Epiphone Thunderbird IV

I'm not gonna bore someone by repeating. See below about volume control for each PU etc.
Being a keyboarder I quarrel with my competence. Elseway I'd have given a 10. Dito for further ratings.

Contrary to my normal use of buying 2. hand only, I played and listened to all basses of this big store (Amptown, Hamburg, Germany)from 0 to 800 Euros. Ending up wih a Yamaha- a brand I prefer when it comes to synthesizers- for 798euros and this model for about half of it, I would have anticipated the long scale to react a little slower, the opponent to be more accented. But I found the thunderbird being capable of everything the Yamaha was PLUS a lower end PLUS looking way better.
Giving a 10 here is regarding the bang for buck factor, since everything above 800??? I didn't compare

Don't know if it was due to the shop or to the manufacturer: to me it was perfect. Didn't change anything- besides the belt pin- in 3 years. Being no real bassist giving no 10.

I'm not used to bass guitars, but I'd guess this ones a tank. Even if I had to play it live, I wouldn't care about a backup.

never dealt with

Born in I'm 1964 used to bass players accompanying their drummer instead of showing off themselves, so my idea of a bass sound may be a little old fashioned. Still a newbie after 3 years I only wish I'd have waited to buy used.
If it were stolen or lost, I would buy it again in BLACK. I got the natural version, which is great and classic but...it looks f***ing dangerous in black, black mechanics hardware anyway.
I WILL replace the pickguard by a transparent one.
I absolutely love it's deep end without loss of reaction- no drop d afforded. The overall sound is great and wide. If I was a real I might have given a 10.
I DID compare to about 15 basses up to 800 euros. This one sounded best for half the costs. Only wish I COULD have is a perfect fitting flight case included

-Sunburst finish
-closed gear tuners
-Gibson style bridge
-humbucker pickups in neck and bridge positions
-Controls: Volume, Volume, Tone.

Pretty standard.

I liked this bass alot for playing, blues, punk and reggae music although I found it still worked well for many other styles. I was very surprised by the versatility of this bass. I played it through a Yorkville XM200C and it sounded great. Despite other reviews of the slap sound of this bass I actually liked it alot. Probably a bit bass heavey for some but I really liked it.

I bought it used so I can't comment on factory setup but When I got it everything was fine. No problems with it flaw wise either. My only complaints were how heavey it was and the thin neck. Finish was also nice. It looks 100x better than the pictures on the Epiphone site.

I have gigged this without a backup numerous timesand it never let me down. This thing is a beast. everything is solid.

Never needed them.

This is pretty sweet bass. I loved mine and regret selling it. The only reasons I sold it were the thin neck, which I found to be really cramped in first position and the weight. It was like wearing a kitchen table around my neck :) Overall a great bass, starter or intermediate.

You have all read about the features, no need to repeat them. Good hardware, stunning body, good tuners, bridge, and plastic hardware. Bolt on is ok for a cheap (inexpensive) bass. Finish is great on the one I bought. Neck is medium sized...would be great for a beginner...

This is where the instrument shines through. This thing sounds incredible. The pickups, although passive, seem pretty hot, yet still retain a "warm" tone. I am mostly a six-string player, so right now I am just playing through a small ampeg amplifier. I have a Pod Multi-Effects pedal. This bass really swings through all the sounds a good bass should. The neck pickup is really full, which surprised me for the price. Running direct through the amp, the bass sounds fantastic...totally clean!

I bought this from MF. Generally when I buy a stringed instrument I wait until winter is over to mail order it, but I really wanted one of these because of the price, so I went ahead and bought it. I let it aclimate for a couple days before breaking it out of the packaging. I couldn't believe it, it was almost dead on in tune, with the action just a fraction off of where I like it. I am sure this is rare, but this thing didn't need much of a setup or anything for that matter. The frets were perfect. The hardware is black and perfect. The pickups sat a bit too close to the strings, but ...

Electronics are really quiet. I have read so much about the bass being top heavy, and I haven't found that to be the case...? I installed some Dunlop Straplocks.

I have a friend that plays in a well known rock band. He plays one of these Epiphone Thunderbirds, and gigs with it night after night, show after show, etc. He took it to Australia with him on tour this fall. He plays with two basses. He can afford ANY bass he wants. This was a band which was popular in the 80's which was HUGE. He could get an endorsement deal from anyone, guaranteed, but he chooses to play the Ephiphone rather than the Gibson, when he is on tour. The reason I brought this up is because of the durability of this bass. I would absolutely gig with this bass, but never without a backup, just for reasons like strings, etc. He bought his bass and other than the first setup, has not made ANY modifications. I would depend on this beast.

Lifetime warranty. Have dealt with Epiphone before (Gibson) on a Les Paul issue. Great company. A bit slow, but entirely helpful and it doesn't take a great deal of time to speak with a human, at least after the computer generated menus...lol.

I have been playing 25 years. I own mostly six-strings...two Washburn Face Erasers, Washburn NC-70 Custom Shop, ESP KH-2, Kramer Focus 3000, Fender American Big Apple Strat, MIM Fender Sunburst Strat, Washburn Nick Catanese Import, ESP LTD Jeff Hanneman, Garrison G25-CE, Lapatrie Concert, Washburn Bass. I have a few amplifiers, Marshall ZW Micro Stack, Fender G-Dec, Peavey Envoy 110, Fender Acousisonic Jr., Line 6 Spider II, and a Mesa Dual Rectifier 3 Channel head and Mesa slant 4 x 12.

I was fairly informed before I purchased this bass, so I don't think I would have asked anything more. If it were stolen, I would certainly buy another. I love the bass, plain and simple. There is nothing at all I hate about it. My favorite feature is the classic styling and overall looks of this guitar. I have played many, many, many basses before buying this one and could have bought the Gibson or a much more expensive neck through of some sort, but because I play guitar mostly, I figured I would save some cash and go with the Epiphone and I am glad I did. The only thing I wish it had was a good case, which I WILL find... I think this is the BEST value on a bass around right now, dollar for dollar. In this price range for a good bass, there isn't a whole lot of quality intruments out there. But this bass is just that a QUALITY instrument, comparable to much higher priced guitars.

Big long and heavy....2 volume and 1 tone...sunburst finish.

Sound is great up High and down low...almost two low...Seems to get a little muddy on the lower end of the E-string. could be my amp cant handle it! But no matter what volume I am playing at...seems a little muddy down low. I play through an bass overdrive petal, but basically use it as a pre-amp. Overall the sound is crisp and clear.

This thing came out of the box set and ready to play. I don't know what kind of strings were on it, but I quickly swithed to some slinkys and got a much better punchier sound. I am thinking of lowering the action a bit...hope I don't screw the whole thing up. The finish is emmaculate. Gets many compliments. Vintage sunburst Looks very rich and exquisite. No flaws...Perfect. The only complaint I have is the string height over the body. I play with my fingers and took some getting used to.

My kid knocked it over face down on the concrete basement floor...still in tune and not a scratch on it. Built solid. I gig very little, but it is my main bass and I play a pld hamer cruisebass as a backup for more twangy sounds.

I have been playing off and on for 20 years. I knew the neck dive would be a bit of a problem, but was willing to risk it after reading other reviews of the sound and finish put together with the price. They were all right. You get used to the dive pretty quick and the sound is awsome. Chinese quality is top notch.

There is one problem with it...transportation....I have no desire to spend 100 bucks on a case for a guitar that only cost me $275 I currently carry it in my Hamer case, which it barely fits.

Made in China for 2007. I've compared the Korean models to this my brand new Chinese and the new Chinese factory is making nearly a pro line bass. I love the neck plate which is forged and proudly proclaims "Made in China for Epiphone Co., Nashvlle, Tennessee" complete with stamped serial number. The EMG pickups are excellent, the bridge is fine contrary to many reiewers and the neck dive for me is barely noticable. Because evrything is satisfactory to me at this point I plan on doing no mods-everything matches- all hardware is black! Rockin'!Maybe because I am 6'3" and 220lbs. After reading so many reviews abouts its neck dive I had already planned on moving the upper strap connector centered on the neck where it meets the body. I have no plans on doing that now. Suggestion: If you are a small person with small hands this bass is not for you anyway! Neck dive indeed...

This is where the bass shines. I am not a metal player, actually I play free improvisational jazz and noise electronics- and the dark growls which eminate from this beast are a joy to the ear. Note: I have this tuned DGCF- that's right , one whole step lower than "normal", and this was the best idea that someone from the bass forum page suggested indirectly. I use Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Heavy guage strings- .050,.075,.085,.110, which results in a crushing low D. No need for a 5 stringer here! Again the EMGs along with V/V/T for controls are perfect! RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOaaaaaaaarrrrrrr!!!!

The action came out of the box almost perfect, just a tad high which I adjusted to medium in about 3 minutes. Frets are well dressed, control knobs are appropriately tight and the tuning pegs look to me like black Gotoh. The finish on the bass is extremely shiny and well done. After sweating through a set, I've made sure to clean it so no oxidation occurs.

