The Thunderbird debuted in 1963 as the bass companion to the original Firebird guitar series. The most highly respected of all Gibson basses, it was Gibson’s first long scale (34½ inch) bass and was named after the giant bird of Native American folklore. 

The 1976 BiCentennial Thunderbird IV is a reproduction of the 1963 T'Bird IV with 2 pick-ups and was launched to celebrate the 200 birthday of the United States of America. It can be recognised by the '76 logo on the tail feathers of the bird on the scratchplate.

Thunderbird Production dates
Reverse Thunderbird II & IV	1963-65
Non-Reverse Thunderbird II & IV	1965-69
BiCentennial Reverse Thunderbird IV '76	1976-79
Reverse Thunderbird IV	1987-date