Gibson ThunderBird 4-String Bass - Ebony Finish - Black Hardware
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There are some guitarsthe Les Paul, the SG, the Flying Vthat are instantly recognizable, their iconic shapes having long been embedded into the hearts and minds of music enthusiasts everywhere. The Gibson Thunderbird IV bass joined this distinguished lineup shortly after its introduction in 1963. The Thunderbirds unique reversed zig-zag body design and equally distinct headstock was the brainchild of legendary automotive designer and visionary Ray Dietrich, enlisted by Gibson to bolster the guitar lines of the early 60s and help solidify the companys eminent rank among solidbody electric guitar manufacturers.Todays Thunderbird IVwith its huge, thunderous soundis still a benchmark of innovation, functionality, and style, and continues to symbolize Gibsons drive to achieve creative excellence.
Angled Headstock
The Thunderbirds distinct headstock stays true to Gibsons industry-changing way of thinking. Like every Gibson headstock, the angled Thunderbird headstock is carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck. The angle is carefully set to 14 degreesinstead of the traditional 17 degreesto accommodate the headstocks radical contour and to keep pressure on the strings. The headstocks form ensures straight string pull, which, when combined with the increased string pressure, means there is no loss of string vibration between the corian nut and the tuners, equaling better sustain. Black chrome-plated Grover bass tuners provide the necessary clearance between tuner buttons, allowing for comfortable access and uncomplicated tuning.
60s Rounded Bass Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles on the Gibson models of today. The 60s rounded bass neck profile on the Thunderbird IV is based on the more modern, slim-tapered necks most commonly associated with the Les Paul and SG models of the early 1960s. The neck is machined in Gibsons rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the restincluding the final sandingis done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.
TB Plus Ceramic Magnet Humbuckers
The pickups on the early Gibson basses of the 1960s remained unchanged for many years, undergoing only minor cosmetic modifications from time to time, but staying true to the originals sonic characteristics. The pickups in todays Thunderbird IVtwo vintage-style TB Plus humbuckersboth capture and recreate the classic attributes of those early Gibson basses. The TB plus humbuckers are traditional hum-cancelling bass pickups with ceramic magnets. They are wax potted then filled with epoxy, producing a full frequency, heavy-bottom sound similar to pickups with a passive EQ, and delivering the huge, powerful bass tone the Thunderbird IV is renowned for.
Three-Way Adjustable Bridge and Tailpiece
Gibsons innovative three-way adjustable bridge and tailpiece combo is the standard for simplicity and functionality. It provides players with the ability to adjust and fine-tune the height of the Thunderbird IVs bass strings in all directionsfront, back, and side-to-sidewhich gives the bridge a floating feature, thus allowing the bass to be equipped with a variety of string gauges and multiple set-up options. The Thunderbird IVs legendary resonance, tone, and sustain is the result of anchoring the bridge directly into the body at its three adjustable points, which provides a firm seating for the strings and yields a strong union between the strings and body. Readily accessible screws make setting the intonation simple and unproblematic. To this day, Gibsons three-way adjustable bridge remains an industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in bass guitar bridge design.
Neck-Through-Body Construction
The Thunderbird IVs multiple-wood-ply construction is as structurally and aesthetically innovative as any Gibson feature. The neck and center piece of the body are constructed from solid mahogany, as are the two wings that are glued on to each side to form the Thunderbirds distinct outline. Gluing all the pieces together ensures maximum wood-to-wood contact, and allows the neck and body to function as a single unit. This neck-through-body construction results in better tone and unsurpassed sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.
Body
Body Style: Thunderbird Bass
Body Species: Mahogany
Hardware
Plating Finish: Black Chrome
Tailpiece: Three Point Adjustable Bass Bridge
Tuners: Grover Bass
Electronics
Neck Pickup: TB+ Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: TB+ Humbucker
Pickup Covers: Yes
Controls: 2 Volume - 1 Tone
Control Knobs: Black Tophats with Silver Inserts
Control Pocket Cover: Black Plastic
Neck
Species: Mahogany/Walnut Laminate
Nut: Corian
Nut Width: 1.500" +/- .050"
Truss Rod: Gibson Adjustable Truss Rod
Truss Rod Cover: Thunderbird cover, stamped with Gibson Logo
Fingerboard
Fingerboard Species: Rosewood
Inlays: Acrylic Dot
Number of Frets: 20
Scale Length: 34"
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Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
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| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| ThunderBird 4-String Bass - Ebony Finish - Black Hardware | 67220 |