I can't gig with this bass without a back up due to its special tuning with heavy guage bass strings. My other bass is an 'A' bass Jazz Jade, custom made in Waltham, MA, which rocks as a jazz bass should. On par with Mike Lull and Sadowsky, but that's anopther review. This bass, in all aspects, seems like a instrument that I will be using for the long haul, and that makes me very happy. I paid $278 incl. S+H from MF- one of my best buys ever!

My list of gear that I own would throw off most bass players as I am into electronics and synths as much as bass. I now own 5 basses, all of them, except for the 'A' bass, on the inexpensive side, like my 62J SX, which deserves a 10. I've owned everything from Alembic to Zon and I can honestly say that there is stuff coming out of China that makes a lot of "pro" gear look less than pro. I love this bass- if you are strong, don't mind (or perhaps you love?) the legnth of the neck, realize that all these "neck divers" are a bunch of wieners, then I strongly encourage you to be a man and get this bass! A man's bass! Period!

the features are all known. I have the sunburst finish on mine.

the bass sounds great for the price. I paid a little over $300 at guitar center. I wanted a bass that was geared towards hard rock, and this fit the bill. I was originally going to get a Fender Jazz bass but awesome body styling of the T-bird and sound stole me.

the factory set-up was completely screwed up. I played a T-Bird with another finish, which was set-up decently. nothing great, but playable.

I preferred the sunburst finish, so they found me one in the back. the set-up was buzzing everywhere. the strings were on the frets for the first 5, and WAY too high everywhere else. a complete mess.

I fixed it with some bridge and truss rod adjustments. it's much better now. but "out of the box", it was completely terrible.

I've only owned it a few months. it's always tough to project an instruments longevity. the hardware is a little concerning. it just doesn't seem to be built to last the long run.

but on the other hand, if you take proper care of your gear, you usually don't have many issues with it.

I owned multiple Epiphone guitars and this is my first bass from them. but I've never had a need to deal with them.

I can't give this bass a great overall rating. it's a good bass, but nothing that will blow you away. it's a one-trick pony. it was built to rock, and it never claimed to do anything else. slap can't really be played on it. but it will give you a deep, heavy tone.

but something about his bass just doesn't sell me completely. if I could give it a 7.9, I would. but it isn't quite an 8.

passive pickups, great finish in sunburst, nice neck not to wide not to thin 2 volume controls anda tone control bought it in sept 06 has grooves ontop of the pickups so u can rest your thumb while using fingers instead of pick

great sound i play it through a HIWATT which sounds amazing, has great range of tones i play with a pick and can get some nice top end tones aswell as thumping bass notes. volume controlls dont alter the sound that much but the tone controll is usesfull to wack up the treble wen using fingers instead of pick.

the bass was setup well from the factory the action was a little high but that was easily adjusted using the 3 bridge screws. only bad thing is it does neck dive a fair bit but that dosnt bother me much as i drink beer with my right hand and hold the neck with my left.

this bass is very durable it seems like it will last forever i have knocked it a few times and finish has no blemishes, replaced the strap buttons with strap locks straight away but i do this with all my guitars. i would feel confident to gig theis without a backup, but u never know wen u are going to snap a string with any instrument so i usualy take a backup

never delt with them

been playing for about 6 years now and this one of the best basses i have owned, i also have a fender std p bass and an sg bass both are good but i prefer the thunderbird. iff it were stolen i would buy this again or maybee upgrade to a gibson thunderbird or maybee an american p bass.

This bass has a nice deep solid tone that just rocks you can really see why its the thunderbird and not the brightbird it has that badass body shapeand the neck does dive but unless your spinning around like a crazy person yuoull be fine the vvt potes are the same as my jazz basss so I dont know why people complain about lack of tones use your amp thats what its there for!

As I said it just rocks it will shake walls and sounds great through an ampeg actually put the two of theme together and bame you have a kick ass rock sound that cuts through any mix.

The one I played at the music store had a nice thick vintage dark sunburst coolor and the bridge had tons of sustain and it stayed in tune the whole hour I fiddled with it and the EMGs rocked and were totally silent.

This thing is built like a tank but once I get it I will still use my P-bass as a backup not because the thunderbirds unreliable but just to get that brighter p-bass sound.

Has a lifetime warranty.

Thisd bass is kickass and I played a righty upside down! I cant wait to order a lefty. So if you like rock music and are thinking of buying this bass just buy it you wont be dissapointed

Alder body, rosewood neck (bolt on), 2 thunderbird humbucking pick-ups (passive), 2 volume knobs, 1 tone knob, 34" scale, 1.73" nut width.

Now this is why i love this bass. I had been eyeing them for a long time and finally one day i tried one out in a shop. This is the only way to go people. Don't buy stuff through mail order. No two guitars are alike. You need to get your hands, eyes and ears on the exact guitar you wish to buy and inspect it thouroughly. If it doesn't feel right in one shop, try the same model out in another shop.

That said, i plugged this baby in and it boomed. I love the fat neck. This is one solid mutha. I play rock in the style of The Who, Led Zep, Kings of Leon and this guitar helps me thump out the basslines. It's rich, full, woody, deep, punchy and warm. Don't expect ultra bright high-end though. However, i'm perfectly happy with the tone i get sliding up to the 12th fret postion, as it's relative to the rest of the guitar's tone.

I pretty much stick to both pick-ups on and don't touch the tone knob - effectively everything on full! I really don't need to get other sounds out of this bass. Others might find it less versatile sonicly, but frankly, have a second bass if you need a different tone. I've given it a 9, because i reckon the Gibson version has to be the 10 if anything. I plan to buy a Gibby one day.

Action is subjective, but when i played it in the shop it was pretty much just what i liked. Not too high, not too low and no buzz.

The finish is very good. No paint/finish defects at all. This, you really have to look at in the store, once you've decided you like the sound and how it plays. Give it a good once over and if it's good, you know you're getting a fine guitar.

It gets an 8 for the strap button placement. Yes, there is a bit of neckdive, but again how bad it is, is subjective. I can put up with it no problem. I can recommend however, getting a decent, wide, padded comfy strap.

It's very solid indeed. I would keep an eye on the headstock though as it's a very long bass. Be careful turning around on stage (mind your singer) and watch out in low ceiling rooms.

Haven't needed this.

I've been playing guitar for about 15 years now. This bass looks, feels and plays like something more expensive than it is. It is not everyone's cup of tea, but for those that it is, you ought to feel very pleased indeed.
If it were stolen i would buy one again instantly. Infact i'd probably get the Gibson version.

A 10 for value.

Made in 2005.
* Alpine white finish
* Slim-taper neck
* Rosewood fingerboard
* 20 frets
* Premium die-cast machine heads
* 2 volume controls
* 1 tone control
* 2 Thunderbird Bass humbucking pickups
* Limited lifetime warranty

I love the sound. If you like that nirvana sound, this is the bass you should get. It really is a rock bass. I always play on the bridge pickup and the sound is awesom, it has a col growl.
If you play on the neck pickup...
REAALY DEEP! It's so dynamic. It's an awesome sound, I mean it!

* Pros

The neck setup is awesome! I'm absolutely sure they've checked it really accurate. The electronics are also very good, never had a problem with it. The strings from the factory are also very good, fits the tone of a Thunderbird.


* Cons

The finishing is not that good. The back of the T-bird contains some finishing flaws. Little bubbles and some dust between the laquer and the wood. Also around the neck pickup the hole is cut absolutely horrible. It's like they just ripped the piece of wood out of it. To bad, cause it really is a beautiful bass. I guess if you want a T-bird that has a 10/10 finish, you should get a Gibson instead of a Epiphone.

Never had a problem with it. Solid as a rock.
Would go to a gig with just this bass. It never fails. The laquer will last for more than 3 decades. No doubt about that.
The bridge is also solid and very depending.

The fretboard hasn't got a single mistake, no buzzing frets or whatever.

never dealt with them

You should buy this if you like that White finish and the thunderbird sound. It's really a superb bass.

Only regret is the finishing, It's gorgeous, shiny and smooth but there are some flaws in it.

Would definatly buy it again. I paid 500? (520$) for it last year and for that little money I got a hard case, a beautiful bass and an agressive tone.

made around 02/03 in korea. 21 frets 4 strings.
fine for a standard bass.

gives a cool deep bassey sound but thats it, no diversity. playing it through a laney. better in studio.

the bass was fine when recieved and hasn't needed ne work.

i don't find playin the bass easy to play live as it's so heavy to carry round stage so i normally favour a p-bass or jazz bass on stage. stayed together for a couple of years without ne problems.

Not one of the best basses i've played, i fell in love with it when i first played it. but then i found the problems. i prefere a 24 fret bass without the weight and bulkyness of the tbird

I've currently been drooling over my brand-new, Alpine White Ltd. Ed. Epiphone Thunderbird IV (whew!), and I can safely say it is one of the coolest basses I've ever seen. It's apparently part of Epi's Guitar Of The Month thing they're doing this year. It's a 2005 model (duh) and it's made in Korea just like the older models. 20 frets, twin Tbird pickups, two volume pots, one tone. The body is alder, and the neck is rosewood on maple. Finish is a gorgeous sparkling white with matching neck and headstock (if you haven't seen the pics, look them up!). Thin neck compared to my Squier P (har) but I can work with it.

