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Gibson Thunderbird Discontinued???

#4
TBird1958 said:
It hasn't been in production for awhile now, they are making the Non Reverse version instead. It will return at some point, I have no doubt.
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Don't know why they couldn't keep producing the Thunderbird while promoting or pushing the non reverse. Maybe they don't want them competing against each other.

I'm sure some version of it will be back into production at some point.

Another thing I don't get is why you can't find the Epiphone version on their website (the china model that costs $449)

It's been like that for a long time.
 
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#8
There's low demand. The bottom line is that if they were making good money making them, then they'd keep making them.

Thunderbirds have always been only moderately popular basses, at most. They've gone through ups and downs, and have largely been stuck with a cult following over the generations. I've worked on, played, or attended literally thousands of gigs in my life. I can count on one hand the number of T-Bird basses I've seen played live. That's not hyperbole. On stage, I've seen more of every other main Gibson bass type...except the Explorer. SG style, thinline style, Ripper/Grabber, Les Paul, and even the early violin style EBs.

I've certainly never thought of it as being their "flagship" bass, nor seen it referred to as such by them or anyone else...till now. They're certainly not very deluxe in terms of appointments, like a flagship would normally be (e.g. binding, block inlays, gold hardware). I view them as being the bass equivalent of the Explorer: Not popular or successful in their time, but has small groups of people who really like 'em, and have bolstered their popularity in mini waves over the decades.
 
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#9
LAST_C said:
That's a good point. It's only that to me, that's their Flagship bass. Maybe I'd reduce production, or price, but not write them off completely
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I agree that the TB is probably what I would also assume is their flagship bass, but for a company like Gibson, I don't think that means much to them. They probably sell less then 1 bass for every 99 guitars (of course this is just a guess). Assuming their sales are skewed somewhat like that, I can understand why they wouldn't invest a ton of time or money into their bass offerings. So yeah, they probably could reduce the price to increase the demand a bit and sell a few more units but then they're also taking production time away from higher margin instruments that are easier to sell.
 
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#10
Lammchop93 said:
Gibson has a track record of discontinuing models for 5-10 years then bringing them back. They'll be back at some point...
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Kind of like Fender.

Thunderbirds have come and gone in a lot of iterations over the years, the current Non Reverse is as valid a version as any that have come before it and it's
certainly a good bass, but I don't expect Gibson to keep on making them either.
 
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#11
KenD said:
Private equity uber alles!
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iu
 
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#15
LAST_C said:
Don't know why they couldn't keep producing the Thunderbird while promoting or pushing the non reverse. Maybe they don't want them competing against each other.

I'm sure some version of it will be back into production at some point.

Another thing I don't get is why you can't find the Epiphone version on their website (the china model that costs $449)

It's been like that for a long time.
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Relative to the guitars, the basses are small production runs. The Non Reverse Tbird reissued a couple of years ago has sold pretty well, so they are rolling with it.
I think Epiphone discontinued the bolt neck Tbird, but they have a neck through copy of a 60s Reverse that is pretty nice. It was initially called Vintage Pro, then 60's and currently it's the Thunderbird 64.
 
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#18
Not a very steady mover for Gibson. They're cool but not that popular to buyers.

Bassist here, fan of Gibson here, fan of Thunderbirds here.
If I was product manager for Gibson it would be on the top of my phase-out list. Bottom line they do not sell well. Other bottom line is Gibson has never prioritized basses. If they were being ordered by dealers Gibson would not discontinue them. Maybe in a few years demand will change and they can try again. I'm sure it's not personal.

It's not like Fender where at least there is a steady demand for the niche P and J Bass product. But at Gibson you have to figure they're selling 10,000 Les Pauls and 8,000 SGs before they sell a single bass. It's job suicide to put that on your production queue.
 
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#19
Gibson has discontinued and then revived the TBird and the Firebird guitars multiple times. My guess is the price having gone over $2000 is the reason.

They have never done a real vintage reissue, but the Epiphone TBird 60s/64 models are really close for less than $900. Epiphone has been selling bolt-on TBirds for years for under $500 and I see plenty in use.
 
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#20
brianrost said:
Gibson has discontinued and then revived the TBird and the Firebird guitars multiple times. My guess is the price having gone over $2000 is the reason.

They have never done a real vintage reissue, but the Epiphone TBird 60s/64 models are really close for less than $900. Epiphone has been selling bolt-on TBirds for years for under $500 and I see plenty in use.
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The Epiphone '60s or now '64 Thunderbird is more likely the reason for Gibson to not make the Reverse at this point in time, but even those have gone through some slight changes as production has evolved and now shifted to China. It's not really a proper re-issue but it's close and it's affordable, I see Martin Turner (ex Wishbone Ash) using them, Chuck Garrick from Alice Cooper as well.
I have no doubt that Gibson will produce a "standard" version or maybe a good re-issue again, if Henry J. could do it, the new guys can.
 
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