nikki sixx new thunder bird versus standar thunderbird

get the one visually more appealing to you.
you can always change the pickups/electronics

 

I own the standard Thunderbird which is 2 years old. I have not played the sixx bass but I love mine and that is all that counts. I ordered mine from Guitar Center without going to try it out and I paid $1800 US....I prefer to get a bass that is not re-done by a famous bass player. You can always mod the one you get but for re-sale value I would stick with the standard Tbird...........................

 

Gibson.com: Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird Bass

i dont think the maple top is going to effect the tone that much.
it seems like it will sound more like a vintage t-bird. prob not great for fingerstyle playing. one interesting change is the angle of the headstock is changed.

 

The Nikki Six model will sound EXACTLY like a standard Tbird of the same time period. The only difference between a Nikki Six model and a standard Tbird is aesthetics. If you don't like the sound, then definitely don't buy it.

 

Not necessarily - I have a Gibson Blackbird that is totally different than the standard Tbird IV from the same time. The neck is 3-ply mahogany vs. the 9 ply mahogany / walnut on the IV, the fingerboard is ebony vs. rosewood, the pups are hotter and darker, and the nut is thinner. The bridge is also a bit beefier than found on the IV. The sum of the differences between the Blackbird and the IV contribute to a noticeably different sound, so I see no reason why the red "XX" bird wouldn't sound different also.

 

I like the way Gibson avoids the neck-dive issue by explaining "Next to the bridge is a custom Nikki Sixx-designed 'Opti-Grab' bracket that he uses to hold the bass while roaming the monster Crue stage."

If you've ever seen the Crue in concert you know he spends more time repositioning the bass when he lets go that holding on to it while "roaming the stage."

 

I have had 5 gibby t birds , one was a nikki sixx blackbird. I hated the nikki,piece of crap compared to my other birds. It had the worst dive , sounded the worst, was the ugliest IMO and randomly one day every note fretted out, it was unplayable so i used a ibanez P copy to record my bands cd-mine may have just been a lemon, but i will stick to the standards.

 

I never have neck dive on my Gibson Thunderbird, being that the strap lock is on the heel of the neck. As it is ob Nikki's 'Birds.

However, Nikki hangs his bass far below his waist. And much of the time Nikki's guitar strap is falling off of his shoulder. I think the combination of a low and ill adjusted guitar strap is a bigger contributor to neck dive.

 

I don't doubt what you say NOT. It's just that T-Birds have a reputation as neck-divers. And Nikki seems to spend a lot of time repositioning his neck during a concert. The "Opti-Grab" certainly does come in handy though.