calypsocoral Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 ... Yes, that's right. Gibson has come out with a bass that actually looks appealing to me! Apparently, this was introduced at the most recent NAMM show... but I didn't see a mention of it anywhere, not even on Harmony Central. I didn't see it anywhere at Guitar Center either, and they are usually pretty zealous when it comes to Gibson products... Behold! The Epiphone Thunderbird PRO Bass in its 3 available colors: http://www.epiphone.com/images/N_TBirdProIntro1.jpg (Personally, I'm a fan of the Black Stain!) Specs Construction: Neck-Thru Neck Laminates: 7-ply Maple/Walnut Body Wings: Mahogany Neck Width @ Nut: 1.50" (like a Jazz Bass) Fretboard: Rosewood Pickups: Epiphone T-Pro Active Humbuckers Electronics: 2-band Active EQ Hardware: Black Bridge: Flush-mounted BadAss As many of you know, I am in the market for an intermediate-level instrument-- considering, among many things, a personal assembly project, and an Ibanez 4-string. I have always loved the Thunderbird look, but was put off by Gibson's pricing. I had looked at the Epiphone version, but a bolt-on Thunderbird has always seemed somehow wrong to me. Now that Epiphone has made an affordable neck-thru bass, I might seriously consider this one. It is my understanding that T-birds in general have a lot of neck dive. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Hmmm, neck-through TBird knock-off. I think you may still be a little put off by the price. It's not going to be a $399 Nikki Sixx. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottom End Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Why doesn't Gibson doesn't make it's basses in lefty versions? I'd love to have a T-bird and an EB. Very pretty, in ny case. "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.'-Hamlet Guitar solos last 30 seconds, the bass line lasts for the whole song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moot Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Again - Too much money, not enough strings. Thanks for nuthin' Gibson. "He is to music what Stevie Wonder is to photography." getz76 I have nothing nice to say so . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Or you could buy a Mike Lull T-Bass Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacoBassian Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Whoa, I'd never seen the Mike Lull's Basses, and that seems to me that Gibson stole his design! (the only thing that attracted to me on this particular one). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Whoa, I'd never seen the Mike Lull's Basses, and that seems to me that Gibson stole his design! (the only thing that attracted to me on this particular one). Ah, no. Gibson has had this design since the 60's. I still like the traditional sunburst of the original T-birds but the black here looks pretty good. The natural on top looks a little plain to me. The sunburst on the bottom looks pretty good. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I've got a Les Paul "Money" bass with the T-Bird pickups. I like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Active? Hmm... I confess I'm a dead sucker for Thunderbirds. So what's the list price gonna be $600-700 US? I think the MSRP is $832. Interesting. Maybe even tempting, but Gibson has dropped the price of the t-bird IV about $700 to $1499. That brings it in line with a Stingray or American Fender. If I were in the market I think I'd rather save a bit more and go for the original. Or save a lot more and go for the Lull... Oh well, ain't nothing gonna happen this year at least, what with the current state of the economy and my oldest starting college in the fall. Fun to think about though. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 ... a bolt-on Thunderbird has always seemed somehow wrong to me. Well, that rules out the Lull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danzilla Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Five string T-bird.... droool. I liked the Thunderbird Studio that Gibson came out with a few years ago; but never got to play one. This will have me on constant lookout. Thanks for the heads-up, Calypso- and for the GAS. "Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion) NEW band Old band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric VB Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 If you search on here you may find my review of a Gibson T-bird I tried out at the Chicago Blues Festival some time ago. The biggest thing I remember was not liking how hard it was to access the upper frets, but if you never go above 7th then you'll be fine (no money up there anyway, right guys? ). I considered picking up a used (cheap) Epi just to match my Mandobird. But then I needed a 5er and getting another 4-string didn't make any sense. (I see there is a 5er in the pic. Is this the first time they've made 5er T-birds?) $832 MSRP? That's quite a bit more than two Franklins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I have to admit it would be kind of cool to have a T-bird bass to complement my '64 firebird guitar. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 If I were in the market I think I'd rather save a bit more and go for the original. Or save a lot more and go for the Lull... Uh, dude... Lull basses frequently sell for the same prices as Custom Shop Fenders ($2-3K). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 Interestingly-enough, I have yet to see an American website carry this instrument. I have only found this instrument on British online music stores. The price, after converting from Pounds to Dollars, works out to about $585.00 This price is still well below the Gibson, with the added benefit of a nicer bridge (I've heard little good about the 3-axis Gibson bridges), active electronics, and a faster neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 If I were in the market I think I'd rather save a bit more and go for the original. Or save a lot more and go for the Lull... Uh, dude... Lull basses frequently sell for the same prices as Custom Shop Fenders ($2-3K). MSRP for the T-bass is $4649.00. For me that's a lot more than the $832.00 for the Epi. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted June 20, 2009 Author Share Posted June 20, 2009 For those of you who were wondering about the price-- I just found it at Musician.com (part of the Guitar Center group) for... *drum roll* $499! You can check it out HERE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 One of my teenage students had one in trans black. He didn't keep it for very long. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 Okay... why so? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 One of my teenage students had one in trans black. He didn't keep it for very long. It looked cool, but he really liked playing his Precision bass a lot more, both because of the sound and the feel of the neck. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb350 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 I played a T-bird for about 5 years. A Gibson T-bird. They sound KILLER. However, as someone stated above, you have no access to anything past the 12th fret. I had no problems with neck dive. My main problem was that it was just uncomfortable to play, the body had no curves, and I couldn't find a comfortable plucking position for fingerstyle picking. Never tried it with a pick. It just felt .....off, I guess. These go to 11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb350 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Oh yeah,It also had avery strange Bridge design, I couldn't get the stings really low either. These go to 11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypsocoral Posted June 28, 2009 Author Share Posted June 28, 2009 Hi jb350, One of the features that attracted me to this particular model (aside from the killer black stain and active electronics) is the OEM Badass bridge-- none of that old-school Gibson 3-bolt stuff. I can certainly agree with you that it doesn't look like something designed to be a bass-- more like a converted guitar. But, as the T-bird is one of those true classic designs, I kinda feel obligated to have one in my collection. And, given the variations of T-birds out there, from the original Gibson to the Dean Demonator, these Epiphones are the most attractive offering, at least in my humble opinion. I don't know why, but, for some reason, the T-bird is something that comes to mind when I think of Southern Rock and Doom Metal... *shrug* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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