The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: doombass on January 29, 2018, 12:43:40 PM
-
This came up for sale here: https://vend.se/431837-gibson-thunderbird-1964 (https://vend.se/431837-gibson-thunderbird-1964)
An 80's hackjob.
(https://i.imgur.com/fMo4O15.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8VjcPmn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/B1QlTUP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4YYFfXK.jpg)
-
Hey; looks like theres room for a mudbucker :mrgreen:
Serious LOL @ that random knob cluster.
-
That needs to be loved.
-
I saw it on Facebook.
That is going to take serious luthier skills to get that one back in shape!
-
Scott... you and me... off the hook... BIG time off the hook... :vader:
-
About 2000$. Wonder if it is worth.
-
Scott could pull it off
-
I appreciate the industrial look of the electrical box on the back.
Manufactured, no doubt, by "WTF Industries."
-
Bet it cures the neck dive :rimshot:
-
While my first response was "Jesus Christ, WHY", my follow up is rip those Alembics out, give it two proper 'Bird buckers, slam a EB-0 bucker at the neck and let that mother rip. Use one of the silly knob holes as a second output jack, stereo Thunderbird.
-
Tempted... Thats just a (long) stone throw from where I live!
-
The grotesque locations of the knobs bothers me almost as much as all those pickups!
-
NSFW.
-
As a proudly mono-lingual member of society, I had to enter the description of the mods into Google Translate:
"The body has been refreshed and received a throat"
-
Haha, I'll translate for you:
"Now you have the chance to buy what some call the worlds best bass ever, Gibson Thunderbird '64!
Most of the times a regular mortal being would'nt afford to buy this kind of classic piece but considering previous owners
earlier period modifications this one can be yours at a bit more modest price.
Modifications:
-Body routed for added neck pickup.
-Active electronics.
-Alembic pickups (probably 80's) instead of the originals.
The bass has a repairment where the headstock meats the neck just like most old Thunderbirds.
Sold as is.
Price: 15000:- or highest offer.
Shipping possible.
-
I wonder what the front pickup is...
-
It's huge. That's for sure. :mrgreen:
-
Haha, I'll translate for you:
"Now you have the chance to buy what some call the worlds best bass ever, Gibson Thunderbird '64!
Most of the times a regular mortal being would'nt afford to buy this kind of classic piece but considering previous owners
earlier period modifications this one can be yours at a bit more modest price.
Modifications:
-Body routed for added neck pickup.
-Active electronics.
-Alembic pickups (probably 80's) instead of the originals.
The bass has a repairment where the headstock meats the neck just like most old Thunderbirds.
Sold as is.
Price: 15000:- or highest offer.
Shipping possible.
:thumbsup:
-
What I find odd is that it seems like none of the knobs line up the way either a TBird II or IV would be laid out, yet I don't see evidence of filled holes where they normally would be either. Am I missing something?
-
Those old Birds had the controls quite close to the raised section. Maybe the upper controls are on the right place? A II maybe?
-
While my first response was "Jesus Christ, WHY", my follow up is rip those Alembics out, give it two proper 'Bird buckers, slam a EB-0 bucker at the neck and let that mother rip. Use one of the silly knob holes as a second output jack, stereo Thunderbird.
I'd like to buy the new guy a beer.
-
While my first response was "Jesus Christ, WHY", my follow up is rip those Alembics out, give it two proper 'Bird buckers, slam a EB-0 bucker at the neck and let that mother rip. Use one of the silly knob holes as a second output jack, stereo Thunderbird.
Uwe's gunshot EB-0L has two 60s TBird pickups in addition to the mudbucker. It certainly would work. The question is whether it would be worth it with this one. At about $2.5K US, plus all the money and work you'd have to do just to have a less modified repaired headstock 60s Bird, wouldn't be worth it to me.
-
Those old Birds had the controls quite close to the raised section. Maybe the upper controls are on the right place? A II maybe?
I think maybe I figured it out. Could be that when the, er, modifications were done, the output jack (normally located near the bottom corner) was relocated to the spot where the tone control on a II would be. Everything else was probably just crammed haphazardly into that little cluster of knobs.
