I play a very energetic live show, and my thunderbird has taken plenty of abuse over 8+ years, but the bass will take the abuse and keep on rockin'. You can probably throw it down stairs send have it land unharmed an in tune. I exclusively use Elixir strings due to the way the metallic aggression of the strings pairs with the fat tone of the bass.įinally, the bass is an absolute tank.

It may sound dull relative to the punch of a Fender, but with the right strings it can sound like the fattest punchy tone on the market. Once you get used to the feel, you can actually play at a higher skill level.Īs for the tone, it is also definitely unique. This meant I could play faster, more technical bass lines, and have everything flow nicely. It wasn't an 'easy' bass to play like an Ibanez, but when your hand is used to the extra muscle required, everything sounds smooth. I then slowly noticed my skill level climbing faster than ever. But alas, I love the look and found a once in a lifetime deal (a grand off for a scratch on the case), so I bought it anyways. In fact, I found it harder to play then my cheap basses. I came from playing Fender and Ibanez, and at first the neck of the thunderbird didn't feel like what I was used to. In short: once you get used to it, it's incredible I've played a thunderbird for years, and I completely understand your reaction. I'm kinda bored of the Fender shapes at the moment so a weird looking bass is my thing right now. I can see how the shape may not be your thing, it's definitely different. My band and sound guy all commented how much they loved it. There was also a mid range quality that really got it singing. When you find the sweet spots, I found the TBird to have a massive and clear low end that I've heard in very few basses. Maybe buying a Gibson Thunderbird IV Bass Guitar and trying to play like Geddy Lee, or Jeff Ament, and not caring what the neighbors might think. I didn't have neck dive issues with the thunderbird, or the SGs. I use unfinished leather straps that are more grippy than most. They don't like to be played like Fenders and, if you do, they're prone to sounding pretty awful.

This instrument will make your soul tremble. Thunderbirds, like every Gibson I've played, are very different from most every other brand, especially Fender. This soul-trembling 2009 Gibson Thunderbird Bass is the epitome of bass tone. I've played Fenders most of my life and recently started touring with SGs. Similarly, please send any comments or critiques to the moderators. We encourage you to report spam posts or posts that violate the rules, but please send a message to the moderators at the same time. Please tag video or audio of you or your band with in the subject line of the post. Requests for tab should be made in /r/basstabs and will be removed from /r/bass Resist the urge to start 'gig pic' 'bass face' and 'family photo' threads. Also, do not post links to giveaways where you personally benefit (getting more entries) by propagating (spamming) a link. Posts made outside of the thread will be removed and asked to be reposted.ĭon't use the sub to sell or advertise your gear (with very few exceptions, ask the mods). 9,999.99 Used Good 14-Day Return Policy Add to Cart Gibson EB-0 Les Paul Jr. New Bass Day (NBD) and Gear posts go into the weekly threads. We have lots of common questions with lots of common answers. Tuning stability and intonation also feel impeccable: This is definitely a ‘set and forget’ kind of bass that allows the player to focus on their performance, undistracted and with confidence.Previous AMAs FAQ and Wiki Bass Resources 2016 Official Pedals Thread Follow /r/bass on Twitter Related Communities Other InstrumentsĬheck the sidebar, the FAQ, and search for your answer before making a post. It also arrives with a low enough action for more technically ambitious styles of playing, as well as basic root-noted rock, making bends, stretches and hammer-ons more comfortable than expected. Gibson haven’t let themselves down here at all, with this review model feeling lighter than it looks. Like the best signature models, this is an instrument that ultimately inspires you to sound and play like the musician behind it, while also being capable of a lot more, from Motown to country, and with the right kind of EQ scoop and compression, even slapped funk – even if it’s not aimed at such musicians.Įvery manufacturer will tell you that they try to ensure their guitars feel playable, but greater care needs to be taken with larger-bodied instruments like this Thunderbird, or they can end up feeling bulky and demanding.

Gibson thunderbird bass players