Many Just Don't Get IT, Gibson Thunderbird

[jbalou02]

What I don't "get" are those who think a T-Bird is not suited for certain kinds of music.

Since the '70s I have played Gibson Thunderbirds in Rock bands, Country bands, Blues bands, '50s Rock & Roll bands. Whatever music I was playing I could and did play on a Thunderbird.

Now I don't fancy myself as some sort of virtuoso talent.
I'm just a yob who knows how to twist a tone knob or three.

You can but you don't have to. I like changing things up when I can. Plus I get more basses, which can only be good.

 

[BluesBear]

I've never HAD to play my Thunderbird. I've always had at least four basses since 1973. My fourth bass was a 1967 NR Thunderbird IV.
My point was that ANY kind of music than can be played on an electric bass CAN be played on a Thunderbird.
A Thunderbird is not JUST a rock bass.
They're not JUST for growling aggressive music.
Thunderbirds, real Thunderbirds, are very versatile instruments.

 

[Silverface]

I got just the opposite after picking up an Epi IV in a trade deal: "Can I borrow it?", " Bring it Thursday night, let's switch off, I wanna play it" etc.

Nobody asked about neck dive. Nobody said "What the heck did you get that POS for?"

I could take my '62 Jazz, '66 P or one one of my other Fenders out to play all the time, but the TBird is a nice change. It's light, has a slim (in width) neck like my Jazz but it's chunky in depth, which is what I like in my 6-string necks, the natural playing position (with the neck at about a 20-30 degree angle as opposed to 30-45 with my Fenders) is very comfortable and it has an extremely wide tonal range.

"Feel" aside it's the tones (plural) that I like. It gets close to a P Bass thump and Jazz growl but also has its own sounds in between (and good, usable ones) that the others don't.

Is it better than a vintage P or J? Heck no. But is it as usable as a P or J, especially in a live situation (and I play anything from country to bluegrass to blues to rock)? Heck yes. And I don't have to keep my hands on it every second in fear it's gonna disappear out of a club's back door.

Honestly, I was hesitant to take it until I played it through my usual amp (a GK MB-200 with a direct line into the house board m- what a back-saver!). I had a predisposed notion that they sucked, as my experience with other Gibson & Epi basses was that they DID suck.

I was pleasantly surprised. I think a lot of the bias against them is based on the same perceptions I had - they were strictly a rock "image" bass with no tone.

I was wrong.

 

[Puguglybonehead]

I've always loved T-birds! I play more guitar than bass, so I was origially attracted to the reverse-Firebirds. (Johnny Winter, et-all). The thing is, the Firebirds always looked awkward to me. (I had a 76) The body looked too big for the teeny neck. The non-reverse Firebirds look a bit more Fender-like, hence more proportionate.

But then I really dug the look of the reverse T-bird. It all seemed to fit. Very curvy, sexy design. (courtesy of renowned auto-designer Ray Dietrich) I eventually came to like the non-reverse T-birds even more.

There is definitely issues with some neck-dive, but lessened somewhat in the newer design. (too bad I hate the newer pickups) It can be helped even more by switching to nylon-body tuners and using a wider strap.

I don't have a Thunderbird (or a Firebird) anymore, as I build my own guitars and basses these days. I still really dig them, though.

I've seen players get very useable sounds out of them.

Mike Watt seems to do well with his non-reverse. (love that Pelham blue and the beat-up condition of it)

The late Reid Diamond (Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet) did really well his 76 reverse. In a 3-piece surf-instrumental setting no less. Oh, and the guy was only five-foot-five. Never seemed to have any problems with the size or the dreaded neck-dive.

Hmmmm... I just recently purchase some old, laminated, arched cello back/front pieces. (one spruce top and one maple top) Thinking maybe a hollow, arched, non-reverse T-bird kinda thing should maybe be next.

 

[HengistPod]

Oh boy, this thread deserves to be resurrected!

To contribute a little ... I have a 1990 black custom shop T-bird, which was originally built for Floyd London in a band called "The Almighty" here in Scotland.

I also have an Epi T-Bird Pro, which is a reasonable approximation of the Gibson but not in the same ball park when you swap between them and compare directly.

Of course there's neck-dive. Anyone denying that is fibbing with their rose-tinted specs on. But we can live with it.

With reference to earlier posts - I play with a pick. To tell the truth, I play fingerly if I'm noodling away to myself, but I find that the pick produces the desired growl in a live situation.

I got an Epi Explorer bass too now, so I'll need to try that out live at some point. It's even longer than the T-bird ...

 

[1stnamebassist]

I really like the new Epi Tbird Classic 4. Has no neck dive, uses Gibson pups, and looks great in alpine white and last but not least sounds incredible!

 

[chriscrob]

You only HAVE to hold the neck when you play if your bass is poorly designed and balances like crap. One of my basses that I played for several hours today balances very well and I don't have to support it with my left hand.

This

 

[ChristianOnBass]

I want one! It would be the perfect bass...for two songs

 

[jason the fox]

Reviving this thread again

I played my Thunderbird at rehearsal today, first time I actually "used" it (aside from fiddling around at home) in a while...

DAMN. I really missed that bass, without even knowing it.

It's not just that midrange grind - I think it actually makes you feel a certain way while playing it. Slung low, it just makes you dig in a little more (I play with a pick), and everything from the tighter string spacing (I usually play precisions) to the wild look just changed the vibe of how I wanted to play.

My gig tonight was more of a low key thing, 3 piece (acoustic guitar and a keys) so the T-bird might not have worked, aesthetically - but I can't wait to take it out to the next full rock band gig.

 

[RickC]

It's not just that midrange grind - I think it actually makes you feel a certain way while playing it. Slung low, it just makes you dig in a little more (I play with a pick), and everything from the tighter string spacing (I usually play precisions) to the wild look just changed the vibe of how I wanted to play.

