Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird

[Basvarken]

non distorted G²

[uwe]

It growleth nicely. Not quite the mid-register cello sustain of a neck-thru, but most people aren't obsessed with that anyway. Here they obviously sacrificed neck-thru for set neck in order to get better balance with even a slightly extended neck. Given how much Gene requires basses to balance well so the neck doesn't sink down when he opens both his arms wide in classic Kiss stage pose,



that makes sense.

[Basvarken]

It growleth nicely.

It really does.
I catched myself wondering how it would look with a single ply matte black pickguard and dito truss rod cover.

[uwe]

Maybe they tweaked the pup output a bit? TB Plus pups in any shape or form have always been work in progress with small changes being made.

It sure sounds how Gene likes his basses to sound. Though the elegant, elongated shape of the TBird will be kind of dwarfed by all his stage armor. He's not exactly gonna look like Attorney-at-Law Jackie F. with it ...

[Ken]

I'd really like to hear a back-to-back comparison of a G2 Thunderbird and a regular Thunderbird to see if the pickups do in fact sound the same or different.  I wish that English guy who demoed it would've done a comparison with that other Thunderbird on the wall.

[TBird1958]

I think it's a great looking and sounding Bird, set neck and TB Plus is a good combination - it reminds me of my Studio Bird alot. 
Gibson has used at least 5 variations of pickups in Birds since '88, I think ones used in the 2021 Non Reverse are from Seymour-Duncan, maybe these are from them? 

[ilan]

And now, your favorite YouTube guy...

I wasn't aware of what's under the bridge until now.

[Basvarken]

Whahaa, he has never heard or nor seen the Hipshot Supertone bridge.
Under which rock has he been living?

Probably isn't aware of the Babicz FCH-3 either.

[ilan]

I believe it would benefit the music if Petersson droned less on his 12-string and switched to a 4-string with which (i) you might hear him better, (ii) he might play something different to the root note at least once in a while.

It's not the instrument as much as the player.

[Basvarken]

Yeah that guy is impressive. He makes it look much easier than it is.

[uwe]

Maybe he could give Tom Petersson a few hours of lessons?

[uwe]

This thread is now six pages long and no one has yet made the dreaded statement about the bass needing chrome hardware. Even the lighting girl has held back.

I guess that's for once a good start.

[TBird1958]

This thread is now six pages long and no one has yet made the dreaded statement about the bass needing chrome hardware. Even the lighting girl has held back.

I guess that's for once a good start.

Hey! The black stuff does work with this specific bass, not even an arguable point for me. That bridge tho, it's ugly as sin and very uncomplimentary to a Thunderbird's shape (I can think of a bass who's design it would compliment), it's actually the only thing I don't like about that bass. A Kahler like my Jackson has would have been my choice. 

Plenty of black hardware here.

[ilan]

This thread is now six pages long and no one has yet made the dreaded statement about the bass needing chrome hardware

I thought it was a given.

Seriously, it needs gold hardware and a 5-ply black pickguard.

[gearHed289]

This thread is now six pages long and no one has yet made the dreaded statement about the bass needing chrome hardware.

I thought about it.  Chrome would (as usual) be better, but since it's unlikely I'll ever be buying one of these basses, I'll keep that opinion to myself.