The_Rodster

I'm with you on this and the chunky neck on the Vintage Pro. I love the sound but can't get on with the neck so it's the least played of all my T-Birds. I''m trying to decide if having it re-lacquered would sort it out or if it needs to go for a full on neck shave

That's a tricky question! Initially the 66S was probably my favourite but recently I've been warming more to the 63 set, although they're in a Non-Reverse T-bird so that might have something to do with it. The 66 & 66S are definitely hotter pickups

+1 for Thunderbuckers. I've got all 3 types (63, 66 & 66S) fitted to my Thunderbird's and they have a great vintage sound. I've also got Mojo & Mike Lulls fitted and they're good but I find they sound a bit more modern to my ears. I'm not keen on the EY pickups, they seem to lack something. The Epiphone Vintage Pro are a good option if you can get them. I've managed to pick up a couple of sets from eBay but they don't seem to come up very often

Here's my board. I thought it was full until I saw all the others on here, now I think I might need to add a few things...........

What about an Ibanez Artcore? The current models are short scale but the originals (like mine) are full scale. I really like it, although I have changed the pickup as I didn't like the sound of the original.

Here's my black Thunderbird

Rich Tone music have got Ebony in stock. Mine should be arriving tomorrow!

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1499606932' post='3332447'] Definitely interested, got to be worth a try! [/quote] I've found it!! Do your travels take you anywhere near Gloucester?

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1499593957' post='3332352'] Does anyone know whether the scratch plate form the active model fits the classic pro? The black plate looks much better than the white, to my ears. [/quote] The first white Epi pro I bought had a black plate fitted. I'm not sure if it came off another Epi or was an after market job. It's currently in one of my box of spares, if you're interested let me know and I'll dig it out

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1498515205' post='3325236'] Yesterday, I bought an Epiphone pro 4, the through neck model with passive Gibson pick ups. I had to say that it compares very well with my 2012 Gibson. In fact, the epi may even have the edge, as a previous owner had fitted a Babicz bridge. Gigged it tonight and it sounded great, rock solid, very pleased with it. The Gibson is lovely too, of course, but costs several times what the Epi did. Best of all, it's a Thunderbird in every way, great great basses. [/quote] I agree totally with you. I've got two Epiphone Pro Thunderbirds and they are very close to my Gibson's

[quote name='Yukimajou' timestamp='1497295190' post='3317157'] Thanks for the link. I will definitely have to check these out. Likewise having an Epi T'Bird I'm not too afraid of modding. [/quote] Yeah, I've bought my Epiphone's to try out some modding too! Here are the photo's of Gibson Pickups next to a chrome cover. I got the covers from Philadelphia Luthier on ebay. [attachment=247506:Tbird 90 + cover.JPG] [attachment=247507:Tbird 90 99 cover.JPG]

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1497561233' post='3319180'] I have found a few gig bags but the extra length seems an issue on most hard cases. I have found a listing number for a Gator case but can't find one for sale. Thanks for the heads up on the epiphone case as I was considering one but will be careful now. [/quote] I bought a Gator case for my Epiphone NR and it's a bit cheap & flimsy, so I wouldn't recommend getting one of them. My Gibson's will fit in the Epiphone cases I've got but it's a bit tight. I've got a couple of the normal cases and one of the newer, slightly tapered cases.

The headstock on the Studio is like the old Gibson Victory bass, so totally different to the original & 90s onward models. As memory serves the originals are larger then the 90s models

Yeah, it's the stripping the plastic off & re-potting the pickup in the chrome cover that's the problem. I brought some chrome covers to have a crack at it, but lost my bottle when it came to stripping the plastic off & went down the replacement route. I'll dig the part out & take a photo when I get a minute

Yeah, it's definitely a massive improvement there. I do miss the bottom end of the black pickups but I like the bite of the replacements. Unfortunately I've yet to find something between the two

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1496931989' post='3314802'] I'm really enjoying the sound of the stock pick ups on my 2012 Gibson T bird, can't imagine changing them. [/quote] The black plastic pickups do sound good, they have plenty of bottom end but they are muddy when compared to the originals or the replacements such as Mojo, EY, Mike Lull or Thunderbucker

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1496866716' post='3314426'] Aww man, that white single pup, [/quote] Thanks chap, I'm glad someone else likes it too. It took a while to go from how it looked when I bought it to that, luckily I have a friendly, local guitar luthier. Here are the work in progress photos: [attachment=246882:TB1.JPG] [attachment=246883:TB2.jpeg] [attachment=246884:TB3.JPG] [attachment=246885:TB5.JPG]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1496840397' post='3314214'] Of the lighter ones I have owned the heads I currently enjoy are Orange Terror Bass 500. It doesn't have a great variety of tones in the bin but I really like what it does - not everyone does so caveat emptor. Insanely loud, old school rock amp. [/quote] I've also been enjoying the Orange Terror Bass 500. I originally bought it as a back up for my Ampeg, then I thought I'd get a couple of Orange SP212's and use it for small gigs. However it's been my main gigging rig for several months now! Like Paul S says it doesn't have a lot of variety but if you like what it does it's great, especially for its' size and weight

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1496580509' post='3312409'] I picked up a tip from someone on here that has worked the one and only time I needed it which was to say 'that is later/ in the second half' and the guy went away happy, when we didn't play it he came up and the end and I just told him we had run out of time but would play it next time. He was half soaked and seemed happy with that. [/quote] I've used this approach for many years & it usually works well. However there's always the odd occasion when at the end they then want to tell you what else should be in your set & other songs that you should learn!!

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1496569387' post='3312310'] It's no good, my will has failed. There is a wanted ad up as we speak for an epiphone thunderbird (sorry Blue, my pockets just aren't that deep to stretch to a Gibson at the moment) [/quote] I've found the Epiphone Pro's to be really close to my Gibson Tbirds. To my mind there's slightly less resonance in the Epiphone body. I've given my Epi's a bit of a make over though, as you can see from the photo's (hopefully!) [attachment=246616:White Tbird.jpg] [attachment=246617:P1050907.JPG]