Epiphone Thunderbird Bass

MoonManTom · Post by **MoonManTom** » Wednesday Jul 16, 2008

So my Daughter who has been playing Piano now for almost 5 years, was inspired this year at Creation by the all girl Band BarlowGirl! The one girl plays Keys and Bass both live! So My daughter wants to play Bass guitar! So I told her I would show her some stuff! Well I have an old Fender Squier Bass , however the action is a little high, at least I think it is! Its not the greatest bass! So we were looking at ones she liked! I told her I would get her one, I just dont want to spend alot at first till I know she is going to stick with it! I think she will, cause she is a music fanatic like her old man!
So She saw the Epiphone thunderbird in Baby Blue color, and she liked it alot too, She also found a black Gretsch she loved, and it was a short scale! and yes Color does matter to her!
Do any of you bass players have or have you played either one of these, and what would you suggest ? I also will be looking to get a small practice amp for her too! Right now she is playing straight into her PA she sings with!
Any help would be greatly appreciated RPers!

- One Proud Dad!

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Wednesday Jul 16, 2008

I've only ever played an Epiphone Thunderbird one time, but I was not a huge fan. I do know that even big guys sometimes struggle with the ergonomics of it, so it would not be my first choice for a small girl. I don't know anything about the gretch. If you are looking for a decent short scale bass, there's a lot of options over at www.rondomusic.com Actually they just came out with some pink and purple bass packs or something, I think they might be long scale though.

If she is going to be playing straight into a PA, I reccomend getting a DI box, with some tone shaping options preferably.

http://www.behringer.com/BDI21/index.cfm?lang=ENG
I have that, and its not too bad, it will be worlds ahead of plugging your 1/4" cable straight into a PA, I'm sure. Its pretty cheap too.

VENTGtr · Post by **VENTGtr** » Wednesday Jul 16, 2008

Incidentally, our sound guy is considering taking up bass so I've been looking
into it a little.

Amp-wise, those little Roland Cubes are pretty nice and fairly inexpensive as
are the SWR Workingman 10s. Guess the pre-Fender SWR's are better...
but I honestly have no idea why other than the usual bigger company take-over
drop in quality. To what extent there is in this case, I dunno.

Mitch mentioned the Rondos, which are pretty cool from what I've gathered.
PERSONALLY, I dig this one:

http://www.rondomusic.com/sjmbpbu.html

You mentioned the blue and this is a purdy one. Thinking a long scale version
might be cool to have around to throw a bass line onto demos....so Rob can
come up with a good one later.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Wednesday Jul 16, 2008

Thunderbirds are one of the coolest looking basses ever designed, but they have HORRENDOUS neck-dive. For that reason, I'll never own one and I don't think that it would be a good option for a beginner. When your fretting hand is holding up the neck - rather than the bass balancing perfectly - it is actually something else that has to be done in addition to actually playing. This could be insanely frustrating to a beginner. Even to a pro, it could be frustrating, because the fretting hand will not be able to have its maximum speed potential. When you place your hand on the neck, no energy should be expended at all on holding the neck up to the traditional 35 degree angle; that's the strap's job. No offense to any Tbird players out there, but I just think that's one of those design flaws that Gibson should have seriously addressed a long time ago.

As far as amps, Nemesis (company affiliated with Eden) has some really nice practice combo amps at very good prices. I was also impressed with the Line 6 combo amp that's out.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Wednesday Jul 16, 2008

Guitars and Basses that are neck heavy, are easily fixed by simply relocating the strap buttons to a different location.

The strap button on the butt of the body should be raised up toward your rib area.
I have done this many times to guitars and it does fix the problem.
Another option would be to have a vertically challenged friend stand under the headstock like a tripod type of thing.

I love the Thunderbirds, I think they they are a timeless design.
But I would definitely stick to a short scale or perhaps a 3/4 size if they make a Bass of that size?

VENTGtr · Post by **VENTGtr** » Wednesday Jul 16, 2008

Mod a Reverse Firebird.

'At's a joke ya'll.

I want a Reverse Firebird. Birthdays comin' up folks. What'ya say? Ah...well...
worth a try.

DrumAndDestroy · Post by **DrumAndDestroy** » Wednesday Jul 16, 2008

i've played a gibson thunderbird and i liked it.

but i agree...something smaller for her to start out on. i have a samick that is a smidge smaller than an average fender bass. very easy to play.

MoonManTom · Post by **MoonManTom** » Thursday Jul 17, 2008

I shared what you all said about the t-Bird with her last night! I told her she would have to go try them out, and find one she likes! Definitely Short Scale, shes a tiny little thing ( unlike dad ) and weighs only 100 pounds! So I know she would have trouble with a full scale bass! I appreciate all the input! I will let ya know what she gets!

M(_*_)MAN

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Thursday Jul 17, 2008

I couldn't agree more on the short scale thing. I started on a Kramer Duke which is the perfect bass for the beginner to work with. They no longer make them, but you can pick them up on eBay for around $350-$450. They are 32 or 33" scale, they're headless (zero neck dive!), and have aluminum necks, so the action can be set where you want it and it will never move. And...they are pretty darn good quality too.

Other short scale options would be from Danelectro (just make sure it has a truss rod!), Ibanez (I forget what model it is, but Rainbow in State College I believe has one), Daisy Rock (uber-cheap), Landing (not cheap at all), or a Fender Urge bass. I think Epiphone and Hamer at one point each made short scale basses. OR..........if you want to spoil her, get her an Alembic!

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

VENTGtr · Post by **VENTGtr** » Thursday Jul 17, 2008

MOONDOGGY wrote:IDanelectro (just make sure it has a truss rod!)

True. Longhorns are AWESOME!

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Thursday Jul 17, 2008

oh, check this out
http://www.danelectro.com/bass_ls_aqua.html

I was actually thinking of getting one of those, they look so cool. I'm not sure if its released yet or not.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Jul 17, 2008

MeYatch wrote:oh, check this out
http://www.danelectro.com/bass_ls_aqua.html

I was actually thinking of getting one of those, they look so cool. I'm not sure if its released yet or not.

That is cool! You could totally rock some Brittish Invasion type of music on that thing.

My first short-scale bass was a 1972 Fender Musicmaster. The thing was a blast to play. I need to take it into the shop, because I can't get any sound out of it.

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Thursday Jul 17, 2008

MeYatch wrote:oh, check this out
http://www.danelectro.com/bass_ls_aqua.html

I was actually thinking of getting one of those, they look so cool. I'm not sure if its released yet or not.

They have several of these at Rainbow Music in case you want to go take one for a test drive before buying it for your girl. The ONLY thing that would concern me about a younger girl using a Dano bas would be the fact that they use those little tuners. I can't imagine they would be easy to turn, but the gear ration I'm sure is different than the 20:1 that most closed bass tuners are, so I'm just assuming.