Gibson Bass

Posted by The Guide in Articles

While Gibson is master of the guitar arena, Gibson bass guitars are a force in their own right.

Gibson (and Epiphone) have released a number of 4-stringers, most notably the SG Re-Issue and the Thunderbird (based on the Gibson Firebird guitar).

While maybe not as popular or well-known as the Fender line of basses, the Gibson bass holds it’s own in the world of music.

The two most popular Gibson basses are the Thunderbird, and the SG Reissue. Let’s talk a little about each:

The Thunderbird

This is pretty much the daddy of Gibson basses. Nikki Sixx helped make it famous, and he’s even got a signature model out. The Thunderbird has neck through body construction, just like it’s brother the Firebird.

This means that all of that rumbling low tone resonates through the entire body of the instrument as if it were one solid piece. The result? More tone, better sustain.

You actually see more players playing the Thunderbird than you do the Firebird guitar, as the Thunderbird has become somewhat of an icon.

The SG Re-Issue

In the ’60s, Gibson took the SG guitar design and made a 4-stringer out of it. The result was a small, fast instrument perfect for playing rock.

While it may not shine if you’re playing funk music, this rocker is easy to handle & will be a breeze to play all night.

Gibson re-issued the SG monster in the ’80s, and it’s a pretty faithful recreation. It’s got a neck and bridge pickup, and I’ve got to emphasize the great action on this instrument.