Epiphone Thunderbird

[BigRedX]

16 hours ago, barrycreed said:

@bassmachine2112ah so depending on the model, the woods differ?

Yes but generally that's the least important factor.

I would look at the different pickups and electronics used and the actual construction of the bass before worrying about the woods. 

[neepheid]

On 15/04/2021 at 18:09, bassmachine2112 said:

The maple and  walnut neck  doesn,t break unlike mahogany ones.

How many mahogany necks have you broken?  I haven't managed to break any - what am I doing wrong?

[barrycreed]

How does the 60s reissue play? Bridge looks a lot better than the 3 point ones on other models ...

[Cosmo Valdemar]

24 minutes ago, barrycreed said:

How does the 60s reissue play? Bridge looks a lot better than the 3 point ones on other models 

Mine plays wonderfully. Glorious neck.

[barrycreed]

Just now, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Mine plays wonderfully. Glorious neck.

Just from vids , it looks like a “big” guitar but sounds great and looks great !

[Cosmo Valdemar]

5 minutes ago, barrycreed said:

Just from vids , it looks like a “big” guitar but sounds great and looks great !

It certainly sits and hangs differently to basses with a more conservative design - it's always felt very comfy to me, but I know a lot of people find it too extreme. It's a longer reach to the first fret, for example. It's a cliché but it's one you really have to try for yourself.

The Vintage Pro sounds exactly how a Thunderbird should, to my ears. Front pickup, a bit of overdrive - Wishbone Ash, Cheap Trick. Clean it up a bit, both pickups - Quadrophenia.

It's a glorious instrument.

 

[barrycreed]

I wonder how it would be if you were stuck for space down in the Dog and Duck ...

[Cosmo Valdemar]

2 hours ago, barrycreed said:

I wonder how it would be if you were stuck for space down in the Dog and Duck ...

I've got away with it so far... 😁

[grenadillabama]

I wonder if those pickups could be bought at a reasonable rate ($200 a pair ?) I wish to add a bridge pickup to a Precision or Gretsch Jet .

[DarkHeart]

22 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Mine plays wonderfully. Glorious neck.

Even better pickups! I`ve had probably every Epi T/bird going and the 60`s re issue is by far the best.

[barrycreed]

I’ve seen folk on demos commend on the extra reach to the 1st fret. Any truth to this ? In my situation i’m 6ft odd 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

47 minutes ago, barrycreed said:

I’ve seen folk on demos commend on the extra reach to the 1st fret. Any truth to this ? In my situation i’m 6ft odd 

You'll be able to reach no problem. I'm 6ft 3:

 

[DarkHeart]

2 hours ago, barrycreed said:

I’ve seen folk on demos commend on the extra reach to the 1st fret. Any truth to this ? In my situation i’m 6ft odd 

I`m 5 10 and don`t have a problem, I`m playing mine in my avi

[Woodinblack]

2 hours ago, DarkHeart said:

I`m 5 10 and don`t have a problem, I`m playing mine in my avi

I am 5'8 and I never had a problem. i didn't really feel the neck was too far, not like the hofner cricket bat where you are always a few frets out. The only problem really was avoiding hitting the singer with the headstock, obviously how much of a problem that is depends on your singer

 

[barrycreed]

Safe to say the new 60s Epi has the thinnest neck profile out of the Epis?

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I've not played every model of Epiphone t-bird but my vintage pros have a very comfy slim neck - much like a good jazz bass.

[Stub Mandrel]

Tried out a Vintage Pro this week.

To my surprise I was very impressed, including by the balance of it (although it was pretty hefty).

Sounded excellent with a good range of tones.

Not very well set up, but with half a turn on the truss rod, nut recut and a bridge adjustment would be a good un'.

Very Tempty.

 

Only thing...  is it worth an extra £183 over an Embassy that has the same pickups and a through neck?

Edited June 10, 2021 by Stub Mandrel

[neepheid]

2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Tried out a Vintage Pro this week.

To my surprise I was very impressed, including by the balance of it (although it was pretty hefty).

Sounded excellent with a good range of tones.

Not very well set up, but with half a turn on the truss rod, nut recut and a bridge adjustment would be a good un'.

Very Tempty.

 

Only thing...  is it worth an extra £183 over an Embassy that has the same pickups and a through neck?

The Embassy has a set neck, not a through neck.  Also, the Embassy's neck is one piece mahogany vs. the Thunderbird's 7 ply mahogany/walnut.

Is the Thunderbird worth the extra £183?  It is if you want something Thunderbird shaped.  If you don't mind having the Thunderbird's less cool brother then save yourself some cash (and the latest metallic finishes do go some way to making the Embassy a more attractive bass) 

FWIW I had a Thunderbird Vintage Pro and I now have an Embassy.  Ergonomically it's night and day different and better IMHO - even better balance, lighter weight, less reach to the first fret despite being same scale length.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

On 06/05/2021 at 22:27, barrycreed said:

I wonder how it would be if you were stuck for space down in the Dog and Duck ...

Swing it around a bit and people will make room

[4000]

The only thing I’d add is YMMV with the neck on the Vintage Pro. Whilst typically tapered and therefore narrow at the nut, the necks on those I’ve tried - which were pretty nice basses - are way rounder and deeper than what I’m used to, contrary to many of the comments here, and I found were a bit of a handful. It depends what you’re used to, of course. And how much time you spend on the first few frets; not a lot, in my case. 😉

[Cosmo Valdemar]

1 minute ago, 4000 said:

The only thing I’d add is YMMV with the neck on the Vintage Pro. Whilst typically tapered and therefore narrow at the nut, the necks on those I’ve tried - which were pretty nice basses - are way rounder and deeper than what I’m used to, contrary to many of the comments here, and I found were a bit of a handful. It depends what you’re used to, of course. And how much time you spend on the first few frets; not a lot, in my case. 😉

This is true. Narrow nut width but a nice deep curve with it. 

[4000]

14 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

This is true. Narrow nut width but a nice deep curve with it. 

I think because the necks on my basses are pretty thin, front to back (more so than a current Rick), the depth of the neck surprised me. I’d still like one though. Although transport would still be an issue! 😉

[Stub Mandrel]

43 minutes ago, 4000 said:

the necks on those I’ve tried - which were pretty nice basses - are way rounder and deeper than what I’m used to,

Ditto, but that was part of its appeal, I like different basses to feel different.

[4000]

3 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Ditto, but that was part of its appeal, I like different basses to feel different.

No problem with that, but I really don’t do big necks, personally. I’m just too used to my basses now.