[targa911S]

Gibson commissioned auto designer Raymond H. Dietrich and others to make some guitar designs for them in the 50's and 60's to show their commitment to the future. They came up with the Thunderbird, the Explorer, and the Futura, and the Flying V. All in very space age / modern looking shapes. John Entwhistle and others like Bootsy Collins have had their share of custom made goofy shaped guitars. So yes the wood it is made of and things like mass are good, and having the neck through the body are important to tone. On electrics shape has little to do with tone. Kinda like wings on 50's cars didn't really make them faster, just look cooler.
I have two thunderbirds, I've owned a V and it's ridiculous to try and play. I have had an Explorer, a black one, and I liked it a lot but sold it to finance my move when I retired. I will say the Epi explorer is a better bass than the Gibson version for a lot of reasons. So I would like to have a natural korina Explorer to add to my staff of players. I will some day own all the goofy shaped basses from that era so I will again own a V, but it won't be a player. Dean is making a futura and calling it a spider bass in the Entwhistle collection.