Everywhere I go, Gibson enthusiasts want a Grabber. It's baffling that they don't have that as part of the lineup. A Grabber at an decent price would sell like hot cakes.
If Gibson really wanted to smash it out of the park they wound make it in the original “Eggplant Sparkle” Gene used. They only made a few in that color.
I have a Gibson Thunderbird, which I love. Your review is 100% correct. The bass is a Gibson Thunderbird Studio with some Hipshot hardware and a fancy plastic pickguard and truss rod cover. A Ripper or Grabber would have been amazing! Thanks for your review
Good honest opinion. This is my point of view. Neck is different from the standard model in two ways… 1. Set Neck (as you noted) 2.Solid Mahogany vice the standard 9-ply Mahogany/ Walnut. Two things are achieved by this difference. Slightly brighter/ punchier tone and it should be a lighter neck = better balance. (Walnut is heavy) A set neck isn’t a downgrade compared to a neck through…its just a different option. I prefer set necks. Most premium Gibson builds are set neck. Also the cosmetic appointments make this T-Bird a premium build in my opinion, and again the set neck construction removes the raised center beveled edges on the body present with the neck-through, and gives you a sleek smooth looking body. Pickups ok maybe something more interesting could have been done, but if Gene himself plays it as is, then I ok with them. Overall it is a Thunderbird, but it has enough differences IMHO to make it unique. Not trying to counter your opinion, just giving you feedback in the form of my perspective. Good video. Thanks for posting.
ouuuuuff that pause @11:47 says it all (regarding Gibson's T-bird pickups) I DO agree that they should have went with EMGs, easy choice, c'mon guys!! Big congratulations on becoming a EMG artist yourself Chris :)
I’m a HUGE KISS Fan & I’m a Gene Simmons Fan! But, what baffles me is: he wasn’t a thunderbird player! He did play one in the movie “KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park” and, I’m sure he’s owned a few! I would think the pickups would be custom wound exclusively for this bass! Kinda like the Rex Brown Thunderbird! Regardless, I like the look of it! The logo on the pickguard is kinda odd!! And, the price is way too high! If the inflation wasn’t so high, I’d buy one! It is a neat bass… just my rambling thoughts about it!
I personally, love that they didn’t do a grabber/ripper style bass. They already introduced two Punisher bases so, that shape has been done. I also love that the G2 doesn’t have anything that screams Gene Simmons. Players can play one without feeling like they’re playing a Gene Simmons bass like if they were holding a Punisher(which are instantly recognizable). Does that make sense? They could be marketed as Thunderbird Customs.
I think he kept it simple because that’s what he would play. Anything more than that would be too much for his style and he won’t ask you to buy anything he wouldn’t use himself. 🤷🏻♂️ I may be wrong.
Good review Chris, I feel pretty much the same in regard to the Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird bass, I love the esthetic ( including the case) & the Hip shot bridge & a neck through would have definitely have been preffered, This bass is $3549.00 Canadian 😳 I have also been a life long Kiss fan they were the first concert I saw in 1977 at the Montreal Forum on the Love Gun Tour, Cheap Trick was opening act ( I was 13yrs old, the concert blew my mind.) I agree that Gibson should have maybe done something different in regard to the pickups, EMG's would have been sweet ( Side note : I still love the Frank Bello pickups you reviewed .) It makes me feel like my 2015 neck through Thunderbid with the Babicz Bridge, & tap coil pickups is more original & versatile ( though purists balked at this bass when it came out.) This won't be the last Gene Simmons offering from Gibson there's supposed to be more coming through the pipeline, a Black Gibson Grabber with matte black hardware ( or chrome ) would have been cool ( like the Gene of old ) , I saw Gene mention in a recent interview that he has floated the idea of a double neck bass to Gibson ( a 4 or 5 string fretted with 4 string fretless would be a cool combo) , & I think there was a Flying V bass mentioned as well so we will see , & lastly I am still patiently waiting ( it's 6 months now ) for Gibson to send me my Non Reverse Thunderbird Bass in Faded Pelham Blue, I will still let you know my opion of it when I receive it. 😀
I would have preferred to see a Grabber get released. Do you think one of these will end up at the store at KMMG or in the band instrument display with the semi-hollow Punisher?
It is better than the standard for quality and looks. It is basically a Thunderbird custom. But the neck is wider!!! Have you done a Blackbird review yet! Get one!! Play it through a Marshall JCM800 stack!
