I compared my new Hobbird side by side to the closest thing I could think of: my 2006 Gothic TBird IV, which is an odd item for the fact that is has a
no-ply as opposed to a nine-ply neck, it has a massive maho neck unlike any other reverse Gibson TBird except for the earliest ones in 63. Of course it is neck thru (the Hobbird is set neck), but it has the same flat black faded fin, not that that would in any way impact on sound I hasten to add. Same pups (in theory). Both were strung with a fresh set of D'Addario 105s nickel roundwounds. Gothic has an ebony, Hobbird a rosewood board.
A few observations:
- The Hobbird sounds warm and full, even musical, but with none of the assertiveness of its longscale sibling. D and G are superior to a long scale in their mellow phatness, but with E and A you lack that taut rebound which not only feels better when playing, but also lets a longscale cut through better on the deeper strings. That said, E and A are perfectlly fine and even on the Hobboird as short scales go, you can't beat the laws of physics.
- In essence, the Hobbird sounds TBirdish sans the piano strrring rrring and the assertive mids of a long scale. My guess is that the lack of those two had it fall through with Scott (of Thunder) in his live test. I'm taking mine to the rehearsal tonight.
- For whatever reason the longscale sounds louder than the Hobbird. The Gothic came out with allegedly "new design TB Plus pickups" for added ooomph at the time, no idea whether the more docile nature of its little brother is down to the scale difference, the pup positioning (further to the neck) or that I cannot get the pups of the Hobbird as close to the strings due to the convex body/neck angle which has the side of the neck pup towards the neck slant earlier towards the strings than the side facing away from it.
- Maybe it is plek'ked after all? The fretjob looks utalitarian, true, but it is surprisingly even - no other off the rack TBird has enabled me to get the action as low buzz-free. I could still go lower but have decided not to, let's not get too girly.
- Do not let pics deceive you. Against all optical illusions the Hobbird's body has the same body shape and body size of its larger brother. But it tends to look smaller in almost all situations. The fact that they have dragged the pickguard all the way up to and even higher than the bottom of the pups distorts the visuals of the Hobbird (in an unfortunate way me thinks) but I've held the bodies side by side, no difference in shape.
Overall: It plays and feels better than it looks. But the feel is more Fire- than Thunderbird.