In very good condition! Has minor traces of use. Original pickups have been replaced for Lollar T-Bird pickups and the bridge upgraded for a Hipshot Super Tone. Mahogany body & neck, rosewood fretboard. Weighs 3.89 kg. Original hardcase included!
Gibson introduced the Thunderbird bass in 1963 as part of a new lineup of instruments created by legendary auto designer Ray Dietrich. The new models included the Firebird and Explorer, and they used a new ‘Reverse’ body style – the upper treble bout and the lower bass bouts were longer. On ‘Non Reverse’ style instruments, like the Stratocaster, the upper bass bout is longer. Unfortunately, these futuristic instruments didn’t sell very well and there were some legal complaints from Fender regarding the shape of the headstock, so from 1965 to 1969 new versions, the ‘Non Reverse’ Thunderbirds and Firebirds were built.
The Thunderbird Bass in its ‘Non-Reverse’ form not only looks different from the ‘Reverse’ model, it’s built differently. The ‘Non Reverse’ models use a set-neck construction, instead of the original through-neck. All of the models are built using mahogany for the body and neck, with rosewood fingerboards. Thunderbird humbucking pickups are used
This Thunderbird bass was built as a 2013 model – at this point Gibson had started stamping the model year on the back of the headstock, below the MADE IN USA stamp. It is in very nice condition and plays well, with very light fretwear.