Sound is great for metal or hard rock, but I'm a punk player and I'm trying to tweak the sound as best I can to suit my band. I play through two SWR LA10's with a preamped Pignose for gain. The sound is growly yet articulate; it's all about how you set up the controls.
Overall, the only real gripe I had was the screwball bridge; it basically exploded when I changed the strings and I had a hell of a time getting it back together. The pickups are also a little odd, they don't adjust very well, so I put some extra foam underneath the mid one and it's fine. Also, the rumors about the neckdive are true; it heads straight for the floor if at any point you let go of the neck. Highly aggravating.

It shipped with the action all screwed, but this is expected and easily fixed. I fixed the pickups as described, but the rest of the bass was virtually flawless. the paint beneath the end of the fretboard was actually still wet!

This thing would hold up great in a gig. I've yet to try this (I got it three days ago, and spent two of those three dissecting and examining it), but i plan to soon. The strap buttons are horribly placed, so I'm gonna move one to the back of the neck. The neck, surprisingly, was perfectly straight, and I would definately gig without a backup. I trust this thing with my life.

Never needed it.

I've been playing for almost four years, and I consider myself a pretty competent player. My only other axe is a Squier P that sounds like a pissed off cat in a tin can. This suits me perfectly. I dont care much for effects, so all I've got is my Pignose for distortion.

I've waited WAY too long for this thing to ship for me not to buy it again. I love it's magnificent looks, but the sound is a bit too...well...good for me. I like the garbagey plunk of my cheapo P more. If all else fails, I'll find a way to stick a P pickup in it :)
If anything, I wish it sounded more like my P. This is just me, though. If you dig metal, or anything heavy, then this is the bass for you.

Same as all the other reviews, nothing more to add. Not a huge amount of features, but, you can use each pick-up independently, or both together.

This is the main bit. Huge sound. Bought it cos I played a gig with a band who`se bassist was using one of these. Our bassist (Im was guitarist at the time)was using a Musicman, ?1200, their bassist was using the Thunderbird,?250, n all I could think was "wish our bassist sounded like that" Well, switched to bass, bought the Thunderbird. Did a gig a week ago, with a band whose bassist was using an ESP bass. People kept asking me "why was your bass so much louder n bigger sounding when you were using the same amp?" The answer, my dears, is The Thunderbird! Its not named that without reason.

Set up ok, had to adjust the intonation a bit. No flaws at all, great look and finish. Action higher than I`m used to, but, with a noticeably thinner neck than I`m used to (previously a Precision-man) this doesn`t cause any problems.

Played two gigs with it. Hardly ever have to tune it. Never ever play without strap-locks, so comments on the strap buttons aren`t really applicable. Have had to change to drinking my on-stage beer with my right hand, as the bass nosedives if u let go of the neck. I`ve only got this bass so have to gig without backup. Main thing for me is the tuning bit. Hate it when u see people fannying around tuning between each song - buy a T-bird for f**k sake

Never had to contact them

Been playing for 25 years. Use it with a Hartke HA4000, Kartke 2 x 10 XL cab, and a Hughe & Kettner 1 x 15. I Play in a rock band and this is the bass for me. Would get another in a shot if mine were damaged/stolen. Only bad thing is finding a case (?90 as oppose to ?40 for an ordinary one)

Bought in 2000. Always one of my favorite instrument shapes. Saw it, played for 2 minutes and rushed home to get my Ovation acoustic bass to trade in. I kinda screwed up on my amp selection (Fender 25 watt, sounds crappy at high volume, the only kind of volume that matters) but I love playing this bass. I play only to amuse myself, no bands, and have never owned another bass so I have to give it a high rating. Had to wait awhile for the case to arrive, but no worry, I got a free stand from the shop for my patience (thank you Ian, Lakeshore music, now Long and McQuade, Burlington Ontario Canada) Tried painting the pickgurad black to match the hardware but never got it to look nice and glossy to match the finish, so I just took it off entirely. Looks cool. Same with the trussrod cover, I left it off one day and the whole bass looks simpler and better. simple things amuse simple minds. :) And moving the neck end strap holder to one of the neck joint screws is more than necessary. I don't play as well when the headstock is aiming at the floor.

Nice bottom end/midrange sound, my amp isn't the greatest at high volume, but I've played on other bigger amps and it sounds awesome, especially since upgrading from light strings to medium (Ernie Ball slinkys) and finger plucking now more than using a pick. I only play on the neck pickup, the bridge sounds a little thin to me, and I don't care for the sound of both together. Volume on 10, tone on 10, rock and f***in' roll

The action and setup always seemed good to me from the beginning, never having played another bass regularly I can't compare it. I've learned how to set the action, intonation and adjust the trussrod, and it's helped, especially when changing from light to medium string guage. I do think the A string saddle on mine was in fact a D string saddle. The A string sat REALLY high when I first switched, but a litte scraping and sanding fixed that. Past the warranty, not gonna complain.

Never dropped it, never abused it, and never will. It's been babied I will admit, but I'd bet good money on it's long-term durability over my car any day! Only complaints: part of the nut broke off just over the E string the first time I changed strings (heavier guage) Got it fixed, no problemo. and the tone control went all crackly one day from out of nowhere. Cleaned it with spray tuner cleaner and again, no problemo.

Couldn't say. Never had to contact them.

I've been playing rock guitar and bass for about 10 years. Also own an Epiphone ES335 (the Dot) guitar which has been as great to play as my T-bird. Love these things, don't shy away from "cheap" instruments as they can be as good to a player as the "real" thing. I'd sooner buy another Epiphone than a Gibson. high price doesn't always mean higher quality.

Beutiful pickups, Nice body, Perfect neck. The finish is great dark and devilish with the inlay on the 12th fret and the pickguard with its celtic symbol.. I have no complaints in this department

Once again this beast amazed me.. I was looking for a nice deep dark sound. And this gave out the perfect sound. I love the TB Plus Humbuckers. there's plenty of control over the pickups so once again no complaints here.

Well I'll tell you. When buying this bass i expected to have to fix the strap bolt. The rumors are true, this bass is neck heavy! It was no big deal. All i had to do was move the front bolt to the back of the bass above the "epiphone" emblem near the neck, and it was balanced out nicely.

The hardware seems fine. As for the mahogany body, its built strong. by the looks of it, it should be lasting me a long time. everything is put together nicely and as I would trust it going to a gig without a backup. I'll always still carry one.

didn't have to talk to them

This Bass is incredible, It blows away my and many other expensive basses. If it was lost or stolen I'd deffinatly buy this bass again no doubt about it. The TB plus Humbuckers are amazing pickups and do wonders for such a great value. Those looking for a good replica of the Gibson model buy this. It has the same great playability and sound capability as the real thing. If you ask me I'd save that $1,500 and spend a fraction of it on this wonder of a bass!

Bought it used so not sure how old it is. Made in Korea. You know the spec's, it's a T-Bird. Bolt on neck as opposed to a neck-thru on the Gibson & Epiphone Elite. Two Humbuckers, volume control for each, plus one tone control.

What can I say, it sounds good! It has that deep rock bass tone that I love. I run it through a GK Rb 700 into an Ampeg 4x10HLF. The GK allows me a wide verity of tones and the T-Bird never lets me down. Rich Full tone, unbelievable sustain.

The guys I bought it from had just had it set-up so no problems there. The pots are a little crackly, but I just haven't gotten around to cleaning them yet. My only complaint is, like everyone else, the placement of the strap buttons. Can you say Neck Heavy! I actually moved the front one to the back, just above the neck plate. It is so much better now, but I hated to drill into the instrument plus leave a hole where the button used to be.

This bass toured with it's previous owner, as a back up, so I would say it is well built. Everything still looks and sounds great, with the exception of the crackling pots. I would use it without a back up, with no worries at all.

Couldn't say.

I have been playing for over 20 years and have had many basses. I had been wanting the Gibson, but just couldn't come up with the cash. As that the Epiphone saved me over $1000 I thought it was worth a shot. I am not dissapointed at all, this is a great bass. If I lost or stolen I would definitely buy another one.

Made in 2004, basicaly a set-neck offshore made version of the classic Gibson tunderbird (for those of you who dont know, epiphone is a sister company of gibson, and makes less-expensive (but generaly very nice) clones of "real" gibsons, plus thier own models. Two humbuckers, basic controls (I like passive, simple basses). Nice flawless sunburst finish. If you are one of those "I must have 456,907 different tones" active electronics people dont buy this bass.

