January brings the snow

Started by PhilT, January 04, 2010, 04:52:01 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

PhilT

I just bought an Arctic White Epi Tbird on eBay. Prices have really dropped, a year ago I was watching them go for GBP350, I paid 100 less than that for this one. But then I see Thomann, the big dealer based in Germany, is knocking out the Pro IV NA for GBP270. Anyway, I prefer passive and I wanted a white one.


ack1961

That looks killer.  Great job picking that up.
Enjoy.
Have Fun.  Be Nice.  Mean People Suck.

uwe

I've got one of those "Snowwhites" too. What better bass to come out of the closet?!

The Epi pups in that are btw better-sounding than the chrome ones in the silver burst ltd run editions. Those looked nice, but didn't sound it.
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

exiledarchangel

Quote from: uwe on January 04, 2010, 06:43:04 AM
The Epi pups in that are btw better-sounding than the chrome ones in the silver burst ltd run editions. Those looked nice, but didn't sound it.

Epi pups in IV tbirds seems to have too much mids and almost no treble, they must be awfully overwound or something.
Don't be stupid, be a smartie - come and join die schwarze Hardware party!

Darrol

I almost got one of the white birds at the end of their run. They ran out and put it back up a few hours later when I purchased it but they were still out so they gave me the goth bird instead.
There are many in this world that call me Darrol, feel free to be apart of that group.

Rhythm N. Bliss


uwe

The soaps on reg Epi TBs are middish indeed and have little sparkle, but at leat they have forceful mids and sufficient bass whereas the silver burst ltd run just had a middish squawk in those chrome (originally guitar) pups. Adding Gibson TB-Plus pups - soap or chrome - brings in the presence sparkle and approximates a real TBird sound already pretty well.
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

Highlander

The random mind of a Silver Surfer...
If research was easy, it wouldn't need doing...
Staring at that event horizon is a dirty job, but someone has to do it; something's going to come back out of it one day...

exiledarchangel

Quote from: uwe on January 04, 2010, 07:59:23 PM
The soaps on reg Epi TBs are middish indeed and have little sparkle, but at leat they have forceful mids and sufficient bass whereas the silver burst ltd run just had a middish squawk in those chrome (originally guitar) pups. Adding Gibson TB-Plus pups - soap or chrome - brings in the presence sparkle and approximates a real TBird sound already pretty well.

So a pair of TBplus is the cure for all diseases then! :D
Don't be stupid, be a smartie - come and join die schwarze Hardware party!

godofthunder

Nothing like a white Tbird ! Very nice !
Maker of the Badbird Bridge, "intonation without modification" for your vintage Gibson Thunderbird

PhilT

The only Tbird I've ever lusted after was a white one, crazy really, I doubt if I'll carry it off like this ...



Sensibly, if it plays and sounds something like a Precision (I guess that's heresy) but looks more exciting, I'll be quite happy. Changing the pickups might be an option, but doesn't that involve routing (I thought the Gibson ones are a bit bigger)?

Pilgrim

Quote from: PhilT on January 05, 2010, 02:23:15 PM
The only Tbird I've ever lusted after was a white one, crazy really, I doubt if I'll carry it off like this ...




Only ONE member of our illustrious group would have a shot at carrying that look off!
"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila."

PhilT

Quote from: Pilgrim on January 05, 2010, 02:57:22 PM
Only ONE member of our illustrious group would have a shot at carrying that look off!

I know. I need makeup tips. And hair.

Bitch, I'm soooo jealous.  :P

uwe

Yes, on this model the chrome TB Plus pups aren't long enoug and the soap TB Plus need a little routing. No need to do it if you are happy with its stock Grabber sound. And dialing down the bridge pup brings out a sound not un-TBirdish, if less sparkly.
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

PhilT

Well, it arrived yesterday, despite the UK being paralysed by snow. Certainly doesn't look budget, very solid. well made and the finish is flawless. 2007 Unsung, according to Guitar Dater Project. Arctic White is dead on as a description, since I actually have some snow to compare it with.

I've risked the wrath of the string police and put a new set of Roto Jazz flats on it. Acoustically it's still very lively, much brighter and zingier than either of the Ps, but then the strings are newer. I've played it through the Crate combo I use for rehearsals and it's huge. My daughter, who lives across the street, stuck her head out the window to see if the noise that was drowning out her TV really was her dear old Dad. That's with 50W and a 12" speaker, I'll have to be careful when I get a bigger amp behind it. Dialing down the bridge pup really does give it a lot more depth, I couldn't say if it's TBirdish or not, but I like it.