Gibson Thunderbird Bass
Written by vintage on October 16, 2009 – 4:23 pm -Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar ( 1963 - present )
After the first EB basses Gibson manufactured another more important bass which were cousins with the Firebird I - III - V and VII guitars and were introduced at the same time in 1963 .
The firebird and the thunderbird always shared the same body shape. In 1963 Gibson introduced 2 thunderbird models , these Gibson bass guitars were called the :
Gibson Thunderbird II Bass
( 1963 to 1969 )
These basses in 1963 had reverse solid body shapes ( long horn at the bottom of the body ) , they had 1 metal pickup with no visible poles , and were mostly made in sunburst finishes , some other custom colors were also available .
In 1965 Gibson redesigned the thunderbird II with a non reverse solid body , custom colors available , and were discontinued in 1969, reintroduced in 1983 with a reverse body until 1984 . ( less than 100 were made in 83 )
Vintage Price Value For 2007 :
1963 - 1965 > $7500 to $9000 ( reverse body )
1964 - 1965 > $5000 to $6000 ( non reverse body )
1966 - 1969 > $2800 to $3800 ( non reverse )
1963 - 1965 > Avg Upward Trend Of 14% A Year Since 2000
Gibson Thunderbird IV ( 1963 - 1969 )
Same basic specs like the thunderbird II but with 2 pickups , most in sunburst finishes , some custom colors were available . In 1965 body changed to a non reverse body until they were discontinued in 1969, reintroduced in 1986 to present as a reissue .
The reissue was introduced with a reverse body , 2 humbucking pickups , tune o matic bridges and were made in tabacco sunburst ( various colors followed through the 90s till present )
Vintage Price Value For 2007 :
1963 - 1965 > $7 500 to $11 500 ( reverse body )
1964 - 1965 > $5 000 to $6 500 ( non reverse body )
1966 - 1969 > $3 000 to $4 500 ( non reverse )
1986 - 1999 > $1 200 to $1 500 ( Reissue )
1932 - 1955 > Avg Upward Trend Of 12% A Year Since 2000
1986 - 1999 > 6% ( Reissue )
Important : Custom colors such as metallic blue, cardinal red or green are worth significantly more on both Thunderbird II and Thunderbird IV basses ..
Tags: electric guitar, vintage gibson guitars, vintage guitar
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