Gibson Thunderbird Discontinued???

[jd56hawk]

Maybe no one is buying them. If no one is buying them then why would Gibson keep making them?

Exactly!
Other than that, there are what, 7 or 8 Epiphone Thunderbirds still available, and they're available for good prices, too.
Gibson just released this, though, and I'd buy a bass version without even thinking about it...with a better headstock, that is.

 

[EdO.]

I'm fond of the Thunderbird bass.

The non-reverse jobbie, meh..... not so much.

It's seriously ugly.

Just the opposite here, personally I find the non-reverse to be ugly/odd looking while I think the reverse brings a cool vibe you just don't get with many other body styles. You wanna stand out on stage, both looks wise and sonically, get a (reverse) T-Bird. Different strokes.

 

[MCF]

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

I don't think the classic neck through is gone for good. Just on hiatus for awhile. After all, they're keeping a placeholder on the website….

As for the Epi website and the ubiquitous bolt-on IV, who knows why it isn't listed there. They're available at Sweetwater today.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBTBVSBH--epiphone-thunderbird-iv-vintage-sunburst

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Maybe I can get a few dollars more for my '91 now. I don't play it much and when I do, I remember why I don't. It was an impulse trade about 20 years ago and I just haven't found a way to get much out of it, selling, trading, or playing. I like the sound of the bass, but the ergonomics & weight are well-known….

 

[SDC1-ClickClack]

Maybe I can get a few dollars more for my '91 now. I don't play it much and when I do, I remember why I don't. It was an impulse trade about 20 years ago and I just haven't found a way to get much out of it, selling, trading, or playing. I like the sound of the bass, but the ergonomics & weight are well-known….

Hey, hey, don't oversell it!

 

[retslock]

Hi all.

Seem weird to me that Gibson discontinued what I thought was their flagship bass, the Thunderbird.

This is according to their website.

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/p/Electric-Bass/USAKUC232/Tobacco-Burst

What you guys think about this? Will they keep only the signature series?

Will they produce something cheaper? (I doubt it)

Thoughts?

I like their sound and the woody look but I've never liked the body shape. I'm guessing maybe I'm not alone and it doesn't sell as well as others styles.

 

[ajkula66]

I'm guessing maybe I'm not alone and it doesn't sell as well as others styles.

You may very well be correct. I've owned quite a few Gibson basses from all eras, but never a Bird. I just can't get along with them from an ergonomic standpoint.

Having said that, from what I can gather the only "regular" basses left are SG Bass and NR Bird. Slim pickings, even by Gibson standards.

 

[micguy]

On the page where the 4 models of T birds are pictured (there are 3 Gibson models in stock) it says "out of stock" - on the individual product page it says "discontinued" - given the ambiguity, not sure which is true.

You do have your choice, at present, of 6 different T bird models, given the Epi and Gibson models - that's not enough?

 

[retslock]

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.

I would venture that the Grabber is represented far more in Australia at least and from what I've seen on international videos. In a long career of broad experience I've seen way more Grabbers than Thunderbirds in the wild.

 

[Azari]

They should make a Gibson Theodore bass.

 

[Azari]

Exactly!
Other than that, there are what, 7 or 8 Epiphone Thunderbirds still available, and they're available for good prices, too.
Gibson just released this, though, and I'd buy a bass version without even thinking about it...with a better headstock, that is.
View attachment 7054492

Honestly this body design would look better on a 4 string bass imo… looks like a bass body.

 

[LAST_C]

After reading all of your posts, I believe that there's a good chance Gibson will stick to the Epiphone Thunderbirds for the time being.

They're well made (or so I've heard), they're in the $800 to $1200 range and even have some signature models in there.

Gibson is not a bass company anyways and probably they do good enough selling guitars.

What I'd do, is release a new Thunderbird with a smaller and redesigned headstock, something like the Spector model that resembles a Tbird, to see if they can reduce the neck dive, and try to aim at the $1400-$1800 range to see if they sell better.

Or, just stick to the Epiphones.

 

[TBird1958]

Gibson is not a bass company anyways and probably they do good enough selling guitars.

What I'd do, is release a new Thunderbird with a smaller and redesigned headstock, something like the Spector model that resembles a Tbird, to see if they can reduce the neck dive, and try to aim at the $1400-$1800 range to see if they sell better.

