Thunderbird basses, popularity question.

[Chico Cornell]

Forgive me if this has already been asked, but I'm just wondering why the Thunderbird was never more popular. Personally, I've never owned one, but it sounded great on Quadrophenia, and that's the only album I can think of offhand that one is so prominent. I'm also not a personal favorite of hum buckers on basses, but it seems to work well in this instance. Then again, maybe it was just that John Entwistle could make anything work.

 

[mongo2]

I found T-Birds cumbersome to play.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

There’s a whole club of us here on TalkBass that are fans of the Thunderbird. That said, I’ve found them to be a niche instrument both sonically and visually; for my country gigs I’ve found my Sadowsky gets the nod more often but for sub gigs playing rock the Thunderbird nails it.

 

[bobyoung53]

I think they take some getting used to, coming from a Fender the necks seem like they're REALLY long but it's the same scale just that the bridge is set more to the left. Also the strap button on the back on the neck where it meets the body takes some getting used to. The strings are closer together at the bridge than a lot of basses which again takes some getting used to if you play fingerstyle, it's a plus for a pick player though, I find myself using a pick more with them. On the plus side, they play fast, great tone, they have a big tone, they are beautiful basses and the one I bought last year, a limited edition T-Bird was the best made bass I've ever owned and I've owned many over the years. Fit and finish are tops, really nice paint, I could not find a flaw on this bass, even set up was right on. I highly recommend one if you're thinking of getting one. The same bass in three different colors is still available at ZZ sounds right now for about 600 bucks less than i paid for mine. I'm tempted to get another one in a different color.

 

[GIBrat51]

I think they take some getting used to, coming from a Fender the necks seem like they're REALLY long but it's the same scale just that the bridge is set more to the left. Also the strap button on the back on the neck where it meets the body takes some getting used to. The strings are closer together at the bridge than a lot of basses which again takes some getting used to if you play fingerstyle, it's a plus for a pick player though, I find myself using a pick more with them. On the plus side, they play fast, great tone, they have a big tone, they are beautiful basses and the one I bought last year, a limited edition T-Bird was the best made bass I've ever owned and I've owned many over the years. Fit and finish are tops, really nice paint, I could not find a flaw on this bass, even set up was right on. I highly recommend one if you're thinking of getting one. The same bass in three different colors is still available at ZZ sounds right now for about 600 bucks less than i paid for mine. I'm tempted to get another one in a different color.

^^THIS^^ Yeah, they do take some getting used to. They are definitely their own animal; definitely not the world's most ergonomical bass; and you definitely can not play one like you'd play a P-Bass. I know; I have one of those, too. Yes, I find it much easier to play both of mine with a pick. But, I have a lot of basses, and I play a bunch of them with a pick. I'm used to it, and kinda prefer playing with a pick, actually...Yes, the stories you hear are true; T-Birds do like to dive on you - if you try to play one like you play your P-Bass. But, if you sling it kinda low, and point the neck way up - like a lot of T-Bird players do (me included), they play just fine. Almost like that's how a T-Bird is supposed to be played... If you want one, then by all means get one. Just remember that you need to play a T-Bird the way it wants you to, and it'll be a blast... And, yeah, I'm trying really hard to talk my wallet into a red one; and I hate red...

 

[bobyoung53]

View attachment 3328026 View attachment 3328029 ^^THIS^^ Yeah, they do take some getting used to. They are definitely their own animal; definitely not the world's most ergonomical bass; and you definitely can not play one like you'd play a P-Bass. I know; I have one of those, too. Yes, I find it much easier to play both of mine with a pick. But, I have a lot of basses, and I play a bunch of them with a pick. I'm used to it, and kinda prefer playing with a pick, actually...Yes, the stories you hear are true; T-Birds do like to dive on you - if you try to play one like you play your P-Bass. But, if you sling it kinda low, and point the neck way up - like a lot of T-Bird players do (me included), they play just fine. Almost like that's how a T-Bird is supposed to be played... If you want one, then by all means get one. Just remember that you need to play a T-Bird the way it wants you to, and it'll be a blast... And, yeah, I'm trying really hard to talk my wallet into a red one; and I hate red...

They're are some nice bright red one at ZZ sounds for 600 bucks off! I got an Ebony, beautiful color, seems like it's half an inch think, the red is also beckoning to me.

 

[somebrains]

Their sound is undeniable.
Thru my SVT playing a third is almost a transcendent experience.
I just couldn’t get myself around it.

It was like swinging a hockey stick at baseballs.

 

[rockscott]

T birds have their lovers for sure and enough of them sell for gibson and epiphone to keep them in production! I played an epiphone pro 4 for years. The build quality was amazing and the neck was thin and fast. I probably should have held onto it but I reached the point that I wanted nothing to do with active basses at all! The neck dive was pretty bad but the big issue was getting the bass in case into the car and hauling it around! I wish gibson would do another run of shortscale t birds!

 

[Rib 13]

Forgive me if this has already been asked, but I'm just wondering why the Thunderbird was never more popular.

You mustve missed the 80s, then....very very popular with hair bands (even if just the body shape).....

 

[catcauphonic]

Although I'm less a fan of the Gumby shaped headstock, they'll have to pry this bird shaped Spector out of my cold dead hands, and I'm still in the market for an Epi backup (although a Gibson is also acceptable )

Definitely will take a little getting used to if you learned on an FSO (Fender Shaped Object.)

 

[bobba66]

I remember Pete Way rocking out on one with UFO, that's all I got.

 

[JIO]

Forgive me if this has already been asked, but I'm just wondering why the Thunderbird was never more popular. Personally, I've never owned one, but it sounded great on Quadrophenia, and that's the only album I can think of offhand that one is so prominent. I'm also not a personal favorite of hum buckers on basses, but it seems to work well in this instance. Then again, maybe it was just that John Entwistle could make anything work.

Two words - Leo Fender. Gibson was always known for their guitars, and also made basses. Frankly the original '63-'65 T-bird was a very striking/cool design but had a lot of functional shortcomings, unlike a Fender P or a J. Leo R&D'd his designs through gigging musicians and in contrast Gibson hired an industrial designer to create the Firebird/Thunderbird. (not a musician) The T-bird pu sounds like no other and gives the bass its characteristic sound signature, so that and players wanting a 'different' looking bass has kept the venerable T-bird rockin' to this day.