Sounds mutch like a Gibson Tunderbird, low booming but not muddy. It has I think a bit more growl, maybe due to set-neck vs neck through on the gibson. I play metal and meat-and-potatoes hard rock. Suits me fine. I am a Rickenbacker man, so I dont play it as my main bass. Have used it on stage and studio as a secondary bass, and sounds great. Good for most styles I would say

Here is the funny part, I wanted a "real" Gibson thunderbird, cost: about $1,600 US. I have heard of some quality conrol problems with the Gibson, YES its true, the two I looked at had ragged fret edges, sub-par finishes and where a real disapointment and crummy for the high price. The Epihone was 100% better than the Gibson verson, cleanly constructed with a nice finish. Yes, its a set-neck and it does not say Gibson on the headstock but I'm willing to forget that due to the fact I have esentialy the same bass for about $1000 less, hell, thats almost a new Rickenbacker!

In terms of set-up was fine, I always tweek things and so far does everything I want it to in the adjustment department.

Will last as long as you need. Like is Gibson big brother is neck heavy but I got used to that. I have played it onstage enough to say I would not gig without a back-up, but I'm cautious. For all intents and purposes, quality is fine

no dealings, cant comment

Playing for 8 years. Own 2 Rickenbacker 4003s, Fender US P-bass, and this one plus ampeg 8x10 with SVT head. I would replace it if stolen for sure. Again, if you can afford a real Gibson T-bird, and find one that does not have finish issues, great. But if want basicaly the same bass, made basicaly by Gibson and save a grand, I would recomend this honey.

This Bass features two humbuckers rickenbacker sound deep and powerfull, alder body maple neck rosewood fretboard quite a nice feel almost like the gibson version only diffrence is the bolt on neck. vintage sunburst finish which looks fantastic looks ten times better than the pictures on the epiphone website Gotoh tuners passive pickups. two volume and one tone it was made in korea in 2004 this bass is awesome.

the musical style of this bass is bassically anything rock i wouldnt recommend it for jazz or funk this bass is for metal heads. the deep sound is Reminiscent to that of a rickenbacker powerful deep sound overpowers any other bass ive played on that is under five hundred pounds a dark and full sound i always have both humbuckers on for full out rock sound fantastic epiphone have done it again.

i Received my bass set up from Guitar Tek the action was perfect pickups were fine where they were no flaws on my bass everything was perfect.

this bass is perfect there is only on major flaw the heavy neck the physics of this bass are unbalanced causing the neck to dive if you let go of the neck so your always holding the neck with your freting hand which can become tiring the bass also cannot fit into any case ive tried you can only purchase the hard case which costs around one hundred pounds which is quite dissapointing.

i havent ever dealt with the company.

I have been playing for around two years. if this bass was lost or stolen i would want another one. this bass is fantastic i wouldnt recommend it to beginners though they may have trouble adapting to the basses size and weight all in all this is a fantastic sounding bass and one of the coolest loking ones availble and the price is great.

Vintage sunburst finish, 2 pick-ups, passive electronics bolt on neck (don't you already know?) I think the strings sucks, i will change them very soon

This bass is VERY heavy, and as you already know, also neck-heavy, i resolved this, using a large strap, that just stick on my shoulder

The Sound of this bass is powerfull, it has a very deep and punchy tone, compared to my Ibanex Gsr200

There were a lot of strings buzzing against the frets... I raised the action and now it's very better, I anyway think, that the buzzing may be due to shitty strings...

the bridge pick-up is very high! it's normal?

As I read from another review, just know that:
"THIS THING CAN STOP A TANK"

never dealt with it, the warranty is 2 years.

This Bass is great! and the price is very little... BUY IT! but first, you should try it, i think this is a LOVE-HATE bass... i love it!
I'm playing as autodidact by 3 years now, i own also a Ibanez gsr200
If it were stolen or lost... Id' CRY A LOT... i haven't got money to buy another one!

A fantastic looking bass with a rock attitude. Standard pickups, althogh I cant tell the difrence between thunderbird iv and vs but hey, its the best ive ever owned. Its the standard Epiphoe thunderbird vs and a slightly darker sunburst than most, it has a certain amount of uniquity to it.

I use this bass with distortion and through a 60 year old 100 watt amp with cabinet, and even though turining up the volume doesnt necessarily mean a loss in sound, this could be a result of having a clarion cab older than me!

The action on this bass caters for pick orientated mutes as well as slapping, It has no balance although I knew I was in for that when i sacriiced balance for fret availability (ie easy to get to the high frets)

a case fr ths bass was hard to find and expensive, but apart from that it has tremendous sturdyness, and ive never seen any other 16year old bands's bassists with one!

N/A

A fantastic bass in all respects, great for slides, and is a very indie rock bass.

Standard fare really, sunburst colour all pickups, neck etc in right place. quite new but bought second hand

This bass punched above its own weight by quite a distance. This was the best aspect of this bass. Quite a mellow sound initially, but turning up the vol does not mean decrease in sound quality.

Very easy to play, uncomfortable standing up though, as Epiphone seem to have little understanding of 'balance'. Using my fretting hand to stabilise the bass resulted in compromising my playing. I sold the bass for two reasons - the aforemetioned one, and i needed the money at the time.

The bass was solid though, and well made nontheless.

Yes, very dependable, not used for gigs, but it would have been ok, at a guess..

n/a

Apart from the weight distribution (neck Heavy), this was a well-made and reliable bass, well worth the price i sold it for!

I only tried out this bass because a local store was dumping their Epiphone inventory at just a little above cost. This was their response to Epiphone's questionable decision to limit their major outlets in the US. Their loss, my gain.

In the last 30 years I have owned a bunch of basses but having decided that I favor passive electronics, I became a Fender bigot. No longer.

This TBird IV is just a really good bass. Alder body w/ a beautiful finish, maple neck w/ rosewood fb. The two humbuckers with one tone control provide the ability to produce a really wide variety of tones. The bottom is thick and the highs are bright, not brittle. By varying the output of the middle and bridge humbucker you can coax some pretty nice mids out of this bass. It's not the edge that say a Pedulla might have, but it's dang close and I didn't have to sell any of my limbs or vital organs to buy it.

The construction is solid. the only complaint I had is that the strings are flabby on it but I think some DR High Beams or maybe just some good ol' Roto Sound Swing Bass strings will fix that.

I do agree with others that the bass is neck-heavy. I remedied this by buying a new strap retainer with a larger screw diameter and placing it in one of the holes that hold on the neck-plate. much better balance now.

I played this tonight through an SWR 750 and two 4x10 cabs, one SWR Goliath and one Hartke. The bottom was never muddy, even when cutting back on the bridge pickup and cutting the treble. It has good sustain. While I haven't tried it in a recording studio, I am pretty sure I am going to be using this on stage from now on. I wonder what real Gibson pickups would sound like on it?

Though the setup on it was low, only one string buzzed a bit. I raised it one turn (you can do this with one screw because of the tripod bridge) and all strings rang clearly.
The finish on the neck is beautiful and the frets are well-dressed. the body is finished like a fine piece of furniture. the neck has the same finish and I may strip it and put on a bunchof tung oil layers but it plays well.
the gotoh-style tuners are snug and seem to work well, time will tell and I may just get a new set of Gotohs anyway.
the controls knobs are not top-of-the-line and will probably be replaced but they are snug and work well as is.
The saddles could be improved by making each individually mobile instead of having to adjust the bridge angle. Not a big deal.

This bass is solidly built. I would have no problem using it as my primary instrument. I would take my '78 P bass along just in case. I have only had it for a week but haven't played another bass since I got it. It seems dependable but time will tell. Right now, I would have no trouble gigging without a backup.

None needed yet.

I've played bass for 38 years. I own two Fender basses, an SWR rig and a marshall JCM800 with an Ampeg brain (my favorite rig). I read a lot about this bass before I bought it. I just like this bass. My favorite "feature" is the sound. You can play notes softly and mellow or you can make them explode. This bass can cut through heavy-left=handed keyboards and screaming guitars. I would love to play one of the original Gibson versions of this bass wth the neck-through-body.

Ok...everyone seems to have talked a lot of tech talk. I don't know too much about that. But I can tell you it was the look of the thing that first attracted me. My first thought was 'oh my god how rock is that?' It's like having a supermodel girlfriend. You're not sure you can live up to it's image. As far as I know it was factory floor standard. I think I got the Reverse version - though no-one can tell me the difference other than the tuning pegs are different. I think they look better on the Reverse anyway. The strings that came with it are awsome, but I will have to replace them one day - I suppose D'Addario will cut the mustard. Someone said XL's are the way to go - I prefer the mediums myself.
About a week after I got this I saw the Bass Player from the Datsuns (New Zealand group currently on tour in Australia) playing the exact same model.
My 1st complaint is the weight and the balance of the Thunderbird. My other bass - a cheap 2nd hand Ibanez stays exactly where you leave it while wearing it on the strap. The Thunderbird drops head first to the floor like a lemming off a cliff. I've counterbalanced it a little, but this has only added to the weight even more. I can get used to this though!
My other is that I like to play all the frets on the bass. Not only is it short quite a few frets from my Ibanez - they're harder to get to. For the sake of the shape of the thing, they've cut off access to the upper end of the fret board. This means that to play certain songs now, I have to resort to swapping guitars on stage when I wanted to get away from relying on the crap second hand bass.

