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After a few years of absence in their catalogue Gibson brings back the (Reverse )Thunderbird.
And they've made quite a few changes...
- It is set neck. As opposed to the original neck through construction. It is set less deep into the body. Allowing for better upper fret accessibility.
- The neck is not the nine-ply Mahogany/Walnut construction. But it looks to be a one piece neck.
- The headstock is the Non-Reverse headstock with the crest pointing downward. Instead of the original headstock with the crest pointing upward.
- The body has the raised middle section on the front. But on the backside it does not have the raised middle section.
- The tuners are Hipshot Ultralites. And the bridge is the Hipshot Supertone bridge.
- The DeCola pickups from the 2015 Thunderbird are re-introduced.
So what are we calling the new Thunderbird? The Non-Non-Reverse Thunderbird?
What a hot mess.
I wonder how long it will take Gibson to abandon this one again. Like they've abandoned almost any bass they've released in the past 30 years.
Is it way cheaper? Likely not!
P.S....... Musicians Friend has it for $2,499, $100 more than the Non Reverse Thunderbird.
Some real weird design choices there. All I can say is "Why?" :o
That is one very different Bird.
Wow, that's pretty bizarre. It's like a mashup of the NR and the Gene Simmons or Rex Brown Thunderbird.
Is Henry J back at the helm?
I'm doing fine with my Indonesian Vintage Pro. 8)
I figure that if it has a Gibson name on it, then it will go out of production in a very few years and immediately become collectible for its differences.
A few years? I bet they take it out of production before this year is over!
Quote from: Basvarken on March 25, 2026, 04:03:05 PMA few years? I bet they take it out of production before this year is over!
Good note. The lifespan of the model may be measured in months.......
Jeez, it's practically a Fender!
The short scale Dc Lp Jr was such a great little thing , and it seemed popular enough. I was hoping they might do a deluxe version in their glossy finish.
After they finished production it still sat on the website for some time. Years.
Current Gibson definitely gives off the vibe of a guitar manufacturer that grudgingly makes basses. Perpetually out of sync with what people want or expect from them. Enough period weirdness to put off modern bassists, while awkwardly trying to modernise historic designs in a way nobody asks for.
As has been said, if you want a set-neck Thunderbird, get a Greco.
I know you will have some trouble believing this , but Gretsch is even worse than Gibson for basses.
Quote from: morrow on March 28, 2026, 07:15:07 AMI know you will have some trouble believing this , but Gretsch is even worse than Gibson for basses.
I think you mean worse at dropping models - which they do without warning. I have three Gretsch basses and I've never found a Gretsch bass I didn't like. Their 2202 is a classic single pickup short scale.
My 5123 and my Thunderjet - far and away the best built bass I own.
I also have those two. The 5123 is a beauty , and has a wonderful unique woodiness in the tone. It's deep , and articulate. I went looking for a Thunderjet on your recommendation , it took a while and I managed to snag it. The build quality is simply outstanding. Both are long out of production. Today , when I check the site there's two bargain basses (I know quite a few that bought Streamliners , they generally say it's the best thing going for the buck) and a couple of Japanese TP models. Those are boutique basses.
Quote from: morrow on March 28, 2026, 05:32:44 PMI also have those two. The 5123 is a beauty , and has a wonderful unique woodiness in the tone. It's deep , and articulate. I went looking for a Thunderjet on your recommendation , it took a while and I managed to snag it. The build quality is simply outstanding. Both are long out of production. Today , when I check the site there's two bargain basses (I know quite a few that bought Streamliners , they generally say it's the best thing going for the buck) and a couple of Japanese TP models. Those are boutique basses.
I checked the Gretsch site and there are 5 basses shown: three Electromatic series and two pro series (Tom Petersson 4 string and 12 string).
They have a Streamliner and a 2220 that are the same bass except that the former is 34" scale and the latter is 30". That 2220 two-pickup short scale has been available for years, and is probably the only model they have consistently offered in recent history.
To me it doesn't look any better or worse than any of their other odd T-bird choices over the past decade(s).
It's a lot like the 2015, just presumably cheaper to manufacture the neck this way?
I wonder if this started as "what should we do with this little pile of pickups and bridges in the storage room"
"let's make a couple hundred or thousand of another t-bird variant till we use them up"
Maybe they had a shitload of NR necks unused somewhere...
I got my hands on one before the release and gave it a whirl. No doubt Gibson is broadening the definition of what makes a Thunderbird, it is certainly far removed from its 60's heritage. It's not a bad bass, it feels like the new NR but with a reverse body and many will like the Decola pickups and Hipshot hardware. One thing I really like is the improved upper register access. 😉😁😎 https://youtu.be/0ZdJB1KGVIk?si=95DmHpUBO3h6s-1A