Or, just stick to the Epiphones.

You're only 19 years behind Gibson in your thinking.
Just like a lot of other musical instrument manufacturers Gibson regularly withdraws certain models from production, like this 2006 Studio. Most instruments have a production cycle so it's hardly ground breaking for an item to be discontinued. Gibson's share in the Bass guitar market isn't what some other makers have, to be sure, but they do what they know is a correct business choice for them when it comes to what they want to produce.

2005-2010 Gibson Studio Thunderbird.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

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

With no sales, the flagship has sunk below the waves.

 

[LAST_C]

You're only 19 years behind Gibson in your thinking.
Just like a lot of other musical instrument manufacturers Gibson regularly withdraws certain models from production, like this 2006 Studio. Most instruments have a production cycle so it's hardly ground breaking for an item to be discontinued. Gibson's share in the Bass guitar market isn't what some other makers have, to be sure, but they do what they know is a correct business choice for them when it comes to what they want to produce.

2005-2010 Gibson Studio Thunderbird.

I respectfully disagree. I don't think Fender will ever stop producing a Precision or Jazz bass and rely solely on the Squiers.

There have always been an Ultra, Lyte, Elite, Aerodyne, or some other iteration but there have always been a Fender Precision for sale.

To me, this feels a little bit different because there will be no Gibson Thunderbird available, unless you count the Non-Reverse.

I agree that, they're probably selling so poorly, it's not worth producing them anymore. At least for now. I was just surprised they will discontinue what probably is their most recognizable bass, IMO.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Private equity uber alles!

Way more influential than people realize. Way too influential, way too much concentrated power. IMO. We need someone like a Teddy Roosevelt to "bust" these up.

 

[TBird1958]

You do know that the Non Reverse actually had a longer production run than the original Reverse, yes? It's every bit as legit as the original, so saying that Gibson doesn't have a Thunderbird in production is inaccurate on your part, it's what Gibson chooses to produce at this time.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I respectfully disagree. I don't think Fender will ever stop producing a Precision or Jazz bass and rely solely on the Squiers.

There have always been an Ultra, Lyte, Elite, Aerodyne, or some other iteration but there have always been a Fender Precision for sale.

To me, this feels a little bit different because there will be no Gibson Thunderbird available, unless you count the Non-Reverse.

I agree that, they're probably selling so poorly, it's not worth producing them anymore. At least for now. I was just surprised they will discontinue what probably is their most recognizable bass, IMO.

Huge distinction, the USA Precision sells thousands annually, the Tbird? Maybe 1000?

Les Paul's? That is Gibsons golden goose.

 

[2F/2F]

To me, this feels a little bit different because there will be no Gibson Thunderbird available, unless you count the Non-Reverse.

The non-reverses count; why wouldn't they? The non reverse T-Birds ran from '66–'69, as a replacement for the reverse style, which ran from only '63–'65. Neither were popular, production numbers kept dropping, and the new owners did not continue production in 1970. But by longevity, the non-reverse outlived the reverse by a year, in the initial years of the T-Bird.

As I posted before, the T-Bird has a history of being manufactured for a time, then discontinued...then repeat the cycle. It's all based on sales, of course; what else would it be based on? Businesses, especially big businesses, make the decisions they make because their financial figures tell them to. If they're going to non-reverse only, there's almost certainly a financial reason for it, based on data that they have and we don't.

It had a very long run of continuous production for almost 30 years, starting not long after the Henry J. years began. My assumption would be that during this period, they kept it alive for marketing purposes or "love" only, and the production numbers (based on sales) were quite low. Like I said, in a lifetime spent going to gigs, working sound at thousands of gigs, and attending gigs, I have seen literally no more than five T-Birds played (and that includes Epis). They just aren't popular basses.

 

[John Sparkman]

Just the opposite here, personally I find the non-reverse to be ugly/odd looking while I think the reverse brings a cool vibe you just don't get with many other body styles. You wanna stand out on stage, both looks wise and sonically, get a (reverse) T-Bird. Different strokes.

Okay, I'm guessing that maybe I got the nomenclature wrong.
Whatever it's called, I love this bass right here, image below.
LOVE it.

And this one below here I find exceedingly ugly.
Whatever you call it, it's wonky looking.