Gibson Thunderbird - Current Thunderbird Models

Current Thunderbird Models

The Thunderbird IV was re-introduced to the Gibson line in 1987 and has been in production up to the present.

The current official Thunderbirds produced by Gibson Guitar Corporation are:

• Gibson USA Thunderbird IV
• Gibson USA Nikki Sixx Thunderbird Bass
• Epiphone Thunderbird IV
• Epiphone Nikki Sixx Blackbird
• Epiphone Goth Thunderbird IV
• Epiphone Special Run Thunderbird IV Limited Edition Silverburst
• Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV
• Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V
• Epiphone Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO
• Gibson Thunderbird Non-Reverse Bass

All currently produced models have two pickups.

The current standard Gibson Thunderbird IV is made with a nine-ply mahogany/walnut neck-through with mahogany wings attached to form the body, and is finished in Vintage Sunburst.

The Nixxi Sixx Thunderbird Bass is made with a mahogany/walnut neck-through with Flame Maple body wings attached to form the body, finished in transparent Black Cherry. The fretboard is inlayed with red acrylic "X"s at the third, fifth, seventh and 12th frets.

The Gibson Thunderbird Studio models (which were also available as five-string versions) have mahogany necks set into mahogany bodies. This model was discontinued in 2007.

The Gibson Thunderbird IV Zebra Wood Bass, 2007, Limited run of 400 (Gibson guitar of the Week, Week 11)."ZebraBird"

The Epiphone Thunderbird IV, a budget alternative to the Gibson models, has a maple bolt-on construction onto an alder body, and is finished in Vintage Sunburst and Ebony.

The Epiphone Goth Thunderbird is similar to the Epiphone Thunderbird IV. However, it has a mahogany body, a Celtic Cross symbol on the pickguard, and is finished in a 'Pitch Black' non-gloss flat finish.

The Epiphone Thunderbird IV Limited Edition, a budget alternative to the Gibson models, has a maple neck bolted onto an alder body. Alpine White finish with black hardware and assembled at the Epiphone Custom Shop in Korea. This model is currently no longer produced.

The Epiphone Special Run Thunderbird-IV Limited Edition Silverburst is also an Epiphone alternative to the Gibson model with a Maple neck and Rosewood fretboard bolted onto a Mahogany body (as opposed to the standard Epiphone Alder body) which gives it a much closer tonality to the Gibson Thunderbirds, which use Mahogany as a major wood in the construction of the bass. Chrome hardware is used (tuners, pickup covers, bridge, and screws) as opposed to the standard Epiphone black hardware, differently-shaped pickups compared to the Epiphone and Gibson Thunderbirds (much closer to the "classic" pickups of the 1960s and '70s) and a special "Silverburst" finish.

The Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV has a seven-piece (Walnut/Maple/Walnut/Maple/Walnut/Maple/Walnut) neck with neck-through construction. It also has the Epiphone T-Pro bass humbucking pickups with custom active electronics and EQ.

The Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V is the five-string version of the Thunderbird Pro IV. It also has a seven-piece neck, a neck-through construction, Epiphone T-Pro pickups and active electronics.

The Epiphone Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO, new for 2012 is a neck-through, reverse design and features Gibson pickups.

The Gibson Thunderbird Non-Reverse announced during 2012 features a choice of Vintage Sunburst or Pelham Blue finish, both in high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer.

The Thunderbird bass has very high output pickups, which despite being passive produce a stronger signal than many active basses such as the Fender Deluxe Jazz Bass. Gibson does not sell replacement pickups for the Thunderbird, as they are said to be indestructible.