I play a lot of rock pop. It looks a little silly carting the Thunderbird out for light love ballads, but makes a great conversation point with all the other musicians I know. It has a well balanced sound. Awsome low end, great middle end and good high end - better than my other guitar.
I know the other guys keep telling me to turn it down but I've yet to run the bass on stage, but I know that's gonna lift the roof off the place.

The action was pretty good, other than the G string - which I have to get raised. When I start moving up the fret board it slightly mutes itself. Going to get that fixed soon.
No other faults to speak of.

At the moment it's too new for me to form an opinion. I'm too scared to even take it out of my case. I'll get used to it though. Already it's got a scratch from a bad fitting into it's case, but it's so minor you can hardly see it unless I point it out. The finish took a hell of a whack to get that mark into it though.
I don't really want to test it's durability. The ol' Ibanez I got was thrown across stage, bounced several times, had coffee spilled on it and even sat on - with only a few cracks in the finish and still stayed in tune! I don't think any of that's going to happen to the Thunderbird though. This one I'm going to look after.
The strap buttons are solid - though I need to get a better strap.
I'm pretty sure I can rely on it, but I will still take Ibanez as backup (which was why I got the Thunderbird in the first place). You never know...

Not had to deal with the company yet.
The warranty is for about a year.

I've only been playing for about 6 years, but have had a lot of gigs through 3 bands i've played with. I found bass guitar really easy to pick up from playing piano for 15 years.
Other gear I own is a IG bass by Ibanez...or at least the headstock is by Ibanez - it's a funny one and it cost me 300 bucks Australian second hand. I then had guys in guitar shops asking me if I paid $1000 for it. Weird. It's good, a little lacking in all ranges though but tough as nails.
I've got a small Peavey Rage practice amp and a 200 watt Sunn Concert Amp from the 70's with a 16 inch subwoofer box. It blows and thumps like you wouldn't believe. I've yet to run the Thunderbird through it, but based on how good a cheap Ibanez runs through it I know I'm gonna love the sound.
If it got stolen I would probably cry a lot. Then I would get another exactly like it.
I love the look of it and the sound it makes. But I now have to adjust my playing style a little to fit the weight and the balance of it. I'm such a weeny.
At the time I was shopping around for a bass when I saw it. I tried a lot of Fender Basses, the Precision, Jazz, the Squire range for the budget that I was looking at. The guy in the shop knocked it down from 900 to 700 for cash in hand. I'm sure it was just sales talk, but he was a bass player too and said he wanted to get this one.
The Thunderbird blows them all away. I'll probably get one of the above later for range (I have no brand loyalty). But for now I don't want anything else.

2003/04 Korean made. Passive elctronics, alder body, mahogany neck w/rosewood fretboard. Long scale bass with a slim, fast neck. Not sure who made the tuners but they keep it in tune very accurately. 3 controls; 2 volume, 1 tone. Beautiful dark natural wood finish with a high gloss like fine furniture. This bass looks like a very expensive instrument, looks identical to it's more expensive Gibson alter-ego. The only visible dfference is the bolt on neck vs the Gibson neck thru the body. A very solid bass for an excellent price.

If you are looking for HUGE bottom end thunder (hence the name), this bass delivers. The mids & highs are punchy and clear, reminiscent of a Rickenbacker. The bridge pickup can get you some twang if you want, and the 2 pickups together will give you real growl if you drive your amp harder. I run it through a Yorkville Bassmaster XM200T and the sound is clear and will definitely get you noticed during your solos. Great variation in tone.

Factory setup wasn't too bad, however I did have the E string raised a bit to avoid a hint of buzz. Pickups seem okay as they are. No flaws at all. A word of caution: this bass is neck heavy due to the large headstock, so respect gravity while you are playing it! It is not uncomfortable but will require some getting used to. (I play an Epi Viola bass during our sets as well so the transition from one to the other is like night & day). Give the T-Bird a chance is what I am saying.

I gig with it and see no problems. I use a backup in case I break a string but that's all. This is my 4th Epiphone product; I have a Hummingbird acoustic, 335 Dot archtop, Viola bass & now the T-Bird. Epi builds a very solid instrument.

Through 4 different guitars I have had no dealings with them at all.

I have been playing guitar for 35 yrs, bass for less than that. Our band plays 50's & 60's rock & roll. Beatles, CCR, Buddy Holly, etc. I love Epiphone products. Fantastic value for the beginner, semi-pro, or pro. These are inexpensive guitars, not cheap ones. The Thunderbird IV is one awesome bass!

Features well described above, almost same as the Gibson Thunderbird.

I have almost forgot how is to play a beast like this, I've spent too much time playing "nice" basses. This thing growls like hell. It is one of the best sounding basses I ever owned. Sounds very similar to a Rickenbacker 4003, very complex mids and biting highs, but with more bottom end. I didn't expect this kind of sound from a 350 bucks bass. Nice bass to play Rock, Punk, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Blues.

I didn't found any flaws on the bass. The only thing I did right away was change the strings adjust a little bit the truss rod tension and the action to fit my taste. The factory set up was ok, just a little of fret buzz on the first string.

This thing can stop a tank.

I neve had the necessity to deal with epiphone

Great bass, I have a bunch of high end basses and this thing is amazing. I have spent too much time playing domesticated pets, but play the thunderbird is like setting loose a fighting bull on a mirror shop, everything will go wild and crazy. I played last night on a club, there were about 4 bass players (also friends of mine) and they went nuts when they saw the bass, at first glance some of them though that it was a Gibson ( from certain distance (6 meters) you can't tell if its a epi or a gibson). As soon as we finnished the first set they were on me, asking me to show them the bass, when they realize that the bass was a epi they couldn't believe how good sounded the bitch. Bottom line: this thing rocks, sounds almost wicked. This was a great buy, I'm a pro, playing bass for 16 years , so this bass is not only for beginners but for all kinds of players if they don't mind the brand name. Bottom line: I had a 76 Gibson Thunderbird and this Epi sucker have nothing to envy from it.

2002 Model, Made in Korea.
It's a 4 string, 20 fret bass.
2 Passive Humbuckers - 2 Volume, 1 Tone Controls
Go to www.epiphone.com for more information.

I personally find this bass to sound pretty dull, and uninspired.
There also isn't much midrange. I hope a bunch of EMG's will fix this...

The factory setup was perfectly fine, action was a tad bit high at the end of the neck, but I play bass in the style of Geezer Butler/Scott Reeder, so I kind of liked it.
I also like to solo though, and my complaint there is that the headstock dives like crazy, and you just can't reach up the high frets easily.
The string tension, however, is very high compared to a Rickenbacker or a PBass, wich I really dislike about this bass.
The finish was perfect, no complaints there.

I don't like this bass that much.
It's a good bass, but it just isn't what I'm looking for.
The headstock tends to dive, wich is extremely annoying.
I have to give it one thing though, it's built like a TANK.
It's been thrown and tossed around my room, stage, the garden, street, and there's only a few dings. It's a damn TANK, I tell you.

Haven't had to deal with them yet, it's a tank.

If it were los or stolen, I'd get a Rickenbacker 4003.
But, it was my first bass, so it does have some sort of sentimental value.
I'm planning to replace the pickguard and the thrustrod cover with custom made wooden replacements, and throw in a pair of EMG Active's.
It should vastly improve it.
I'm also pondering to put a new, fretless, fretboard on it.

Very recent model, korean mass prdouced. Nothing extra included

This bass is o.k. But thats all it is. Basicly you get what you pay for, I paid #250. In an earlier reveiw i read it said this was an exellent mid-range bass........HOW THE HELL IS THIS MID-RANGE? My Musicman is mid-range, My fender J is mid range. This my friends is not. Saying that however this is a very good bass for the money, perfect for a beginer as the action was very low on mine.

I was searching for a second bass for stage, and I always wanted to have a Thunderbird. I bought it new in 2003. I think it was made (handcrafted) in Korea.
It has a typical lang scale neck. (It seems to be longer than other Basses, but thats because of the bodyshape)
It has two Soapbar Pickup, which use to rock. I was very suprised about the Pickups. First I thought to buy me the real Thunderbird-Pickups very soon, but after I tested the Axe on stage I am absolut flashed.
The Pickups sound that loud, and that fat.
The finish is vintige sunburst. I looks great, like a typical old "coofietable". The hardware is OK. All parts are black.
The wood I think isnt tghe very best, its very light (some would like that). I used to buy me a BC-Rich - Gigbag for it, because I couldnt find a fitting case.

I mostly play some sort of Stonerrock and Punk on this Axe.
I use an old Ampeg V4 Amplifier, and an 2x15 Enclosure. With the Amp the Thunderbird sounds perfect fat !
Esspecially because I play in a trio, I have to have Bass that can be heard. The Thunderbird sounds roaring, has a very high Output, and a very high sustain.

Nothing bad to say. I looks fucking good on stage, the Handling is optimal (I think it is nothuing for a beginner, because of the length of the whole Instrument).

I think the whole Instrument is built very solid. The only real Problemn is to find a fitting Stand.

If you are looking for a fat Rocksound, a good look, and a low price, this Bass is my Number 1 !

