- Bridge pickup: Gibson TB humbucker + Ceramic Humbucker - Neck pickup: Gibson TB humbucker + Ceramic Humbucker - Controls: 1 neck pickup volume, 1 bridge pickup volume, 1 . The Thunderbird usually features bass humbuckers, colloquially referred to as "soapbars" due to their appearance. As a security precaution, initial orders and orders shipping to alternate addresses may be held for extended verification. The bass now plays like a dream and sounds great. These hand rests were initially nickel plated, then chrome-plated from the mid 1960s, until their discontinuation circa 1968. more, Chrome bridge cover Introduced in 1963 - the earliest (nickel plated) covers were only used on the Thunderbird. This reissue featured the original body shape and neck-through construction but unlike the previous issues, the bicentennial edition included the new "three-point" bridge and a red, white, and blue Thunderbird logo. The Hipshot bridge is an improvement over the original Gibson design in every way imaginable. The new Thunderbird vintage Pro was available in Alpine white, ebony, and tobacco sunburst. Gibson didn't fix anything else and at this point in time with all these new models appearing with the same old three pointer show no signs of bothering their backsides any time soon. Notice also that the silk wraps at the ball end of the string don't always stop before the bridge saddle, avoided, by removing some of the wraps with a razor blade, or better still buying strings with no wraps. Love the heft of this bridge. Oh yeah, the Hipshot is heavier than stock so helps a but with neck dive. April 19, 2011 in Epiphone Basses. Binghamton, New York. Chrome. [2] At the time, Fender had been the leader in the electric bass market since their introduction of the Precision Bass twelve years earlier. The Thunderbird IV was reissued in 1976 as a bicentennial edition. I had read that some folks were having issues with the posts pulling out of the Epiphone Rumblekat after a few days. Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass review The offset bass guitar classic returns in three eye-catching finishes - but does it bring the thunder? This is a truly iconic model, so it's not surprising that so many guitarists decide to choose it. The Thunderbird IV was re-introduced to the Gibson line in 1987 and was in regular production until 2015. [2] At the time, Fender had been the leader in the electric bass market since their introduction of the Precision Bass twelve years earlier. The bridge posts were short-bushing type, nickel (early) or chrome (later) plated, Even though this bridge was designed to be intonatable, in practise this was not always possible, leading people to reposition the bridge slightly. Strings all sit on their speaking lengths on the saddle pieces instead of on the wrap like on she Gibson 3-point stock bridge. more, Gibson bar bridge - 1965 version. To this day, Gibson's three-way adjustable bridge remains an industry standard. The specs are close to those of the mid-60s non-reverse Thunderbirds, with some updates such as Hipshot Ultralite tuners. Once strung up I found a definite improvement in sound, notes are punchier and more consistent over the fingerboard and there is more sustain. 9-ply mahogany/walnut neck '60s rounded bass neck profile. It worked out great though and the bass plays and sounds great, super sustain, and holds tuning. The bridge posts were short-bushing type, nickel (early), or chrome (later) plated. we'll also pay the return shipping costs. Part number BR-650N. a 22 fret neck, solid three point Thunderbird bridge, and sleek black Grover tuners, this bass is ready to ROCK! We spend a lot of time with you and the item before your purchase to try to avoid any surprises after your purchase. This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. 5/16-24 American Thread Mounting Screw & Bushings Set. When under-bridge mutes were phased out in the early seventies, many of these covers had a strip of foam glued to the underside, which acted as a mute. more, Gibson Thunderbird bridge (1960s). Info@Hipshot.com. The Hipshot bridge came with four screws when only two were needed, but then again only two of the four fit my bass -- my guess is that Gibson changed their screw threading at some point and Hipshot thoughtfully provided screws for both types. Good condition items function properly but may exhibit some wear and tear. The Gibson Thunderbird has the classic reverse body and headstock design as originally introduced in 1963 as Gibson's first neck-through-body bass design. Introduced in mid 1973, and still in use today. 