Finally tried a Epi Classic Pro Thunderbird!

[gweimer]

I found a local carrier of the Hubbarton Forge stuff, and went there during lunch this week.  I didn't see anything there that caught my eye, but I did end up buying a $5 Chinese dimmer switch, which I wired into my broken lamp.  It's missing a nut for the shaft, and I think I can use one of the nuts from a spare volume pot in my bass parts.

I told you guys you were a bad influence on me.   

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I hate to say it (now I really sound like a free marketeer), but fencing off your economy against this fact of life might be popular, but name me one country where it has in the mid and long term fostered the home economy?

The difference is that the move was NOT of the market. The closing of Levi's, Electro Voice, and dozens of other local manufacturing plants was precipitated by NAFTA, Bill Clinton's price tag for the Democratic party's soul and the long term stability of the country. The jobs weren't unionized or even high paying, (Tennessee's employment laws were rewritten at the height of 80's Reaganomics) but when the feds literally offered tax rebates for companies to move jobs out of the US, they bit and bit HARD. ...and quality did suffer and the companies did have sales downturns, so much so that a few of them were bought out (EV). Levi's Malaysian jeans fell apart after a few washes and so did their sales. EV moved its production of mics to Nebraska and speakers to Arkansas for a three years to avoid having to fund pensions for former Tennessee workers, then everything moved to Mexico. Their whole corporate group collapsed and was bought out and I stopped keeping track of them. It's not protectionist to not pay companies to move overseas, but as the US government ably demonstrates, lobbyists, not citizens or the welfare of the country, dictate policy.

[gearHed289]

but as the US government ably demonstrates, lobbyists, not citizens or the welfare of the country, dictate policy.

That pretty much sums it up.

[NOT]

These basses are fantastic! My buddy, a guitarist, tried my Classic Pro a couple days ago and refused to believe it's an Epiphone. "It's too well made to be an Epiphone." he argued.

[TBird1958]

Wow! Looks great all chromed out Todd!

[godofthunder]

 Todd that looks great ! I'm going to give mine the chrome treatment to 

[NOT]

Thanks guys. There's just something about a Thunderbird and chrome. And with my generation sort of being the EMG generation 'birds alone are pretty rare. Even non musicians compliment my Thunderbirds for their 'Old School' look.

I'd really like to get one of the new Jackson JS2 Kellybirds and replace the stock pickups with beautiful chrome. I think it'd look neat.

[godofthunder]

 I bought a JS2 on sale from MF it's a killer bass and a bargain  at twice the price....................maybe even 3x the price. I can't say enough good things about it.

[uwe]

Pup finish does not influence sound!

[TBird1958]

Pup finish does not influence sound!

It influences your coolness! 

[Bionic-Joe]

It influences your coolness! 

I second that, Mark!!!!! It's time Gibson dump the lame black 80's pickups and hardwared and get back to the Nickel/Chrome, BIG headstock, Big Tuners deal!!! Plus...I prefer the shape of the Original 1960's Thunderbirds as opposed to the '76 and current body style.

[godofthunder]

 Everytime I see the Gibson rep. I keep on telling him the same, thing give us real  a 60's spec bird! They should use my bridge! It's made by the same folks who supply much of Gibsons hardware. It's speced and ready for production no start up costs, pay me a nice little license fee and they are all set. 

[Pilgrim]

It influences your coolness! 

Maybe a chrome codpiece?   

[Highlander]

Pup finish does not influence sound!

I object...!

(approach the bench please gentlemen)

[hushed-tones] ... surely my learned friend is aware that a chrome or nickel finish on a pickup will almost certainly be on a copper or steel casing; whereas, it is quite normal for black pickup casings to be of plastic construction; therefore, there will be some potential tonal quality difference between the two otherwise potentially identical pickups ... [/hushed-tones]

(sustained...) 

[TBird1958]

I can understand the black as a choice made in the late '80s.

It's 2013! time for a change Gibson!
The stupid thing is, they already have at bits to do it with, it would no doubt help sales of U.S. Thunderbirds (somew new colors too, Inverness green anyone!?)