So that pretty much confirms it, the toggles are in fact coil taps.
Interestingly, it looks like Gibson was originally planning on a pup selector switch as well but decided to drop it on the release date. Not a big deal, with two volume controls you can do the same thing just not as fast.
When I get some time with the 2015 I’m going to have to try out the specific tone options as noted in the article…
The pickups and electronics were also improved, with the official description saying that the 2015 Thunderbird Bass now has increased tonal Versatility, with eight distinct sounds.
This sonic versatility is made possible by the dual EB Bass Alnico pickups that feature Gibson's novel "tuned coil tapping" design. These 8 bass tones are selectable via the three-way pickup selector and the two mini toggle switches that sit right below the three control knobs.
Unfortunately, we cannot yet see this "Tuned coil tapping" system at work, because they haven't released a video demonstration yet. It definitely would be interesting how it applies to the bass, and also to electric guitars.
Gibson provided some details on each of the sound:
- Neck pickup: Balanced tone, most bass, mids give some “bark”
- Tapped neck pickup: Scoops some mids, rounder sound, retains low end
- Bridge pickup: Less low end, more midrange bite
- Tapped bridge pickup: Scoops mids, lighter low end, defined highs, good “pop” bass sound
- Neck and bridge pickups: Retains strong low end, adds midrange but there’s an apparent slight scoop in the lower mids because the higher and lower frequencies are louder
- Tapped neck pickup and bridge pickup: Major scooping around 500Hz-1kHz, good lows, a hint of brightness, lays back in a track
- Tapped bridge pickup and neck pickup: Adds some upper mids back in compared to the tapped neck pickup and bridge pickup
- Tapped bridge pickup and tapped neck pickup: Like the tapped neck pickup and bridge pickup sound, but adds slightly lower midrange frequencies back in.
