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Rating And Reviews: Gibson Thunderbird IV

Manufactured in Nashville, TN.

User Ratings
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
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"A Bass that you need to try" submitted October 5, 2010

By a customer from att.net
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: hobbyist
Music Style: Rock, metal, blues
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Sound: I love the sound of this bass. I play mostly rock, metal, and some blues. It's got great punch when toned down and clear notes when brightened. Feature: The case is beautiful. It's strong, the handle is placed so that it is well balanced, and it has a lock on it. The inside secures the instrument nicely and it also has a utility compartment which stores the bottle of polish and the neck rod adjustment tool that comes with the guitar. I wasn't real excited about the inside of my case being the color pink, but what the heck, it's still a Gibson! Ease of Use: The thunderbird's tonal quality is far superior to the P-bass that I used to play before I bought this bass. I personally find this bass very comfortable and easy to play, but I'm a tall, long armed person. It fits me well. Quality: You have to pick one up for yourself to appreciate it's craftsmanship. I have no complaints about anything on my bass. I've read that the head can crack if it's dropped, but like anything that I value, I don't go throwing it around. I feel that it is a sturdy, well made bass. Mine is a beautiful sunburst finish that shines like a new car. I have no problem taking it on the road because of the sturdy case it comes in, and it's steady on my guitar stand during breaks. If I had to pick a worst aspect of quality, I'd say that the balance is a little neck heavy, but not to a point where it affects playing. Value: Absolutely Manufacturer Support: I haven't used them, but band members dealt with gibson support and had no problems. The Wow Factor: I think it's the best looking bass out there. Mine has the sunburst finish that is just beautiful. Overall: I'll keep this bass until I die. If it was lost or stolen, I would die LOL. Seriously, I'd just buy another one.
15 of 15 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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Gibson Thunderbird IV Customer Review submitted March 12, 2008

By a customer from hotmail.com
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: working musician
Music Style: blues, rock
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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW
Sound: The low-end sound of this bass is the best. It is incredible how thunderous this bass can sound and still be so incredible delicate the next moment. I've been using it in blues-, grunge-, punk-, melodic metal-, ...bands and it never feels or sounds out of place! Feature: The flightcase it comes in is perfect! Ease of Use: It has a slim and rounded neck, which results in great playability. The bass has got perfect ballance. In comparison to other basses i've had and played, the thunderbird IV makes it soooo easy. No effort required, so all the energy you put in results in better sound, better feel, .. the bass just allows you to lift your music to a higher level. Quality: It's a high-end neckthru gibson bass that comes in it's own, perfect fit, flightcase. This needs no further explanation! Value: it's an expensive bass, but it's worth it. don't settle for less or for cheap look-a-likes. Manufacturer Support: I always get replies within 24 hours after sending emails... no further experience. The Wow Factor: To me, this is the best looking bass around. I fell in love with it the first time i saw it! And i do realise its a love it or hate it bass, but i believe it to be a good thing! its got character. Overall: Well, all-in-all, this bass is it to me. you touch it, and i'll hunt you down...
31 of 36 people (86.11%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Nice sound, but quality control questionable" submitted February 23, 2013

By John H in Port Moody, BC
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: 25 years, retired semi pro who currently jams with friends
Music Style: blues, rock, metal
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Overall: An okay bass that looks nice and sounds great, but from the factory the set up was poor, actually it was so bad it was laughable. Had to get it set up and waste more money. Gibson does not care unless you live in the USA, if you are from Canada or anywhere else they will ignore you and I still think they send their returns or factory seconds abroad.
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"Gibso great quality of yester year but lacking in the future." submitted September 23, 2010

By a customer from gmail.com
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: active muscian
Music Style: crazy tecno pirate death metal.
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Sound: the sound is what you expext nice and loud Feature: not a lot on the features basic and simple Ease of Use: realy easey to use neck and controls are simple Quality: after returning 3 thunderbirds the fourth one was great qulity. the first one i recived the bridge poped out of the body after two days of playing. the second one i recived was good for about a week, but the pickups went out. the third one i recived the neck was cracked(from the tip of the headstock to the third fret). but the fourth one i recived was top notch. Value: great quality and under 2k what a steal. Manufacturer Support: you will have be more successful trying to sue walmart than get a replie out of gibson. The Wow Factor: there are better basses out there but the gibson t bird is number two in its price range. The esp phoenix II i a t bird copy with active electronics nicer woods and cost 100 dollars more. Overall: overall its a good bass but not worth the hassle
3 of 4 people (75%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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Gibson Thunderbird IV Customer Review submitted September 26, 2006

Overall
Sound
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
The Wow Factor
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Sound: Tonally it's so close to perfect I just... augh! Slapping may be a little padded on here, but not noticibly. Ease of Use: Yeah man. The neck is fast and slim. The pick ups are a good space from the strings, so... Quality: Damn right it's made well. Value: Well, it's definitely worth it, of course it would be nicer a little cheaper. The Wow Factor: HAWT.
18 of 25 people (72%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"If you want a bass guitar that renders respect upon introduction - provides studio quality sound at every turn and is a generati" submitted August 16, 2006

By a customer from bellsouth.net
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: 16 years
Music Style: Rock, country. southern rock, classic pop rock
Back to Product Information
Sound: I don't know what game the previous "rate(r's)" were watching but the Gibson=Thunderbird IV is a classic bass guitar. The tone is unmatchable in any other bass - the action is sooo sweet - the playability is tremendous and the overall style is unprecedented. This bass is one of if not the best bass guitars I have ever owned or played - I have played the Pedulla's and Lakeland's as well as many other heavy priced bass' - the only bass that comes close to the Thunderbird is my Fender Jazz American Standard - this is also a classic. Feature: The case that comes witht he Thunderbird is extremely nice. Ease of Use: From novice to expert the Thunderbird will improve and assist is smooth groovy playin'. Quality: It's a $1700.00 dollar Gibson? Of course the quality it top notch. Value: You get what you pay for - this bass is high end but it is worth every penny and I wouldn't take twice the price to sell. Manufacturer Support: Unsure - have not used. The Wow Factor: The Thunderbird, to me, is the best looking bass guitar out there. Overall: I own several bass guitars and the only one I play regularly is the Gibson.
15 of 24 people (62.5%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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Gibson Thunderbird IV Customer Review submitted March 11, 2010

Sound: had one for 25 years bi-centinnial issue good bottom end nice high's.
2 of 3 people (66.67%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Thunderbird, worth the wait!" submitted May 3, 2007

By a customer from cfl.rr.com
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: Active musician
Music Style: Cosmic American music
Back to Product Information
Sound: The best tone of any bass. Feature: Case has custom fit. Ease of Use: with the Hartke 5500 amp anything is possible. Those that own one,no explaination is necessary. Those that don't, none is possible. Quality: It's a Gibson. Nuff said. Value: Of course.(you get what you pay for) Manufacturer Support: See above. The Wow Factor: Thunderbirds aren't fer nerds. Figure it out. Overall: The search is over. After playing Fenders and Gibsons, Rickenbackers and everything in between over the last 35 years the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is a T-Bird.
13 of 18 people (72.22%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"sorry guys... i hate it" submitted March 9, 2006

By a customer from hotmail.com
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: hobbist
Music Style: punk
Back to Product Information
Sound: ive had much better. this may come ofm a shock but trust me. Feature: bag was awful Ease of Use: hard to play Quality: not really. a grade 7 could make one Value: too much i wasted 2000 dollars Manufacturer Support: yep. the said bite me The Wow Factor: dislike the looks alot... Overall: get an 8th grader to do it.
3 of 83 people (3.61%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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