Thunderbird Club

[Chucky Stiletti]

Agree. Love the thinner vintage bodies.

yep....Toosie T?....great year '68...

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Ha! You must be getting ready to retire and will spend while you’re still on the gravy train.

I wish.

1.6 nut. Oh well. At least it doesn’t have a volute.

https://www.gibson.com/products/gibson-thunderbird-bass-guitar-ebony

Thankfully they aren't shipping them in bright red or white (or worse, a deep blue). And the prices are up there (victims in part of the economy, no doubt).

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I agree about a thicker body. It was my '64 II and most '60s Japanese basses that had 1-1/4" thick bodies that convinced me to make all my custom basses 1-1/4" thick. A thin body w/ ergonomic tapers, bevels & scallops conforms to your body and is lighter and far more comfortable to play. A thicker, heavier body wouldn't be a selling point for me.

This.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I’m happy Gibson is doing a reverse again. But if I wanted to buy another Thunderbird, the one @Ringhammer is selling would be at the top of the list. A super deal. I have way too many black Thunderbirds. Thank goodness his isn’t a different color. Or I would be in major trouble.

Gibson Thunderbird Bass 1997 - musical instruments - by owner - sale - craigslist

This is a 1997 Gibson Thunderbird. The tuners have been upgraded to HipShot USA ultra-lites. The bridge has been upgraded to a Chrome Babicz, and the pick ups are genuine Gibson vintage reissues....

sfbay.craigslist.org

Yeah, I have no need for a black Thunderbird. Unless, of course, a ridiculous deal showed up on a Nikki or something equally cool. And while burst is fine, it's seldom as sexy as certain colors.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Nut width is 1.6 I can live with it but I much prefer a 1.5 myself.

Same.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Yuck. Slugs? No wonder. Who eats those things?

Don't knock it until you've tried it. Especially the Hawaiian Trippy Slugs. Coming soon to a Controlled Substance List near you.

(J/K. I made those up. Or hallucinated them. Or something. Maybe they hallucinated me.)

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Hey folks, not a club member but I'm curious about Thunderbird and basses. Since there's no upper horn and the strap button is set so far up the neck, I am curious if this makes the bass hang awkwardly, like the lower frets would be a farther reach due to hanging point of the body. Does that make sense? Is it a non-issue, or something to get used to coming from a more traditional Fender-style bass background? I know neck dive is a complaint some people have, but I don't see much info about the reach. I unfortunately do not have a Tbird available locally to test the waters.

Welcome, club member or not!
As @JIO summarized, there are multiple ways to hold a Thunderbird. Most people who have any reach issues use a long strap so the body hangs low, with the neck at a 30 to 60 degree angle, depending on their arms. (See the photo of @Chucky Stiletti in the comment directly above yours for an example). Or, come to think of it, my avatar picture to the left.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

So what are we calling the new Thunderbird? The Non-Non-Reverse Thunderbird?
What a hot mess.
I wonder how long it will take Gibson to abandon this one again. Like they've abandoned almost any bass they've released in the past 30 years.

because there hasn't been "real" Thunderbirds in over 30 yrs imho....I got my '13 NR because I couldn't find a 60's one I could afford....then I really got into the TB+ with LB tapes and added a Hipshot bridge but that bass couldn't be further away from a late 60's Bird....although ymmv of course, the TBird went away with the big headstock.....

 

[TBird1958]

Hey folks, not a club member but I'm curious about Thunderbird and basses. Since there's no upper horn and the strap button is set so far up the neck, I am curious if this makes the bass hang awkwardly, like the lower frets would be a farther reach due to hanging point of the body. Does that make sense? Is it a non-issue, or something to get used to coming from a more traditional Fender-style bass background? I know neck dive is a complaint some people have, but I don't see much info about the reach. I unfortunately do not have a Tbird available locally to test the waters.

It is a lot about how you "wear" the bass, on your body, since Thunderbirds are almost my exclusive choice I have my own preferences based on my body, strap length preference and where the strap pins are on the bass. I seem most comfortable with the bass a little above my waist and slightly favoring the body to my right hip, I don't have to work to get it there, that just seems to be where the bass wants to be on me. What is less common for me would be the whole backside of the bass pressed against my stomach, while I'm sure it happens during the course of a show, it's just not typical for me.

