First Looks
Has Gibson Finally Perfected the Thunderbird?
More potent humbuckers and a more substantial bridge help make Gibson's still-radical bass heavier than ever.
By Steve CookJul 09, 2026
Steve Cook
Freelance writer and product review specialist Steve Cook is a musician with decades of experience in the music world as a worldwide touring and session musician, songwriter, and producer. His love for bass guitar fuels his creative fire, with a good Telecaster being a close second. He attended University of Southern Mississippi, and his former band, King Konga was the most successful unsuccessful band in the ā90sāthey landed a spot at Woodstock ā99, but couldn't land a record deal. Steve also produces and shoots video from demos to full-length music videos, and is a ghostwriter of memoirs. Steve maintains balance in writing and song creation with lots of single origin coffee. Connect with him at www.stevecookwrites.com.
Early Thunderbird models were built with a nine-ply neck-through-body design with mahogany wings, marking the first use of neck-through construction on a Gibson bass. It was also the first Gibson bass to feature a long 34ā scale length, departing from the shorter 30.5ā scale used previously. Today, Gibson honors that heritage with a new Thunderbird Bass that blends the spirit of the original with modern craftsmanship and performance.











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