Gibson Thunderbird
FlyGuitars Before you got into EB3s again, you were using a non-reverse Gibson Thunderbird II - what do you like about it, and what do you think about Thunderbirds in general?
Mike Watt With the reverse, the horns are too much in the way of the higher frets. I got into that with D. Boon (playing on the upper neck), but with the non-reverses it's all open for you. I got that in the early 90's. That was the good thing about touring back then, you could find basses for cheap. I got that thing, original Pelham blue. That big long headstock came off in my hands, it was all bondo. Gibson used that angled headstock for string tension, but, made the guy's weak. I added some mahogany & fiberglass on that thing. I really like the way that body was cut. The bridge was put up too close so I had them move it up a bit. I filled in the hole and moved it up.
I used that bass for the entire Contemplating The Engine Room. I got asked to do a funny session back in November, with a pop singer that won that game show, ahhhh.. Kelly Clarkson, from a producer, an old friend I knew. I brought a few basses and that's the one they liked (Non Reverse II), the sound & stuff.
FlyGuitars What are the extra switches on this bass?
Mike Watt I had them add a Bartolini preamp, with a bypass switch. There is something about, man I love them old nickel-plated Thunderbird pickups. I love them so much. I don't like the plastic new ones, you know; they are too tepid, too dampened. The closest I have come to them, for a few years, Chandler was making them, they sounded pretty close.
FlyGuitars The 60's ones are great pickups
Mike Watt Yeah man, those are fucking great pickups.
FlyGuitars Gibson did not keep records on anything.
Mike Watt One time I was playing in Kalamazoo, they closed the factory. A guy from there told me the same thing. This stuff is a mystery.
The old EB-3s were one-piece bodies, the non-reverse Thunderbirds, too. The other difference in the Thunderbirds, the non-reverses were two piece (neck & body) and the reverse was three pieces (neck and two body wings). I actually think there is better tone with the two-piece.
FlyGuitars Some people think the non-reverse Thunderbird II also sounded better than the two pickup IV.
Mike Watt I had a non-reverse IV and I liked the II better. I thought they just added another pickup? They're not the same. I sold it to a kid.
FlyGuitars Has Gibson ever approached you to do a signature bass?
Mike Watt There was talk once about making me a custom non-reverse - that was years ago and I just got caught up & torn and never followed it up. A cardinal red one you know.
FlyGuitars Everyone wishes they would reissue those. There is of course the Epiphone version....
Mike Watt Yeah they did a bolt-on neck, maybe Korean made non-reverse that had P/J pickups. It was nothing! I went into a store, boy... Whoof. It is a good body shape, besides that, it yeah, was nothing, like a Squire P bass.
Thanks to John (Redbird) Fertig and Mike Watt for making this interview possible, and to Peter Whitfield for use of some great Photos
Why not check out some of these other sites
Mike Watt's homepage
Iggy Pop / Stooges homepage
Kelly Clarkson homepage
Gibson Thunderbird bass guitars for sale
Used 2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass, Faded Pelham Blue
Tampa, Florida, 336**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1665
This bass is in Near Mint ... more
Used 2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass, Inverness Green
Tampa, Florida, 336**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1665
This bass is in Near Mint condition, as there are really no particular issues ... more
