dc2009 Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share Posted August 4, 2011 and a reply only a day later: "I’ve just had a reply from Gibson, unfortunately the (limited run) Alpine Whites are completely sold out and there are no plans for a second coming in the foreseeable future" they decided not to answer my bit on the two models, though I think I know which is which now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieD_FenderP2009 Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Hey guys I picked up my T bird yesterday. It's a great bass. The neck plays like silk and it just feels really good to play. Haven't plugged it in to my rig yet but I'll do that later on today and upload a few sound files or something. Gotta say, the chrome pick ups look seriously cool on it too. I had the bass set up for me in the shop (free of charge may I add. They have added 1 year free set-ups for free on top of the bass which is awesome) in Drop C# (so I could bring it up to E flat too) so my samples will be played in those tunings. I'll also get the dimensions of the pick-up routes up at some point too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 As far as I know only the Goth and the NIkki Sixx have the narrower jazz width neck as they begin life as the same bass. They are also the only 2 mahogany bodied thunderbirds made, all the others are alder. EMG 35HZ pickups will fit straight in there but you will need to route if you want anything active as the bass is quite thin at the point where it is routed for electronics. I struggled to get a set of CTS pots in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieD_FenderP2009 Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 Well, I just went and plugged in my Thunderbird to my rig and even though I wasn't expecting a Precision Bass tone from it, I wasn't expecting it to sound so... how do I put this... sh*t! Honestly, the pick ups are terribly weak and have no top end punch to them. They're pretty much pure bass coming from them. It's almost like you've rolled off the tone pot and played it like that but here's the thing... I HAD THE TONE FULLY OPEN And yes, I did try rolling the tone pot off to see if it made a difference and it just made it even more bassier. Anyway, here's the dimensions of the pick up routes: 75mm by 42mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc2009 Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 [quote name='StevieD_FenderP2009' post='1331591' date='Aug 8 2011, 12:53 AM']Well, I just went and plugged in my Thunderbird to my rig and even though I wasn't expecting a Precision Bass tone from it, I wasn't expecting it to sound so... how do I put this... sh*t! Honestly, the pick ups are terribly weak and have no top end punch to them. They're pretty much pure bass coming from them. It's almost like you've rolled off the tone pot and played it like that but here's the thing... I HAD THE TONE FULLY OPEN And yes, I did try rolling the tone pot off to see if it made a difference and it just made it even more bassier. Anyway, here's the dimensions of the pick up routes: 75mm by 42mm[/quote] Hmmm, I think I may well try and get the one with black hardware then, because then I have the black tuners which I prefer, I will be changing the bridge anyway, and can do so for a chrome one, the stock pickups aren't anything like as bad, thoguh they'll be replaced sooner rather than later, and I can replace the knobs for the old vintage ones if I really feel the need! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieD_FenderP2009 Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 To be honest, I'm kinda wishing I hadn't bought it now. I plugged it in in the shop but you can't really go turning it up that much in a shop so I didn't really hear much of the tone from it. It just felt really good to play and was comfortable which is the reason I bought it. Johnston, what are those pickups that you've put a picture of on here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 [quote name='StevieD_FenderP2009' post='1332188' date='Aug 8 2011, 03:08 PM']I plugged it in in the shop but you can't really go turning it up that much in a shop[/quote] Sorry to hear you're disappointed with your new bass but if you're serious about buying then say so and ask to turn it up. If the shop don't let you then take your custom elsewhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieD_FenderP2009 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Thanks dude. I've put that one on my watch list so we'll see what happens. I've been searching around tonight and as I'm a huge Seymour Duncan fan, I've been looking through their stuff and I've been reading their "tone chart" ratings. As I'm looking for something that has a LOT of something like 8 on the treble, 5 on the bass and 3/4 on the mids, I've whittled it down to a couple of Seymour Duncan guitar humbuckers that fit this sort of range. I'll list their ratings as Treble/mids/bass with the output rating next to that. Livewire classic II humbucker - 9/4/5 high [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/141"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/141[/url] Jazz model humbucker - 9/3/5 moderate [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/56"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/56[/url] Custom Five - 8/3/6 high [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/25"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones/view/25[/url] My main choice would be the "Livewire classic II" set as they've got the covers on them (which are available in chrome, white and black so I'd go for chrome to match the originals) but the only problem is, I'm worried that they would start to distort with bass strings going through them. Does any one know if guitar pick ups would distort if you put them on a bass or would it be just like putting normally bass pick ups on? Also, with my "active" basses, I like to use the Spector pre-amps in them so do you think it would work running the Seymour Duncan guitar pick-ups on a bass pre amp? This has really annoyed me, I was so looking forward to getting my Thunderbird and now I instantly hate it. It feels so good to play and it looks so cool but I don't want to use it live or in the studio as the tone sucks! Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieD_FenderP2009 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 The site of that pick up makes me want to vomit. I was thinking of going for a pick up that has the 2 blades running across it because surely that gives you even sound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc2009 Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 Sorry for the old thread bump. Now planning on selling my 5 string Epi pro to get one of these but really can't find them, except here: http://www.wembleydrumcentre.com/Catalogue/Guitar-Centre/Bass-Guitars/Epiphone/Epiphone-Thunderbird-Classic-IV-USA-Pickups-Alpine-White-EBTCAWBH1 which seems steep at best. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 You could try contactingThomann. They don't have them up yet but are usually the cheapest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Shipping is free from WDC and they're cheaper than Andertons. Or there's Musikhaus Hermann, which comes in just over £300, but there'll be shipping charges probably and they may not do UK shipping at all. "Die Fat Lady unter den Bässen ist ganz sicher der Thunderbird" http://www.musikhaus-hermann.de/xtv/de/GITARREN-BAeSSE/BASS-GITARREN/Epiphone/Epiphone-Thunderbird-Classic-IV-USA-Pickups-white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc2009 Posted May 2, 2012 Author Share Posted May 2, 2012 (edited) [quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1335971641' post='1638840'] Shipping is free from WDC and they're cheaper than Andertons. Or there's Musikhaus Hermann, which comes in just over £300, but there'll be shipping charges probably and they may not do UK shipping at all. "Die Fat Lady unter den Bässen ist ganz sicher der Thunderbird" [url="http://www.musikhaus-hermann.de/xtv/de/GITARREN-BAeSSE/BASS-GITARREN/Epiphone/Epiphone-Thunderbird-Classic-IV-USA-Pickups-white"]http://www.musikhaus...A-Pickups-white[/url] [/quote] I could go and get it from WDC myself to be honest, would probably want to too! Thanks for the link, and for those of you who are curious, I think this would be going on the bass: [url="http://www.wdmusic.com/gibson_thunderbird_pickguard_gt_4725.html"]http://www.wdmusic.c...rd_gt_4725.html[/url] I know it says it doesn't fit Epiphone, I'd get one made that does Edited May 2, 2012 by dc2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I could get one of those... Flog the pickups... Get some Mike Lull replacements... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 [quote name='dc2009' timestamp='1335978496' post='1638999'] I could go and get it from WDC myself to be honest, would probably want to too! Thanks for the link, and for those of you who are curious, I think this would be going on the bass: [url="http://www.wdmusic.com/gibson_thunderbird_pickguard_gt_4725.html"]http://www.wdmusic.c...rd_gt_4725.html[/url] I know it says it doesn't fit Epiphone, I'd get one made that does [/quote] In person you might even be able to haggle them down a bit. I can't help seeing that German quote as "The Fat Lady under the bass is sick as a ..... Thunderbird". If Thunderbird could possibly be German for Parrot it would work better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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