NAMM 2011: Return of the TB front jack? (And other things, but no chrome!!!)

[uwe]

I found this pic of a solitary black TB at NAMM 2011. Are my eyes deceiving me or has the front jack returned, but the pickguard and the center block gone? Or has the Shavo Signature model seen a release after all, now that System of Down are reconvening for some summer gigs? This certainly looks like some metalist had a say in the look. And has the front pup edged forward a little?

[Dave W]

Could be a mini-switch.

[Basvarken]

Plus malaligned pots

[uwe]

Could be a mini-switch.

Wouldn't be surprised if the Shavo turned out active, that just goes with that type of music.

[Denis]

The headstock looks like it's slightly different than I'm used to seeing but maybe that's because it's all black.

[Dave W]

Shame they won't give it a better bridge.

[uwe]

It might be a kill switch too, Shavo has played with the idea in the past:

What is the story with your new Gibson Signature bass?

For the last year and a half, I’ve been working with Gibson to design a Shavo bass. I just got the first prototype a few weeks ago. It’s my idea of what a bass should be. I used a 1976 headstock because it’s bigger and has more body. It has neck-through-body construction, but I changed the neck so it feels like this Jazz Bass neck that I like. It also has a toggle switch on it so I can hold a note with my left hand and cut the sound on and off with my right hand like a DJ would do with a fader. The tone is already set the way I like it, so it doesn’t have any tone knobs—just two big volume knobs for the bridge and neck pickups. If you like the sound, you’re going to buy it. I didn’t put my name all over it. It’s just a cool-looking bass that sounds great.

I’m already working on a second model, which is a five-string fretless bass. It’s the perfect bass for what I’m playing with Achozen right now, which is more hip-hop-oriented. The System bass is a regular four-string, and the Achozen bass is a five-string fretless.

The pictured model seems to feature a tone knob (the strange alignment is probably intentional) and the headstock is not a large vintage one though but that might be compromises for the envisaged wider market.

[TBird1958]

 Looks like a "Studio" headstock..........Makes you wonder if thats what's really going on there 

[Denis]

 Looks like a "Studio" headstock..........

Kind of what I was thinking. It looks pointier than standard ones. Also, this Shavo guy is wrong in my opinion. It's NOT a cool looking bass.

[uwe]

Yes, it looks like the deleted Studio headstocks of yore. Traditionalists will gasp, but I did not think these too bad, but then I always liked the Victory headstock too.

[godofthunder]

 Still waiting for those NRs...........................I hear they are in the works.

[n!k]

I was just pondering if Gibson was going to reissue the Thunderbird Studio 5-string since Dethklok made it popular. Maybe they will in time? Gibson's bass department always has the worst luck of what will be popular and when people decide to notice what they do.

[uwe]

There was absolutely no reason why the Studio TBird line failed. It was affordable, good quality, looked different, had gently modernized the TBird concept and catered to 5 stringers with an instrument with a B string as mighty as the Normandy invasion. Baffles me how no one bought it.

[godofthunder]

 I liked the studios, I couldn't find a trans cherry one and then just like that they were gone.

[Barklessdog]

They can still be had reasonably on Ebay from time to time.