#Thunderbird bass series

However, it has a mahogany body, a Celtic cross symbol on the pickguard, and is finished in a 'pitch black' flat finish.

The Epiphone Goth Thunderbird is similar to the Epiphone Thunderbird IV. The Epiphone Thunderbird IV, a budget alternative to the Gibson models, has a maple bolt-on construction onto a mahogany body, and is finished in vintage sunburst or ebony. Thunderbird short scale bass, 30.5 inch scale, 2011, limited run of 400. The Gibson Thunderbird IV zebra wood bass, 2007, limited run of 400 (Gibson guitar of the week, week 11). The Gibson Thunderbird Studio models (which were also available as five-string versions) have mahogany necks set into mahogany bodies. The fretboard is inlaid with red acrylic Xs at the third, fifth, seventh and twelfth frets. The Nikki Sixx Thunderbird bass has a mahogany-walnut neck-through with flame maple wings attached to form the body, finished in transparent black cherry. The standard Gibson Thunderbird IV has a nine-ply mahogany-walnut neck-through with mahogany wings attached to form the body, and was offered in vintage sunburst or walnut finishes.

Epiphone Special Run Thunderbird IV limited edition silverburstįeatures of current and recent models.

The most recent official Thunderbirds produced by Gibson Guitar Corporation: The Thunderbird IV was re-introduced to the Gibson line in 1987 and was in regular production until 2015. After the bicentennial, the Thunderbird was continued as a regular production model until 1979, when it was discontinued once again. The bass was offered in tobacco burst, ebony, white, or natural finish. This reissue featured the original body shape and neck-through construction but unlike the previous issues, the bicentennial edition included the new 'three-point' bridge and a red, white, and blue Thunderbird logo. The Thunderbird IV was reissued in 1976 as a bicentennial edition. Gibson started producing the non-reverse Thunderbirds again for the public in late 2012. Though fewer non-reverse Thunderbirds were shipped, the original reverse-body instruments retain a higher collectors' value. The non-reverse Thunderbird was continued until 1969. Also, the expensive neck-through construction was replaced by traditional Gibson set-neck construction. Due to a lawsuit brought by Fender because of the resemblance to the Fender Jazzmaster, the body styles were modified, with the result being called the 'non-reverse' body. The original Thunderbirds (and Firebirds) have a 'reverse' body, with the treble horn extended and the bass horn recessed. In 1966, Gibson changed the Thunderbird's design and construction. The Thunderbird usually features bass humbuckers, colloquially referred to as 'soapbars' due to their appearance. There were originally two Thunderbird models: the Thunderbird II, with only one pickup, and the Thunderbird IV, with two pickups. Previous models use the short scale of 30½ inches. The Thunderbird was Gibson's first model built in the 34-inch scale, which had been made popular by Fender.

#Thunderbird bass series

The Thunderbird bass, like the Rickenbacker 4000 series and the Firebird guitar designed concurrently, has neck-through construction: the neck wood runs the entire length of the body, with the rest of the body glued into place, although some cheaper Epiphone models feature a more conventional bolt-on neck construction. Josh Reedy of DecembeRadio playing a custom Gibson Thunderbird onstage