$500 Extra 🤔... Well, for fans, maybe it's a collector's item. But I guess you could get regular Thunderbird plus $150 hipshot bridge, because that hipshot bridge is an upgrade for every three point Gibson bridge 😁
I understand wanting something unique. I already own a Thunderbird and I’m much more interested in tracking down a Punisher and preferably one without the signature. I am just not a collector, I buy instruments to play them.
I believe that the decision to use the Gibson stock pickups is because to record he used his stock grabber. I think that Gene thinks Gibson stock pickups are good enough. Maybe I’m wrong, but if it’s good enough for Gene maybe is good enough for most of us
Being a Kiss fan since the late 70s, I don't EVER remember Gene playing a Thunderbird.....? A Gene model, at least to me, should have been a Grabber or a Ripper, just sayin!
He did play Thunderbirds maybe a few times, for TV appearances. But that's really it. I also think him associating with a T Bird and not a Grabber is a bit weird.
I have to admit I'm not a fan of the traditional basses and bass manufacturers - simply since, in my opinion, you can get more bang for your bucks with other manufacturers. This one is a good example: a pimped-up T-Bird with a price tag you can start to think of a boutique bass. I know two or three manufacturers in Germany (my home country) who will build you a bass with quality hardware, top-of-the-line electronics and nice wood for about the same price ... so what's the point for a bass like the G²? Some bling-bling and a celebrity name on a label? Nah, not for me ... And I totally agree with you: some more outstanding features like the ones you mentioned should have been possible, even with the same price tag.
Just found your channel this morning. Watched two Thunderbird videos after the PJB 800. Why? Haven't tried any of the modern Thunderbirds. Mine hasn't been improved since. It's a 1964 Non-Reverse Thunderbird IV. Nothing has bested it from Gibson since, well other than my new '74 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Recording Bass. Never should have traded that one. The only 2 octave neck from Gibson that I found. Haven't needed a new T-Bird since my Alembic Brown Bass. Why? There's nothing like it ever. Period. Still, I do love my Thunderbird and will follow to see where these go. I think Gibson destroyed the SG Bass. It's not an EB-O or close to an EB-3. It's just not a good implementation of that great chunky style.
Not only to I agree hat it’s a cash grab because the main reason being I have never seen Gene play a Gibson or Thunderbird. That been said I’ve always and will always play a thunderbird bass I really like this bass. Way better than Nikki Sixx’s blackbird. Now there’s a guy that has used Thunderbirds for most of his life.
The Neck construction is the huge difference you Miss, you just don't like it 😂 Gene wanted a real solid Body which makes a difference in tone in comparison to the standard Thunderbird.
What you’re saying wrt “Do something different [for signature basses],” is what EBMM did with both the Joe Dart and Tim Commerford models. And people are still complaining, particularly about the Dart models.
Man it’s like I spend 2300 on a Rickenbacker but then the pickups are noisy and I have to take time and money to shield the cavity’s when they could ave done it T rhe factory.. now you gonna buy thsis bass and spend time and money changing the pickups to something else.. theress always gonna be something with a bass you dont like or want to change.
gotta be honest for a bass that cost 2.7k this has got to be the most boring sounding bass and nothign about this bass would tell you its a gene simmons bass you could justy spend 400 and get an epiohne t bird pro and get an even better sound
WTF is Gibson doing? They are completely out of touch with reality, which is why Fender is dominating. Fender is getting their basses and guitars into the hands of current and relevant artists and Gibson is busy with a $2,800 bass from a guy who no one under 30 has ever heard of and who's band hasn't been relevant in decades? Keep it up Gibson, you'll be out of business soon.
I own a Squier P bass that thing is clanky I owned 2 P basses in the past that were also clanky I love the clanky tone of P basses. Fender and Squier are dominating the Indie Rock scene because they are minimalist looking and sound great.
The most bizarre thing about Gibson's bass lineup is how long they've kept producing the SG bass and not others with far more impressive track records such as the Ripper and Grabber. If you think about it, the most prominent player of the SG bass is probably Jack Bruce from Cream, but who talks about Cream anymore? Why doesn't Gibson promote the Ripper, which is well-known for having been used by Nirvana, or the Grabber or G3, which was used by Green Day and KISS? All three of these bands are extremely popular even today, so you'd think that Gibson would want to hype up those basses, right? And it's not even like nobody's been begging for them for years now. I believe that a good Ripper or Grabber reissue would outpace the SG bass in sales quickly, and that they would both continue to sell very well for years as long as they're priced reasonably. $1,499 would be an excellent price to compete with Fender's Professional and Player Plus series; a Ripper or Grabber at that price would be almost a no-brainer for anyone who leans towards heavier forms of rock.
