Epiphone Thunderbird Pro-IV

Bass made in Indonesia ... 20 frets and 4 pots for volume and tone control.

UTILIZATION

The handle is quite nice, everything is pretty easy. It stings the dice that the head loose but it does not bother me in my game ... The sound palette is interesting and just a little tweaking to get a sound that suits us.

SOUNDS

I bought it to complete my game with my Fender Std. Jazz Bass 2012: have a more electric sound more "vintage" and more aggressive. I play a little Vox Pathfinder 10w (for me) and a Markbass CMD 151 (in rehearsal and concert). Personally, I am quite impressed by the sound of this bass is an entry-level (and away from the price of the Gibson model).

OVERALL OPINION

Hot stamping: I just unpacked the home and I tried it at the store ... It was a lightning strike, was that in his look. I have not tried anything special before buying Epiphone: I played on a Yamaha 170 Rbx on a Squier Vintage PB on a Fender JB Std 2012 and this one. There is nothing to say about the look, the sound is still upgradable setting and small mods (the original strings:!! Ugh) but keeping almost everything. The quality / price is very good: € 312 for a bass that I personally find beautiful and with its super nice. This choice I would definitely but I'll wait to have played a few times with Miss Epiphone before confirming.

I do not know where it proviens .... Asia, China? I just completely disassemble for thorough cleaning, and I can tell you that it's beautiful work. The assembly of the 7 parts of the handle and the body gives it a beautiful and classy. The handle is through ... The grain of the wood on my lovely model and especially on the neck and pledge to sustain life. It is long, interminable due to its shape. 20 medium jumbo cargo ... Two double windings active electronics with volume and low acute balace between the mic.

As usual in épiphonne hardware is really bad it would lead except my easel looks really sturdy and the buttons all metal knobs. I broke a screw micro reassembly, I confirm all hardware is changing. The tuners are also not bad, no problem in replacing new strings and tuning. I do not see how to adjust the trigger guard landlord (feasible) anyone know? I would have liked to hiding winding metal as black or chrome is my next Disco. Plastic mat there not terrible after three years of experience ... I finally € 170 secondhand fly with the strap and a strap ...

UTILIZATION

Very easy to play the first minute of the test load. My other bass is a Fender Precision I'm not homesick or in weight or comfort. It is not so heavy and will hold well sitting on my thigh and my cake It stings a little nose but still bearable after 1:30 game non-stop (sat). The handle is a U.S. highway or all of the boxes are easily accessible.
All I plug in my mid-Stal 30Watt lamp and all its thick is there. I turn the knob quickly do in every way and I think that I can just Taté all styles zic ... But I still sent without thinking of evil and powerful volley well RnR after Ghoste a good line of funk ... This is the form that dictates my game .. I am a fashion victim.

SOUNDS

I think with this you must mail all played it. It is typed certe but not that much. It can break down and a little overdrive or a lot ... Be as round as a Greek status. I look forward to plug into an Ampeg transistor to see.
I have not tested long enough for the moment I'd be update.
It seems that the low E is down it sends less juice than the rest of the strings except from the 10 EIME box. Not a problem but I have not used my accuracy with it is the opposite and that I agree.

OVERALL OPINION

I had a lot of bass, Ibanez ATK, Squier Precision Special (exelente), Vantage, Yamaha, and others. On the bassman (fender) Mark Bass, stal, Pevey, hartke ... I stayed with my accuracy and my stal. I bought this to have a low active and versatile for my sound recording studio.
But it was his look that I like
The value for money is superb. This is no problem I'll keep it and upgrade with an electronic journal and different microphones. For now it remains as it is! Yes Yes Yes it is Bellleuuuu

The First tbird Pro is very different from the standard TBird, the pro is active (that's not a surprise), it has a neck-through (the standard tbird has a handle screwed), the handle is thinner (38 Same-Silet to a jazz bass, 55 to 19 case - thinner than a JB), but also I had three surprises:

first surprise finish wood raw way that makes you feel like a handicraft unique in the hands of great beauty. The contours of the different volumes are softer than the standard TBird is evident at the surepaissseur the body at the neck is very smooth (a real staircase on the tbird standard)
As usual with the epiphone standard of finish is very correct.
deuxiemme surprise: the weight!! it is light (more than a squier deluxe JB) nothing to do with the standard TBird (Norman wardrobe) the body appears thinner and the density of the wood is certainly different.
third surprise: it is still longer than the standard tbird! (About 3 cm or 1.25m! A record?) Already the standard tbird does not fit into the standard houses and crates!! (Thoman has a special model of the house "THOMANN GIGBAG HEAVY BASS 1 / ref: 245877")

