Head to head
Epiphone Thunderbird '64 Bass, Ember Red vs ESP B-206SM NATURAL SATIN
The verdict
The ESP B-206SM NATURAL SATIN comes out ahead overall — 80 to 68 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone Thunderbird '64 Bass, Ember Red wins on
No standout advantage.
ESP B-206SM NATURAL SATIN wins on
- Better build (87 vs 65)
- Better playability (81 vs 72)
- Better value (83 vs 66)
- Lower price ($749 vs $849)
Scorecard
| Metric | Thunderbird '64 Bass, Ember Red | B-206SM NATURAL SATIN |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 68 | 80 |
| Build | 65 | 87 |
| Playability | 72 | 81 |
| Sound | 71 | 68 |
| Value | 66 | 83 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Thunderbird '64 Bass, Ember Red | B-206SM NATURAL SATIN |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Bass | Bass |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through | Ash |
| Neck wood | 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through | 5Pc Maple/Jatoba |
| Fretboard | Indian Laurel | Rosewood |
| Strings | 4 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 24 |
| Scale | 34" | 35" |
| Pickups | ProBucker 760 Bass Humbucker / ProBucker 760 Bass Humbucker | ESP SB-6N / ESP SB-6B |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $849 | $749 |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Thunderbird | — |
| Body Styles | Thunderbird | — |
| Bridge | Epiphone Vintage Bass Tune-O-Matic | LTD DB-6 |
| Bridge pickup | ProBucker 760 Bass Humbucker | ESP SB-6B |
| Case | Premium Gig Bag | B BASS 6 STRING FORM FIT CASE |
| Control Covers | Black | — |
| Control Knobs | Gold with Reflector Insert | — |
| Controls | 2 Volume, Master Tone; 500K CTS Potentiometers | Passive |
| Finish | Nickel | NATURAL SATIN |
| Fretboard inlay | Pearloid Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 500mm |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Headstock | 60s Thunderbird | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Modern Epiphone Logo in Gold (On Truss Rod Cover) | — |
| Joint | Neck-Through-Body Construction | — |
| Model | EIGTB6EMRNH3 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Nickel | — |
| Neck pickup | ProBucker 760 Bass Humbucker | ESP SB-6N |
| Nut | Graph Tech | Molded |
| Nut width | 38.0mm / 1.5in | 54mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" | — |
| Pickguard | 3-ply White with Hot Stamped Thunderbird Logo | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Profile | 60s Rounded Bass | — |
| Scale length | 863.6mm / 34.0in | 35" |
| Side | Okoume (Gaboon Mahogany) or Sapelli (Sapelli Mahogany) Wings | — |
| Strap Buttons | 2 - Bottom and Near Neck Heel | — |
| String gauges | .045, .065, .085, .105 | — |
| Tailpiece | Epiphone Vintage Bass Claw | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Black with Epiphone Logo in Gold | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Open-gear Bass Tuners with Historic Clover Buttons and 19:1 Gear Ratio | LTD |
| Case Included | — | N |
| Construction | — | Bolt-On |
| Hardware | — | Black Nickel |
| Neck profile | — | Thin U |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |
| Top wood | — | Spalted Maple |