I like the aesthetics but for a bass like this is overpriced for basic specs, basic sounds and something I'd imagine epiphone being able to do for over half the price, even for a signature model. Gibson just seem to be money grabbers than listening to customers thoughts, replicating the same crap just years on. Honestly surprised they didn't slap a 3 point bridge on it...
Perhaps Gene wanted to try something different other than his repetitive interests on pickups and body designs. The bass does sound focused and punchy.
Yep agree. Grabber with the hipshot bridge and pegs, EMG pickups, light weight…gene tongue or makeup design on it somewhere…or moneybag signature…something. This is a flop. Boo. Lol
Everywhere I go, Gibson enthusiasts want a Grabber. It's baffling that they don't have that as part of the lineup. A Grabber at an decent price would sell like hot cakes.
We said the same damn thing!!!
@@Therealchuckbailey I swear if they did 10 minutes of market research we'd have a Grabber.
@@ampthebassplayer the only Gibson I like
Gibson hates bass players.
If Gibson really wanted to smash it out of the park they wound make it in the original “Eggplant Sparkle” Gene used. They only made a few in that color.
I have a Gibson Thunderbird, which I love. Your review is 100% correct. The bass is a Gibson Thunderbird Studio with some Hipshot hardware and a fancy plastic pickguard and truss rod cover. A Ripper or Grabber would have been amazing! Thanks for your review
I have a studio and a few other gibson TBirds, the gene simmons blows them all away
Thanks for sharing. I love gibson bass. Always happy to see you post video about gibson bass!
Good honest opinion. This is my point of view.
Neck is different from the standard model in two ways…
1. Set Neck (as you noted)
2.Solid Mahogany vice the standard 9-ply Mahogany/ Walnut.
Two things are achieved by this difference. Slightly brighter/ punchier tone and it should be a lighter neck = better balance. (Walnut is heavy)
A set neck isn’t a downgrade compared to a neck through…its just a different option. I prefer set necks. Most premium Gibson builds are set neck.
Also the cosmetic appointments make this T-Bird a premium build in my opinion, and again the set neck construction removes the raised center beveled edges on the body present with the neck-through, and gives you a sleek smooth looking body.
Pickups ok maybe something more interesting could have been done, but if Gene himself plays it as is, then I ok with them.
Overall it is a Thunderbird, but it has enough differences IMHO to make it unique.
Not trying to counter your opinion, just giving you feedback in the form of my perspective.
Good video. Thanks for posting.
I have several tbirds the gene simmons, sounds better, plays better and is easier to hit the high notes...
ouuuuuff that pause @11:47 says it all (regarding Gibson's T-bird pickups) I DO agree that they should have went with EMGs, easy choice, c'mon guys!! Big congratulations on becoming a EMG artist yourself Chris :)
I’m a HUGE KISS Fan & I’m a Gene Simmons Fan! But, what baffles me is: he wasn’t a thunderbird player! He did play one in the movie “KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park” and, I’m sure he’s owned a few! I would think the pickups would be custom wound exclusively for this bass! Kinda like the Rex Brown Thunderbird! Regardless, I like the look of it! The logo on the pickguard is kinda odd!! And, the price is way too high! If the inflation wasn’t so high, I’d buy one! It is a neat bass… just my rambling thoughts about it!
I simply do not understand why Gibson won’t reissue the Ripper and or Grabber.
They have simply forgotten how to make them but they exploit every Les Paul variation
I'll take a ripper Tomorrow!
I personally, love that they didn’t do a grabber/ripper style bass. They already introduced two Punisher bases so, that shape has been done.
I also love that the G2 doesn’t have anything that screams Gene Simmons. Players can play one without feeling like they’re playing a Gene Simmons bass like if they were holding a Punisher(which are instantly recognizable). Does that make sense?
They could be marketed as Thunderbird Customs.
I think he kept it simple because that’s what he would play. Anything more than that would be too much for his style and he won’t ask you to buy anything he wouldn’t use himself. 🤷🏻♂️
I may be wrong.
Was actually thinking about getting this not too long ago.
