Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Bass, Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Solidbody
Introduced in 1963 as a companion to the new Firebird, the Gibson Thunderbird bass shares the same through-neck construction concepts.
The original production of the ‘Reverse’ Gibson Thunderbird, like the Firebird, ran from 1963 to 1965. Then, in response to lagging sales and contact from Fender, the design was basically ‘flipped over’ into a ‘non-reverse’ style, and the construction changed to a standard set-neck; this continued until 1969 when both models were discontinued. In 1983 the Thunderbird started to come back into regular production, as it currently is.
The Gibson Thunderbird bass makes one of the more dramatic visual statements possible with an actually functional design. Yet, the long asymmetrical body is very comfortable to sit, or stand with, and play.
This Gibson Thunderbird Bass was built in Nashville, Tennessee as a 2015 model, but the date on its QC card is ’12/22/14′, December 24 2014 and it would likely have shipped in January 2015. It is in very good, clean and original condition with minimal wear.
Gibson made the great choice to use the Babicz Full Contact bridge (in black chrome) on this model, providing much more sustain, separation and punch than the earlier floating bridges. Pickups are stock Rhythm and Lead EB Bass models.
Like its relative the Firebird, the Gibson Thunderbird bass is a neck-through-body design using layered mahogany. To promote stability over the long length of wood, the center section is built of a total of nine layers of mahogany and walnut, all visible from the top or back. The fingerboard is Indian rosewood with dot position markers. The formal model designation for this bass is ‘BAT15VSBC-15’.
The original brown Gibson hardshell case is included, and is in equally good condition.
- Model: Thunderbird
- Year: 2015
- Finish Tobacco Burst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 150030841, built during 2015 at Gibson Nashville.
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 05/07/2023
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 8.756lbs 3.98kg
- Scale Length: 34in 863.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.519in 38.59mm
