GIBSON produced the THUNDERBIRD IV between 1964 and 1969. It had an iconic reversed body (like the guitar version the Firebird) designed by Ray Dietrich, In 1966 the body shape was changed to a non-reverse style and the through neck changed to a set-neck joint. The model was discontinued in 1969. Around 600 were made between 1964 and 1969.

Gibson reissued the Thunderbird IV in 1976 as a bicentennial model with the original body shape and neck-through design. Production of this reissue ran until 1979.

Gibson reissued the Thunderbird IV again from 1987 onwards with original reverse body styling and new specially designed pickups, through body neck and ebony fingerboard .

Gibson reissued the non-reverse Thunderbird in late 2012.