Good review Chris, I feel pretty much the same in regard to the Gibson Gene Simmons G2 Thunderbird bass, I love the esthetic ( including the case) & the Hip shot bridge & a neck through would have definitely have been preffered, This bass is $3549.00 Canadian 😳 I have also been a life long Kiss fan they were the first concert I saw in 1977 at the Montreal Forum on the Love Gun Tour, Cheap Trick was opening act ( I was 13yrs old, the concert blew my mind.) I agree that Gibson should have maybe done something different in regard to the pickups, EMG's would have been sweet ( Side note : I still love the Frank Bello pickups you reviewed .) It makes me feel like my 2015 neck through Thunderbid with the Babicz Bridge, & tap coil pickups is more original & versatile
( though purists balked at this bass when it came out.) This won't be the last Gene Simmons offering from Gibson there's supposed to be more coming through the pipeline, a Black Gibson Grabber with matte black hardware ( or chrome ) would have been cool ( like the Gene of old ) , I saw Gene mention in a recent interview that he has floated the idea of a double neck bass to Gibson ( a 4 or 5 string fretted with 4 string fretless would be a cool combo) , & I think there was a Flying V bass mentioned as well so we will see , & lastly I am still patiently waiting ( it's 6 months now ) for Gibson to send me my Non Reverse Thunderbird Bass in Faded Pelham Blue, I will still let you know my opion of it when I receive it. 😀
I would have preferred to see a Grabber get released. Do you think one of these will end up at the store at KMMG or in the band instrument display with the semi-hollow Punisher?
Itching for a Lobue bass copy to come out. Not Gibson but really cool. I heard that it was neck thru.
It is better than the standard for quality and looks. It is basically a Thunderbird custom. But the neck is wider!!!
Have you done a Blackbird review yet! Get one!! Play it through a Marshall JCM800 stack!
$500 Extra 🤔... Well, for fans, maybe it's a collector's item. But I guess you could get regular Thunderbird plus $150 hipshot bridge, because that hipshot bridge is an upgrade for every three point Gibson bridge 😁
Any neck dive issues with this bass?
I thought these G2 instruments weren't signature models, just models designed in collaboration with Gene.
I understand wanting something unique. I already own a Thunderbird and I’m much more interested in tracking down a Punisher and preferably one without the signature. I am just not a collector, I buy instruments to play them.
How about the bass that's played on the backing tracks,
That has caused Gene and Paul too have photo opps/sound checks too prove it's them playing 😅
I believe that the decision to use the Gibson stock pickups is because to record he used his stock grabber. I think that Gene thinks Gibson stock pickups are good enough. Maybe I’m wrong, but if it’s good enough for Gene maybe is good enough for most of us
I got a epiphone thunderbird and it’s great. One day I’ll be able to justify spending the money on a real one.
Don’t. The Epiphone 60’s thunderbird beats the current Gibson models easily.
Come on, epis are real ones, man, they’re great!!!
Very nice looking custom bass ! Love the look 😍. For a extra 500 bucks 👌 sold Love it!
Being a Kiss fan since the late 70s, I don't EVER remember Gene playing a Thunderbird.....? A Gene model, at least to me, should have been a Grabber or a Ripper, just sayin!
Thank you!!!
He did play Thunderbirds maybe a few times, for TV appearances. But that's really it. I also think him associating with a T Bird and not a Grabber is a bit weird.
He played a modified Thunderbird for a few shows during the Love Gun era tour.
That will be later , more hype more expensive!
It’s honestly quite depressing because when it was first being prototyped
They said EMG pickups
Where they at Gibson 🤷♂️
Simmons still plays his Punisher Bass live , so its confusing his deal with Gibson
Your right where’s the EMG
I have to admit I'm not a fan of the traditional basses and bass manufacturers - simply since, in my opinion, you can get more bang for your bucks with other manufacturers. This one is a good example: a pimped-up T-Bird with a price tag you can start to think of a boutique bass. I know two or three manufacturers in Germany (my home country) who will build you a bass with quality hardware, top-of-the-line electronics and nice wood for about the same price ... so what's the point for a bass like the G²? Some bling-bling and a celebrity name on a label? Nah, not for me ...
And I totally agree with you: some more outstanding features like the ones you mentioned should have been possible, even with the same price tag.
im waiting Rex sig thunderbird
Just found your channel this morning. Watched two Thunderbird videos after the PJB 800. Why? Haven't tried any of the modern Thunderbirds. Mine hasn't been improved since. It's a 1964 Non-Reverse Thunderbird IV. Nothing has bested it from Gibson since, well other than my new '74 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Recording Bass. Never should have traded that one. The only 2 octave neck from Gibson that I found. Haven't needed a new T-Bird since my Alembic Brown Bass. Why? There's nothing like it ever. Period. Still, I do love my Thunderbird and will follow to see where these go. I think Gibson destroyed the SG Bass. It's not an EB-O or close to an EB-3. It's just not a good implementation of that great chunky style.
