green_ram Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Hi, Could someone please let me know how, by looking at a picture, can you tell the difference between a Thunderbird IV vintage starburst and a Thunderbird Classic IV Pro vintage starburst. As far as I can see they both have 3 control knobs. Has the location of the plug for the lead moved from the top to the edge on newer Classic Pro IVs? Is the location of the strap lock a distinguishing feature. I've attached photos if that helps. Thanks in advance for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 (edited) The Classic IV differs thus: - the knobs have silver tops with labels - the output jack is on the side - the body is through-neck - the rim of the headstock is darker - the pickups don't have the 'lip' housing the screws There are pictures of the one I had in this thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/178078-new-epiphone-thunderbirds-coming/page__st__40"]http://basschat.co.u...ng/page__st__40[/url] Hope this helps. Edited April 16, 2013 by Green Alsatian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_ram Posted April 16, 2013 Author Share Posted April 16, 2013 Thanks for the reply. So do you think the photos I uploaded are of the classic pro IV? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 I think the Classic IV has 'proper' Gibson pickups too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 No Thunderbird has had "proper" Gibson pickups since 1976. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomWIC Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 [quote name='green_ram' timestamp='1366113410' post='2048405'] Thanks for the reply. So do you think the photos I uploaded are of the classic pro IV? [/quote] Those photos look like the bog standard Thunderbird IV. As Green_Alsatian said, with the Classic IV models, the jack socket is on the side of the body rather than the top. The best way for us to tell is if you had photos of the rear of the bass. If the neck is bolted on, it's not a Classic IV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 (edited) [quote name='green_ram' timestamp='1366113410' post='2048405'] Thanks for the reply. So do you think the photos I uploaded are of the classic pro IV? [/quote] Sorry - should have added - that's not a Classic Pro IV - just the regular Epiphone Thunderbird. Another way of telling from the front, is that there are no thin 'pinstripes' of mahogany/walnut running through the centre of the body. Edited April 16, 2013 by Green Alsatian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_ram Posted April 16, 2013 Author Share Posted April 16, 2013 Thanks for the replies. I asked for photos of the back and sure enough it's a bolt on neck. Best get saving for the real deal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1366117066' post='2048495'] No Thunderbird has had "proper" Gibson pickups since 1976. [/quote] This is a very good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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