Fred Sablan Demos The New Gibson Thunderbird Bass

Bassist Fred Sablan recently stopped by the Gibson Showroom in Los Angeles, CA to check out the new Thunderbird Bass from Gibsons “Original Collection.”
While demoing the bass, Fred also discussed his love for the instrument, his approach to songwriting and what it’s like to play alongside the likes of musical icons including Marylin Manson, Chelsea Wolfe and Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order.
The Gibson Thunderbird has the classic reverse body and headstock design as originally introduced in 1963 as Gibson's first neck-through-body bass design.
The traditional 9-ply mahogany/walnut neck through body construction provides a thundering low end response and a piano like sustain. The narrow nut width and rounded neck profile neck feels both fast and intuitive.
The Thunderbird high output, ceramic magnet loaded humbucking pickups (neck and bridge) deliver the sonic and iconic low end voice for which the Thunderbird is known.
Available in 2 classic finishes: Tobacco Burst and Ebony.
For more details visit www.gibson.com
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Gibson Brands, the world’s most iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for more than 100 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the number one guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger, and the Gibson Pro Audio division comprised of KRK. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands.

[@ScreaminNighthog]

When I switch from the P Bass to the Thunderbird on stage you feel an attitude adjustment. It's an entirely different frame of mind.

[@ixa-3140]

@fjf sjdnx stfu nobody asked you for your opinion dude😂

[@joeurbanowski321]

My Tbird is like playing that slab of mahogany… with the thru-body neck..it’s the one bass of all the ones I’ve had over the decades that gives me a true sense of melodic power… I deal with the massive weight because it’s worth it..!✌🏼😎✊🏼

[@cacadordorio]

you guys really loves neck dive

[@captainhotbunz659]

Stick with the P bass, easy more tone and can cover almost anything.

[@salblue9811]

@@captainhotbunz659 they're keeping the p bass, it's just a different mindset to switch between the basses.

[@Fataleggz1]

Fred is going to be playing bass for deftones this spring/summer!! 🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@matdemaz]

Sounds huge! I love it.

[@mjanovec]

If you clicked on this video to hear the Thunderbird bass demo'd, skip the first four minutes.

[@javierhualde739]

You might as well skip the whole video

[@johnshanebass]

Skip the whole demo.....if you prefer clean bass tones.

[@wackacracka3350]

@@johnshanebass let’s see you get up there

[@Ninja_S1000RR-R]

Thanks. I don’t even know who this guy is!

[@santanajackson8829]

The gibson thunderbird bass is probably the best bass to have if you play punk rock music because the gibson has that true punk sound to the bass ! I know the fender precision is one of the top basses for punk rock but that gibson thunderbird just gives you that ultimate punk bass tone

[@john564holloway]

Even though I do not use a pick to play bass (produces too bright of a sound), this axe sounds good regardless. I've always thought these Thunderbird basses sounded really warm and full.

[@mikiryann5882]

Costs a first born

[@pattonPwr]

like how much

[@geerhoar]

METZ ZTEM over $2K. I waited for a used one and a sale on that used one, LoL!

[@N3ukenInD3K3uken]

Go to a field in rural India, get your firstborn for free

[@pattonPwr]

Gibson: you need to reissue the Grabber (both G1 and G3) and the fuckin' Ripper bass (not that thing you reissued 10 years ago)

[@anakmetal4312]

Im just love the gibson Rd bass,sounding Sharp and powerfull like krist novosellic signature

[@andymarshman9546]

finally! someone who doesn't turn all knobs up full. thank you.

[@GuitarlosCarlos]

GET BACK TO PLAYING WITH THE RHYTHM SECTION MAN THE THUNDERBIRD CAN GIVE SO MUCH TO WORK WITH I'VE PLAYED BASS EVERYDAY SINCE MARCH 18, 1960 NOW I'M KNOWN AS A GUITARIST BUT THE BASS IS IT FOR ME CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042

[@dilloncaines7678]

Nice to see you here Carlos

[@rafaptaszynski9568]

great player!

[@NBarker1993]

I have a Mexican Fender P with flats and could never imagine playing anything else but these new TBird basses really are appealing. They look and sound exquisite. Very very low ends. Warm but also very loud too :))

[@geerhoar]

Anon San I’m a Fender person since the early 80’s. However, I fell in love with the versatility, light weight, low action and tone of my 2015 TBird with my blues rock band. Try to find one that is lightweight and balanced and EQ to fight the mud.

[@Owen-ne6pe]

@@geerhoar 2015 is one of the coolest tbs in recent times i hope they switch the bridge and pickups soon

[@geerhoar]

@@Owen-ne6pe Thanks, I think it sounds thunderous without being muddy. I wish I could find another set of those EB pickups with the coil taps.

[@stbreal]

This guy sounds like the most San Francisco guy in the history of San Francisco.

[@stevec6427]

The biggest problem with the Gibson Thunderbird is the Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro. The Epiphone sounds so good and is less than half the price.

[@eaglebauer944]

The Epiphone is even closer to an original 1960's Thunderbird than the current Gibson range.

[@shaunmatthews4601]

Yep, that’s why I bought my Epiphone, it looks, feels and sounds like a Gibson and for just under $700

[@egaudet1]

The 2019 Gibson "Original Collection" for guitars are spot on. Will Gibson ever make a 60s original spec Thunderbird with the correct bridge and chrome or nickel pickup covers (think nickel?)? Tom Hamilton loved his!