Like so........

 

[Gaolee]

And I’m shallow. The Babicz looks better IMO.

This is why I'm a fan of Babicz bridges. It's all about the visuals.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

So I got to check out the new 2026 Thunderbird earlier this week and I was pretty impressed. In a nutshell it feels like the new Nonreverse but with a Reverse body. I've stopped comparing every new irritation of the Thunderbird to the 60's birds and I am just trying to evaluate them on their own merits. This just a short immediate reaction to the bass having just unboxed it.

"irritation of the Thunderbird".....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It is a lot about how you "wear" the bass, on your body, since Thunderbirds are almost my exclusive choice I have my own preferences based on my body, strap length preference and where the strap pins are on the bass. I seem most comfortable with the bass a little above my waist and slightly favoring the body to my right hip, I don't have to work to get it there, that just seems to be where the bass wants to be on me. What is less common for me would be the whole backside of the bass pressed against my stomach, while I'm sure it happens during the course of a show, it's just not typical for me.

Like so........

FSO?...WT7?...

 

[dagrev]

Hey folks, not a club member but I'm curious about Thunderbird and basses. Since there's no upper horn and the strap button is set so far up the neck, I am curious if this makes the bass hang awkwardly, like the lower frets would be a farther reach due to hanging point of the body. Does that make sense? Is it a non-issue, or something to get used to coming from a more traditional Fender-style bass background? I know neck dive is a complaint some people have, but I don't see much info about the reach. I unfortunately do not have a Tbird available locally to test the waters.

I'm not entirely sure I followed on the first part, but no if I do follow. But I've been playing one since '81/82 and they feel custom made for me. But generally for a Thunderbird a slightly longer strap will help the general playing feel, and one that has suede or something on the back for grip. A cheap slick strap is almost asking for it to be an unpleasant experience.
Then the thing is to just play and get used to it. They do feel weird at first, for obvious reasons. But once you spend some time with one, with the right strap...you'll be set and wonder why you waited so long.

Now, which version of Thunderbird...another long topic! But the short answer is "All of them." Well, most. A few I would pass on.

 

[Gaolee]

"Predicted to sell soon."

At that price it should come with a free delivery...
...truck.

Exactly. Something like this:

Only cleaned up. Relicing is for fenders, and that truck doesn't have any of those.

 

[dagrev]

In progress - should be playable by early next week (or sooner)

View attachment 7459622
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View attachment 7459625

Love the use of the Darkstar. Among other things.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I've often heard of them. Never heard or seen one that I know of. Maybe on a recording, possibly.
What makes them so special? Using the most expensive parts or unique design, or both?

like SRV's tech, used to endlessly spend time with his head inside the chassis' of Stevie's amps after the shows.....tune tune tune...only thing that matters is the tone....truly treated the amp as a musical instrument and incessantly tuned them the way Stradivarius did their violins.....

 

[Gaolee]

So I got to check out the new 2026 Thunderbird earlier this week and I was pretty impressed. In a nutshell it feels like the new Nonreverse but with a Reverse body. I've stopped comparing every new irritation of the Thunderbird to the 60's birds and I am just trying to evaluate them on their own merits. This just a short immediate reaction to the bass having just unboxed it.

Gibson is making Thunderbirds again? Good news.

 

[TBird1958]

FSO?...WT7?...

I remain devout to Thunderbirds my good friend, that FSO belongs to the bassist of the band that followed us that night. I'm well past the FSO's - Fine for those who like them

 

[Gaolee]

Dammit..the urge to buy this increases.

Don't let us stop you.

 

[Gaolee]

Hahaha I am quite fortunate, between modifying cars and basses (which I also always modify), my wife is usually encouraging me to spend money on these kinds of things.

Luckily my business is in aftermarket car parts so I can access parts a lot cheaper for myself.. If anyone out there is into modding their cars we do ship globally (and our warehouses are in the US)

This next bass I get has some significance to its meaning, so a lot less $ concern with it...when I find the right one I will be going all in on everything I want to make it perfect.

My entire budget for modifying anything is being completely blown for many years by modifying a car. Oh, well. That won't prevent enabling others to spend money I don't currently have, but that they just might have. Money is evil. You have to get rid of it before it causes you to be a bad person. Buying Thunderbirds is a path to virtue.