Epiphone Special Runs

[Darrol]

So I just got an email from Epiphone that mentioned that they are starting a special run of guitars. The only bass is a special version of the Thunderbird that some of you chrome lovers may like. I am liking the silverburst finish that they gave it too. If I still played bass regularly I would consider getting one.

Doing a search, this sounds similar to the silverburst Epi that was mentioned a year ago.

[Dave W]

That really looks tempting.

[uwe]

The usual suspects will be wetting their panties here. That bass even features TB Plus pups (the chrome guitar size variation as featured in the Epi Elitist TBs where they did commendable service), which is a remarkable upgrade for an Epi, especially as I was under the impression that Gibson very consciously kept its pups away from the Epi fare.

Man, I'm tempted already and I'm not even chrome obsessive.

Darron, when did you move to the Dark (guitar playing) Side of the Force?

[Barklessdog]

Some pics from a TBer, really nice bass





I think it looks great, nice chrome pups, not sure if he added them after.

[Chris P.]

Looks exactly the same as the chrome pick ups here:

http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=309&CollectionID=19

[uwe]

Looks like the new stock model, don't think that is a mod at all and if it were an expensive one as the TB Plus chromies are wider and shorter than the reg Epi TB pups, he would have had to both fill and drill routes plus refin.

[gearHed289]

Nice work Epi! That's a killer looking bass. Pretty much a factory Fenderbird with the bolt-on maple neck and TB pups.

[clankenstein]

crikey

[doombass]

Nice bass, but we can't be sure the pickups are TB Plus. On the Elitist they were specified as U.S.A pickups so they were probably TB Plus but on this new model there is no info about the origin.

[lowend1]

I wonder if they stayed with the 1.75" nut width, or went to the "proper" 1.5" like on the Epi Blackbird. That neck has always been the deal breaker for me.

[angrymatt]

I wonder if they stayed with the 1.75" nut width, or went to the "proper" 1.5" like on the Epi Blackbird. That neck has always been the deal breaker for me.

Same.  I'm almost willing to get this bugger, and then desperatly try to get an epi blackbird neck of the bay to put on it.

[Dave W]

Unless they are specified as USA pickups, I would assume they are not.

[uwe]

It says TB Plus on the specs of the Epi site, so why should they be anything other than the real thing? And even if they were built in Asia to oiriginal specs, that wouldn't matter to me. Nor would I give my lifeblood that Gibson pups are actually made in the USA from scratch.

[Dave W]

Because with the Elitist they made a point of them being US made. It's a selling point that will appeal to some. So if they are the US made version, I can't imagine them failing to say so.

I agree that if they're made to TB Plus specs, it doesn't matter where they're made.

[TBird1958]

The neck on those is the deal breaker for me too, it's just big for my small hands.
I have slim hope the Epi pro will be better..............A 5 string would be nice.