Question #1. Has anybody seen, or played one of the new Gibson Continental V basses yet? http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/bass/ContinentalVBass.html It looks a little like a Cirrus, IMHO. Question #2. When did Gibson start making a 5 string Thunderbird? This blew my mind. http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/bass/ThunderbirdStudio5.html I assume the nut width of 1 1/5 inches is incorrect, otherwise that would be one of the most narrow-spaced necks ever. The idea of a 5 string T-bird is appealing, I have to admit. Anyone? Mike
Use the search function, I think someone posted a thread about the new Gibson basses a few weeks ago. Besides, I don't think it's your deodorant, Gibson basses simply don't seem to be very well-liked here (although there are a bunch of Thunderbird fans around.) Care for a little experiment? Change the "Gibson" in your thread title to "Sadowsky" and watch the number of views and replies skyrocket.
The Continental would be really great if it were a single cutaway. Why is the bass made out of snakewood? What is snakewood anyway? The T5 is nice. I hope they make some in natural.
I don't know what they're calling snakewood. Definitely doesn't look like anything I'm familiar with by that name. Gilmer Wood shows snakewood as being liek the second fingerboard from the right in this picture: That type of snakewood grows in trees too small to make a full top out of. From what Gilmer told me, the trees aren't actually much bigger than that board shown.
According to this site http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/lesser_known_woods/html_Docs/marmoxylonracemosum.html snakewood is just another name for zebrawood. That was my first guess as well for the top, though I've seen much prettier zebrawood.
Yeah, Boogie, I was shocked myself when I first saw it; I was at the Musiciansfriend site last week, and noticed a T-bird in the 5 string section. Thinking it was a mistake, I went to the Gibson site, and there it was. Now, concerning the Continental, I hate to say this, but I think Gibson is dooming this one to fail already. I think the price is too high ($2,099.00 at MF) for a bass that will have to compete with the Peavey Cirrus and the EB Bongo, both priced about $500 lower, and Sadowsky Metros in the $2K range. I hope I'm wrong; I am among those who would love to see a Gibson design succeed. Aquateen, thanks for the link. Mike
The Continental V hasnt filled me with froath at the mouth.. itlooks like the design is a slightly altered Peavey Cirrus.. with some different woods.. but the Cirrus is well renounded on talkbass due to its punchy and versitle tone and its lovely neck. The Thunderbird V is a mouth watering prospect... I dont care what other think for for all the T-birds problems withneck dive and the rest.. a T-Bird + Ampeg 8x10 is one of the crunchiest tones in the bass world.. and it always makes me smile when i play one.. it has the x-factor.. Pitty it isnt avaliable in White with Black Binding
I own three Gibsons - An '87 Thunderbird 4 string, a '77 Gibson RD Artist, and a '74-'75 Ripper. If you're going to buy a Thunderbird, plan on replacing the pickups. The TB Plus ceramics just plain suck, IMHO. I've got some Barts I'm getting ready to drop in mine. The RD is seriously underrated. It has these amazing electronics by Bob Moog (of synthesizer fame), and it just rumbles, growls, you name it. You can learn more about it at www.gibsonbass.com. The Ripper? Very unique in the sense that it has pickups wired in paralell, series, out of phase, etc., with a four-way rotary switch. It also doesn't have a bass tone control, but it does have a mid control. Nice neck, comfortable body, great for slapping. The Continental V? Well, at least Gibson isn't using those lousy Thunderbird pickups on it.
