NAMM update from Chris (Embassy and Tbird content)

[tore00]

I must resist! I hope that will be like my love story with a 1967 lady. I resisted to buy a reissue of the Guild Starfire to meet the lady that I mentioned in my other posts. Hope that the story will end in the same way, when I bought a 1967 Starfire at the same price of a reissue

[dadagoboi]

At most. If it's all MIC, their cost is probably half that.

Definitely Dave.  Pickups, bridge and tuners are MIC.  I was being conservative, most on this forum don't seem to have a clue how much stuff costs.

My former partner, who still manufactures in China and is part owner of three factories there, told me last week he anticipates higher material and labor costs as well as stiffer environmental rules in 2017.  So higher prices on Chinese goods make sense, but almost doubling US street prices for a mildly redesigned product seems out of line to me.  Especially with the yuan/dollar exchange rate at an almost eight year low.

I must resist! I hope that will be like my love story with a 1967 lady. I resisted to buy a reissue of the Guild Starfire to meet the lady that I mentioned in my other posts. Hope that the story will end in the same way, when I bought a 1967 Starfire at the same price of a reissue

Good luck with that!

[tore00]

It happened to me twice! I have bought my 1968 EB0 for the equivalent of 50 $ back in 1989 and the the Guild Starfire.
In Italy we say there is no two without three...

[lowend1]

That would make more sense, assuming it's MIC. But the prices Rob quoted are supposedly what it will retail for. We'll see.

I can't see them blowing a hole in the product line at a sensible price point (killing the C-IV Pro) to create a new, higher priced model of something that has a niche market. Despite Gibson's inherent silliness with their bass line, Epiphone has always been pretty much on the mark.

[Highlander]

Referencing the Chinese TB pups a lot of us purchased... would be fascinating to discover if these are the new pups and we've been the market-research for Epi/Gibbie...

Once one of us gets one of these beasties someone will be able to compare them...

[RedVee]

I'm keen to read some reviews once they hit the market. And maybe a comparison with the Classic.

I really like ebony Thunderbirds..,,

[4stringer77]

July is a long ways off. A review of the Korina Explorer would be nice in the meantime.

[uwe]

If the pups are indeed Chinese, I'm afraid prices will go up until summer, with the new tariffs and all. 

Well, at least they actually did pay for their wall. 

[4stringer77]

I wasn't going to say it Uwe, but you could be right. At least it would give Gibson the opportunity to sell a made in America bass at a competitive price. Besides, who really wants to see Epiphone on the headstock of their 60's reissue Thunderbird?

[uwe]

If these things sell well, it might incentivize Gibson USA to produce that all-thought-consuming fetish fantasy of this forum: the true reissue of a 60ies TBird. A prospect that leaves me unexcited personally, but since I know how my brethren crave for it, you have my unadulterated support! 

To me, the best, most refined TBird ever built in series is/was the 2015 TB with the DeCola pups, plek'ed frets and the Babicz bridge. It also epitomizes to me how you can gently modernize something, yet still stay true to the original spirit. But of course not with you reactionary lot, you TBird Amish! 

[66Atlas]

I can get over the headstock on the Embassy, but why they heck did they change the upper horn? looks odd to me.  A little too phallic 

[TBird1958]

I ordered a white Bird from Sweetwater today   

[Basvarken]

The new Epiphone Classic Pro Thunderbird takes over some of their own Gibson market.
So they need to set up a line above that to justify more expensive bass guitars that are basically the same.
Enter the vintage correct slightly reliced Thunderbird. Made in the USA for people who want to pay $3000 for a new Thunderbird.

[4stringer77]

I can get over the headstock on the Embassy, but why they heck did they change the upper horn? looks odd to me.  A little too phallic 

The people who gripe about neck dive can be held directly responsible.

[uwe]

I wonder if there were ever Embassy basses - like there were Newports - that did not have the batwing headstock, but the then more trad. Epi 2+2 one?

The concept of anything being "a little too phallic" is anathema to me. I am the owner of a  Warwick  Fortress Flashback!