Epi sunburst & chrome bolt on model

Nocturnal · October 19, 2009, 08:55:56 PM

Probably the same setup as the Silverburst basses, but it's in sunburst. Seems a little high, unless it's not going to be an easily available model. It seems like they could sell a lot of this type of run since people seem to want chrome hardware.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Thunderbird-IV-Ltd-Ed-Chrome-Electric-Bass_W0QQitemZ160370975532QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2556dae32c

uwe · October 20, 2009, 05:33:35 AM

Beware of those guitar pups lurking in there - anybody buying this (or the Silverburst variation) should know that the chrome pups sound worse than what is normally in a stock budget Epi TBird. OTOH: If you swap the pups against real Gibson TB Plus Humbuckers (readily available over EBay a pair for 100 bucks +/-), then you have a TBird sound that doesn't need to hide itself before the real thing.

Tells you: Not everything is gold that glistens like chrome.

jmcgliss · October 20, 2009, 07:34:15 AM

Uwe speaks the truth. Since changing to Gibson pups, my silverburst now has some guts.

Hornisse · October 20, 2009, 08:25:23 AM

So these are standard humbucker sized pickups? I wonder how they'd sound with a set of EMG-SS pickups.........

Dave W · October 20, 2009, 08:40:15 AM

Everything with EMGs sound like EMGs to me. NTTAWWT.

Daniel_J · October 20, 2009, 08:44:39 AM

Pickups aside, it sure is a nice burst though. Similar to the Elitist series burst.

uwe · October 20, 2009, 09:08:11 AM

What's in there sounds middishly nasty and at the same time curiously flat. Does the inherent sound possibilites of this otherwise well-made bass no justice at all, Epi should kick themselves.

EMG pups are always a matter of contention here, but like them or not they would certainly upgrade this bass in sound. Personally, I like stronger mids than what EMGs generally offer. With (Gibson) TB Plus pups implanted, this bass has glistening treble, middish raunch and kick-in-the-butt fundamental ooomph.

chromium · October 20, 2009, 10:39:39 AM

If it helps anyone, I had made a quick recording of a stock Epi Silverburst during a brief encounter. This should give you some idea of the tone with those geetar humbuckers. The sound can be serviceable at times, but it is definitely not in keeping with that characteristic ballsy "Thunderbird sound"

For this test, I had cancelled out the bass tracks on a Kraan and Meters recording and played the Epi right over the top. In the Kraan song, I'm using a pick with the neck pickup on full, the bridge pickup rolled off just a bit, and the tone control wide open.

The second half of the clip features fingerstyle playing over a Meters song. Here, I'm using the bridge pickup only with the tone rolled off all the way.

TBird1958 · October 20, 2009, 11:55:12 AM

Wouldn't it look better with black hardware

uwe · October 20, 2009, 12:00:20 PM

Indeed, just makes you wanna bolt on too:

TBird1958 · October 20, 2009, 12:47:38 PM

I think you mean strap on...........

jmcgliss · October 20, 2009, 01:52:25 PM

Well that only took a few hours.

TBird1958 · October 20, 2009, 01:54:42 PM

Quote from: jmcgliss on October 20, 2009, 01:52:25 PM
Well that only took a few hours.

Sorry! I'm a little slow on the uptake today

Highlander · October 20, 2009, 03:46:59 PM

I'd be in SERIOUS trouble if my wife found me buffing up a couple of those in the shed...

Pilgrim · October 20, 2009, 05:14:37 PM

Quote from: Kenny Five-O on October 20, 2009, 03:46:59 PM
I'd be in SERIOUS trouble if my wife found me buffing up a couple of those in the shed...

Squirrels aren't acceptable as chaperones? (He asked innocently...)

Epi sunburst & chrome bolt on model

Hornisse