The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: bobyoung on May 02, 2009, 10:11:27 AM

Title: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: bobyoung on May 02, 2009, 10:11:27 AM
Anyone ever see these before? The seller says they are Gibson pickups, they look more like guitar pickups to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250416585768&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123
Title: Re: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: Dave W on May 02, 2009, 10:26:08 AM
Those look like Gibson TB Plus pickups for a 90s-00s Les Paul Standard Bass. I can see how someone would think that TB Plus = Thunderbird. These fit a standard guitar humbucker rout. I think the insides are identical to the black plastic covered TB Plus in the modern Thunderbird.
Title: Re: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: OldManC on May 02, 2009, 12:04:02 PM
Be sure they're not the Epiphone LP pickups that look the same. I saw those the other day and was tempted to pop the BIN, but without knowing whether they're Gibson or Epi, I don't want to chance it.

A pic of the back of the pickups would define which ones they are. The Epi ones have a brass plate backing, while the Gibson ones are exposed, potted coils (like the wider looking Thunderbird pickups).
Title: Re: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: doombass on May 02, 2009, 01:01:27 PM
So the Epi also uses braided wire?
Title: Re: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: OldManC on May 02, 2009, 01:40:52 PM
So the Epi also uses braided wire?

Good call. I should have opened the parts box before I posted. I just went and checked and the Epi pickups have plastic over wire (not braided).
Title: Re: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: bobyoung on May 02, 2009, 11:12:09 PM
Those wires look like they're braided when you enlarge the picture.
Title: Re: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: uwe on May 04, 2009, 03:35:40 AM
Leftovers from the deleted LP Standard and Doublecut lines. Though it seems that they are using them again on the Grabber II.
Title: Re: Are these Thunderbird or Gibson guitar pickups?
Post by: doombass on May 04, 2009, 11:50:41 AM
The BIN price was fair for the pair. When Gibson still sold them as spares they asked 180$.