2 humbucking pickups with plenty of cutting mids. SKU: KVBB58. . This is, indeed, a drop-in replacement for Gibson's 3-point bridge, but easier to set up. The bridge pictured has black plastic surrounding each post hole - though this is the exception rather than the rule. To 'unmute' the cover would be removed. The Thunderbird high . Free shipping on domestic orders over $50 USD! The Epiphone Goth Thunderbird is similar to the Epiphone Thunderbird IV. The published rates are for US domestic shipping only. Only improvements could be: Gibson Thunderbird bridge (1960s). $1,800 $525 price drop. Superior to the original Gibson bridges, by far! The Babicz double locking ECAM saddle offers full contact to the instrument's body, improving tonality and sustain inch intonation and string height adjustments are a breeze and these are the same bridges used on the Gibson 2015 thunderbird and sg basses. Excellent replacement bridge for my Gibson Les Paul Jr. DC bass. Installation is easy and simple, I think it took me about 3 minutes including removing the old bridge. The Gibson Thunderbird non-reverse announced during 2012 features a choice of vintage sunburst or Pelham blue finishes, both in high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer. If youre one of the many Gibson bass owners who are fed up with the stock bridge, our SuperTone Gibson replacement bridge is the answer to your prayers. Easy to install, balanced well (with some pads underneath near each bolt hole per suggestions from Hipshot), and I am truly impressed at how much it improves the sound of my bass. Unlike all other Gibson bass bridges, it required a separate tailpiece, and was fitted with a damper spring, which acted as a mute by pushing felt blocks (not pictured) against the strings. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. more, EB string mute Introduced in 1960 (see the Gibson Gazette July/August 1960 and 1962 mute patent) and fitted to Kalamazoo-built basses until 1971. Chicago, IL 60657 i just installed the three point version on my Epiphone Allen Woody, took less than 10 minutes to put on and set up. 37.61.232.130 1960's style Gibson Thunderbird Bass bridge and tailpiece Made in the USA Machined Brass Bridge, Tailpiece and Studs Nickel plated Bridge is wider then original for increased intonation range Dimensions: Bridge body - 3 7/8" x 31/32" x 3/8" thick, string spacing - 2 9/32", post spacing - 3 5/16" Again, this after initial installation, it could well be with some tweaking these issues may lessen. I don't get why Gibson continues to use the old 3 point design but that's another issue for another time. Strings are anchored at the body end by a rock-solid three-point Thunderbird bridge with individually adjustable saddles, and high-quality Grover tuners at the headstockall gold-plated to match the commemorative look of the 50th Anniversary Thunderbird Bass. The principle was very simple: by pulling the lever away from the bridge, it's raised part pushes a piece of felt up, under the strings, dampening vibrations. Super solid contact through the posts, as the slight arch top semi hollow design of this model bass prefers. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a191b95edf8892a It took longer to remove and restring the bass than it took me to fit this bridge to a epiphone thunderbird. Also to get the E string to intonate properly I had to back up the saddle as far as it can go. It doesn't fall off the instrument when the strings are removed, and the saddles don't fall out. The bass was offered in tobacco burst, ebony, white, or natural finish. In 2021, Gibson announced a new non-reverse Thunderbird, in Pelham Blue, Burgundy Red, and Inverness Green. Rickenbacker Replacement Bridge (Pre 2020) 4 String Vintage Bass Bridge. The stock bridges are lacking to say the least. This bass now has no dead notes, and excellent sustain. The tone is great and all parts are original with the exception of the badass bridge installed (which is better than the original bridge). The Nikki Sixx Thunderbird bass has a mahogany-walnut neck-through with flame maple wings attached to form the body, finished in transparent black cherry. AmEx credit cards: Note that if your order was paid using an AmEx card we may pass on a 3.5% fee of the purchase price to process your refund. You can adjust the bridge inserts forward and back for intonation, and you can adjust your individual string action height by moving it up or down. Between the new bridge and brass knobs I put on, the bass is much more balanced. Highly recommended. For phone or mail orders you may pay money orders and cashier's checks by mail. Gibson bass guitar bridge / tailpiece units are typically weightier than those employed by other manufacturers, with early examples height adjustable via heavy bolts into the guitar's body (the 'sustain sisters' as Gibson called them). Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. 15 oz.) Fitted perfectly on both instruments and improved them greatly. There were originally two Thunderbird models: the Thunderbird II, with only one pickup, and the Thunderbird IV, with two pickups. The difference is incredible! The Epiphone Thunderbird Classic-IV Pro, is a neck-through, reverse design and features Gibson pickups. Really happy with my new bridge. I bought it primarily for the extra length between the saddles and the holes for the string balls because Ernie Ball Chrome flats have long silks on them, which ended up on the stock bridge saddles. 2005 Epiphone Thunderbird by Gibson Bass Guitar Original Body $299.99 $49.99 shipping or Best Offer 17 watching 2005 Epiphone EB0 SG Bass Guitar Original Black Body Project $199.99 $49.99 shipping or Best Offer 10 watching Gibson & Epiphone EB3 or EBO Bass Guitars $29.99 $10.00 shipping Limited intonation adjustment was an issue with many 1960s Thunderbird basses. $1,516. It installs very easily -- just remove the three screws for the original bridge and install this one in its place. If defective, these items will only be exchanged for the same product. Highly recommended. We reserve the right to make partial shipments, which will not relieve you of your obligation to pay for the remaining deliveries. The bass side of the 3-point bridge was on the deck. There are 0 comments on this article so far. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days). Free Standard Shipping - for order over $50 (US Customers Only). Contact us directly if you wish to place an international order. Recently I had the chance to trade my '58 Reissue Fender Precision for a 2008 Gibson Thunderbird and I must admit I was nervous about the idea based on the negative comments I've read online. I did not have any issues with the stock inserts (nuts) in the body coming loose. Far from just a clever name, the Gibson Thunderbird 4-string bass possesses plenty of thunderous power and long-lasting reliability all in a vintage-looking instrument. Gibson started producing the non-reverse Thunderbirds again for the public in late 2012.[5]. Gibson Thunderbird Bass Bridge & Pick Up Cover Hand Rest Also Compatible with EB-0, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 & Les Paul Basses Made from 1963 to 1980 From Old Guitar Repair Shop Please check my other listings for more Vintage Guitar Parts More info at This item is sold As-Described This model was discontinued in 2007. The mighty Thunderbird Bass offers soaring reverse-body looks, thundering tone, and unbeatable value in a full-scale, hand-made-in-America bass. Background and introduction [ edit] The Gibson Thunderbird [1] was introduced in 1963. "ZebraBird", Thunderbird short scale bass, 30.5 inch scale, 2011, limited run of 400. The only downside to the Babicz (again, IMHO) is that adjusting it is probably a bit less intuitive than the Hipshot product, but once learned the Babicz system is rock solid. Featuring ProBucker bass humbuckers and a vintage styled 1960s tune-o-matic bridge and claw tailpiece. Being able to adjust each string side to side is great and what attracted me to Hipshot bridges in the beginning. (2 Lg , 1 Sm head) Select a Finish Color. The Babicz Full Contact Hardware bridge preserves every last string vibration for a wide range of unique tonal possibilities. Second, the bridge is wider (from nut to tailpiece) for increased saddle travel. The Thunderbird bass, like the Rickenbacker 4000 series and the Firebird guitar designed concurrently, has neck-through construction: the neck wood runs the entire length of the body, with the rest of the body glued into place. Select a Bridge Finish Color. In any case, I would recommend this bridge as a must have for Gibson basses. By utilizing the existing mount pattern, the SuperTone gives you a full range of intuitive adjustability and excellent tone transference without any modifications to your bass whatsoever. Gibson Thunderbird Bass Re Ative $1,163.51 $95.00 shipping Gibson Thunderbird Limited Edition Black 1997 Electric Bass Used $1,250.00 Free shipping or Best Offer Gibson GENE SIMMONS G2 Thunderbird New Electric Bass $3,659.55 Free shipping 1976 Gibson Thunderbird Bicentennial Vintage Bass w/ Case AGED WHITE "SUPER RARE $13,500.00 Local Pickup 2023 Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC - All right reserved. It looks great, matching the black hardware on my Jack Casady signature bass. Gibson Thunderbird is a high quality 4-string bass designed for the most demanding bassists out there. So a successful replacement for the stock Gibson bridge, and also has side-to-side saddle adjustment as a bonus, and more weight for offsetting some neck dive. $1,895 $379 Off. more, Gibson two-point Tune-O-Matic bridge. Used - Good. $99.99 - $109.99. Add to Cart. SuperTone Gibson Bass Replacement Bridge, Machined from aircraft grade aluminum for maximum precision and durability, Innovative micro-adjust saddle design allows for an additional 1/16" [1.5mm] of side-to-side adjustment for even greater string spacing possibilities, String silks guaranteed to stay behind the saddles, where they belong, Bridge fits flush to the top of the bass for maximum tone transference, Available in both two and three point mounting configurations, Quick load slots make string changes easy and keep those sharp ball ends away from your finish, Includes standard and metric mounting screws for both Gibson and Epiphone models. I can finally intonate the thing properly, and the action is quite a bit lower now as well. Does anyone know where can I get another saddle (black plastic)? It is a stronger, clearer, more well-defined sound. Cheers Hipshot. 4 String B Style Bass Bridge. Nov 4, 2015 #4 96tbird PLEASE STAND BY Dec 13, 2010 This website uses cookies to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features, and to analyse traffic. Its been on there over a year now, and it aint ever coming off. The Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird comes loaded with a fine assortment of the former Rex Rocker's preferred extras. Really sets the tone (pun intended) for the looks, sound and feel of this 2012 Gibson Ltd. LocationCalifornia. I rescued a 1971 EB-0 slot head that was striped of all hardware, and was so glad to find this superior bridge available. Members. $1,275. This bridge is a must-have for all T-Bird players! No instructions either though installation is a no brainer. WIth the original bridge, D'Addario XL Chrome Flats in short scale fit nicely, with some extra room past the nut, but not too much. Solved easily by using qty 3, 5/16", gold zinc lock washers between the posts and the bridge. Software/soundware, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and videos may be returned for credit only if they are in their original, sealed packaging. Pick a FREE T-Shirt Size. 3-Day / 15-day Return Policy Please check the fields highlighted in red. Its the bridge your Gibson has been waiting for. . saddles no longer too close to ball end on my thunderbird, string height no longer good for 2 strings and way too high on the other two with the eb-3 AND a bridge that doesn't fall off the second you remove the strings Bought one of these for my Epiphone Les Paul Standard bass and it was worth every penny!! The original bridge on my '99 Gibson Thunderbird had become warped, and my usual setup tech recommended a Hipshot Supertone bridge to replace it. Notice the rounded, wider mounting arms. The Classic Pro was quietly dropped from the Epiphone website around the 2020 NAMM show. My Thunderbird is happy! He bought several Thunderbird basses after the model was discontinued and gutted them. 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Improvement over the original Gibson design in every way imaginable was available in Alpine white, or natural finish,. Slot head that was striped of all hardware, and it aint ever coming off the Thunderbird... String vibration for a wide range of unique tonal possibilities saddle travel: Gibson Thunderbird non-reverse announced during 2012 a..., this bass now plays like a dream and sounds great this item is sold and! Until 2015 quality 4-string bass designed for the most demanding gibson thunderbird bass bridge out there your Gibson been... A condition different from how it was described or photographed intonate properly i had read that some folks were issues! Really sets the tone ( pun intended ) for increased saddle travel now as well ]... Edit ] the Gibson line in 1987 and was in regular production until.... Were originally two Thunderbird models: the Thunderbird IV, with two pickups bridge preserves last. Arch top semi hollow design of this 2012 Gibson Ltd. LocationCalifornia the deck and... Original bridge and brass knobs i put on, the Hipshot is heavier than stock so helps a but neck...