Epiphone has collaborated with Rex Brown to introduce a more budget-friendly rendition of the Pantera bassist’s Thunderbird signature bass guitar.
Notably, the most recent addition to Brown’s modest assortment of signature guitars marks his inaugural Epiphone offering, emerging nearly two years following the introduction of the flagship Gibson Thunderbird model in 2022.
Maintaining a nearly identical appearance to its $2,799 four-string counterpart, the Epiphone version of the premier Brown bass upholds the subdued yet elegant gold-on-black aesthetic. However, it introduces several functional adjustments contributing to an overall reduced cost.
Rex Brown Unveils His Inaugural Epiphone Model with the Latest Signature Thunderbird Bass (Credits: Epiphone)
In this iteration, Epiphone has opted for a slightly altered body composition. Instead of employing a mahogany body, the bass features a nine-ply neck-through-body mahogany and walnut neck combination, finished with a C-shape profile.
Some predictable specifications include a standard 34” scale length, mahogany body wings, and a 20-fret Indian laurel fingerboard, replacing the rosewood alternative seen in the Gibson model.
Tonal adjustments are evident as the RexBucker pickups from the Gibson template have been substituted with standard Epiphone ProBucker 760 bass pickups.
Consequently, the control circuit has been simplified, replacing the push/pull active/passive switch with standard passive electronics – two volume controls and a master tone knob.
The bridge has also undergone a change, shifting from a Hipshot bass bridge model to a Babicz FCH 3-Point alternative.
Finishing touches include all gold hardware, featuring the Thunderbird logo-embossed gold pickguard and Mini Clover tuning buttons, a reproduction of Brown’s signature, and a doodle of the Pantera legend’s logo on the rear control cover.
Epiphone stated, “Rex Brown, renowned for his electrifying stage presence and transformative impact on rock and metal with bands like Pantera and Down and his hard-rocking solo album, is a rhythmic powerhouse fueled by an unwavering passion for the bass.”
“Rex forged his career anchoring the rhythm section of one of the most iconic bands in history, and now he is thundering his way into the Epiphone core lineup.”
Finally, the eagerly awaited moment arrives the price. As anticipated, it comes at a significantly more affordable cost than the Gibson version, retailing at $1,299. As an added bonus, it includes a Rex Brown signature hard case.
