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Description
The Epiphone ThunderBird Classic IV is a quintessential choice for bass guitarists seeking a blend of iconic style and powerful sound. With its roots tracing back to Gibson's original design from the 1960s, this bass guitar offers a timeless appeal along with modern performance capabilities. Featuring a neck-through-body construction, the ThunderBird Classic IV ensures exceptional sustain and resonance, making it ideal for both live performances and studio recordings.
This electric bass is equipped with a pair of Gibson TB Plus humbucking pickups, delivering a punchy and articulate tone that is customizable via the individual volume controls and a master tone knob. The 34" scale length and rosewood fingerboard with 20 medium jumbo frets provide a smooth and comfortable playing experience, suitable for both beginners and seasoned players.
Crafted with a mahogany body and a 7-piece walnut/maple neck, the ThunderBird Classic IV offers durability and a well-balanced tonal range. Its distinct reverse body shape not only enhances its visual appeal but also contributes to its unique sound projection. The classic styling is complemented by premium appointments like black hardware and a vintage-style bridge for precise intonation.
Whether you are laying down tracks in the studio or rocking out on stage, the Epiphone ThunderBird Classic IV is designed to meet the demands of any playing style, making it a versatile addition to any musician's arsenal.
Key Features:
- 7-piece walnut/maple neck-through-body construction
- Dual Gibson TB Plus humbucking pickups
- 34" scale length with a rosewood fingerboard
- Reverse body shape with a mahogany body
- Black hardware and vintage-style bridge
- Individual volume controls and master tone knob
Videos
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EPIPHONE Thunderbird Classic IV AW
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Epiphone ThunderBird Classic IV.
Comparisons
Use cases and applications
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Despite a perceived lack of tonal versatility, some users find it suitable for diverse styles, including jazz, thrash, and classic rock.
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It's noted that the Thunderbird is favored for use with a fuzz pedal, delivering a mid-range punch that cuts through a mix effectively.
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Some users avoid it for live performances due to neck dive issues, preferring comfort over aesthetics.
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User experience
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The Thunderbird is described as heavy, akin to playing a "coffee table," prompting the use of a comfortable strap for extended play.
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Some players find the neck to be chunky yet thin, leading to mixed feelings on comfort.
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Long-armed players find the neck dive manageable, appreciating the bass's tone and fast neck.
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Mods and upgrades
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Some owners replace the stock pickups with EMGs for a darker and more powerful tone, suitable for rock, blues, and heavy metal.
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Owners have mentioned using custom-made nickel rings to accommodate different pickup sizes due to the wider pickup slots on the Epiphone Thunderbird-IV.
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Owners plan to replace the stock 3-point bridge with a Babicz bridge, preferring black over chrome for visual consistency.
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Features and functionality
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Playing above the twelfth fret on lower strings can be awkward due to the body shape, requiring players to adjust their stance.
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Setup and maintenance
Build quality
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The body "wings" are thinner, making the bass lighter than some Fender models, like the MIM P-Bass.
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The white border on the headstock is considered a standout, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal.
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Some owners note that the finish may have imperfections, such as orange peel or bubbles, particularly around the fretboard edges.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 19 Ratings
589
Perfect 4-string rock and early metal bass
Bought this bass in 2016, and it's been my go-to bass for anything rock related, ranging from indie to progressive to 70s/80s metal. The neck feels sublime, it doesn't suffer any of the top-heavy issues some other Thunderbirds have, and the pickups are beastly. They're Gibson pickups, rather than the Epiphone standards, and the quality is all in those. You'd never guess from the sound that this was a Chinese-built bass. Couldn't recommend enough for anyone wanting a great 4-string to chug on.
34
A great bass, but not for the small of hand.
The bass is absolutely wonderful, and I adore its tone as well as its incredible heft. I just have one gripe however, and that is the painfully long 34(?) inch scale length. Unless you are ready to tackle the stretching of many a finger with this bass, you might want to wait. But if you have bigger hands than mine (which is most people probably), then go right ahead and enjoy this bass!
Artist usage
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In this photo of Jared Followill performing live, he can be seen playing an Epiphone Thunderbird Classic-IV Bass Guitar in an Alpine White finish.
In this picture you can see Benji playing an Epiphone Thunderbird Classic model IV in alpine white
In their live performance on KEXP, Josh Lloyd-Watson of Jungle plays an Epiphone ThunderBird Classic IV in Alpine White.
In this video you can see Chris playing an Epiphone Thunderbird classic IV Alpine White Bass
In this YouTube video, Margrét Rósa plays a white Gibson Thunderbird style bass with a black one-piece bridge, black soap bar pickups, bolt-on neck, and white accent paint around the black headstock. [https://youtu.be/Pi_6ENKFKE0]
The headstock, however, appears to display an Epiphone badge rather than Gibson. Also, Gibson did not make the Thunderbird with a bolt-on neck. This close-up image of Margrét Rósa showing the headstock more clearly supports that it is indeed an Epiphone [https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57d79c7e725e250ead246879/1583583251886-V61AR6QKLES6KQI48XJH/Kaelan_Mikla_Gorilla_Manchester_March_5th_2020%C2%A9Johann_Wierzbicki%7CROCKFLESH-10.jpg]
Given this evidence, the bass appears to be an Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV in alpine white. Sweetwater has a description and additional photos of this discontinued model on their website [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBTCAWBH--epiphone-thunderbird-classic-iv-alpine-white]
In this YouTube video of a Razor concert, Mike is seen playing through out the song "Cut Throat" with an Epiphone ThunderBird Classic IV Alpine White
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Epiphone ThunderBird Classic IV, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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