New for 2021

[ilan]

The white-bound one is very pretty.

[Ken]

better pics of the GS Tbirds:

I'm still trying to figure out what logo that is on the pickguard, other than a couple of guitars crossing necks.

I do really like those inlays.  Like a variation on the classic split diamond logo.

[planetgaffnet]

It looks very much like a Thunderbird and a Flying V Bass with a skull wearing sunglasses motif.  I couldn't get the resolution up any higher.

[Ken]

It looks very much like a Thunderbird and a Flying V Bass with a skull wearing sunglasses motif.  I couldn't get the resolution up any higher.

Thanks!  Still weird.  Hopefully we'll find out more context for these basses soon.

[Basvarken]

Does that mean there will be a Flying V bass with bindings too?

[godofthunder]

   Honestly the GS Thunderbird is probably something that I won't buy. Clearly bassed on the post '87 "modern" Thunderbird I've pretty much determined that they are not for me. As much as I love KISS my fascination with them and their gear ended after Alive II and that's stretching it.  If I want a Gene Thunderbird I'll mod a Vintage Pro like others have done.  I have a Grabber and scratches the itch quite nicely.

[Granny Gremlin]

better pics of the GS Tbirds:

Lipsticked up studio versions.  Surprised that Gene would let go of the neck thru given his history with that feature, but if a marketing dude showed him a graph of the Laffer curve but with bass price point vs tax rate, that would probably do it.

[godofthunder]

   Remember how those GS Ampeg SVTs flew off the  shelf? Yeah me neither. 

[Rob]

   Remember how those GS Ampeg SVTs flew off the  shelf? Yeah me neither. 

[Dave W]

I don't see this becoming a good seller.

[uwe]

So there is nothing different but the look und the Hipshot bridge, no specific construction details, wood combinations or different pups?

It's basically a Blackbird then. The later Nicki Sixx Signature Bird (i.e. the flamed red one) at least had maple wings which did affect the sound.

BTW, I put the Hipshot bridge on my Blackbird (I wanted to try it on at least one of my TBirds) years ago, so I'm already there. 

[Basvarken]

Those GS basses don't have a raised middle section, which leads to suspect they aren't neck through construction.
The binding on the body and neck is something we havent seen before on a Thunderbird. Neither are the inlays and the location of the logo.

All in all I think it looks like a very pretty bass.
I think it is a clever move to not have any visual reference to Gene Simmons or Kiss on this bass. That would make the bass only appealing to a very limited audience.
The only thing that I don't like, is the artwork on the pickguard. I would have preferred a Thunderbird logo.

[Ken]

Some interesting points. If it were a full-on GS bass, the pickguard logo would probably have some image of his Kiss makeup.

[Basvarken]

is it even 34" scale?

[godofthunder]

   Difficult to tell from this picture. in the others it looks long scale.  Gene's always been a big guy but his stage outfits have grown in girth making him look like a linebacker, not the svelte demon of yore. The other pictures posted look long scale but Gene does have a way of making basses look diminutive.  He's about the only player that the Grabber looked right on imho. The images on the pickguard are indeed a Thunderbird and Flying V.  As I understand it these ate two prototypes so maybe there will be some tweaking to the final product.  Strangely I find myself wanting one. Dam KISS marketing.