Brooo Rex Brown signature Gibson T-Bird arrived. You know what does it men? :DD
Do you have the Rex Brown Bass? I was wondering how it is! It’s supposed to have custom pickups!
$ 2800 for a bass that sounds like a $200 chinese instrument?
Gibson is completely out of time.
best Thunderbird Bass to me is the Epiphone Vintage pro T bird:)
Ditto!
at 2K maybe, near 3K? No way.
Gibson is completely out of touch with reality.
Not only to I agree hat it’s a cash grab because the main reason being I have never seen Gene play a Gibson or Thunderbird.
That been said I’ve always and will always play a thunderbird bass I really like this bass. Way better than Nikki Sixx’s blackbird.
Now there’s a guy that has used Thunderbirds for most of his life.
Yo might not like it but from someone going from a 400 squire p bass to this.. it’s probably like going from a Ford Taurus to a Cadillac Escalade
The Neck construction is the huge difference you Miss, you just don't like it 😂 Gene wanted a real solid Body which makes a difference in tone in comparison to the standard Thunderbird.
What you’re saying wrt “Do something different [for signature basses],” is what EBMM did with both the Joe Dart and Tim Commerford models. And people are still complaining, particularly about the Dart models.
Man it’s like I spend 2300 on a Rickenbacker but then the pickups are noisy and I have to take time and money to shield the cavity’s when they could ave done it T rhe factory.. now you gonna buy thsis bass and spend time and money changing the pickups to something else.. theress always gonna be something with a bass you dont like or want to change.
I’m not a kiss fan, and k fucking hate gene Simmons but this bass is badass
gotta be honest for a bass that cost 2.7k this has got to be the most boring sounding bass and nothign about this bass would tell you its a gene simmons bass you could justy spend 400 and get an epiohne t bird pro and get an even better sound
WTF is Gibson doing? They are completely out of touch with reality, which is why Fender is dominating. Fender is getting their basses and guitars into the hands of current and relevant artists and Gibson is busy with a $2,800 bass from a guy who no one under 30 has ever heard of and who's band hasn't been relevant in decades? Keep it up Gibson, you'll be out of business soon.
I own a Squier P bass that thing is clanky I owned 2 P basses in the past that were also clanky I love the clanky tone of P basses. Fender and Squier are dominating the Indie Rock scene because they are minimalist looking and sound great.
The most bizarre thing about Gibson's bass lineup is how long they've kept producing the SG bass and not others with far more impressive track records such as the Ripper and Grabber. If you think about it, the most prominent player of the SG bass is probably Jack Bruce from Cream, but who talks about Cream anymore? Why doesn't Gibson promote the Ripper, which is well-known for having been used by Nirvana, or the Grabber or G3, which was used by Green Day and KISS? All three of these bands are extremely popular even today, so you'd think that Gibson would want to hype up those basses, right? And it's not even like nobody's been begging for them for years now. I believe that a good Ripper or Grabber reissue would outpace the SG bass in sales quickly, and that they would both continue to sell very well for years as long as they're priced reasonably. $1,499 would be an excellent price to compete with Fender's Professional and Player Plus series; a Ripper or Grabber at that price would be almost a no-brainer for anyone who leans towards heavier forms of rock.
An over-priced based from an over-rated bass player. Enjoy!
Does Gene even play this bass what so ever live?
I like the aesthetics but for a bass like this is overpriced for basic specs, basic sounds and something I'd imagine epiphone being able to do for over half the price, even for a signature model. Gibson just seem to be money grabbers than listening to customers thoughts, replicating the same crap just years on. Honestly surprised they didn't slap a 3 point bridge on it...
Perhaps Gene wanted to try something different other than his repetitive interests on pickups and body designs. The bass does sound focused and punchy.
5:38 Man, I wish you’d stop playing that bass line. It brings really bad memories for me.
Wish you would have played it more aggressively to hear some growl. Didn't seem like we got all it could be.
Gene is no stranger to
Gibson basses.
Yep agree. Grabber with the hipshot bridge and pegs, EMG pickups, light weight…gene tongue or makeup design on it somewhere…or moneybag signature…something. This is a flop. Boo. Lol
No Volute, I see? Yikes!
That is not how you play I was made for loving you
Gene is playing a P bass in his solo band...wtf?
It sounds like my 80$ chinese junk bass ......the bass looks cool but ......
This guy talks too much, I wanna hear the bass in different sounds and effects