as usual with the epiphone violin is very good (for the price and Breathtaking respect to the concurrency at same price level, three of my bass before this one tbird the standard was already the cheapest (211E) and the best by far)

too bad there is no marking on the metal buttons (there are still a notch middle)
To solve the chronic default tbird, the hand strap attachment sleeve arrived behind the neck of the bass suddenly no longer immersed in the neck is much better than the previous series.

UTILIZATION

Good as usual with epiphone first action: throwing ropes, I unpacked, tuned bass, check that the electronic working and I changed the strings by DAdaRIO, I had the black finger! They could sell more of 10E and put real strings?! it is not important but the quality of the epiphone violin is a ridiculous!

SOUNDS

it's a very diverse sound with a little "Boissé" with less than high harmonics squier deluxe JB. The settings are really effective, we can obtain a fatty her sound very clear.

OVERALL OPINION

I resume, it's a very good low and the price is great.
It is very nice, very pleasant to play and effective in his.
I can not get enough.

The Thunderbird IV Pro is an official copy of the Gibson Thunderbird 4 string. Epiphone brand is "cheap" Gibson Group.

Price as Epiphone: about 350 €. Gibson equivalent model: over 1300 €!

The Thunderbird IV Pro is manufactured in Indonesia. It differs from the Thunderbird with its simple set neck and transverse (instead of screwed) and its active pickups (instead of liabilities).

The handle is a "long scale", 34''standard. Its shape, the Thunderbird is one of the longest low. It does not fit into a standard flight case. There are specific boxes branded Epiphone and Gibson (quite expensive).

This handle transversa consists of 7 layers of maple and walnut, topped with a touch of rosewood. The body is mahogany. There are three finishes in 2009-2010: plain, black tinted or "sunburst". I have stained the model type, where the grain of the wood is apparent, making it a beautiful object.

While the neck is wider at the base than that of a Fender Precision. But it's still easy to access for a bass player who used to try various instruments. Avoid it for beginners, however that may be turned off unless you have large hands and wide.

Two humbuckers pickups type T-Pro active electronics and four knobs: volume for each pickup, tone and volume. Thunderbird is more versatile than it seems and should not be confined to his usual role of big bass for big sound rock or metal.

I put 8 / 10, because I love this bass, which is a totally subjective opinion.

UTILIZATION

The neck seems generous when it comes to a Fender Precision or an Ibanez electric. It is less imposing than its thickness in an electro-acoustic (Ibanez).

Bass stings a little nose and is heavy. Is the weight of solid wood and a big model! It is also the charm of a Thunderbird. We like it or not this look a little off, both typed and vintage rock.

Access to acute is average, and provided you do not have small fingers.

The sound: a priori the Thunderbird (thunderbird) is here to send the Watts background, preferably with a pick. She played the score beautifully, the look and more. I have not yet studied all the possibilities, but by grinding a little knobs you can play something else, reggae or soul music for example. But I do not think this is the ideal instrument for funk or jazz. The sound is too heavy and the ergonomics too restrictive.

With the active pickups, you get easily high output. It is the ideal place to spend some effect as a preamp.

Again, hard to be objective Note: 8 / 10

SOUNDS

For now, I have not tested all the possibilities of the beast, but to play the "fat" (punk-rock, hardcore, heavy ...), I can now do without pedal and preamp send big sound and beautiful hum (I play on a Ashdown mag 300).

I even managed a few slaps with correct, even if it is not my thing and this bass is clearly not made for that.

But I expect him to mesh graft strings flat or round for, hopefully, get an even hotter. To see ...

OVERALL OPINION

10 days of happiness bassist already.

Note: Generally a good finish. Finishing "natural oil", actually a kind of glaze, brings into focus the wood. I tried a Jack Cassady, another kind of course, but less well finished (painted burrs, rough assembly of elements ...).

Who loves this very distinctive bass style rock: an excellent choice with it seems a very good value for money.

One downside: the flight case suitable model is difficult to find and expensive. The bass appears cumbersome, it will buy the big cars that goes with it.

I found the flight case: 79 € (15 € shipping in Germany)