2003 korean made thunderbird IV body alder and maple body, mahogoney neck w/ rosewood fretboard,vintage sunburst finish(absolutely amazing!!)

Just running through my practice amp (cheap fender BXR 25 watt) this thing blew me away! i couldnt believe the tone! A friend of mine from a very well known band(name withheld)was amazed as well, On my main rig (Ampeg BSE-115 & 4x10's, w/ B2R head) it blows my stinkin mind! Mine has tons of variety, i get very warm tones as well as that growly sound, plus i can even play some slap on it and it freakin rocks!

I don't know about anyone else but mine came perfect to my specs! perfect action, heck the dang thing was almost in perfect tuning(just a half step low) pickups were perfect height action was just perfect, finish is amazing and there was absolutely nothing wrong with the craftsmenship. I will definetly buy more epiphone products if they are this great of quality!

Perfect Realiability! I have another other basses that cost 5 or 6 times more and this is definetly at the top of my list!Enough said

I would recommend this bass to anyone who is from beginner level to pro! This is a very cool looking and sounding bass! For the price you pay this thing kicks and keeps on givin! Ive played several diffrent Gibson Thunderbirds(including an original model,blackbird,and the epiphone elite) and I have to say not only does this one look better, but I think it sounds better as well! If you want the ultimate rock bass this is it!

Two volume, one tone. Came in a cardboard box! No gig bag. All in impressed. Does what it says on the box - it just IS a BASS. In a big way!

Had a 74 precission once, thought it was a good bass. The Epiphone TBird could stop a charging Rhino at 100 metres. Rich, Warm, Deep rounded with a slight rumble. It realy SOUNDS like a bass. Interesting phase effect when varying the two pickups. Play Brit rock, but this bass could be used for any style.Some folks buy it for the looks, but I realy cant say enough about the tone. Sounds like a bass of twice its price.

Expected to have to spend ages setting up intonation etc. Came with action set a little high but sorted it. There are only three screws to adjust action though on the bridge. Finnish realy good - looks a lot more expensive than it is. Replaced Strap buttons with schaller strap locks - advisable.

Built (and sounds) like a tank battalion. (I mean that in a nice way). Benefits from addition of Straplocks due to tendency to nosedive when you let the head go!

Played for ten years, starting up again after a break of three years. Wish Id checked availability of gig bags/ cases - its WAY too long for mine. Would definately replace if stolen. It is VERY neck heavy but it sounds SOOOO good, and it looks the part. Have owned a variety of Fenders( including a '74 precission), Squires, a Vox and a Washburn XS4. Have had the pleasure of trying Ibanez, Rickenbackers, a violin bass, musicman and even a vintage Burns belonging to various friends over the years, and this is THE best sounding instrument I have played. A lorra lorra bass for the price of a mediocre Fender copy!

Features well described above, and as well similar to the Gibson model (except the bolt on neck). Mine was made 2001 in Korea, tow humbuckers, two volume one tone control.

The only thing I can say is that it sounds great. This thing is a real BASS, loads of bottom end and tons of growls, thats what you get out of it. But quite versatile though, two PU and controls give a variety of sounds. Sounds really angry if you want to and goes good with distortion and FX, but also great for a real fundament to the stuff you're playing (for me that's mostly rock, the alternative version)

Two things here, first the bad news- it's pretty neck-heavy. But that's what one can expect from such a hughe neck and headstock. Anyway, for me it is worth it, 'cause what you get is tone, and you feel the vibration of every string through the whole instrument. Secondly, the finish has to be mentioned, its great. Its warm and woody and just looks gorgeous. For me it was love at first sight.

Seems very reliable to me, heavy duty! The only thing is that it's quite instable leaning so I'd probably go for a bass-stand (if there is one out there, fitting this strange yet great shape). Got it without gigbag, tried a regular one, but it's to small...

I'm mainly guitarist, but been into bass every now and than (Squire P-Bass), but now it's gettin' serious ;-)
For now, I play the T-Bird through a Behringer Bass-V-amp (and my neighbors thank me) and it simply sounds great with all the amp-sims and effect-setups. What I wish it had? A gigbag and a stand, but thats just additionals. For that money it is a great instrument, if stolen or broken I'd definitely go for another one. If you want to play an instrument that gives great bass-tone and does not look like everybodies F**der, go test a T-bird, I bet you'll like it!

Not sure what year this bass is, probably late 90's or 2000. It looks a lot like the original Gibson thunderbirds, except for the bolt on neck.

The sound isn't bad for a meium range priced bass. If you really want to improve the sound, replace the pickups with Gibson's. I haven't done that yet, and don't plan to anytime soon, but maybe in the future. I use a SWR amp. I don't like the sound of the bass pickup alone or the treble pickup alone. Together they sound good. On stage I have no problem with this bass. I am not sure if I would use it in a studio...maybe...

The finish is nice, like a wooden cofee table. as always, the action must be set by a pro. the prickup height was way too low, and I could not raise it with a screwdriver. I decided to take a piece of foam and slide it under the pickup to give it more height and flexibility. this works well. I recommend it. The hardware seems decent so far, but the electronics need to be changed immediatly. The nut will need changing if you try and put a thicker gauge string on.

After changing the electronics, I now have full faith in the bass and use it for gigs regularly. Get good strap locks for this bass nad any other. It's a must. Once you have the action properly set by a pro, it will probably last several years as long as you keep the string gauge the same.

Never had to deal with them.

I recently started a hobby of buying classic inexpensic=ve bass guitars. I wanted the Gibson Thunderbird, but for the $1500 price I decided to buy a Epi T bird used for $300. I have to be honest and say it's pretty damn good. There are some modifications that you'll need to make in order to get it good though. I'm a semi-proffessional bassist who gigs regularly, so I know a bad bass from a good one. Boyttom line; don't spend less then $300, cause you'll get crap. If you spend $300 or more you'll get something mediocre, that can be upgraded to something great. First of all change the electronics (volumes, tone, and input jack); epiphone electronics suck. Next, have the action set correctly by a pro. Now you've got a depandable bass. If you really want to take it to the next level try new pickups, tuners, and a bridge, however I'm not doing that just yet. I'm pretty happy with it. Of course these upgrades will cost you, but it will still be leass than the $1500 for a Gibson. The Gibson is neck thru body though, which does give much better sustain, but not enough that anyone would really notice at a gig.

Being a Korean mage copy of its Gibson namesake, features are simple. Dual humbuckers with volume control for each, plus a general tone control. Solid alder body, maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

I play stoner rock stuff like Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age etc. and this bass is perfect for the job. It really can sound like thunder. Most people buying this bass will do so because of its rock looks, but a good variety of sounds are possible, the volume controls for the pickups doing most of the work. The front pickup has a very rich, warm sound, but crank that back pickup up and it growls. The sustain is also amazing.

I bought this bass mail order and when I got it, the action was set very high. Because of the high action, the pickups are set quite high as well. The fit of the neck to the body is where I have most concern.This is beacuse the neck doesn't look parallel to the body which causes a bit of fret buzz low down on the neck, so I can't really get the action any lower. I'm sure a bit of truss rod adjustment will sort this but I've only had the bass about a month and don't want to mess about with it too much. The finish is gorgeous. The pictures I've seen do it no justice at all. It has a much warmer mahogany colour than I expected, with not a mark on it.

I've only had this bass about a month, but it looks like it will withstand some heavy rockin'. Time will tell.

I bought this mail order from Flying Pig Instrument Supply Company and I have to say I wasn't pleased wth the service. The bass was shippped within 24 hours but after three days I had to call up Flying Pig and find out where it had gone. I was told that it had been delivered and signed for the day before yet I didn't have it. After a day of calling to get it sorted out, I ended up having to call the courier company myself and within an hour the 'missing' bass arrived at my house. All it took was a phone call but this was obviously too much work for Flying Pig. I was tempted to send it back to have the neck problem sorted, but after the delivery fiasco I decided I'll just live with it. I don't need it going missing again.

I've been playing bass for about 7 years and until now I only had a Japanese P bass copy with Semour Duncan pickups. The Thunderbird is a godsend. The sound is great. Far better than I expected in a #300 bass. I would definately buy one again.

korean made bolt on copy of the great gibson thunderbird,vintage sunburst,two pickups encased in plastic,body is probably made of alder or/and maple,with a maple neck and rosewood fretboard.came in a cardboard box

I haven`t tried the real thing so i guess compared to the real deal this one falls short,but on its own it`s very very good.you get trebly tones as well as more bassy sounds by dialing with the volume and tone pots,although i prefer everything on full tilt.so my rating is a good 8 on its own and probably 4 if compared to the gibson version

exellent!!! nicely built ,no discernable flaws ,even was in tune when i brought it home after a bumpy bus ride from the store i bought it from.a little bit of a buzz on the lower strings but easily remedied.
very good indeed,no sharp frets or anything.

yeah,for the money epiphone makes really good guitars and this bass isn`t any exception,strap buttons work ok,but i didn`t realize what a neck heavy instrument this is,until i put my strap on and stood up for a little bit of rocking in front of the mirror.anyone email me for suggestions about how to remedie this neck heavy problem

epiphone and gibson is the best.they have answered all of my emails,and they responded very quickly .nice!!!!

as a budget bass this one gets the thumbs up,i love this bass,gonna get me the guitar version too!!!

