Are gibson basses really that trendy?

[Tom Howland]

Trendy maybe, sound great yes.
They sound different than say a Fender, in a good way.
I have a 1960 EBO, that has a monster sounding pickup.

 

[Definitely]

I was thinking of pulling the trigger on a Gibson sg but wasn't so sure about the sound, are they really that nice?

 

[Hamerguy]

I often think many younger players these days like to get a Gibson because they have seen their idol with a Gibson too. That said, I always loved the Victory series when they came out, and I like the RD Artist too. Of course, I think, they look cool and they are all maple construction which I actually like. The Thunderbird looks cool to me too, but I am not really a friend of basses of all-mahogany construction. So I'd prefer a Hamer FB IV which has the shape of a Thunderbird but has a glued-in maple neck (no neck-trough like the original) and P/J pickups (in most cases by EMG).

 

[mr.mow]

I was thinking of pulling the trigger on a Gibson sg but wasn't so sure about the sound, are they really that nice?

Short scale, feel tiny and thump like a bastard.. I like them.. Many do not.

 

[lbanks]

I tried an Epi Thunderbird 4 at GC this weekend, not too heavy and it did have an ugly, sexy vibe to it...

I could string it BEAD and return the Jazz to EADG...


Just sayin'...

 

[throbgod13]

the build quality of my 78 Grabber is pretty crappy.. neck heel swims the the neck pocket.. the metal screen in the neck pocket to prevent the neck from shifting.. the crappy bridge.. etc..

even with all the crappiness.. i really like it.. it's fat, bell bottomed, stinks of cheap liquor, speaks inappropriately in mixed company and has a bad reputation.. essentially, it's Ron Jeremy in bass form..

and if that's "trendy", count me in.. baby..

 

[mr.mow]

the build quality of my 78 Grabber is pretty crappy.. neck heel swims the the neck pocket.. the metal screen in the neck pocket to prevent the neck from shifting.. the crappy bridge.. etc..

even with all the crappiness.. i really like it.. it's fat, bell bottomed, stinks of cheap liquor, speaks inappropriately in mixed company and has a bad reputation.. essentially, it's Ron Jeremy in bass form..

and if that's "trendy", count me in.. baby..

All hail the 'Hedgehog'!!

 

[Fullback32]

I like my Thunderbird and my Jazz bass. I use them for different types of music. Generally, the heavier stuff gets the T-Bird; the bluesier get the Jazz. I do admit to not caring for the neck diving, though it doesn't bother me all that much as my Jackson and my Kramer does it as well, so I'm kind of used to it (I've both of those for a really long time).

The T-Bird and the Jazz are very recent acquisitions (within this last month). I never thought any bass could replace my Kramer as my favorite, but the Jazz is slowly taking over. It just plays so damn well!

 

[skunky36]

I've never heard of this on a Gibson Thunderbird. Break yes, bow or twist, never heard of. Both of mine are very stable. The 9 layer neck seems to me to make it less likely to bow or twist.

I think I was prejudice about Tbirds for a decade because my buddy got one and it was a big deal for him. After a month the neck started twisting so he returned it got another and that one started bowing around the 14th fret, I tried to fix it for him but the neck was either too high or would buzz out. He returned that and got a Musicman. But now I think it was just a bad batch, green wood, bad quality control, or something. But it was imprinted in my mind for a decade.