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Fly Guitars Interview: Glenn Cornick - part 3: the Gibson Thunderbird

Fender Jazz and 1959 EB0 | Gibson EB2 & EB3 | Gibson Thunderbird | General thoughts on Gibson basses


The Gibson Thunderbird

FlyGuitars Your early 1970s work is characterised by your Gibson Thunderbirds. Which was your first?

Glenn Cornick Late in 1970 after about a year of searching, I bought my original reverse T Bird single pickup. I loved everything about it but never got to record with it with Tull though I used it all the time on stage as soon as I got it. I used it at the Isle of Wight festival ( the entire Tull performance soon to be released on DVD ). Ian (Anderson) preferred the EB3 to the T Bird. It was stolen late in 1971 and I never had another Gibson reverse.

FlyGuitars You then moved on to the non-reverse bodied birds?

Glenn Cornick In 1971 (with Wild Tukey) I bought a white non reverse T Bird from Manny's in New York. They had a stack of them unsold in the basement and they were $100 each with soft case. The headstock got broken after a few months so I ordered another to be sent to England. It was metallic green and I used that for a year or two although it ended up much modified - I added a Guild bass humbucker and eventually a Gibson Vibrola which worked well except that the arms used to break and I had to have someone make one out of heavy duty steel! Like the white one, it ended up with a broken neck and a cracked body and eventually was broken up for parts. For your interest reverse and non-reverse Firebirds and Thunderbirds were always known as 'Upside Down Gibsons' and 'Right Way Up Gibsons' in Britain in those days.

Publicity shot for Wild Turkey, 1971
Publicity shot for Wild Turkey, 1971

FlyGuitars How was the move from short scale EB basses to long scale Thunderbirds?

Glenn Cornick I soon adjusted to the long scale of the T Bird which I found to be the best physically balanced design of bass I had ever played. The T Birds sounded great overdriven with lots of distortion. The 3 T Birds were my primary basses for the first couple of years of Wild Turkey. I don't remember what bass I used on the Battle Hymn album but it must have been one or more of the T Birds. I always wanted another original reverse Thunderbird but never got one. I was so attached to the one that got stolen that I swore I would never again get so attached to any one instrument or play anything that was so difficult to replace.

FlyGuitars The vibrola is an interesting addition. What sound were you going for with the Thunderbirds, and how did the vibrola help?

Glenn Cornick Tone and volume usually all the way up. For a short while I used a distortion box only for my bass solo with Wild Turkey to get feedback and other generally obnoxious effects! - especially funny with the Vibrola! There might be some vibrola stuff on the Live Wild Turkey stuff that came out recently but I've never listened to it!

Live with Wild Turkey, Holland 1973
Live with Wild Turkey, Holland 1973. Note the added Vibrola, and Guild JS bass pickup. Photo Pieter Schoonen




Jethro Tull: Live at the Isle of Wight CD
Jethro Tull: Live at the Isle of Wight DVD
Wild Turkey: Battle Hymn

Gibson bass guitars for sale

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1964 Gibson Thunderbird II Bass the mintest 100% original Polaris White example.

1964 Gibson Thunderbird II Bass the mintest 100% original Polaris White example.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$44995

This is most likely the rarest & most significant Gibson Bass ever produced. These 1st issue Thunderbird??s & Firebird??s were so far ahead of time & very few were ever made comparatively to Fender??s P & J Basses. Most all T??bird??s were available in a Sunburst finish. But some were ordered in their select Custom Colors. This particular example was ordered in Gibson??s most luv??d optional color of Polaris White all over its neck & body. This T??bird is most likely the ... more
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2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar #47868

2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar #47868

Burbank, California, 915**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1799

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eBay Template Design by OCDesignsOnline HomeAboutTestimonialsPoliciesContactSell your Gear 2022 Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Pelham Blue Electric Bass Guitar #47868 ××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× Item DescriptionWORKING CONDITION: Excellent - Plays great. All of the electronics and controls are working ... more
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1976 Gibson Thunderbird Bicentennia Ebony

1976 Gibson Thunderbird Bicentennia Ebony

Antioch, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4145

Very good condition 1976 Gibson Bicentennial Thunderbird bass. All original outside of the Badass bridge replacement. This bass has seen a good amount of gigging, but is in rock solid shape structurally. Some dents and buckle rash as pictured, and the headstock was clearly leaned against a wall for years. Tuners and electronics work perfectly. Frets have a good amount of life left. Comes with pictured hard shell case. Willing to ship or drive a reasonable distance
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Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar

Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar

Easley, South Carolina, 296**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2500

Rare! 2018 Gibson Thunderbird Cardinal Red with OHSC, case candy and all original paperwork. This Beautiful Gibson Bass is in like new condition and sounds great. There are no scrapes, scratches, chips or buckle rash or any other issues, it??s pretty much in unplayed condition. I have several Basses and have decided to let this one go. Thanks for looking and best of luck
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Gibson Thunderbird 4-string Solidbody Electric Bass Guitar - Inverness Green

Gibson Thunderbird 4-string Solidbody Electric Bass Guitar - Inverness Green

Fort Wayne, Indiana, 468**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1500


