Pricing and availability
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Reviews
Price
Average Price: $427
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Epiphone Thunderbird IV". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
The Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass is an embodiment of a classic charm that offers a unique blend of aesthetics and performance. Inspired by the iconic Gibson Thunderbird, this bass guitar has a more streamlined design with an emphasis on playability and tonal versatility.
It features a distinctive mahogany body coupled with a fast 34"-scale maple neck, resulting in striking looks and unbeatable playability. It comes with two well-positioned TB-Plus humbuckers that offer a wide tonal range, from thick and full to punchy and articulate. The bass has a substantial body shape yet manages to be lightweight and comfortable for holding down the bottom end on stage.
The Thunderbird IV stands out with its unique pickup configuration. Unlike typical basses that position a pickup near the neck, which could muddy up the tone, the Thunderbird IV places the pickups essentially at the middle and bridge. This allows you to dial in everything from growling tones to funky punch. Each pickup has its own volume control, along with a single tone knob for fine-tuning.
Key Features:
- Mahogany body and maple neck for fantastic tone and playability
- Two TB-Plus humbuckers for a wide tonal range
- Unique pickup configuration for a voice of its own
- Volume and tone controls for each pickup for precise tone shaping
- Substantial yet lightweight body for comfortable playing
- Long scale (34") for enhanced tonal clarity
- Classic Thunderbird aesthetics for a distinctive look.
Product specs
| Available since | December 2001 |
| Colour | Sunburst |
| Soundboard | Mahogany |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Indian Laurel |
| Frets | 20 |
| Scale | Longscale |
| Pickup System | HH |
| Elektronic | Passive |
| Incl. Case | No |
| Incl. Gigbag | No |
| Pickups | HH |
FAQs
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Epiphone Thunderbird IV pickups?
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The Epiphone Thunderbird IV features HH pickups, delivering a powerful and punchy tone with strong low-end suitable for rock and metal genres. The passive electronics provide a classic, warm sound that complements its aggressive tonal character.
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Is the Epiphone Thunderbird IV suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Epiphone Thunderbird IV is suitable for beginners due to its straightforward controls and comfortable long-scale neck, which offers ease of playability and a familiar feel for new bass players.
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What is the neck profile of the Epiphone Thunderbird IV like?
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The Epiphone Thunderbird IV has a maple neck with a comfortable profile that facilitates smooth playing, making it ideal for both fast and intricate bass lines.
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Does the Epiphone Thunderbird IV include a case or gigbag?
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No, the Epiphone Thunderbird IV does not include a case or gigbag, so you may want to consider purchasing one separately to protect your instrument.
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What materials are used in the construction of the Epiphone Thunderbird IV?
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The Epiphone Thunderbird IV features a mahogany soundboard, a maple neck, and an Indian laurel fretboard, providing a rich, resonant tone with a solid build quality.
Videos
Reverb
Epiphone Thunderbird Bass | Reverb Demo
Epiphone Thunderbird Bass | Reverb Demo
Reverb
Epiphone Thunderbird bass Shootout
Andertons Music Co
Epiphone Thunderbird-IV Bass Guitar
Coleman's Music
Gibson Bass vs Epiphone Bass Shootout - Thunderbirds Are GO.
Andertons Music Co
Epiphone Thunderbird Reverse Bass Guitars are GO!
Andertons Music Co
Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass Review
topdazzle
Epiphone - Thunderbird IV Bass
MooreMusicGuitars
Epiphone Thunderbird IV Showcase
gibsonshopru
DEMO Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass
Filipe Andrade
Epiphone Thunderbird IV
스쿨뮤직 TV
Epiphone Thunderbird IV - Rimmers Music | Demonstration & Tones
Rimmers Music
Reviews
PROS
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Distinctive, eye-catching design attracts attention
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Deep lows and punchy highs, ideal for rock and metal
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Slim neck enhances playability for many users
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Stable tuning with minimal adjustments needed
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Durable build quality despite some cosmetic flaws
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Offers a powerful sound that cuts through the mix
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Versatile tone range from warm to growling
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Affordable price point for the quality offered
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Great for modifying and personal customization
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Notably quiet pickups, excellent for studio recording
CONS
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Prone to neck dive; requires a thick strap to manage
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Some components may require upgrades (e.g., tuning keys, bridge)
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Neck heavier than body, causing balance issues
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Bridge radius may not match fretboard, affecting playability
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Electronics and mechanics could lack long-term durability
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Not ideal for high-fret access due to body design
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Limited finish options available
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Some reports of craftsmanship flaws, like loose jacks
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Can be uncomfortable to play sitting down
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Potential for truss rod and strap button issues
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Epiphone Thunderbird IV.
Build quality
Setup and maintenance
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Owners recommend getting a case specifically designed for the Thunderbird due to its unique size and shape, as it often doesn't fit generic cases.
Source -
Neck dive is a common issue; using a grippy strap and keeping a hand on the neck helps mitigate the problem when standing.
Source -
The bridge system is criticized as one of the worst in modern times, with unusual height adjustment leading to persistent fret buzz issues.
Source
User experience
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The neck's longer length requires players to adapt to wider fret spacing, which can hinder quick runs, especially for those with smaller hands.
