Thunderbirds. I've been rethinking my opinions

[atracksler]

ive always hated the way they look. But lately I've been digging how they sound. I felt that way about stingrays and then watched this blind taste test video and found that of all the basses on it I liked the stingray (and the fodera) the best.

Last night we saw this band called jungle on Jools Holland.



Kind of really changed my opinion on the thunderbird. Seriously thinking about selling my fretless jazz and getting an epi t-bird.

 

[Tommy Torsion]

I'm with you bro. I've got an Epi T-Bird. Love the way it sounds, always did my recording with it, but hated playing live with it.

For me it was too heavy, and the neck was too thick, and just was unconfortable standing up and playimng for too long. I remember at one gig, I took my fretting hand off (to throw the devil horns, I'm so cool I know), and then went to put the hand back on, but the headstock had hit the floor.

I know that doesn't happen to everyone, and maybe I just got unlucky, but the weight of the neck and head just didn't do it for me, the weight distribution just seems to be off. I've chatted to a few Epi owners and they've said the same, great tone, just a lil heavy.

 

[TBird1958]

Epiphone "Classic" Thunderbirds are really nice basses @500.00, neck thru 9 ply, and U.S. made pickups.
I wrote a review for TB a couple years back, great value at a nice price.

 

[Ghastly]

I WILL have one of these eventually. I love the look of the reverse tb. Played one once and liked the sound and feel.

 

[JIO]

ive always hated the way they look. But lately I've been digging how they sound. I felt that way about stingrays and then watched this blind taste test video and found that of all the basses on it I liked the stingray (and the fodera) the best.

Last night we saw this band called jungle on Jools Holland.



Kind of really changed my opinion on the thunderbird. Seriously thinking about selling my fretless jazz and getting an epi t-bird.

Can't tell much from this recording - the bass is so compressed it could have been any bass. I am a dyed-in-the-wool T-bird guy - they sound like no other.

 

[Korladis]

Epiphone classic T-birds are good. Especially if you mod them so that you can have the pickups wired in series.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

I'm with you bro. I've got an Epi T-Bird. Love the way it sounds, always did my recording with it, but hated playing live with it.

For me it was too heavy, and the neck was too thick, and just was unconfortable standing up and playimng for too long. I remember at one gig, I took my fretting hand off (to throw the devil horns, I'm so cool I know), and then went to put the hand back on, but the headstock had hit the floor.

I know that doesn't happen to everyone, and maybe I just got unlucky, but the weight of the neck and head just didn't do it for me, the weight distribution just seems to be off. I've chatted to a few Epi owners and they've said the same, great tone, just a lil heavy.

I have a Pro-V and an Epi bolt-on 4-string fretless. The V has better bridge and pickups, though not sure if the Pro-IV has the three point bridges. That bridge, not a fan.

 

[EdO.]

Neck dive on these is pretty easily dealt with. Plenty of info on this forum if you dig a bit.

 

[Gaolee]

If you have a Thunderbird with a baseball bat neck, chances are it's a low end Epiphone with a bolt-on neck. I personally love 'em for that baseball bat, but I also play Gibsons and an Epi neck through with much thinner, narrower necks. They still have the round back I like, they are just smaller in all dimensions. A Thunderbird with the strap pin at the heel of the neck will stay put just about anywhere you want it to stay. I haven't got that kind of stability from anything else, but the strap button has to be in the right place. If it's where the upper horn would be if it wasn't a Thunderbird, all bets are off. It makes no sense to have put the button there, but that's what they did.

Of course, if you turn out to be a Thunderbird player, you will find yourself liking them more and more. If you don't get along with them, you will just never get along with them. My thought is that they choose you as much as the other way around.

 

[Perrygoround]

My Epi neck through is much lighter and has a much thinner neck than my previous bass, an Ibanez ATK which was destroying both my shoulder and my wrist after each 2h rehearsal.
I got the Epi Classic Pro IV, I found everything I ever wanted in a bass (killer looks, rock tone, confortable neck, light weight) and never looked back. Sold the Ibanez.
Now I want to get a 2nd bass, so I can have a replacement for gigs, and also to have 2 different tunnings (as my band have moved to flat land) so I can practice with standard tunning without the need of changing everyday. I am looking for something similar, neck through and Thuderbird-oriented. I found what I like.

