Thunderbird Club

[Ringhammer]

When I link to the original listing it’s 5 pics of it sitting on a gig bag. Looks like my ‘97, but you all here are a lot better an knowledgeable about the differences. It’s hard to tell if it’s neck through. And I don’t know what other telltale signs would indicate a studio.

 

[BklynKen]

When I link to the original listing it’s 5 pics of it sitting on a gig bag. Looks like my ‘97, but you all here are a lot better a knowledgeable about the differences. It’s hard to tell if it’s neck through. And I don’t know what other telltale signs would indicate a studio.

This is what I see.

 

[Ringhammer]

Yes, and that is a neck through IV, not a studio?

 

[BklynKen]

Yes, and that is a neck through IV, not a studio?

Correct.

 

[TBird1958]

Now I’m confused, I definitely do not want a set neck if I think I’m getting a neck through. And is $1400 a good deal for a studio? What are the differences between a studio and a IV?

I will likely cancel the sale if it is mislabeled, and I can prove it.

I am 99.99% sure you got exactly what you thought. I just went to the link I sent and it was still the 2001 Thunderbird. Not sure why Reverb is showing different results to different people.

The one in the pic above didn't show in the link - it went to a Studio model, thus my post. The above pic is clearly a neck thru, my apologies for the confusion! Congratulations on your new Bird!

 

[Nocturnal]

When I view the link it has a small picture of the bass you bought. It says this listing has sold, but here are some more shiny things to look at. Not in those exact words, but that's the idea.

 

[BklynKen]

When I view the link it has a small picture of the bass you bought. It says this listing has sold, but here are some more shiny things to look at. Not in those exact words, but that's the idea.

Is there a candy red "BUY NOW" button along with those things?

 

[GBassNorth]

Does anyone know what the Rex Brown Thunderbird preamp does? When engaged does it provide any tone shaping like a mid cut or any other frequency cut/boost? Gibson really sucks at providing information about their bass products.

Gibson: Hey check out this new Thunderbird. It's got a preamp!

Potential buyer: What's the preamp do?

Gibson: It's got a preamp!

LOL, or if you’re lucky enough to get connected to the tech support team the conversation might go like this…

Gibson marketing: Hey, check out this new Thunderbird. It’s got a preamp!

Potential buyer: What’s the preamp do?

Gibson tech support: It connects to the battery!

Potential buyer: But what’s it sound like?

Gibson tech support: It sounds pretty much like any other battery, dead silent.

 

[Nocturnal]

Is there a candy red "BUY NOW" button along with those things?

No, they use a subliminal message disguised as "Add To Cart".

 

[Nocturnal]

Does anyone know what the Rex Brown Thunderbird preamp does? When engaged does it provide any tone shaping like a mid cut or any other frequency cut/boost? Gibson really sucks at providing information about their bass products.

Gibson: Hey check out this new Thunderbird. It's got a preamp!

Potential buyer: What's the preamp do?

Gibson: It's got a preamp!

Around the 9 minute mark on this video he mentions the tone knob changes it from active to passive. I didn't catch any other info as to what the preamp actually is.

 

[GBassNorth]

This is what I see.

View attachment 5033261

That’s what I saw in the original listing as well. A sweet looking early model post bicentennial burst Tbird. If purchased all in with tax and shipping for about the asking price of the bass alone the buyer got a great deal.

 

[Engle]

TB enables again.
Just got this for all totaled, slightly over his asking in after shipping and tax. Shipping and tax sure can kill what is otherwise a great deal.

Try buying from Canada some time!

 

[Engle]

When I link to the original listing it’s 5 pics of it sitting on a gig bag. Looks like my ‘97, but you all here are a lot better an knowledgeable about the differences. It’s hard to tell if it’s neck through. And I don’t know what other telltale signs would indicate a studio.

Sounds like you’re getting the right bass, but the biggest tell is the slab body - no raised Center section. And the peg head is skinnier.

 

[TBird1958]

We're filling in the schedule a little, definitely some fun shows ahead for us.

5/19 The Metta Room Pt. Angeles, WA
5/20 " " " " " "
6/3 Burien, WA Pride
6/28 Concert on the Pier, Pt. Angeles, WA
10/28 Halloween @ 7 Cedars Casino, Sequim, WA.

What basses to play?

 

[GBassNorth]

Around the 9 minute mark on this video he mentions the tone knob changes it from active to passive. I didn't catch any other info as to what the preamp actually is.

@KB5 brings up a good point. A passive bass with only three knobs (not stacked) would normally mean…
Knob 1 - volume
Knob 2 - volume or blend
Knob 3 - tone

On an active bass without a preamp (basically active pickups) it would be the same.

On an active bass with a preamp I would expect to see 4 knobs minimum (non stacked)…
Knob 1 - volume
Knob 2 - blend
Knob 3 - bass
Knob 4 - treble

G&L has a three knob layout on their active bass (vol, treb, bass) but it requires a three way toggle to select neck, both, bridge pickups which I don’t see on the Tbird. And I don’t think you can control the volume level of each individual pickup when in the “both” pickup position, they’re both the same volume.

So that does raise a very valid question - does this bass really have an onboard active preamp, and if so, what’s the control layout?

Could it possibly be Volume, Bass, Treble and zero control over pup selection or any blending of the pickups?

 

[JJR58]

I am 99.99% sure you got exactly what you thought. I just went to the link I sent and it was still the 2001 Thunderbird. Not sure why Reverb is showing different results to different people.

Im seeing the Studio as well.

 

[BklynKen]

Im seeing the Studio as well.

Ah, I see it now on my desktop. But that Studio is for sale.

 

[Ringhammer]

So I saw something probably a thousand pages back about Seymour Duncan as who makes Lull pickups? Or are they just very similarly awesome?

 

[TBird1958]

So I saw something probably a thousand pages back about Seymour Duncan as who makes Lull pickups? Or are they just very similarly awesome?

Originally TV Jones made them for Mike, as time went on he couldn't keep up with demand so some production went to SD. I ordered a set of SD's for my Orville, they're about a month out from shipping as they have some "build time", I will post my thoughts on the comparison!

 

[Stealth57]

Originally TV Jones made them for Mike, as time went on he couldn't keep up with demand so some production went to SD. I ordered a set of SD's for my Orville, they're about a month out from shipping as they have some "build time", I will post my thoughts on the comparison!

Waiting to hear before ordering.