I know *exactly* what you mean

 

[BrandonBass]

Tbirds only look cool if you sling it below your belt. I used to own an Epi bird, and it had an awesome tone. Growly and dark.

My biggest gripe with the design is that its near impossible to access the high frets.

 

[TheIndieKid]

I'm a teenager and I really like the T-Bird. I have Epiphone Classic-IV Pro, which is a good approximation of a Gibson Thinderbird (albeit smoother sounding ). I find the tone really good finger style and with pick playing. It's not really a sit down bass-that reverse body can be a real obstacle. However, as many have said, depending on how low you have it slung, you feel like you're centre stage for once as a bassist. It's a great rock bass as far as I know. I don't know what the tone is like in the mix, but considering the growl it has when played hard with a pick, it should be fine! And if it only has a place in rock gig (supposedly), I've always got my Fender Mustang for the mellowed stuff. Now that has neck dive! Would anyone approve of stringing a T' Bird with Chromes? I like the idea of a longer lasting string, but I heard they have a top end sparkle that never disappears and a mid range growl! Sounds perfect for a Bird!

 

[1stnamebassist]

Maybe have a look at Ernie Ball Cobalt flats. I use them on my Ric and Pbass and they sound great. I had a classic four for awhile and I would imagine they would sound monsterous with the Cobalts.

 

[Bent77]

I'm a teenager and I really like the T-Bird. I have Epiphone Classic-IV Pro, which is a good approximation of a Gibson Thinderbird (albeit smoother sounding ). I find the tone really good finger style and with pick playing. It's not really a sit down bass-that reverse body can be a real obstacle. However, as many have said, depending on how low you have it slung, you feel like you're centre stage for once as a bassist. It's a great rock bass as far as I know. I don't know what the tone is like in the mix, but considering the growl it has when played hard with a pick, it should be fine! And if it only has a place in rock gig (supposedly), I've always got my Fender Mustang for the mellowed stuff. Now that has neck dive! Would anyone approve of stringing a T' Bird with Chromes? I like the idea of a longer lasting string, but I heard they have a top end sparkle that never disappears and a mid range growl! Sounds perfect for a Bird!

Thunderbird Club

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yes, many of those players I mentioned don't use them as their main bass but it seems fair to view it as they see some value/validity to the instrument (even if just as another tool in the box - something I agree with) so I do think they "count" even if they are not the instrument a given player uses most of the time. ...

re: Entwistle - you are correct that he had more than 40 basses. Still, that single '64 IV was his main stage and studio bass from 1972-1976. In a way, I'd say that's more of an endorsement in that he singled it out given so many options. I did say SOME of his most influential work, not all of it.

All I know is the Ox was playing Birds (couldn't tell you if they were true or F-Birds, I just remember the body shape and sound) both concerts in the mid-70s when I saw the Who. The first of those was opened by Skynyrd; Leon was also playing a Bird, which he continued to do (not exclusively, but still).

I totally agree on the endorsement aspect!

 

[devnulljp]

This guy was my hero when I was young

 

[jd56hawk]

I have been around playing bass longer than a lot of you, I think I started my first band in 1966, I was in the 6th grade.
I guess the apeal of thses bass is not universal. I play in a Pop Rock band and the whole experience of using the my new Thunderbird is awesome.
Too bad for you guys that don't get it.

Yeah, they're okay.
Of course, there are quite a few other basses that people just don't get, so...

 

[sc_precision]

This guy was my hero when I was young

Despite being known for thunderbirds.. Pete Way used a P bass for all the 70s UFO records.

I have a Greco thunderbird with the spacing like the Bicentennial birds. It's overall a great bass and the mahogany gives it a rich dark tone.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Despite being known for thunderbirds.. Pete Way used a P bass for all the 70s UFO records.

OK, but once he switched, he seemed happy to stay switched, if I understand correctly.

I have a Greco thunderbird with the spacing like the Bicentennial birds. It's overall a great bass and the mahogany gives it a rich dark tone.

I love, love, love my Greco birds.

 

[GIBrat51]

I always wanted a Gibson Thunderbird; it's one of the handful of "specific" basses in my Bass Herd. Along with "Fender P-Bass"; "Rickenbacker 4003"; and "EBMM 4HH Stingray". But, being a lefty, I had to wait until 2013 to get one. Still, I had to wait until 2020 for the 4HH Stingray, so... I also had a 2018 Gibson T-Bird; but for reasons that seem pretty stupid now, I sold it. But, I did manage to get my hands on a lefty Tokai TB48 T-Bird. It's pretty nice; especially since I relocated the bridge. 32-7/8" scale seemed a little...odd, to me; intonating it was kinda hard, too... Works a treat now, though.
I've been very happy with both of them, but the Gibson is just... well, it's everything I hoped it would be. Yeah, I have to sling it down low, and point the headstock at the ceiling; but when I do? It's very easy and comfortable to play - and balances just right, too. And, the tone? To die for... Honestly, I think most people's problems with T-Birds, are caused by them trying to play it like they play a P-Bass. It took me a little while to figure that out, but now? Easy-peasy. Same thing with the Tokai TB48...
Sadly, my Bass Herd has no spot for another T-Bird. A second one could fill the "Long Scale Neck-thru" spot, but that one's filled with a pretty special '06 Carvin LB-20. But, I do have a small handful of "Spot - less" basses; ones that did fill a spot at one time, but got replaced for one reason or other. So, if another left handed Gibson T-Bird were to come along - or if Epiphone got a wild hair, and made a few lefty T-Birds - like they did with the Jack Casady Bass (mine's nice, by the way)? Well, it might be just a little hard to resist...