I know Gibson made one back in the day, and since then others have as well. Wondering what people think of them as compared to their more common, doubly-endowed counterparts.
Thanks!
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Single-Pickup Thunderbird variations
- Thread starter Green Knight
- Start date
Lots of love for both II’s and IV’s over in the Club. Come on in and ask the gang.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I love Thunderbird IIs, better than IVs, I have 4.
One of very, very few Lull T4 II models, this was the first one made and the first production T4
BaCH Non Reverse
1964 Gibson
1977 Greco
One of very, very few Lull T4 II models, this was the first one made and the first production T4
BaCH Non Reverse
1964 Gibson
1977 Greco
Last edited:
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
My favorites are the Thunderbird IIs, I've been playing them since '76. I have over 30 Thunderbirds, a pretty even mix of IIs and IVs . On my two pickup birds I Don't even use the bridge pickup, some even have empty covers in the bridge position.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,057
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Greco pic missing…I love Thunderbird IIs, better than IVs, I have 4.
One of very, very few Lull T4 II models, this was the first one made and the first production T4
BaCH Non Reverse
1964 Gibson
1977 Greco
You could think of it as Gibson's initial attempt at a P bass, earlier than the Grabber. I almost always play my Epi '60 with a soloed neck pickup, and it's the bass equivalent of "a good Les Paul sounds like a Telecaster".
I can see why they only make the IV version now, though, since one less pickup doesn't save a lot of cost in today's manufacturing. A bit of added versatility doesn't hurt, either.
I can see why they only make the IV version now, though, since one less pickup doesn't save a lot of cost in today's manufacturing. A bit of added versatility doesn't hurt, either.
Is it possible to get a T-Bird that doesn't neck dive? Maybe medium scale, ultalight tuners, scaled down headstock size and some chambering? They are cool looking basses, but every time I pick one up and it dives... i put it back down.
I used to have a modern Gibson Bird that doesn't dive. I attribute it to the extra-thin neck (the main reason I bought it), and the smaller modern tuners. A last resort could be putting some counterweight inside the control cavity.
There’s one on sale in the classifieds that very much resembles that description, a Cataldo. Good price, too. Edit: Someone please buy it before I do.
I’ve had a few TBirds over the years, but this one is my favorite, and the only single pickup bird I’ve owned. Greco TB900.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I have never owned a single pickup Thunderbird, so take this for what it's worth. I like two pickup bass guitars because I like being able to use the bridge pickup to dial in the sound. I usually run the neck pickup wide open and then add or subtract bridge pickup volume to make it sound one way or another. Or maybe it's just something to fiddle with. Some of us need that.
I had a Quattro sig Greco TB that balanced really well, but it was a PJ with the P closer to the neck, so a mock TB of sorts.
The solution to neck dive on a T-Bird can be as simple as this:
^ https://www.talkbass.com/posts/28539675/
A VP/64 should be the diviest diver in the history of diving headstocks, but just running the bridge end strap in front of the bout instead of behind it settles my VP right down.
I don't think any Thunderbird would dive like an EB-3L, though!
Absolutely possible. I have two 2013 Gibsons, one regular and one Non-Reverse. Both balance almost perfectly.
