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Doomed For Extinction: Is the Gibson Thunderbird's days numberd?

#41
the current CEO at Gibson is terrible, lose him first of all.

making a version modeled after the Fenderbird would be a great move.

I know they want to keep the bridge and headstock, why not put some Carbon rods and recess holes to put nuts on the other side of the body for the bridge?
 
#43
I think the Gibson Thunderbird actually had a bit of a resurgence if anything the past 2-3 years. (The price came down a few hundred 17ish to 14ish, not because of popularity but more of a recessionary adjustment there).

Many out there slam them based on what they read because they don't have a mind of their own.

I wouldn't trade mine for any other bass out there. And for those that hate'em, more for me!
 
#45
I was never a fan of the Thunderbird/Firebird guitar...they just don't do anything for me.

But for some unknown reason, I love the Thunderbird BASS, and it would be on my short list if I had the money. I just played an Epi Tbird last week at GC and liked it a lot. It felt comfortable and like many basses, it looked better in person than in a catalog or website photo. This one had beautiful wood grain detail and looked great. Only thing I didn't care for was the pickups.
 
#50
What I hate most about T-Birds, Explorers, and the like (including Steinbergers without a body or back plate) is how the neck sticks way out from the body and I have to reach a lot farther out to play in 1st position. Neck dive is the least of its worries IMHO. Love the look, hate the feel.
 
#52
JimmyM said:
What I hate most about T-Birds, Explorers, and the like (including Steinbergers without a body or back plate) is how the neck sticks way out from the body and I have to reach a lot farther out to play in 1st position. Neck dive is the least of its worries IMHO. Love the look, hate the feel.
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You probably wouldn't care much for a Gibson RD Artist. The 3rd fret is where you'd typically find the 1st on most other basses.

Of all my basses, the neck on the T-bird is my favorite. I love the slender feel of it and it just plays great. It's nicer than my Fender Jazz by far. If I had the bucks I'd have the neck on my Rick 4003 fashioned like the T-bird. If Gibson ever bought out Rickenbacker, which is a possability, and put a T-bird neck with it's neck-to-body construction, they'd have a killer bass.

People complain about neck dive, but I don't see that as an issue. Same thing about upper fret access. You become accustomed to these things and they are not an issues. It's part of the instrument's character and you deal or compensate for these things.

Same is true for an RD Artist. It's a Rickenbacer on steroids. I think if Gibson did something about the weight (as that seems to be a complaint voiced by several players) I think they'd have a winner on thier hands.

Weight, neck length, fret access, alleged neck dive, are characteristics that aren't an issue if you REALLY like the tone, feel, playability, looks, and vibe of the instrument.

I sometimes wonder if people sacrifice certain characteristics and dismiss a particular bass because of the aforementioned characterisitcs.
 
#54
Gibenbackerbass said:
Weight, neck length, fret access, alleged neck dive, are characteristics that aren't an issue if you REALLY like the tone, feel, playability, looks, and vibe of the instrument.

I sometimes wonder if people sacrifice certain characteristics and dismiss a particular bass because of the aforementioned characterisitcs.
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Woah, hang on a sec. Re-read your first paragraph above. Seems to me that the first set comparative attributes you mention as not being vitally important directly affects two attributes of your second, ostensibly more important group. Weight, neck length, fret access, and (possible) neck dive to me are all part of the "feel" and "playability" of the instrument.

Secondly, if I were looking to drop the kind of coin these basses fetch new, I'd consider all those attributes as being important (to differing degrees). Yeah, if I'm thinking of picking up an SX, I can overlook some warts, but I'm not so flush that I can shell out $1400-$1700 on a bass that I might find lacking in almost any regard. It better be darn-near perfect, or at least very close, and have easy remedies for the faults it does possess.

Full disclosure: I've never played a T-Bird (or even the Epi models), though I've always dug the looks of the instrument. But for me the point above applies to any bass.
 
#55
Tao4Now said:
Woah, hang on a sec. Re-read your first paragraph above. Seems to me that the first set comparative attributes you mention as not being vitally important directly affects two attributes of your second, ostensibly more important group. Weight, neck length, fret access, and (possible) neck dive to me are all part of the "feel" and "playability" of the instrument.

Secondly, if I were looking to drop the kind of coin these basses fetch new, I'd consider all those attributes as being important (to differing degrees). Yeah, if I'm thinking of picking up an SX, I can overlook some warts, but I'm not so flush that I can shell out $1400-$1700 on a bass that I might find lacking in almost any regard. It better be darn-near perfect, or at least very close, and have easy remedies for the faults it does possess.

Full disclosure: I've never played a T-Bird (or even the Epi models), though I've always dug the looks of the instrument. But for me the point above applies to any bass.
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Allow me to clarify:

Upper fret access isn't an issues for me. I play the upper frets frequently and have grwon accustomed to the way the instrument is made. For me it isn't an issue, I compensate for way the instrument is constructed. It's second nature for me.

Weiight. Again, not an issue for me. Even my 13 pound RD isn't an issue. Use a large strap and put on a little muscle.

Neck dive. That's someone's fantacy getting carried away. Use a thick strap and don't let go of the neck and move about so it gravatates downward. Basic physics.

First three frets. I guess my arms are a tad longer than the rest of the population. The RD & T-bird have never been an issue. Also, I suppose if one grows up playing these it's not going to be an issue.

If a person learned on and played a Hofner Violin bass for five years and went to an RD or 'Bird, yea, they'd notice a difference. But in time, (if they are honest and like the instrument) they will become accustomed to it.
 
#56
Thunderbird isn't going anywhere. Gibson stupidly jacked up the prices on all their models as the economy was collapsing. They've had to roll most of that back when then discovered (gasp!) that people buy LESS stuff in a recession. Wow - who would've thunk it. :eek:

In any case, it's one of Gibson's heritage models and they will keep it around as long as there are even a few buyers.
 
#57
wurstburst said:
Thunderbird isn't going anywhere. Gibson stupidly jacked up the prices on all their models as the economy was collapsing. They've had to roll most of that back when then discovered (gasp!) that people buy LESS stuff in a recession. Wow - who would've thunk it. :eek:

In any case, it's one of Gibson's heritage models and they will keep it around as long as there are even a few buyers.
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Careful. They ditched the Les Paul bass, which was (and remains) a terrific instrument. Oh, and how about that bridge? Absolutly fantastic. Fully adjustable in all directions.

I hope the 'Bird never goes away. But, what you MAY SEE HAPPEN, is it will be discontined as a production model and wind up a Custom Shop only instrument. It that happens it will be back up to, well, let's see, this is Gibson we're taliking about. I think $2,000.00. :eek:
 
#60
I used to own an Explorer bass for about 24 hours - I played it for two songs, took it off, and put a for sale sign on it while I finished the show. Sold it the next night. The Explorer from what I remember was much more neck heavy than the T-bird, and the neck was thicker. It also had more midrange tone and was overall "brighter" than my current T-birds. The best thing anyone can do to a T-bird is move the placement of the strap buttons. Gibson is now issuing them with a strap button near the heel neck as opposed to the top horn like in the old days - but I still move mine about 2" closer yet towards the lower horn. I also move the strap button at the bridge end of the bass about 2" to the left - towards the long wing. This makes my T-birds balance very well, and can almost get an upright placement with them. Makes it much easier to play in first position for me.

tbirdstrapbuttons001.jpg


tbirdstrapbuttons002.jpg
 

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