Gibson USA 2018 Thunderbird 4 String Bass in Vintage Sunburst

The Gibson Thunderbird is a timeless bass design, highly identifiable for its offset body shape and reversed 4-in-line headstock. But it's not just about its aesthetics, as the Thunderbird is notorious for its huge tones, sporting dual humbuckers that are direct-mounted into its large Mahogany body. This stunning 2018 model is finished in an old-school Vintage Sunburst, sure to turn heads at almost any venue.

Construction

Gibson are renowned for using Mahogany as the primary tonewood for most of their models, and the Thunderbird is no exception to that. With the body formed entirely of Mahogany, this bass delivers a thunderous low-end, with plenty of gnarly growl and attitude. 

Paired with a Mahogany/Walnut neck, this mixture of woods ensures excellent tuning stability, due to its strength and density. So if you're a touring bassist then this instrument is sure to survive differing temperatures or environments without suffering from warping, meaning it won't require regular setups or adjustments night-after-night. 

Adorned with a Rosewood fretboard, the neck feels smooth under the fingers, and the rounded profile is extremely comfortable for your fretting hand. Featuring cryogenically-treated frets, this cutting-edge process ensures better longevity, with the frets less susceptible to wear or rust.

Electronics and Hardware

A pair of high-output T-Bird pickups provide this instrument with its signature voice, capable of dishing out crushing bass tones. There's a reason why the Thunderbird has been such a popular instrument for hard rock and metal, with Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) and Shavo Odadjian (System of a Down) using it as their weapon of choice. However, it's not just a one-trick pony, as the Thunderbird is suitable for many styles. With its versatile Master Tone control allowing you to tame the lairy sound of the pickups, you can also use their independent Volume controls to strike the perfect balance.

The 3-Point Full Contact BABICZ bridge is a Thunderbird-exclusive hardware appointment. Partially embedded into the body, this bridge transfers all of the string vibrations into the thick slab of Mahogany, so that all of the tonal perks of this premium tonewood are heard. With ultra-smooth saddles, this bridge is also very comfortable to play and rest your right hand on, especially if you employ palm-muting techniques regularly.

Here's what Gibson say about the 2018 Thunderbird 4 String in Vintage Sunburst:

The Gibson Thunderbird Bass takes flight again in 2018, highlighted by a classic neck-through-body construction with the comfortable rounded neck profile. A full contact bridge and Gibson pickups deliver endless sustain while also giving the player tonal variety through the coil-tapping controls. The Gibson Thunderbird is back by popular demand for 2018.

Specifications

Body

• Body Style: Thunderbird
• Back: Mahogany
• Top: N/a
• Weight relief: None

Neck

• Neck: Mahogany
• Neck profile: Rounded
• Nut width: 1.50”
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale length: 34”
• Number of frets: 20
• Nut: Tektoid
• Inlay: Acrylic Dots

Hardware

• Bridge: 3-Point Full Contact BABICZ
• Tailpiece: N/a
• Knobs: Black Tophats w/ Silver Inserts
• Tuners: Grover Bass Keys
• Plating: Black Chrome

Electronics

• Neck pickup: Rhythm T-Bird 
• Bridge pickup: Lead T-Bird 
• Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Master Tone