Thunderbird Pickup Distances

Thunderbird basses don't all sound the same. One of (perhaps the) big differences is in the pickup position. The following measurements were made by Talk Bass participants in the Thunderbird Club thread. A discussion of EQ vs pickup position follows the data.

Data
Each entry consists of

• date mfr model : neck p/u distance, bridge p/u distance (notes)
• measure from middle of lower 12th fret wire to mid-line of pickup

NOTE: If only one distance is given, the model has only one pickup.

@davgrev (from photos at Thunderbird Club ):

• 1964 Gibson IV : 10 13/16”, 14 1/4”
• 2006 Gibson IV : 10 1/4", 14 3/8"
• ???? Epiphone VP : 10 13/16" 14 11/16"
• 1964 Epiphone Embassy : 10 3/4" 14" (!)
• 1976 Gibson Bicentennial : 10 9/16" 14 1/4"

@GBassNorth :

• 1990 Greco IV : 10-7/8”, 14-1/8” (note 33.5” scale)
• 2013 Gibson Tbird : 10-1/4”, 14-5/8”
• ???? BaCH II : 10-5/8”
• 1977 Greco II : 11” (note 33.5” scale)
• 2017 Epiphone VP : 11”, 14-7/8”
• ???? Epiphone Goth (Korean) : 10-3/4”, 14-5/8”
• 1964 Gibson Tbird : 10-7/8”, 14-3/8”
• 2015 Gibson Tbird : 10-1/4”, 14-1/2”
• ???? Spector Rex5 Pro : 12-3/8”, 15-3/8” (note 35” scale)
• 2019 Epiphone CP : 10-1/4”, 14-1/2"
• 1988 Greco TB-70 : 10-7/8”, 14-3/8”
• 196? Gibson NR : 10-11/16", 14-3/16"
• 2014 Epiphone CP : 10 1/8", 14 7/16"
• 2018 Epiphone IV : 10 3/4", 14 5/16"
• 2013 Epiphone CP : 10 15/16", 14 3/4"

@Miles_ONeal :

• 1989 Greco IV: 10 7/8, 14 1/8
• 2012 Epiphone IV: 10 11/16, 14 1/2
• 2019 Epiphone CP: 10 3/16, 14 7/16
• 2019 Epiphone VP: 10 15/16, 14 13/16

@Stealth57

• 2018 Epiphone IV 10 11/16" 14 11/16"
• 2014 Epiphone CP 10 1/16" 14 3/8"
• 2017 Epiphone VP 10 15/16" 14 11/16"
• 2021 Epiphone VP 10 15/16" 14 11/16"
• 2010 Epiphone Pro IV 10 15/16" 14 3/4"
• 2015 Gibson Tbird 10 3/16" 14 1/2"
• 2010 Epiphone Custom Shop 10 1/2" 14 3/8"

@RedVee

• 2011 Gibson Tbird : 10 1/8", 14 1/2"
• ???? Epiphone IV (MIC) 10 7/8” 14 9/16”

@WillyW

• 1988 Greco TB-70 10-7/8” and 14-3/8”

@El Diablo Rojo

• 2022 Epiphone VP 10 3/4" 14 5/8"

@Engle

• 2017 Epiphone VP 10 7/8" 14 3/4”
• 1991 Orville by Gibson 10 9/16" 14 7/16"

@MCF

• 2021 Gibson NR Faded Pelham Blue 10 1/4” 14 1/2”
• 2017 Epiphone Vintage Pro Ebony
• 2015 Gibson Tobacco Burst 10 1/4” 14 1/2”
• 2014 Epiphone Limited Edition Custom Shop TV Silver (China - Standard silver LE CS pickups)
• 2013 Gibson NR Pelham Blue 10 1/4” 14 1/2”
• 2011 Gibson Short Scale Custom Silverburst 8 3/8” 12 3/4”
• 2010 Epiphone Goth
• 2010 Epiphone Limited Edition Custom Shop Alpine White (China - Standard silver Epi LE CS pickups) 10 1/2” 14 3/8 “
• 2010 BaCH NR Thunderbird II Ebony 10 5/8”
• 2009 Epiphone Limited Edition Custom Shop Silverburst (China - Standard silver Epi LE CS pickups) 11” 14 3/4”
• 2008 Epiphone Blackbird “Nikki Sixx”
• 2007 Epiphone Limited Edition Custom Shop Sparkling Pelham Blue (Korea - Standard black Epi pickups) 10 3/4” 14 5/8”
• 2006 Epiphone Limited Edition Custom Shop Sparkling Candy Apple Red
• 2005 Gibson Studio Thunderbird Ebony 10 1/4” 14 1/2”

@Lammchop93

• 1980 Greco II 11"

EQ vs Pickup Position
@BklynKen said:
I don't get what all the fuss is with pickup distances, though . I have to believe any differences could be made up for in EQ.
@JIO replied:
From my personal experience owning a number of basses with differing pu locations on different scale basses and also designing and building custom basses of different scale and pu locations - it makes a difference how they sound. EQ is for balancing each individual bass so its specific character shines due to where the pu's are located - (artificial) modeling is for manipulating/colouring the Output sound.
@Miles_ONeal replied:
Think of it like moving around a room with random walls, corners, pillars, ceiling heights, etc. while listening to a band. You'll get more or less of different frequencies depending on where you are in the room. You have standing waves and reflections to deal with. There are spots you can never properly EQ for, and there are Sweet spots. Similar things happen with pickup positions WRT strings.

Bass players are encouraged to experiment and make up their own minds.