Pas pretty much everything you could concieveably want in a bass guitar. Dual humbuckers, each with separate volume control. And a separate tone control. 22 frets, Korean Made. Mine was probably made 2000, or 2001, as it was purchased recently. Stunning body style, really stands out from the crowd

The dual humbuckers give a lovely warm sound when both turned up, and if u prefer trebelly thin bass, u can adjust to fit by turning down one or the other pickup, and using the tone control. Perfect. In the 6 months since I purchased it its been used on stage and in the studio.

It should be noted that when bought new, you will need to spend some time playing with the action. From factory is seems 2 leave a bit to be desired. Which in some cases may cause a little buzzing. I think (not certain) that unlike the Gibson version, it is hollow bodied, and consequently is awfully neck heavy. I am still trying to think of a way to fix this without making the whole bass so heavy it hurts to play the thing.

I do try not to give my basses a good kicking where possible, but i would imagine this guitar is quite sturdy. It certainly isn't gonna break on ya. I always play gigs/concerts with a back-up, I think people who don't are just leaving too much to chance, it does take considerably longer to restring a bass than to pick up a spare after all. Strap button are a bit iffy, has slipped on me once or twice, i would recommend spending a little bit and getting proper strap locks.

I haven't had to ring them yet... i got a warranty card for lifetime warranty (limited).

I have only been playing a couple of years, but my band is practically a full time career at this point. It gets used every day, or every other day. I put it through an Ashdown MAG 250 (amazing sound with the sub-harmonic effect). I think if i lost it I would probably go the whole hog now that I can, and replace it with something like a MusicMan Stingray... but I reckon I would have 2 get another one at some point, purely for the look/feel to it. It was compared to the Precision/ Jazz bass, and all of the other epiphone gibson copies, but in the end it won hands down, which it would on looks alone, regardless of what it plays like. Only problem is the neck heavy issue, and it does have a long neck, if ur a small person its probably not the best choice.
If anybody has found a solution to the neck heavy problem, that works, I would be most appreciative if they could let me know.

This guitar gets the best sound considering that it was made in Korea i dont normally like Korean guitars ever since my Fender Jazz bass copy disaster

Im a metal bass player but considering i still get a groovy sound from this guitar and still the one beef with this guitar is its not active but oh well you cant get everything i suppose

The problem with this is the fact that the action was poo it took me 2hrs to get the action right that peaved me

Ive had this guitar 4 mounths now and i havent had any problems the strings even last ages and the strap buttons are class they dont even slip

I got a one year warranty from Kingfisher music

If been playing for 5-6 years and this is my third proper guitar.Ive got a 70's Peavey Bass head and a celestion speaker cab which makes this bass sound so cunkey. If i lost it i whould get another one cos this bass rocks.I love the sound but I hate the fact that there is no where to rest my thump.

Ithas a beutifully thought up body shape, the head also looks cool, the best thing about the apearance of this guitar is its completely unique look every thing about its looks are amazing, the head looks quality because the tuner keys arnt sticking out much at all.
the logo on the scratch plate is also very origional.

It has a crisp sound about it when the tone is turned up, but also when it is low the sound is very much in aleague of its own.
i have had a fender precision bass that is quite frankly shit compared to my epiphone.

The only thing that didnt make it a ten was because i had totighten all the screws but that is what its like for most guitars that are new.

I have been using my thunderbird man and boy played at about 40 gigs and i still wouldnt trade for a proper gibson thunderbird because it just feels perfect and ibought it in 86 and it is as good as new.

I havnt had a problem.

I have had it since i was 14 it was mmy first bass ive been playing bass for 16 years. i did get a fender p bass but that just stays in the loft now. i dont want to think about what would happen if it was stolen.

THIS BASS KICKS ASS!

Correcting mistake I made on original review referance woods used. Has mohagony neck with rosewood fretboard. Alder & maple body. As best I can tell te wings must be one wood & the central part of body the other kind of wood.

Notices a couple posts have comented about bridge ref saddles can fall out if not careful when changeing strings. Overall I've found gibson type bass bridges give a tighter sound & better sustain then the fender type.

Comparing the sound unamplified to my ESP Ltd B104, the thunderbird is louder unamplified then the ESP is. I also noticed this when playing amp at lower volumes in mornings & evenings at home in apt. Hears the unamplified string sound from thunderbird bass more then the ESP. (Loves both basses). Thunderbird plays deepest articulate bass tones of any passive bass I've played. I'd noticed that about my 1976 Gibson thunderbird too while I had it.

Got it used so not sure what year it is. Made in Korea. Alder body, maple neck, rosewood or ebony fretboard. 2 soapbar humbuckers, Gibson style bridge, tuners, control knobs etc etc. Dark sunburst finish. Excellent condition. Long scale, comfy slim neck. 20 frets. Vol, vol, tone for controls. Passive. I had a 1976 Gibson Thunderbird as a kid thru young adult. This is an excellent copy in all regards. Only real differance is bolt on neck instead of neck thru. Maybe slightly more modern sound then the 76 Bird I had.

Is excellent vintage Gibson Thunderbird bass sound. Rich, full, nice growl, also able to do mellow deep tones. Is suitable for both stage & studio. Myself has allways preferred soapbar humbucker pu's sound over the pj & jj type pu's. Works better for overdrive, distortion & great clean tones too. Did make it closer to set neck sustain & harmonics by unbolting neck, properly glueing it in then rebolting.

Got used so dunno how original owner received it set up wise. Store got it at had it set up beautifully & rechecked truss rod etc for me. Gets great low action. Is one tiny nick on back of neck next to where it fits into body. Doesnt affect playing at all. Fixed with tiny dab of suitable paint to fill in tiny nick. Pickups adjusted well.

Is as well made I think as the better done Gibsons. Previous owner had put strap locks on it. So was allready as I prefer for strap. Very dependable instrument. No battery needed, so no worry bout that dying while playing. LOL. Excellent finish. Glossy Dark sunburst.

Dunno.

Had lost my 76 Gibson Thunderbird while in AF due to roomate running up phone bill & haveing to sell my Bird for that. This Epiphone is imo a very very good replica of vintage Gibson Thunderbird bass in all ways except for bolt on neck. I preferred Gibsons bass bridges over the fender type, also their pu's & necks. So getting another Thunderbird to replace the one I lost makes for a fantastic day of trading for me. Lol. Traded an Ibanez SR400 bass & BC Rich Platinum Bich guitar even for it.

dunno how old it is. bought it new so i presume it's 2000/01. dunno what it's made from. rosewood neck. pretty heavy, but unless you're a little girl it shouldn't matter. bolt on neck, passive humbuckers (2, one bridge, one neck position) three pots (volume, volume, tone) erm... dark sunburst. i think it's the only finish that epiphone do. gibson do about 4. big fat neck. good to grab onto. pretty wide at the nut too. nice action. huge sound.
for this price, the features cant be beat

this baby does the lot. it can be mellow if you want. you can make it fat, you can make it thin. and it's a distortion monster. if you play with overdrive, this is THE bass to use. huge sound through my marshall bass state B150. quiet enough to use in the studio, loud enough to use on stage.
this is the only bass you'll ever need.

setup was good, but i got it from a bass shop down denmark street. perfect finish. other people have been complaining about theirs (see below) but i can't find a flaw on mine. spot on. the only thing that's a bit scrappy is where the neck joins the body. there's a gap between the neck and the body, but you ain't gonna notice it from more that a foot away, so it's ok i suppose :)
holds tune pretty well.

strap buttons are crappy plastic. booo. finish is solid. strings are cheap. the bass itself is solid. big heavy and re-assuring. nice. makes you feel safe :)
change the strings and the strap buttons and you're laughing.

the bridge it held on by string tension, (as with most epiphones basses and guitars) so re-string it one string at a time. this stops it all falling apart, and it also helps prevent any problems with neck tension and stuff. or so i understand. just remember the bridge ain't screwed on!

dunno

i've been playing a couple of years and this is my second bass. and i see it as a step up from my p-bass. great tone, loads of variation. a very useful bass, which produces a very clear sound. for the money, personally, i don't think it can be beat. it looks s**t hot and it sounds even better. if i had the money, i'd buy the gibson. but i'm poor, so i'm more than happy with this :)
buy one. if you want something that looks, and plays different to a boring ol' fender.

My T-Bird is a factory 2nd, as stamped on the back of its medieval horse-eviscerating headstock. Aside from lots of finger grease and a loose strap pin, a jewel in the rough. 22 frets, at least 3-4 years old, bolt on neck, dark sunburst finish (like some mad barons' supper table!).All black hardware, real low action with no buzz, 2 soapbar pickups, of the passive variety. Separate volume knobs for each pickup, one tone.