 

[40Hz]

Gibson basses have a bigger sonic footprint, and they put it down with more authority (for lack of a better word) than most of what's out there. More of a "fwoom" or "kaboom" than a thud sort of sound. The only bass I ever played that had more "presence" in a live setting than a Gibson was an Alembic.

The TBirds can also get a pretty operatic Wagnerian vibe going when you push them. But they can also purr like a kitten and coo like a dove, depending on how you play them.

If that's your thing, get yourself a TBird.

(Note: the RD Standard will also give you a lot of that same tone, but with a slightly different twist to it. Check out one of those too if you get a chance.)

 

[Fresh Eddie]

I used to have one of the Nikki Sixx Blackbirds... I wish I never sold it. Thunderbirds are the kind of bass that looks a little odd in a stand, but when someone has one strapped on they look awesome.

 

[Solar]

Gibson basses have a bigger sonic footprint, and they put it down with more authority (for lack of a better word) than most of what's out there. More of a "fwoom" or "kaboom" than a thud sort of sound. The only bass I ever played that had more "presence" in a live setting than a Gibson was an Alembic.

The TBirds can also get a pretty operatic Wagnerian vibe going when you push them. But they can also purr like a kitten and coo like a dove, depending on how you play them.

If that's your thing, get yourself a TBird.

(Note: the RD Standard will also give you a lot of that same tone, but with a slightly different twist to it. Check out one of those too if you get a chance.)

This.

Plus, with some of Epiphone's Birds having Gibson pickups, you can save a lot of money that way. I mean, it's not a Gibson, but it has a lot of pieces that makes a Gibson a Gibson!

I think the only thing you should not do is sell the Fretless Jazz.

 

[blue4]

I don't get along with them but there's no denying they look awesome.

 

[PixelPaintbrush]

I like my Gibson Thunderbird a good bit, it's balanced as can be, and (not to come off as a gear snob) though I've played many a squier and fender, and LTD, believe that my t-bird has a unique sound. Great sustain, and enough growl to bang out riffs from jazz to metal.

That being said t-birds in my experience, are harder to play because I have smaller fingers, and I believe some models have different scale lengths on the fretboard.

But definitely pick up and try an Epiphone, they're really a good bang for the buck, especially epi T-birds

 

[NoFiller]

If youre gonna get a Tbird, get a Gibson. Looks like GC has some stock of 2014 Walnut (wow) and burst finishes new for <$900 (drool). Sorry for ugly link

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[RedVee]

I'm loving my Epi Goth TBird. Only new to me but it has that deep voice.
I had to get a TBird after trying a neck through Pro, though mine is a even cheaper bolt on, the neck is fine (to me).

Have a look through YouTube for some samples. Chris Catero has quite a lengthy review of the Epi Classic on the the Epi channel.

 

[PixelPaintbrush]

If youre gonna get a Tbird, get a Gibson. Looks like GC has some stock of 2014 Walnut (wow) and burst finishes new for <$900 (drool). Sorry for ugly link

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Aww man, paid about $1600 for mine x.x heck yeah snatch up that clearance while you can man. At that price it's a STEAL!

 

[kodiakblair]

Fella got in touch today about buying my Epi T-bird. It's the bolt on one, never thought the neck was a bat.

It does have neck dive and the balance is kinda off but this fella is 79 years young

He got a Gibson after seeing ELO in the 70s but all his gear was stolen mid 80s. He's rocking a Peavey Milestone III just
now .

Really wish finances were better. I'd just give him it.

 

[1stnamebassist]

I had the Classic in Alpine White. I thought it was a great bass with no neck dive whatsoever. They do have a longer reach to the first fret than say a precision, but I found that to be comfortable. They seem to come in at about 9 lbs plus or minus a few, but to me they don't feel that heavy. I have a Rick at about the same weight and it feels like all the weight is right there on your shoulder whereas the Epi seems to be spread out more and feels lighter. The neck is super thin to me anyway and you can fly on it. I sold it because the Alpine white was getting to me a bit, it seemed a bit too bright for my taste! I'm hoping that some day Epi does a nice nonreverse Bird and I would grab it in a second! Or I can save up enough for a Cataldo non reverse. But really I don't think you can go wrong with this bass if you want a Bird.