Thunderbird

[Kopfjaeger]

Gott in Himmel!! That T bird is huge!! Wow, the foto really helps show the scale between the P bass and the Rickenbacker. WOW!

Sepp

[FretlessOnly]

Wow, the foto really helps show the scale between the P bass and the Rickenbacker.

The "scale" of the instruments, as properly defined by the vibrating string length, are not all that different. It's simply a matter of how you strap those puppies on. But if you go the T-bird route, make sure you don't whack the headstock against a mic stand. Just ask Roger Glover:

http://www.thehighwaystar.com/interview ... 10400.html

Not sayin' that the modern axes are all like this, but it is a funny story.

[brew]

Wow, the foto really helps show the scale between the P bass and the Rickenbacker.

The "scale" of the instruments, as properly defined by the vibrating string length, are not all that different. It's simply a matter of how you strap those puppies on. But if you go the T-bird route, make sure you don't whack the headstock against a mic stand. Just ask Roger Glover:

http://www.thehighwaystar.com/interview ... 10400.html

Not sayin' that the modern axes are all like this, but it is a funny story.

Yes... my T'bird had suffered a broken headstock too - with a previous owner. He had leaned it against an amp/cab without using a stand, and "Clunk" - down it went!

[Kopfjaeger]

Well, I found an Epiphone T-bird Classic 4 Pro in my local Sam Ash. They had a bolt on neck Epi as well but the Classic Pro had just arrived, no price tag on it yet. GC had a bolt on neck Epi but the bass guy did not seem too interested in hooking me up with a cord or an amp so I walked out.

The Classic 4 Pro has a 7 ply neck through design. At Sam Ash I plugged into an 8x10 stack Ampeg and took it through its paces. Not too bad for a $600. guitar! The hardcase is $100. extra. The neck was sleek and very easy to play. The action sucked but they had the bridge cranked all the way up. It was fine down low but above the 9th fret and the action really started going to hell.

It was much lighter than I had expected. I was also expecting a huge unwieldy neck. Not so. The headstock is huge, but I expected that. Quite comfortable to play on my lap and it balanced quite nicely on a strap. The strap button is on the heal.

The strings were **** but an easy fix. The sound was nice but a bit thin sounding. I was un familiar with the Ampeg. Perhaps a bit more messing with all dials would have produced a thicker sound. The sound was not bad, just thin. The instrument is made in Indonesia but the pups are USA made by Gibson. Fit and finish was Ok, nothing glaring but nothing to write novels about either.

Did it cure my GAS? Not sure. I need it like a need another hole in my stupid head. I just sold my 1981 Fender P bass, so I have a bit of money burning as hole in my pocket. I liked the way it felt and played and I know I could get it to play and sound better. It just left me wanting a little bit more. Maybe a bit unrealistic for a $600. guitar, although it was light years better than the Jackson I played there a few months ago.

Sepp

[woodyng]

For $300 more,someone on talkbass has the real thing for sale,a used 90's Gibby-bird.

[woodyng]

Pretty great deal on an epi pro-iv on Hello music today (7 piece trhu neck,active electronics,trans black,under $400)

[rickfan63]

I'm interested in trying one of the Epi T-Bird Classic IV basses. I like the fact that it's a neck-thru with the Gibson pups. All the reviews I've seen are quite good and state that the neck dive isn't there. I remember playing the Gibson verson many years ago in a store and really liking it.

[partime]

I have a short scale T bird. It is a smaller version but still mean sounding. Very easy and fast to play, no head dive as it is quite small. Like it alot

[weemac]

Iv'e got a bunch of them with eight strings at the moment...Any colour you like so long as it is Black, White or British Racing Green..



Eden.

[rickenbrother]

Also, it will come as no surprise to you, when I say that it was almost impossible to play sitting-down...
Bear in mind that the case is massive too...

As much as I've always thought the Gibson T-bird was a cool looking with nice tone, these are the reasons why I never bought one. I once had a Gibson Flying V bass guitar, it too was difficult to play comfortably while sitting and it's case was enormous as well.

[aceonbass]

I've got a Gibson Blackbird, and the lower bout shape makes it quite easy to play sitting down. Neck dive while standing up can be an issue, but I'm always resting my forearm on the upper rear portion of the body, which counteracts that. The one thing I like about this bass the most though, is it's skinny 1.5" nut and Ebony fretboard with Maltese cross inlays. The case is a few inches longer too.

[jps]

I once had a Gibson Flying V bass guitar...

Those are pretty rare, aren't they?

I used to have one of these:

[GIBrat51]

I'd kinda like to have one, but, to my knowledge, there are no leftys except for vintage Gibsons. And, the last vintage
T-Bird I saw, the guy was asking 10 Grand for it. I don't really want one THAT bad. As for neck dive, they can't be any
worse than an aluminum - necked Kramer; mine thinks it's a submarine.

[jdogric12]

[sloop_john_b]

I'm mulling over a black mid-90's Orville T-Bird f/s locally. It is a completely different animal than what I usually play, which I guess is most of the appeal for me really. I got to try this particular one. Though I didn't get to strap it on yet (which I will HAVE to do), from playing it sitting down it seems like it would be a great pick bass, but maybe not a very good fingerstyle bass.

It needs a truss rod tweak, and it has old rounds on it. It sounds dark and mean - I would love to get a set of flats on it though and see if it can REALLY thump.

Obviously it just looks cool as hell (my band needs all the help we can get in THAT department...)