I play blues and occassionally like to do crazy string-bending, 6 string flashback horseshit when no one else is around! This bass has TONS of bottom and growls like a 600 pound lion. Sounds very dark, almost muddy through my Fender Bassman 100, but some judicious EQ tweaking remedies any flaws in tone. The pickups aren't overly powerful, but by turning up my amps gain to about one o'clock, this beast roars with a voice unique unto itself. I've grown to love it!

I don't know what made this a factory 2nd. The finish and action were nearly perfect, frets just right, and electronics, though spartan in options, flawless with no unusual buzzes, rattles, etc. Needed much cleaning and some new strings. The originals appeared to have been on the bass since day one....DEAD!! A set of GHS 40-100's seemed to be a close proximity of what the bass started with, and helped a lot. One thing that sucks: take off the strings, turn the bass face down, and the bridge falls in your lap in 5 pieces. Good luck putting your saddles back in where they started without them spinning out of position! The neck joint is much tighter than even many of Fenders' high-end instruments, and the finish is sweet.

Not only do I feel this warhorse could withstand wear and tear, travel, etc., it looks like it could also be used to defend a small village from a cavalry charge in a pinch! Just wish it had a set neck, or a neck-thru like it's Gibson namesake.

No experience thus far

I've been playing more off than on over the last 20 years and recently switched from guitar do to hand dysfunction.(I can pluck, but can't use a pick anymore) I love this bass, but as others have pointed out, you need LONG arms to play it for more than 20 minutes at a clip. Also it is VERY neck-heavy. I love it's look, the uniqueness of its tone, and for what I paid, I'd compare it to basses costing 3-4 times as much.

Instrument is made in Korea. Pickup and machine heads look as though they are made of black plastic, but they blend beautifully with the dark brown varnished body. Two pickups with their own volume control and a general volume control. The varnished finish gives the impression you are playing a piece of furniture rather than an electric bass. White scratchplate with the Thunderbird logo. Onstage it looks superb.

I am very fussy about how my basses sound, so when out of curiosity I tried this one out in the shop, I knew I had to have it. Sounds better than some expensive basses I have tried. Highly versatile. It plays tinny slap sounds quite happily. Add some more bass and you can get an angry growl making it ideal for punk, grunge or hard rock. But it seems to be in its element when playing that heavy, brain-busting Jet Harris-type sound. A lot of other basses just can't get this latter sound. They don't call it a Thunderbird for nothing.

The action was low. I like low action; but with a lot of basses, I have to raise the action because of buzzing; not so with the Thunderbird. Holds tune well. I have not had to adjust anything. The edges of the fingerboard were a bit sharp when I started out, which rubbed my left hand a bit raw, but constant playing seems to have diminished this problem.

Because of the "dining room table" finish, it does not look as durable as a Fender. It probably is, but I look after my instruments! I have had no problems with it whatever. I do use backup at gigs, but that is just in case I break a string.

N/A

I've been giggin on bass in various bands for 3 years. I am currently in an American-style punk band. I play a heavier sound than most other punk players. After all the instrument is a BASS, and only the heavy sound blows peoples heads off ? and the Thunderbird will have more severed heads hitting the wall at the back of the hall than any other bass I have come across. My backup bass is a Fender Jazz. That's a good bass too; but for looks, feel and sound, the Thunderbird wins hands down. It is a good idea to find a washer to reinforce the jackplug socket, and you will have to look for an expensive guitar stand to hold the bass without it toppling over. Its odd shape comes into its own when playing in a sitting position. If it were lost, I would look for it till I found it, and anyone who tries to steal it will be flayed alive! I cannot believe there is really #1,000 worth of difference between the Epiphone and Gibson Thunderbirds. If there is, then the Gibson Thunderbird IV must be one hell of an instrument!

My Thunderbird IV is made in Korea, has two passive pick-ups of soap bar style. The controls are volume for the two pickups and a tone control. The output is on the front, below the controls. The body I believe is made of maple, and the fingerboard is rosewood. Compared to the original Gibson model, this does not have the neck-through-body style, but a bolted on neck. It feels very solid and well built. The finish is very dark flametop, beautifully executed, and the shape is very cool - it just oozes rock. It looks virtually indistinguishable from a Gibson Thunderbird. It came with nice strings, and I got a free cord with it as well.

I haven't played many different basses, but this certainly is one good sounding bass. It has a crisp, clear sound - especially if you use a pick, which is perfect for fast rock. If you play with your fingers the sound is deeper and more full. With a bit of tweaking with the controls you can get a fair bit of different sounds. I play it mainly through a Line6 POD, and it sounds good.
I played it through an Orange and a Marshall amp in the shop, and it really took out the best sound from the axe. It has a little bit of noise when you remove your hands from the strings, but not more than of my SG electric guitar. In general I feel the bass is best for rock/pop music and for crisp and clear basslines.
It is a long bass, so if you're a shorthanded person or have short fingers you might consider an arm-extension operation or getting a different bass.

The action is a little low, but it doesn't cause any fret buzz or unwanted noise. The whole bass looks very well put together, and the finish is almost flawless. Only a little bump in the finish near the neck keeps it from being perfect. The hardware looks good, but I'm no expert on bass mechanics.
The output screw might be a bit loose, I wouldn't want to touch it a lot if playing live, it might create som cracking sounds.

I haven't tested the bass extensively, but it feels good and solid. I wouldn't mind rocking it out on a stage with this baby. The only disadvantage or fault I could find was that the left strap button is a bit too far to the right, making the weight balance a little out. You can either compensate and hold the neck a little upright, or consider moving the strap button towards the neck to equal out the weight. I think I will do this when I start using it on stage, as my left shoulder started to feel the strain of the weight of the neck pushing down. It is not as bad as the epiphone firebird guitar though, which is like a small roadie hanging on to the headstock.

N/A

I haven't played this bass for long, but it feels and plays beautifully. If you're thinking of buying it, test it out with a strap and see how it feels over your shoulder. Maybe the staff can move the strap button for you so the balance is better.
Compared to the two basses I've played before, a Hagstrom semi-acoustic and an Ibanez 4-string, this is the best bass both playwise, lookwise (it's so sexy!) and soundwise. I wish I could afford a real Gibson, but for the money I think this is one of the better basses you can buy. And it will turn you into a rock god on stage.

I purchased this '97 model brand spanking new in Nov. 97. It comes with a massive 20 fret 36 inch scale, overlooking an orange to red starburst alder body and rosewood fretboard. Along with it's P/J pickup configuration it has 2 volume controls (one for each pickup) and a tone control filtering both. The shape of the body is somewhat original. Comes with allen keys for bridge and truss rod (which you will use shortly after), and a cheap cord which you might as well tie the dog up with. The factory strings though are to kill for, and I've gone through about 10 changes since and haven't found any that sound as good. Though D'Addario XL's aren't bad.

The sound from this beast is great on the low end, and of a little lesser quality on the middle and high end. You'll find that you'll need a GOOD amp to release all of it's potential. You'll quickly find that it is quite a versitile guitar though and that you can customize the sound quite a bit with it's 3 knobs, but it's J pickup is quite weak in comparison to it's P, and can produce a little unwanted noise, but that's nothing in comparison with the other crap out there. You will find that this is a great bass for fingers too.

The action was a bit low on initial set up, but that can be adjusted in no time. I also had to adjust the truss rod a little bit to prevent ringing on the 5th and 6th fret, but both of those were solved on my own within a week of purchase. The one thing that pissed me off completely was the output jack. The nut under the plate was stripped and allowed it to rotate - eventually severing the wires which were quite short in the first place and difficult to fix. I eventually had to replace the whole thing which is less than $5 in products but is a difficult and in my opinion an unecessary fix for beginners. I do play at least 3 hours a day though, and these mistakes may go unnoticed to someone who isn't as agressive or picky as I am.

I've played this bass live on many occasions. I've also thrown it around on many occasions, and when it came down to the headstock vs the bedpost, lets just say it got a good peice of the bedpost. It stays intune for very long durations of time, and there are no problems with extreme changes in temperatures(Ice storm 98). This thing is build like a rock, and would make a good weapon in a street fight, or could be used incase you javelin has been stolen, Just make sure the output jack has not problems first.

I've never dealt with customer support, I altered the guitar and did personal repairs, voiding the 1 year warranty.

I've been playing guitar for 4 years, bass ever since I purchased my Thunderbird. I sometimes put it through a wah pedal, and it sounds fine. It goes great with my Peavy TKO 115s amp (15 inch, 75 Watts) If it were stolen or lost, I'd beat the idiot who stole (or lost it) to a bloody pulp. It is by far the best sounding bass I've ever played, or heard. Since purchase I've had the money, but no desire to buy another. However, I have played the newer Thunderbird V, and I must say it doesn't nearly match-up. I wouldn't suggest this bass for people with small hands though, it's frets are few and far between. Nothing has ever rusted or chipped on it (aside from strings) and if I didn't want such an original looking bass all to myself, I'd advise others that it's exponentially worth the little extra money paid compared to the cheaper models. The only problem I've had is that it wasn't set up properly, and if you don't feel confident doing simple fix-ups you'll suffer.