Agree. I wonder if some (not all) of Gibson's "thinking" comes from the fact that they can slap all kinds of pups in a LP and people still want them. While they don't drastically change them, there are some new variations. (None of which seem to gain much long term traction... Lesson there?) If they want to experiment that's fine, but make the Thunderbird people have loved for decades and want, and experiment on the side not as the main offering. But as far as I'm concerned, they let Epi make their close to the gold standard Thunderbird and the one people want. Make that bass in Nash, do a few upgrades and reduce the extra guitar they call a headstock and they would be off to the races. Upper frets? I don't spend time up there playing lead bass so not an issue for me. When it comes to modern basses, Gibson must have a RD dept to create things no one is asking for. Unlike Leo who sought musician feedback and took it seriously.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
I recall hearing of them but it's been years. No, decades.
And I agree.
Remind me of Wet Willie a bit. A bit.
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Thanks for posting that. Listening now. Won't try to describe but say, superlatives, superlatives and more superlatives. I bet the audience was as worn out as the band after the show.
Looks great, I’m especially keen on Mary had a little lamb
I’d love to see you lot in action one day.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,230
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Love it or hate it, the new Bird will likely only be around for a limited time because that's how Gibson does things. Basses are not their focus and they know it, basses are done for a period of time (which is a variable) and then they move on to something else. It's really not all that difficult to grasp, they have done it countless times, the current Non Reverse and the Gene Simmons will drop out and the new Bird will take it's place. If you think about it in terms of sales it becomes obvious, when something is new it hopefully generates sales and production continues, as the demand is fulfilled sales will tend to level off or slow, nothing unusual there. So to keep interest up, a new bass is designed and the process is renewed, Gibson certainly isn't the only manufacturer that does this, 7ender changes it's offerings pretty much every year in the same fashion.
Case in point.
Case in point.
Looks great, I’m especially keen on Mary had a little lamb
I’d love to see you lot in action one day.
I should have known. I posted that same one!
I think Rob is right. It looks mess. I guess it’s supposed to look modern. But licensed chrome mini clovers with that modern looking bridge? Ugh.
I can’t find resistance specs for the pickups so who knows how they’re wound. They’re not tapped (cheapskates) so the ‘15 remains a rarity. That’s good as far as I’m concerned.
It sounds good in Scot’s video and it no doubt plays well. But I doubt it will be a hit. I think they’ll sell however many they initially make and then we’ll wait a few years to see what they might do next. If they do anything at all. Gibson. Sheesh.
I don’t spend a lot of time up there, but occasionally get on up, as James Brown said.
Yeah, but Fender manages the whole process better.Love it or hate it, the new Bird will likely only be around for a limited time because that's how Gibson does things. Basses are not their focus and they know it, basses are done for a period of time (which is a variable) and then they move on to something else. It's really not all that difficult to grasp, they have done it countless times, the current Non Reverse and the Gene Simmons will drop out and the new Bird will take it's place. If you think about it in terms of sales it becomes obvious, when something is new it hopefully generates sales and production continues, as the demand is fulfilled sales will tend to level off or slow, nothing unusual there. So to keep interest up, a new bass is designed and the process is renewed, Gibson certainly isn't the only manufacturer that does this, 7ender changes it's offerings pretty much every year in the same fashion.
Case in point.
Interesting changes to the new Thunderbird, but not for me. If they put the better upper fret access on the origional neck through, added the reissue PUPs, Supertone (or Babicz), Hipshots, did all chrome, and some cooler colors, I really think they'd get more sales.
I struggle to play For Whom The Bell Tolls/Metallica on my 2014, due to the poor upper fret access, fantastic song to play. I do most of the intro to Anesthesia and transition into Bell Tolls. It goes over really well....
I struggle to play For Whom The Bell Tolls/Metallica on my 2014, due to the poor upper fret access, fantastic song to play. I do most of the intro to Anesthesia and transition into Bell Tolls. It goes over really well....
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There are two remaining on Amazon as of this moment. I hate suggesting buying through them, but given current circumstances, who knows when and if they’ll be readily available and at what price.
Wow, I'm glad I bought one from Kara when I did, I'm gonna stick it on my SG. They were going in the classifies around $80 then. I wonder how she's doing?
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- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,230
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
In what way(s)?
We are assuming that we know more than Gibson does about their business, I recall hearing somewhere that they don't really make any money on basses because it shuts down production of guitars.
I don't pay much attention to what 7ender does but there's plenty of evidence here on TB about disco'd basses from the past, I think they're more like Gibson than most folks know.
Can some
Of you Tbird experts take a look at this please? I should have put it here to begin with;
Of you Tbird experts take a look at this please? I should have put it here to begin with;
As far as upper fret access, it’s nice to see them attempt to address it. Makes playing the short high part of I’ll Take You There easier.
I wonder too. I bought a couple of her Thunderbirds and enjoyed our meet up.
SRV version, or a different take on it?Looks great, I’m especially keen on Mary had a little lamb
I’d love to see you lot in action one day.
(Yeah I know... late to the party...
)
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yep, that build came to mind when the bass was being described by Scott.....those aren't raised in the center right?....Love it or hate it, the new Bird will likely only be around for a limited time because that's how Gibson does things. Basses are not their focus and they know it, basses are done for a period of time (which is a variable) and then they move on to something else. It's really not all that difficult to grasp, they have done it countless times, the current Non Reverse and the Gene Simmons will drop out and the new Bird will take it's place. If you think about it in terms of sales it becomes obvious, when something is new it hopefully generates sales and production continues, as the demand is fulfilled sales will tend to level off or slow, nothing unusual there. So to keep interest up, a new bass is designed and the process is renewed, Gibson certainly isn't the only manufacturer that does this, 7ender changes it's offerings pretty much every year in the same fashion.
Case in point.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,897
- 142,230
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Can some
Of you Tbird experts take a look at this please? I should have put it here to begin with;
Tim,
Gibson had used at least two different pickups, possibly 3, by '91. I'm assuming that you've had them out and at least flipped over to inspect, are the undersides just a solid black epoxy?
