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Thunderbird vs. Precision!

Which sounds better?

  • T-bird

    Votes: 45 38.8%

  • Precision

    Votes: 71 61.2%
  • Total voters
    116
E

envika

Nov 27, 2007
763
2
Bronx, NY
#1
Aight, in a fit of boredom I decided to make sound samples of my two basses: my Indonesia-made Squier VM Precision, and my China-made Epiphone Goth Thunderbird. The Precision is strung up with D'Addario Chromes, and the Bird has whatever strings came stock on it--I think they're Rotosound rounds.

Both were plugged right into my little crappy Hartke amp and miked with my computer mic in Audacity. The Precision's neck is pretty badly bowed and otherwise in need of a setup, so the intonation might be a little off. Excuse the mediocre playing, I'm inexplicably tired today. The bassline is from Television's "Venus de Milo", performed by the one and only Fred Smith.

Thunderbird:
Link Removed

Precision:
Link Removed

Not that I'm about to sell either, but I'm curious as to which sounds better to you guys.
 
#8
This is like comparing apples to oranges. How can you compare two different bass like that? The T-Bird is a different type of a bass. The bridge on the bird is kind of weird, & one needs to get used, to using it, the bird also balances differently . Also the bird has hum-buckers which give it a different type of tone . The P-bass balances better, is more puncher, due to the split pick-up, & the bridge is a lot different also. I play a T-Bird & I can coax some great tones out of it . I also just bought a Lakeland Duck Dunn , which is a P-bass . The reason I bought the DD bass was, because it's a great bass, & there are just some things, that need to be done with a P-bass. Note : This is just my opinion.
 
#17
envika said:
SNIP:

Not that I'm about to sell either, but I'm curious as to which sounds better to you guys.
Click to expand...

this is a hard question to put on a forum. You are asking US if we like the sound differences, for better or worse, like others said, the 2 clips are no comparison. they both sound terrible, like a youtube video converted to FLV recorded thru camcorder mics. but you want opinions, so ok...

#1 Did you use the exact same fingering, hand position and pressure on the 2 clips?
#2 Did you use the same brand and gauge strings on both guitars?
#3 Did you have the desk mic EXACTLY the same distance from the AMP speaker?
#4 Did you have the pup's set exactly the same tone, and volume settings on both?
this question has opened up a lot of "IF's"


remember the 2 you are comparing are not 2 models of the same type, for example: 2 squiers one made in indonesia, and korea with the same electronics in them. now THAT would be a better comparison.

BTW, I do have a epiBIRD, and it sounds nothing like my JackBIRD my SAMICK ,or my LYLE, thats the greatest thing about having a couple guitars that sound different. Different tones for different situations whether recorded or live.
 
#19
Thump Jr. said:
Both basses sounded good, but I think I definitely prefer the Thunderbird. I assume the T-bird clip was recorded using the bridge pickup?
Click to expand...

nope, both pickups and tone at 10

amimbari said:
this is a hard question to put on a forum. You are asking US if we like the sound differences, for better or worse, like others said, the 2 clips are no comparison. they both sound terrible, like a youtube video converted to FLV recorded thru camcorder mics. but you want opinions, so ok...

#1 Did you use the exact same fingering, hand position and pressure on the 2 clips?
#2 Did you use the same brand and gauge strings on both guitars?
#3 Did you have the desk mic EXACTLY the same distance from the AMP speaker?
#4 Did you have the pup's set exactly the same tone, and volume settings on both?
Click to expand...

1) yes
2) no, but i disclosed that
3) why wouldn't i?
4) yeah, that's the point is it not?
 
#20
sorry for not reading that envika, late night early morning, i kinda skimmed over the root of the subject... well I will correct my statement then:

I listened to both clips again, and since you already identified which one is which, I have to agree the Tbird sounds worse overall. I actually went and played 3 Birds when looking for mine from the same store, same amp..a "typical" demo, and ALL 3 sounded different, and I ended up buying a used one from craigslist when I saw one on there for 125.00, and although I could not play it out of the SAME amp as in the store, as a comparison, the one I own sounds different than the 3 I played in the store. ( different amp, different sound )

SORRY for the confusion.
 

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