[@catmancory]

I like the black hardware

[@rattmann3170]

I bought an Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage PRO. Surprisingly, the Epiphone was of much higher quality than my Gibson Thunderbird. Maybe the Gibson was built on a Monday. Anyway, I sold the Gibson and kept the Epiphone. Every bass is unique and I'm sure Gibson must build some good ones. I just didn't get a good one.

[@mitchellberg6953]

Gibson should make a vintage-spec Thunderbird reissue

[@ugrall]

There's the Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro, it's the closest you can get from a Gibson vintage-spec

[@paulrivers6084]

Gibson, please start installing Hipshot bridges on these as a standard. You will make us all so much happier!

[@FogTub]

Mine is a 2018 lefty. It looks like the Babicz bridge has been dropped in favour of the inferior 3 point bridge. They put a chrome bridge on it but leave the pu covers black.

[@scavenom2008]

5:16, 5:30 just look at that finish🤢 the light definitely expose that

[@thebongoplayer1535]

Sounds dirty as hell, in a good way!

[@McCartneyTELEPHONE]

Chrome hardware ... nice. Now we want a 60s Thunderbird bass reissue !

[@72Stiles]

The '60s oversized headstock was too large and prone to breaking. The post '88 headstock is much better.

[@nedryerson988]

I've got a 2019 thunderbird, there is no blending the volume pots. Gibson used cheap components on these and either the pick up is on, or its off. Other than that, I love it.

[@-kaitheguy-]

Ned Ryerson Yeah the quality has gone down in recent years... The circuit is fairly simple though, so it’s rather easy to replace the potentiometers with better components if you know how to solder.

[@catmancory]

On gibson thunderbird

[@joenickel2371]

I play a 2013 50th anniversary Gold Bullion edition. I tried all the most expensive strings you can buy, and none had the great tone of the stock nickel plated steel wound strings.

[@collateraldamage2003]

Thats my kind of thunderbird... Black and white pickguard..been looking here in youtube....all i see here in youtube is the goth and sunburst

[@naturaljoe7397]

Can we please just get another Ripper bass

[@scottylovell6476]

This guy belongs in Deftones lol

[@DuffyLONER64]

I mean, so did Sergio lol, but I agree, I think Fred is a good fit, too.

[@scottylovell6476]

Yeah I'm a little f*cked up about Sergio not being there, but I like Fred as well

[@nunoharris]

Hi. Can the Thunderbird neks hold heavier string or just light ones ? Thanks

[@feetallday075]

Alright Deftones

[@lakesthaproduct44]

Deftones new bassist fill in, possibly?

[@MilkoOfficialChannel]

Holy shit, visionaire you

[@lakesthaproduct44]

@@MilkoOfficialChannel love the profile picture, mate. Cheers.

[@deftones420]

Bay Area kid? Niiiice

[@ianthomson9363]

Playing a Thunderbird makes you cool. Unless you're sitting down to play it, which should be made illegal. You MUST wear it on a long strap.

[@GeoffNelson]

Oh shit he was in the Kidney Thieves?!

[@PhullyNo1]

Is he gonna play it? Oh okay he just did finally. Awesome thanks. Never mind he stopped again.

[@charliewesley94]

Less talking and effects plz. Just play the damn thing.

[@courtneygillespie1187]

I wanted to play two bass's..... one with a cleaner tone and one more muddy.

[@AgentNight1]

JUST PLAY THE FUCKING BASS OH MY GOD

[@fgjuird]

🤣

[@gideonbistricer3391]

clickbait clickbait clickbait clickbait 00:00 If you clicked on a video called "Someguy Demos The New Gibson Thunderbird Bass" to hear Someguy's life story. 03:56 If you wanted to hear a demo, and your definition of a demo is quite forgiving. 06:43 For more life stories. clickbait clickbait clickbait clickbait

[@2free2snakes]

Yeah I had no idea Fred Armisen played bass for Marilyn Manson at some point.

[@Spartan87667]

Seriously. I came to hear the bass. I couldn’t care less about this guy’s life story.

[@lacreatura2490]

Mucho bla bla bla

[@IngBass]

Зашел послушать бас, получил тонну болтовни...

[@GlennJimenez]

Watched the dirt (Motley Crue movie) and became fixated on the thunderbird Epiphone version is not so good I played Gibson but setup was al wrong Who knows if I’ll ever own this baaa

[@McCartneyTELEPHONE]

Epiphone Classic Pro and Vintage Pro Thunderbird basses are insane ! You should give it a try !

[@pilummurialis6490]

The Nikki Sixx model is known to be shit

[@iltonwhite]

I went out to buy a Gibson Thunderbird back in 2012, came home with the Epiphone Classic Pro (right side profile pic) Why? Because it played far better than the three Gibson's that were in the shop at the time, they just weren't worth the extra £700.

[@marfg12345]

@@iltonwhite You came home with the Epiphone because you couldn't afford the Gibson.

[@Rxxbass]

Alice Cooper's bass player plays an Epiphone (ofc alongside with some other well known brands).

[@christopherdavis8248]

who is this nerd? "My family were big "record listeners"?-you mean: music fans.

[@thombrady420]

Christopher Davis Fred Sablan - formerly of Marilyn Manson, Peter Hook and the Light, Goon Moon, Queen Kwong, and currently Heavens Blade. Great player and a sweetheart of a guy.

[@jackcallaghan6048]

THE NICEST GUY YOU'LL EVER MEET, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE SMASH ON HIM, WILL STILL BUY YOU A BEER!

[@zn4452]

this guy barely played this bass.

[@HBSuccess]

Who?

[@Spartan87667]

Nearly 8 minute video and only about a minute of actual playing. SMH

[@TurnerDavide]

Blah blah blah…