Nifty Epi T-bird

[Denis]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Thunderbird-IV-Alpine-White-Electric-Bass-/170640126292?pt=Guitar&hash=item27baf1b154#ht_2770wt_907

[TBird1958]

Actually that's kinda cool for the $$$.

[Denis]

What do you make of those pickups?

[dadagoboi]

It would be nice if more details about the 'refurbishment' were given.  It's only $100 less than an Epi Pro IV, a much better bass IMO.  But it's looks great!

[Barklessdog]

What do you make of those pickups?

looks like the same ones that were on the Silverburst one- People said they were weak & replaced them if I'm not correct?

[Nocturnal]

I think Uwe determined the Silverburst pickups were actually guitar pickups? These are probably the same ones.

[uwe]

I'm no Epi basher (as everyone knows) but if those pups are what I think they are then ... RUN!!!!

I assume that this is nothing more but the white version of the previous LTD Edition Silverburst TB IV which I own. That bass also had chrome hardware and "TB Plus" chrome pups. But "TB Plus" in Epi speak is not "Gibson TB Plus"! Huge dif. Those Epi chromies are actualy six pole guitar pups (unepoxied) with a mammoth output (10 or 11), but consisting (on bass) of nothing but mids, mids, and more mids. The nasty kind. In fact those pups have a narrower frequency range than the regular run of the mill Epi soapbars do: Less bass, less treble (the Epi soapbars have no presence either). I was really disappointed when I played mine and I had an alpine white Epi TB IV with soapbars and the Epi Blackbird with the DeepSix soapbars to compare.

But all is well now: A pair of spare Gibson TB Plus chromelings from a Money bass now grace my Silverburst and it is as if a wet blanket has been pulled from the Epi Bird. I sounds as good now in range as a real TBird would and has that maple snap, only the upper register sustain gives testimony that bolt-on (though popular since Golgotha days) is a flawed and vile concept.  

I gave the original pups to someone here who installed them on his guitar and liked the high output, but I forgot who!  

So if you like the color and belong to those disturbed people who continue to believe that chrome affects sound and general wellbeing then buy one by all means, but don't forget to ebay a pair of real Gibson TB Plus chrome pups as well.

[Dave W]

I remember seeing these several years ago. They were only about $300 new. Nice looking for the price. Played one, it was midrangy and fuzzy sounding. Whatever those pickups were, they needed replacing.

Flaw: This bass has no visible flaws - it looks and plays like new.

Assuming this is true, it's probably a dealer return that was never sold.

[SKATE RAT]

I'm no Epi basher (as everyone knows) but if those pups are what I think they are then ... RUN!!!!

I assume that this is nothing more but the white version of the previous LTD Edition Silverburst TB IV which I own. That bass also had chrome hardware and "TB Plus" chrome pups. But "TB Plus" in Epi speak is not "Gibson TB Plus"! Huge dif. Those Epi chromies are actualy six pole guitar pups (unepoxied) with a mammoth output (10 or 11), but consisting (on bass) of nothing but mids, mids, and more mids. The nasty kind. In fact those pups have a narrower frequency range than the regular run of the mill Epi soapbars do: Less bass, less treble (the Epi soapbars have no presence either). I was really disappointed when I played mine and I had an alpine white Epi TB IV with soapbars and the Epi Blackbird with the DeepSix soapbars to compare.

But all is well now: A pair of spare Gibson TB Plus chromelings from a Money bass now grace my Silverburst and it is as if a wet blanket has been pulled from the Epi Bird. I sounds as good now in range as a real TBird would and has that maple snap, only the upper register sustain gives testimony that bolt-on (though popular since Golgotha days) is a flawed and vile concept.  

I gave the original pups to someone here who installed them on his guitar and liked the high output, but I forgot who!  

So if you like the color and belong to those disturbed people who continue to believe that chrome affects sound and general wellbeing then buy one by all means, but don't forget to ebay a pair of real Gibson TB Plus chrome pups as well.

it was i, who installed them in a copy les paul.thanx.

[uwe]

Yes, you - the pirate!!! And, are they still on duty? My luthier told me that they were the pups Epi tends to put in its midlevel guitars.

[SKATE RAT]

yup,they work great in my back up guitar. hopefully the new drummer we're gonna try on tues works out. then i'll have a reason to use my guitars again.

[uwe]

Good to hear they at least sound well in a guitar!