New Epiphone Thunderbird video

[Dave W]

Admit it, Denis, you've already decided to buy one.

[Denis]

No!
If these are anywhere as near as good as what's claimed in the earlier videos, then the old bolt-on neck Epi Tbirds will pretty much become worthless.
And I think that because these are coming out, there was zero interest in my Japanese market Epi Thunderbird.

[lowend1]

No!
If these are anywhere as near as good as what's claimed in the earlier videos, then the old bolt-on neck Epi Tbirds will pretty much become worthless.
And I think that because these are coming out, there was zero interest in my Japanese market Epi Thunderbird.

On the first point, I don't think so. Guys with hands the size of a baseball glove will always appreciate the generally hefty quality of the bolt-on Epi's neck profile, not to mention the budget pricing. I will likely put my own b/o Thunderbird up for sale, though, so I guess we'll find out...
On the second point, you could be right.

[veebass]

No!
If these are anywhere as near as good as what's claimed in the earlier videos, then the old bolt-on neck Epi Tbirds will pretty much become worthless.
And I think that because these are coming out, there was zero interest in my Japanese market Epi Thunderbird.

Yes, I have been wondering whether these would impact the value of Greco Birds.
They, of course, have  a heftier neck and a more 70s TBird spec.

[patman]

Right now I am more tempted by the EPI Classic IV Pro...

Through body guitar...

USA Gibson Pups...

Isn't it pretty much a real bird?...am I missing something?

[Basvarken]

USA Gibson Pups...

I don't think so.
More likely Hong Kong

[TBird1958]

Right now I am more tempted by the EPI Classic IV Pro...

Through body guitar...

USA Gibson Pups...

Isn't it pretty much a real bird?...am I missing something?

It is, I don't think the wood is of the same quality as Gibson, but otherwise the construction is the same and the pickups are what Gibson uses, U.S. made. 

[Dave W]

The Gibson TB-Plus pickups are machine wound. If they were MIC using identical materials and specs, would it matter? The automatic winding machine wouldn't know where it's located. Likewise for the upcoming Vintage PRO; what will matter is what they'll sound like. Good or bad, they won't sound any better if they were MIA with the same materials and specs.

Wood is a different mater. AFAIK no Asian instruments have ever claimed to use genuine mahogany. That's not to say that you would notice a tonal difference, you'd have to compare for yourself. OTOH Gibson has reportedly used plantation grown genuine (Honduras) mahogany from Fiji in all but a few Gibson Custom models since 2008. I doubt this wood is identical the same species harvested from Central and South American forests.

[Basvarken]

Ah, I thought you guys were talking about the new Epiphone Thunderbird; the Vintage Pro. (after all that is what this topic is about isn't it?)
The Vintage Pro has Epiphone ProBucker™ Bass #760 Humbuckers. Which look (and probably are) exactly the same as the Hong Kong buckers from EYguitarmusic.

The Classic Pro indeed has Gibson TB Plus™ humbuckers

[Dave W]

Ah, I thought you guys were talking about the new Epiphone Thunderbird; the Vintage Pro. (after all that is what this topic is about isn't it?)
The Vintage Pro has Epiphone ProBucker™ Bass #760 Humbuckers. Which look (and probably are) exactly the same as the Hong Kong buckers from EYguitarmusic.

The Classic Pro indeed has Gibson TB Plus™ humbuckers

We have been talking about the Vintage Pro. Pat just said he was leaning toward the Classic Pro.

The new ProBuckers may turn out to be clones of the Hong Kong buckers but I doubt they come from the same place. Epi will probably make them in-house.

[Granny Gremlin]

But 'in-house' for Epi is still a factory in China, so what's the diff

[Dave W]

But 'in-house' for Epi is still a factory in China, so what's the diff

Could be no difference at all. OTOH they may not be true clones.

[Basvarken]

Epi will probably make them in-house.

As far as I know Epiphone doesn't make pickups in-house.

[lowend1]

I'm looking forward to doing a side-by side comparison of all my birdies when the V-Pro finally shows up - even though I'm lacking anything pre-'76.

[Dave W]

As far as I know Epiphone doesn't make pickups in-house.

I'm reasonably sure they do. Reading their press releases for their guitar pickups, I've certainly gotten that impression. Gibson makes almost all the pickups in their guitars in house.