1965 Gibson Thunderbird IV Bass in Pelham Blue oh-so rare & cool you need it !
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$13495
2022 Gibson Thunderbird IV "Rex Brown" Signature Bass cool clean & unplayed !
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2250
Gibson Nikki Sixx Signature Blackbird Thunderbird Electric Bass w / OHSC
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2499
Will provide more photos soon. Has a D tuner added
... more
Bass guitar string mute From 1966 Gibson Thunderbird
Cumming, Georgia, 300**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$400
Crafted with precision and care, this mute is made to last. It is made from high-quality materials and is built to withstand the wear and tear of regular use. Whether you are a seasoned musician or just starting out, this bass guitar ... more
Vintage Gibson 6 String Thunderbird Bass Electric Sunburst Guitar with Gig Bag
North Hills, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2200
Gibson Thunderbird IV Bass EB
Berlin, 12***, GERMANY
€1490
4-String E-Bass, gefertigt in den USABaujahr 2012Finish: NitrozelluloseNeck-Through-Konstruktion mit 34" Mensur (864 mm)Korpus: MahagoniDurchgehender, neunteiliger Mahagoni-Walnuss-HalsPalisandergriffbrett mit Dot-Inlays " Rounded " -HalsprofilBünde: Medium JumboEin Gibson Rhythm T-Bird Pickup in HalspositionEin Gibson Lead T-Bird Pickup in StegpositionPassive Schaltung mit zwei Volume-Reglern und Master-ToneGibson 3-Point Adjustable BrückeGrover ... more
GIBSON THUNDERBIRD NON-REVERSE Electric Bass Guitar
Chubu, UNITED KINGDOM
£2336
Description
The Non-Reverse Thunderbird has been loved by advanced bassists since its release in 1965
Each of the two Thunderbird pickups has a volume control so you can use them individually or blend them to your liking
Equipped with master tone controls for a simple and effective control layout
Comes with hard case (HC-12) Paint peeling on the bottom of the back of the body
Although there is a feeling of use, there is no ... more
Metallica??s Jason Newsted Owned And Played Gibson Thunderbird Bass 1987
Meidrim, SA33***, UNITED KINGDOM
£7900
The bass is in excellent condition. It has some marks of use, but I guess this is what you are looking for when owing a celebrity owned instrument
I am a huge Metallica fan, but I am a guitarist and do not play bass very often. An instrument needs to be used, ... more
60's EPIPHONE by GIBSON EMBASSY DELUXE BASS - made in USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£2850
+ mahogany body finished in wine red, has lots of weather checking and wear, several extra screw holes on back
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, LONG SCALE, has 4 minor SURFACE stress cracks below tuners=check last 3 pics
* skinny neck profile on back around first 5 frets
+ new Fender Reissue tuners
+ 1 original THUNDERBIRD pickup & 1 newer Fender Jazz bass single coil
+ new pickguard
+ new pots and ... more
60's EPIPHONE by GIBSON EMBASSY BASS USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND - LONG SCALE
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€3333
60's Epiphone by Gibson Embassy Deluxe Bass - made in USA:
+ mahogany body finished in wine red, has lots of weather checking and wear, several extra screw holes on back
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, LONG SCALE, has 4 minor SURFACE stress cracks below tuners=check last 3 pics
* skinny neck profile on back around first 5 frets
+ new Fender Reissue tuners
+ 1 original THUNDERBIRD pickup & 1 newer Fender Jazz bass single coil
+ new pickguard
+ new pots and ... more
Gene Simmons KISS Stage Played And Modified Gibson G2 Thunderbird Bass
Konstanz , 78***, GERMANY
€10000
Gene Sinmons hat diesen Bass auf mehreren Kiss Gigs 2022 live gespielt, zuletzt 2022 in Paris
Im Gegensatz zu den ehemals zu kaufenden Stage Played Instrumenten (die nur bei 1 Song live gespielt wurden) wurde dieser Bass gemäß Genes Wünschen stark modifiziert. Sowohl der Bass als auch der originale Koffer wurden von Gene handsigniert. Der Griff des Koffers ist nicht mehr vorhanden. Photo- bzw Videobeweise der ... more
Gibson Thunderbird non reverse Inverness green
London, W5***, UNITED KINGDOM
£1400
Gibson Thunderbird Bicentennial 1979 - Natural
London, N13***, UNITED KINGDOM
£3185
Brilliant Thunderbird that has seen some action plays and sounds incredible, it's definitely not for the faint hearted. The neck has small crack repair which has been very solid for long time, viewing strongly recommended on this one. Comes in a suitable but not original hard case
... more
1987 GIBSON BASS IV - Made in USA - THUNDERBIRD PICKUPS
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£1090
* the black painted part of the body was cut off before by some moron and replaced with 2 pieces of ash=
check pic 5
* pearl white finish is very worn
* Thunderbird pickups
* black Schaller hardware
* ebony fingerboard, frets are fine
... more