Source -
Owners report the Vintage Pro has a thicker neck that feels more comfortable and requires less finger strength compared to some slimmer-necked basses.
Source -
Despite its weight, some larger players find the Thunderbird IV's heaviness manageable, showing that comfort can vary greatly with player size.
Source
Use cases and applications
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The Thunderbird IV excels in deeper tones and sustain, making it suitable for genres like shoegaze and post-rock, but it's less ideal for punchy tones.
Source -
While known for its deep tone, the Thunderbird IV may require a pedal to achieve a more aggressive sound, especially when played with a pick.
Source -
The Thunderbird IV delivers an impressive distorted sound, making it a standout choice for those seeking aggressive tonal characteristics in their music.
Source
Comparisons
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The Vintage Pro features Probucker pickups, which are praised for their authentic Thunderbird sound, unlike the TB Plus pickups in the standard model, which some find lackluster.
Source
Value and pricing
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Repainting a Thunderbird IV to match the Vintage Pro's color scheme can significantly reduce the perceived price difference between models.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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Owners recommend moving strap pins to address neck dive, enhancing playability without altering the guitar's aesthetics significantly.
Source
4.0 out of 5
Based on 24 Reviews and 92 Ratings
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305
good, if your willing to hold the neck up
I have had a good experience with this bass, I love the tone selections and overall look of the bass, however the headstock being as large as it is, and the positioning of the strap buttons, it tends to nosedive and I have to hold it up while playing, somewhat becoming an inconvenience
2423
great bass
many of my bandmates (especially our vocalist Janis Lizzano) calls this instrument the "Jackie Talwalker Signature Bass" (Jackie Talwalker is my name) because of how much my modified thunderbird seems like my Signature. I added a DiMarzio Will Power pickup in the neck position, replaced the middle pickup with a Rickenbacker Horseshoe bridge pickup and kept the original bridge pickup. I added in/out of phase switching, coil splits, stereo outputs, a Rickenbacker style bridge, a brass nut, 6 way switch (6th position is all of them on at once), separate volume per pickup, separate tone for each pickup, and a master volume and master tone. it has the sunburst finish. I love it and even a un-modified one is great for most genres.
293
Good bass, great price
The Pickups were bassy and sounded fantastic. The construction was perfect and it even felt good to play and comfortable too. The weight was decent, but the heaviness was expected due to the huge hunk of mahogany that is the body. However, when I started playing up the fretboard, I couldn't reach up the 17th fret due to all the wood in the way from the body shape, so I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to
8
Great bass to learn on
This is my first bass and it is a very good instrument for the money. My biggest complaint is the neck and the bridge. The neck is heavy and can swing to the floor if you don't hold on to it. The neck also has a lot of lacquer on it, making it far from fast. The bridge is hard to adjust and I've heard horror stories about it popping out of the body. Aside from that i have nothing but good things to say. The look is gorgeous and the finish hasn't cracked once. I've even dropped it once and it still played well. It holds tuning well, it doesn't slip tuning when i play it.The sound is deep and low, making it perfect for genres like classic rock and metal. I still play it ever since i got it in 2008.
Very nice shape but bad playability
Very iconic design. No doubt about it but some tuning issues made me to change the tuning machines. Because of the bridge design it is very hard to adjust the action. And the truss rod I don't trust. Also neck is heavier than the body. When you playing this makes you to hold the neck up consistently. Sound is not bad but I added an active eq, because it needed some treble. Consequently it is good to have this shape with this price.
225
Great tones.
I'm usually a Fender guy, but when my bass was recording with a bit too much fret noise, I borrowed John's bass. The tone was thick and smooth with clarity. Neck is comfortable, and the pickups have places to anchor your thumb. Very comfortable bass.
82
A solid bass but can be a pain to play.
The Epiphone Thunderbird is probably the best sounding bass in its price range. The pickups are very solid and give you a good bit of control. I find the tone control to be a tad bit lacking but the character of the pickups make up for this. Due to the offset body, this bass can be troublesome to play sitting down, but for the bassist just starting off, the sound it can produce is worth it.
71
This bass is great if you need "that bass" on a budget.
This bass features a slim neck, a 3 point Gibson bridge, 2 Epiphone TB+ humbuckers, 2 volumes and a tone. This bass has some advantages over the $1200 Gibson version such as, a snappier less muddy tone, a bolt on neck for all you modders, and is much lighter than a Gibson. Great bass for $400
Artist usage
Add artist
In this picture you can see Benji playing an Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass
Danny Sapko was lent the Epiphone Thunderbird IV bass, and he confirms in a YouTube video titled "I play every single bass I have" that it remains part of his collection.
Oliver Amberg uses the Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass, as noted on his equipment page. He describes it as an affordable yet excellent bass, mentioning that he has made some hardware modifications to it.
At the beginning of the video, João can be seen playing this bass for the intro of the song.
Ty Anderson used an Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass while touring shortly after the release of the song "Space Invader," as evidenced by an image available on Equipboard.
This is the main bass Karina uses for both live shows and recordings.
Bruno Beguerie Petrich is seen playing an Epiphone Thunderbird IV Bass in a photo shared on his Instagram.
Album Usage
The Epiphone Thunderbird IV has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Epiphone Thunderbird IV, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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