Best year(s) for a Gibson Thunderbird?

[scuz]

I've done some light reading into the history of the Gibson Thunderbird, and it seems that their quality control has gone out the window as of late. People have ordered new Thunderbirds that arrive with warped necks, scratchy pots, etc. It's one of the few basses that I like the looks of. Also I play primarily with a pick, and I guess t-birds sound pretty darn good with a pick. I wish that my local music stores had these things in stock so I could go give them a try, but alas, they're all too cheap to keep a t-bird in stock.

Anyways, I've decided that I'm gonna pinch my pennies for a while and save the money to acquire one of these birds. My question, to all you Gibson gear-heads, is which year(s) seemed to be the best for the t-bird? I'm looking for one with two pickups, so I'm guessing that kind of limits it to years more recent than 1970?

 

[Mastermold]

Personally I'd love to see Gibson do a reissue T-Bird with chrome hardware and pickups like the '64 original. I'd buy that in a heartbeat!

As for the new ones, you may want to check with Sweetwater.com. I was thinking of ordering one through them and they said they'd perform a full inspection and setup (they always do that for any high end bass you buy) and take pictures of anything suspect in the finish quality which they'd email me to review and approve before shipping. And if they (or I) didn't think it was 100% perfect they'd send it back to Gibson for another. So you can't really go wrong that way.

 

[scuz]

And if they (or I) didn't think it was 100% perfect they'd send it back to Gibson for another. So you can't really go wrong that way.

Ooo, that sounds promising! Thanks for the info.

 

[Mastermold]

Ooo, that sounds promising! Thanks for the info.

This is the sales guy I've worked with there, call him tomorrow (he's out today).

Robby Resnick
Sweetwater Sales Engineer
1800-222-4700 x1368
[email protected]

 

[scuz]

This is the sales guy I've worked with there, call him tomorrow (he's out today).

Robby Resnick
Sweetwater Sales Engineer
1800-222-4700 x1368
[email protected]

Lol, maybe you missed that part about me pinching pennies. The earliest I'll be able to buy one of these things is probably August Do they have more colors available than just the sunburst, and do they price-match?

Will most defiantly go through him when I'm ready to buy though.

 

[Mastermold]

Lol, maybe you missed that part about me pinching pennies. The earliest I'll be able to buy one of these things is probably August Do they have more colors available than just the sunburst, and do they price-match?

Will most defiantly go through him when I'm ready to buy though.

They're running a deal right now where if you get their Sweetwater credit card (which you can apply for instantly) and put the bass on the card you get one year of no interest and no payments. But this deal only lasts until June 8th I believe so you'd need to order it by then.

I'm working with Robby right now to see if I can get a new Fender P V under this deal.

 

[scuz]

They're running a deal right now where if you get their Sweetwater credit card (which you can apply for instantly) and put the bass on the card you get one year of no interest and no payments. But this deal only lasts until June 8th I believe so you'd need to order it by then.

I'm working with Robby right now to see if I can get a new Fender P V under this deal.

LMAO that is such a bad idea for me. I JUST got my credit de-crapified and I doubt this would help. Always worth a shot though

 

[Johnny Crab]

Been using T-Birds since the early 70's.

63 & 64 T-Bird = THE BEST sounding ones(IMO)

76 with red, white, blue bird = lamest sounding one(sold mine within a year of buying it new)

2006 T-Bird = OK although the pickups SEEM to have much less mid but a lot of bottom and top

+1 to the re-issue with chrome

Alternatives & solutions:
1)Get a modern TB, pickup covers from OVERDRIVEN66([Invalid or Expired Link Removed] scroll to the bottom of the page), and send them to Seymour Duncan for 60's guts clone. Then add pickup rings from FretsOnTheNet.
2) Get a new TB from American Musical on their flexplay(I did this in white Invalid Link Removed ). They were a few hundred less in 2006!
3) Get an Orville, Orville by Gibson, or Greco TB. All three are OK with the Greco(more Fenderish neck) sounding the closest to a 60's TB(IMO)

I've seriously considered doing #1 OR getting Greco pickups and rings to "chrome" a 2006 TB.

To the OP:
The 2006 here is fine with no issues other than being somewhat sticky(nitro still drying) for months but it's nothing like the 64's I had to sell in 1989.
I agree with the "hit or miss" of Gibson QC(or lack thereof) BUT if you get it locally you SHOULD be able to confirm it before buying. If you get it "online", be sure(get it in writing) that they will send it back until you get a good one.

 

[scuz]

That was exactly the info I was looking for, Johnny! I play mostly punk-ish stuff so the 2006 sounds like it might be a good way to go. Thanks again!

 

[TBird1958]

I have 5 Thunderbirds: 3 76's (which respectfully, and contrary to Johnny C's opinion I love and think they're the best years for production) 1 '89 and 1 Greco Thunderbird II single pick up.
Most 76's are going for at least $2500 which probably seems a bit high, but certain finishes and production year/quantity produced is driving them up.......If I had a spare 2500 I'd probably buy another, I just like them that much
Gibson's QC today can be spotty as others have mentioned so a reputable dealer is a must for a new instrument, and I'd figure that you'll be setting it up right from the start then you won't be disappointed by the bad job the do at the factory.
Anything post '88 production will have black hardware which can all be traded out for chrome if you want to chase the parts down - I have and the result is totally cool, vintage look with a slightly smaller headstock and modern profile neck.
If you don't want to spend too much I highly recommend a Greco, mine is the loudest, growly bass ever! a fantastic buy at $649, from a Japanese ebayer.....well worth looking for.

