing; there's a couple of threads on them saying positive thing. Anybody here know of someone or actually put the Rios in their Epi T-Bird?
I bought the T-Bird pro and the pickups don't pack nearly as much punch as I hoped. I wanna put some Duncans in but I'm lazy.
I don't think my post helped at all.
I don't think my post helped at all.
- Oct 6, 2009
- 151
- 294
- Disclosures
- My opinions may offend you. Get a thicker skin and grow the f up.
I put Basslines SSB4's in my Tbird. They're a little smaller so I padded the gaps with some black foam. Much better than the original pups. Cleaner mids, more defined lows, little more sparkle on top.
I put a pair of Nordstrand Big Splits in mine -- and yes, there is a big difference in aftermarket pickups from the Epi stuff. Epiphone puts out quality wood with Rip-Me-Out brand electronics. Get them out of there. The Nordys aren't a direct fit -- they leave a small gap on the neck/bridge side, and have to have a small bit of opening up of the rout on the up/down side.
But first -- try pick style with the Epi pickups. I was surprised that I got a rather decent tone from the stock pups with a pick.
Another T-bird I did, I added a third stock pickup up at the neck 'mudbucker' position. It's the same place Epi put the neck pup for the Explorer. I wired it direct with the original neck pup. It was a bottom-end MONSTER -- talk about a Raggae/Dub bass. That was some huge fundamental. Would have been better with quality pickups, but that was the test mule.
But first -- try pick style with the Epi pickups. I was surprised that I got a rather decent tone from the stock pups with a pick.
Another T-bird I did, I added a third stock pickup up at the neck 'mudbucker' position. It's the same place Epi put the neck pup for the Explorer. I wired it direct with the original neck pup. It was a bottom-end MONSTER -- talk about a Raggae/Dub bass. That was some huge fundamental. Would have been better with quality pickups, but that was the test mule.
Buy the Lollars, quite "epic", as stated above. The Lulls are good but meant for Gibsons. The only replacements that won't require modifications are the Lollars. You will probably need to modify your budget as well after buying them.
All kidding aside, the Lollar Thunderbird replacement pickups are among the best options out there for the Epiphones. They will ALWAYS be more expensive than the bass they upgrade, but there can hardly be any "better" upgrade for your Epiphone bass. I have them, paid the price, and am very happy with them. And no, I am not rich. 
All kidding aside, the Lollar Thunderbird replacement pickups are among the best options out there for the Epiphones. They will ALWAYS be more expensive than the bass they upgrade, but there can hardly be any "better" upgrade for your Epiphone bass. I have them, paid the price, and am very happy with them. And no, I am not rich. I agree, I was going to try big splits as well, and considered SGD but ended up with the Lollar pair of TB humbuckers. The stock pickups let me wanting, I knew the bass wasn't the culprit. Great wood, middling pickups=Epiphone basses. I love my Epi, though.
That exactly nails it. Same story with my Epi Les Paul Deluxe 5 -- a carved-top, flamed maple, sunburst, bound-body thing of beauty, in which the stock pickups had the dynamic range of a still-wet dog pile in the back yard. EMG's and a BQC set that right in a hurry.
