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The Gibson Thunderbird is an electric bass guitar made by Gibson. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1224 × 1632 pixel, file size: 623 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...
Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1224 × 1632 pixel, file size: 623 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...
The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping,popping or using a pick. ...
This article is about the American musical instrument manufacturer. ...
Background and Introduction
The Gibson Thunderbird was introduced in 1963. At the time, Fender had been the leader in the electric bass market since their introduction of the Precision Bass twelve years earlier. Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, of Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, is famous for making stringed instruments, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and Telecaster. ...
The Fender Precision Bass, known as P-bass for short, is the first model of the electric bass designed by Clarence Leonidas Fender and brought to market in 1951. ...
The Thunderbird was designed by U.S. auto designer Raymond H. Dietrich (Chrysler, Lincoln, Checker) along with the Firebird guitar, which it resembles in design, construction, and name. The Gibson Firebird is a solid-body guitar marketed by Gibson in the late 60s. ...
Design and Construction The Thunderbird bass, like the Rickenbacker 4000 series, and like the Firebird guitar it was designed concurrently with, had neck-through construction, where the neck wood went through the entire length of the body, with the rest of the body being glued into place. Mod revivalist band The Jams Bruce Foxton (left) on a Rickenbacker bass and Paul Weller on a Rickenbacker guitar Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker (IPA pronunciation: ) [1]), is an electric guitar manufacturer, notable for having invented the first electric guitar during the 1930s. ...
While previous Gibson bass guitars had a short scale of 30½", the Thunderbird had a 34" scale equal to that of the 34" scale of Fender's bass guitars.
There were originally two Thunderbird models, the Thunderbird II (one pickup) and Thunderbird IV (two pickups)
Non-reverse Thunderbirds In 1966, Gibson changed the Thunderbird's design and construction. The original Thunderbirds (and Firebirds) had a "non-reverse" body, with the bass horn extended and the treble horn recessed. Due to a lawsuit brought by Fender because of the resemblance to the Fender Jazzmaster, the body styles were flipped over, with the result being called the "reverse" body. Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ...
It has been suggested that Fender Amplifier History be merged into this article or section. ...
This article does not cite its references or sources. ...
Further to this, the sturdy but expensive neck-through construction was replaced by traditional Gibson set-neck construction.
The reverse Thunderbird was continued until 1969, when the Thunderbird was discontinued.
In part because of their rarity, non-reverse Thunderbirds are highly sought after collector's items.
1976-79 Reissue The Thunderbird IV was reissued in 1976 as a bicentennial edition. This reissue featured the original body shape and neck-through construction. After the bicentennial, the Thunderbird was continued as a regular production model until 1979, when it was discontinued again.
Current Thunderbird models The Thunderbird IV was re-introduced to the Gibson line in 1987 and has been in production up to the present.
The current official Thunderbirds produced by Gibson Guitar Corporation are:
- Gibson Thunderbird IV
- Gibson Thunderbird Studio (4 String)
- Gibson Thunderbird Studio (5 String)
- Epiphone Thunderbird IV
- Epiphone Goth Thunderbird
All five models have two pickups and reverse-style bodies.
The current Gibson Thunderbird IV is made with a nine-ply mahogany/walnut through-neck with mahogany wings attached to form the body.
The Gibson Thunderbird Studio models have mahogany necks set into mahogany bodies.
The Epiphone Thunderbird IV, a budget alternative to the Gibson models, has a maple neck bolted onto an alder body.
The Epiphone Goth Thunderbird is similar to the Epiphone Thunderbird IV, however, it has a mahogany body and comes with Gibson pickups stock, in addition to a 'flat black' finish and a Goth symbol on the pickguard.
Comparison with Fender basses When compared to Fender basses, some players have found several disadvantages: - The irregular shape of the body and placement of the strap button, causing the weight to become disproportionate and lack balance, causing the neck to "dive" down if the fretting hand does not hold it. This makes it awkward for new bassists, and one has to get used to holding it constantly (unless sitting). The dive can be corrected by moving the strap buttons and using an appropriate strap.
- While the passive humbucker pickups give a deep, rich tone that is suited to rock, this tone is not typically desired for slapping and popping the strings. Although slapping is not used by every bassist, this choice of design causes the bass to lack some versatility.
Gibson Blackbird The Gibson Blackbird was a custom Thunderbird model made to specifications requested by Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx. Originally to be named the "Sixxbird", the Blackbird was manufactured from 2000 to 2003. It differed from the Thunderbird IV in the following details: Mötley Crüe (IPA pronunciation: ) is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. ...
Nikki Sixx (born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, Jr. ...
- The fingerboard was made from ebony and had iron cross inlays.
- An "opti grab" handle was added to the normal Thunderbird bridge,
- The only electronic control was a single on/off switch for the two humbucker pickups.
- The pickguard was designed specifically for the Blackbird
- All hardware on the Blackbird were finished in black chrome.
- The Blackbird had a flat-black finish.
Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down also used a Blackbird bass Fretted guitar fingerboard Fretless violin fingerboard The fingerboard, (also known as a fretboard on fretted instruments), is a part of most stringed instruments. ...
Binomial name Diospyros ebenum Koenig ex Retz. ...
A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Bundeswehr, Germanys Armed Forces. ...
Inlays on guitar or similar fretted instrument are visual elements set into the exterior wood. ...
A Violin Bridge blank and finished bridge A bridge is a device for supporting the strings on a stringed instrument and transmitting the vibration of those strings to some other structural component of the instrument in order to transfer the sound to the surrounding air balls. ...
Traditional humbucker pickup, uncovered A conventional humbucker (or Humbucking pickup) is a type of electric guitar pickup that uses two coils, both generating string signal. ...
Three magnetic pickups on an electric guitar. ...
A pickguard (also known as scratchplate) is a piece of plastic or other laminated material that is placed under the strings on the body of a guitar. ...
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For the bands self-titled album, see System of a Down (album). ...
Notable Thunderbird players Artists who use this bass guitar include: Christopher Russell Edward Squire (born 4 March 1948), better known as Chris Squire is an English musician and the bassist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes, and is the only member of the group to appear on every album (co-founder Jon Anderson appeared on all but...
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External links - Gibson Thunderbird– Information, sound clips, catalogue appearance and pictures of the Gibson Thunderbird.
- Gibson Blackbird– Information, and pictures of the Gibson Blackbird.
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