There are some guitars—the Les Paul, the SG, the Flying V—that are instantly recognizable, their iconic shapes having long been embedded into the hearts and minds of music enthusiasts everywhere. The Gibson Thunderbird IV bass joined this distinguished lineup shortly after its introduction in 1963. The Thunderbird’s unique “reversed” zig-zag body design and equally distinct headstock was the brainchild of legendary automotive designer and visionary Ray Dietrich, enlisted by Gibson to bolster the guitar lines of the early ’60s and help solidify the company’s eminent rank among solidbody electric guitar manufacturers. Dietrich’s unconventional design was based loosely on both the automobile tailfins of the 1950s and the Gibson Explorer, which had been introduced several years earlier. Today’s Thunderbird IV—with its huge, thunderous sound—is still a benchmark of innovation, functionality, and style, and continues to symbolize Gibson’s drive to achieve creative excellence.