Here's some of mine

Greco

Gibson will have these two new 'Birds later this year:

For S.O.A.D. fans

And a new Nikki Sixx model......have fun choosing!

 

[Rob Martinez]

The mid 60s T birds, as I understand it, are the best. Good luck getting one for less than $5000.

I can't afford that, so I am quite happy with my Gibson Thunderbird IV with the white finish (2007) and my Gibson Thunderbird Studio bass (cherry finish). They are great basses and sound ROCKIN' through my amp LOUD!!!

 

[P. Lacey]

man, those are beautiful basses

 

[scuz]

Buncha 'birds

That's one helluva flock you have there, TBird! Does Gibson own Greco? Is Greco sort of in between Gibson and Epiphone as far as quality goes? I've never heard of them before.

 

[Barkless Dog]

Greco was a high quality Japanese knock company. No connection to Gibson. Japanese Orville Birds, however used Gibson parts but for the Japan Market. Both I believe have wider & thicker necks.

On modern black pup birds some people have had bad humming proble,m with the pickups and had to have them replaced.

Gibson quality on Birds has always been hit or miss even in the 60's. Better to buy used so you can see what you are getting.

All birds hold their value really well though. $1200 for a used modern bird is the average. You can get lucky and snag one for $800 to $900 if your lucky.

 

[RickenBoogie]

The Studio models, no longer in production, were an in-between, good quality Tbird. I have an '06 5 stringer, beautiful. The only real difference between the reg Tbirds, and the Studio is a set neck vs. neck thru. (also, Studios available as 5 stringers). You might find one of these, used, for even less money, as they had a street price, new, around $1200. And yes, they blow the Epi models away in every respect.

 

[tombowlus]

I have a '91 T-bird, which I bought new after playing every vintage/used T-bird I could get my hands on. The one '76 model that I was able to try was not all that inspiring (for whatever reason), but man, did I want to love it! I did play a '64 (I think that was the year), which I absolutely loved, but could not afford. As it turns out, though, I really dug the 'then current' builds (I played several 1990 and 1991 models), and I got a super-crazy good deal on my '91 ($695, with the case, no shipping, brand new from an authorized dealer! ). When mine came in, it struck me as perhaps the best one I had played to date (of course, I was immediately biased, at that point ), but I still feel that way.

Recently, I had a chance to play some of the 'Studio' T-birds, including the 5-string, as well as a current production Gibson Thunderbird IV. Man, things have changed! The feel of the neck on the new T-bird IV is very different than mine (mine is quite thin, and very 'fast', the new one was thicker and chunkier), and I believe the new one had a rosewood fingerboard (mine is ebony). The tone is quite different, too, with my '91 having both more low-mid punch, but also more clarity from top to bottom, and more high end snap (from the ebony board, I am guessing). The Studio's were kinda cool, but even less similar to my '91 T-bird IV.

So, I guess what I am saying is that the '90 to '91 models seemed pretty darned good to me, though the current production Thunderbirds may not be quite at the same level.

Hope this helps, Tom.

 

[P_bass]

76's (which respectfully, and contrary to Johnny C's opinion I love and think they're the best years for production)

I have to agree, of all that I played (I worked at a music shop that had tons of new Gibsons, Fenders, Ric's, etc) including the 76's with the Red/White/Blue bird, or BiCentenial as I recall? This was fit and finish perfect and I still talk about how great it sounded even today when I get a chance.

I could just never afford a new bass in those days or this one would have been mine! Luckily it ended up with a friend who teaches music at a state college so I know it is in good hands.

 

[scuz]

Yeah, Tom, that helped a bunch. I'm thinking maybe now I should try a GrecoBird and make sure it's something I'd like before taking the plunge and going after a ~$2k bass

 

[tombowlus]

I have to agree, of all that I played (I worked at a music shop that had tons of new Gibsons, Fenders, Ric's, etc) including the 76's with the Red/White/Blue bird, or BiCentenial as I recall? This was fit and finish perfect and I still talk about how great it sounded even today when I get a chance.

I'm wondering if the one I tried had some issues, for for whatever reason, was a 'dog.' I'd love to give another '76 Bird a try, someday.

 

[Barkless Dog]

I've heard from others you have to have the pickups set up "just right" to get a great tone. I know people who play them and sound great.

Link Removed

The 70's have he weakest pickups that have trouble pushing through the mix. They are actually sidewinder pickups (pickups laid on their side)

Early New birds have lower output pickups than the newer ones. That's probably why you noticed a lack of clarity in the newer ones. They use high output hot pickups now.

Why would you spend $2000 on one when you could pay $800 (studio) or $1200 for regular used bird ?