![]() Investigate with full confidence, we say. It provides players with the ability to adjust and fine-tune the height of the Thunderbird IV’s 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. What it lacks in subtlety it more than compensates for with some big sounds, a battleship-like construction and a beautiful finish. ConclusionĪs the formidable reputation that precedes it suggests, the Thunderbird lives up to its name. The Thunderbird bass, like the Rickenbacker 4000 series and the Firebird guitar designed concurrently, has The Thunderbird was Gibsons first model built in. Still, you can slip on a sweatband, or you can chafe for your art, the choice is yours – the explosive grit at your fingertips is worth a little discomfort. He was equally fond of an Alembic Explorer and a huge Warwick Buzzard (later made in carbon fibre by Status Graphite). He used a ‘Fenderbird’ for years, which was a Fender Precision-necked Gibson Thunderbird. The T-Bird’s weighty mahogany body provides sustain ad infinitum, but the lack of any ergonomic chamfering might irritate you if you pick from your shoulder instead of your wrist. An avid bass collector, John’s gear was basically everything and lots of it. Derived from the Firebird guitar line introduced back in 1963, the Thunderbird bass has always presented a hot. This bass may be a one-trick pony in that department, but it’s a hell of a trick, and quite a ride – more thoroughbred than pony. One of the all-time great basses - in cherry. Inevitably, it sounds best with everything turned up full. Sound-wise, there’s that distinct growling roar and plenty of low-end power, but probably not much else – however, what more do you realistically need? Two volume controls – in the shape of old-school dials in the ‘top hat’ style, black with silver inserts, and very nostalgic – allow you to dial in either, or both, the bridge and the neck pickups, and an overall tone control allows for a few subtle tweaks on top. This bass may be a one-trick pony in that department, but it’s a hell of a trick, and quite a ride Inevitably it sounds best with everything turned up full. The Gibson Thunderbird has the classic reverse body and headstock design as originally introduced in 1963 as Gibsons first neck-through-body bass design. There’s a percussive physicality about the neck and fingerboard that lends itself to not only rock and metal, but also reggae and slap – anything where you need to dig in a little, basically – and chords sound meatier than a buffalo stew. When buying a Thunderbird bass guitar, it is important to consider the price, the quality, and the features that you want. You can buy them online, through a music store, or through a private seller. (Ian played on all but 3 tracks off Stormwatch, as John became to ill from a congenital heart defect during the albums recording and died shortly after.This is one of those instruments that really comes to life in your hands, its substantial but navigable neck enticing the player to stay awhile, fingertips seduced by the playability of its fingerboard. Novem// By Eric // Bass Guitar There are many places to buy Thunderbird bass guitars. Perhaps most importantly of all, it’s a bass that’s tailor-made for conjuring this larger-than-life character’s earth-conquering tones. Telecaster or Fender Stratocaster to a Gibson SG, Flying v or Gibson firebird and Les Paul Junior guitar. My guess is that either John Glascock did own one (which seems likely), or it was rented or borrowed from Ian Anderson, who owned a Gibson Thunderbird and used it on Jack In The Green from Songs From The Wood, as well as the Stormwatch album. All in all, this first offering from G2 delivers on virtually every front, from the dazzling black diamond aesthetic through to playability and versatility. 1972 Fender guitar and bass catalog, page 19. Now, John Glascock usually played a Fender Precision Bass amped with an Ampeg SVT amp during much of his tenure in Jethro Tull, but around the time Stormwatch came out, John was playing a red Wal bass and a Gibson Thunderbird bass. The traditional 9-ply mahogany/walnut neck through body construction provides a thundering low end response and a piano like sustain. But the way John Glascock plays it here-it is so similar to Cornick's playing, you can't tell the difference!! The Gibson Thunderbird has the classic reverse body and headstock design as originally introduced in 1963 as Gibsons first neck-through-body bass design. I find this a little interesting, because Glenn Cornick actually played a Thunderbird (if I remember correctly) on the original 1969 release of Living In The Past. This live performance from 1976 shows John Glascock playing a sunburst Gibson Thunderbird Bass.
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