Used Condition
4-string Electric Bass with Mahogany Body and Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Inverness Green
8 6 lbs
In good condition. There is a finish chip under the bass edge of the truss rod cover; there are dents in the bass edge of the fretboard at the 2nd and 5th frets. The electronics have been tested as good. The stock bridge has been replaced with a black Hipshot Supertone bridge and it is included inside the case along with all the pictured ... more
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GIBSON THUNDERBIRD NON-REVERSED BASS GUITAR

GIBSON THUNDERBIRD NON-REVERSED BASS GUITAR

New Port Richey, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1600

This is very nice valuable guitar with superior sound. I bought it 8 months ago in mint condition. Everything is stock except 2 HUGE improvements : Hipshot bridge with saddles ( much better than a stock one -on 6th photo which was real nightmare to tune up), and Hipshot drop D detuner on top string for easy going a note bellow. ( I am including both original bridge and original tuning peg too ). Cosmetic shape is very good except two small dings on the headstock (last photo ) and somewhat darker... more
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Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass Inverness Green

Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass Inverness Green

Middletown, New York, 109**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2198

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Gibson Victory Bass 1981 Vintage USA Kahler Tremolo Thunderbird Headstock

Gibson Victory Bass 1981 Vintage USA Kahler Tremolo Thunderbird Headstock

Southend-on-Sea, SS1***, UNITED KINGDOM

£1999

1981 Gibson Victory Bass with Thunderbird headstock and a USA Kahler bass tremolo system in a stunning natural finish. This is simply the coolest bass guitar we have ever had at the studio. This is a rare model that looks epic, sounds epic and plays amazingly well! Very rare to get an 80's bass with a Kahler tremolo. The few we've ever had have sold instantly, as these systems are valuable and highly sought after. The Thunderbird headstock looks so cool, and you can't go wrong with a name like ... more
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Gibson USA Thunderbird Reverse Bass Natural Tobacco With Original Hard Case

Gibson USA Thunderbird Reverse Bass Natural Tobacco With Original Hard Case

Launceston, PL15***, UNITED KINGDOM

£2000

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 ... more
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60er EPIPHONE von GIBSON EMBASSY DELUXE BASS - hergestellt in USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND

60er EPIPHONE von GIBSON EMBASSY DELUXE BASS - hergestellt in USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£2998

60's Epiphone by Gibson Embassy Deluxe Bass - made in USA:
+ mahogany body finished in wine red, has lots of weather checking and wear, several extra screw holes on back
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, LONG SCALE, has 4 minor SURFACE stress cracks below tuners=check last 3 pics
* skinny neck profile on back around first 5 frets
+ new Fender Reissue tuners
+ 1 original THUNDERBIRD pickup & 1 newer Fender Jazz bass single coil
+ new pickguard
+ new pots and ... more
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1987 Gibson Bass IV - hergestellt in den USA - THUNDERBIRD TONABNEHMER

1987 Gibson Bass IV - hergestellt in den USA - THUNDERBIRD TONABNEHMER

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£1090

1987 GIBSON BASS IV - made in USA :
* the black painted part of the body was cut off before by some moron and replaced with 2 pieces of ash=
check pic 5
* pearl white finish is very worn
* Thunderbird pickups
* black Schaller hardware
* ebony fingerboard, frets are fine
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60s EPIPHONE by GIBSON EMBASSY BASS USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND - LONG SCALE

60's EPIPHONE by GIBSON EMBASSY BASS USA - THUNDERBIRD SOUND - LONG SCALE

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€3333


60's Epiphone by Gibson Embassy Deluxe Bass - made in USA:
+ mahogany body finished in wine red, has lots of weather checking and wear, several extra screw holes on back
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, LONG SCALE, has 4 minor SURFACE stress cracks below tuners=check last 3 pics
* skinny neck profile on back around first 5 frets
+ new Fender Reissue tuners
+ 1 original THUNDERBIRD pickup & 1 newer Fender Jazz bass single coil
+ new pickguard
+ new pots and ... more
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Gibson Thunderbird Bass - USA vom Feinsten - aus 1. Hand mi orig Koffer

Gibson Thunderbird Bass - USA vom Feinsten - aus 1. Hand mi orig Koffer

Lenzkirch, 79***, GERMANY

€1699

Du bietest hier auf einen Gibson Thunderbird Bass aus 1. Hand Made in USA mit original Thunderbird Koffer
Nix verbastelt. Keinen Dead Spot (Hals gerade, Bünde topp). Selten Live gespielt. Nur im rauchfreien Proberaum quartiert! Saiten sind auch noch in Ordnung !
Der Lack auf er Rückseite ist an der Kante an einer Stelle abgeplatzt (siehe Bild). Der Kopf hat mal leicht angedotzt (siehe Bild). Sonst hat der Bass oberflächliche Kratzer und ist in einem sehr gepflegten Zustand ... more
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1989 Jackson Thunderbird Basshülle - Made in USA - passt GIBSON

1989 Jackson Thunderbird Basshülle - Made in USA - passt GIBSON

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£250

1989 JACKSON Thunderbird Bass case -- made in USA:
+ fits also Gibson T-Bird models
+ black interior with formfit cut, some wear
+ tolex has a LOT of wear and larger rips on back and front
+ leather ends have rips
+ right latch is broken
+ worn but ROCK SOLID
... more
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