Epi Elite T-Bird pickups vs. Gibson pickups

[Andrew]

Were the pickups in the Epi Elite T-Bird the same as the pickups in the Gibson Thunderbird? If not, does anyone know how they differ?

[uwe]

The prevailing theory is that the Elite pups were the same variation of a TB Plus pup you found in the recently deleted Les Paul basses, i.e. chrome covered and not teflon coated TB Plus pup entrails. Those chrome pups sound a bit more aggressive than the soapies.

All Eli owners I know were very pleased with the sound of those pups.

Uwe

[lowend1]

Were those pickups standard humbucker size?

[Dave W]

Were those pickups standard humbucker size?

I believe so but I've never seen one in person. Here's a pic still on the Epi site: http://www.epiphone.com/elitist/thunderbird.htm. Note that the pickups were US-made.

[lowend1]

If you ask me, (and nobody did) the Elitist is the design that they should be selling - Large headstock, large shaft tuners... and CHROME. The only problem (but not really) is the set neck construction.

[Dave W]

Set neck, a pickup size that isn't T-bird traditional, pickup construction no more like the original than TB Plus pickups and african mahogany instead of genuine mahogany. The Elitist really wan't close to the originals.

But nobody asked me either.

[shadowcastaz]

I put some chrome TB's in my Hobbit "HO" and  it has been my go to bass for some time.( Even though it is a short scale). I have been very happy with them . plenty of meat.

[Andrew]

I compared an Epi Elitist T-Bird to a Gibson 'bird one day and honestly preferred the sound of the Epi, so I was curious if it was the bass or if there was a difference under the hood.

[Dave W]

Probably some of both.