-
That breakout box ;D ;D ;D
If someone did get it, that whole Activator setup (assuming its all there) is worth a fair clip.
-
I just got a respond from the owner, he'll send more pic's. (headstock, S/N) etc. I think I'll make the trip and check it out.
I might need help from Scott, Uwe and everyone here to verify this beast. If the owner don't want me to post the S/N pics here, I'll PM Scott and Uwe.
Never had a T-bird before, and never seen one this old in person. I guess that old bridge indicates a legit bass, or did orville produce basses with old type bridge at some point?
Of course, the thought here is to restore back to original (as close as possible). I have a mahogany scource.
-
That is going to be quite a challenge.
The routings are wider than the raised center piece.
And you'd need strips of walnut too, for the nine ply part.
-
That is going to be quite a challenge.
The routings are wider than the raised center piece.
And you'd need strips of walnut too, for the nine ply part.
I try to see this as something that needs to be saved, obviously it's a challenge but not impossible?
This will not be the first time I put hours into an instrument that I won't get back (if I buy it) but
I still think it's calling on me. (No Stryper jokes, please)
There will be many things to decide along the way, I can see that. First off, I'll need to establish two things:
1.Is the instrument legit.
2.How much am I willing to pay and will the seller accept it.
-
I try to see this as something that needs to be saved, obviously it's a challenge but not impossible?
This will not be the first time I put hours into an instrument that I won't get back (if I buy it) but
I still think it's calling on me. (No Stryper jokes, please)
^This.
There was no earthly reason for me to rehab the Smurf Ripper other than it was a '73 and I felt like it was asking me to do it. I'll never get my money back, but don't really care. It's up and running and I feel good about doing it, so isn't that what matters!
Go for that Tbird if you feel good about it!!!
-
Hope you buy it. That bass is really crying out for help. Even if it's a bit of a reverse Robocop transformation job I'd say it would be quite possible especially if you consider a solid finish refin. BTW, I can't see anything that would indicate it being anything other than a real 60's Bird.
-
If it sounded really good I'd keep it as a mutt, but not at that price either.
-
I'd say it would be quite possible especially if you consider a solid finish refin.
I think that would be a shame.
For me the real challenge would be to restore it as close to it's original state as possible.
-
Seller has been all over asking about this bass. It's a pretty sad case, I'd love a crack at it but shipping would kill it for me.
-
Seller has been all over asking about this bass. It's a pretty sad case, I'd love a crack at it but shipping would kill it for me.
Has it been for sale for long?
I'm putting my ex-hackjob-now-restored 1974 Fender P for sale locally to finance this, don't use it anyway.
Maybe he's interested in trading too.
Has the seller indicated neck issues or something during his asking around?
For the record, I'm going sunburst and keeping the finish original (where possible) if I get this project going.
I like the idea of being challenged to blend original and new wood and finish.
A skilled violin maker have a workshop three houses down the street where I live, he's got experience in ageing/blending finish new/old.
Could be fun! Could be horror :sad: Hope to find out wether or not it was a TB2 or 4.
-
If I'm not mistaken it's the neighbour of the seller who's been all over the Internet about this bass.
That guy has mentioned a not so well executed headstock repair.
-
It can EASILY be restored...and worth it...Damn...
-
It's allready spoken for :)
-
It's allready spoken for :)
Sweet!
-
It's allready spoken for :)
Congrats. You'll have plenty of work to do, hope it turns out to be worth your efforts.
-
Congrats. You'll have plenty of work to do, hope it turns out to be worth your efforts.
Not quite there yet, scheduled to make the trip on Monday. But I got a message that someone came today to look. So for all I know it´s gone when I get there, kind of difficult to arrange when the guy selling it has nothing to do with the selling :P
As Rob noted, it is the neighbour of the owner who have listed it and does the talking. I´ll let you know as soon as I know more.
-
Hope you'll get it. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
-
I hope it's still there for you.
-
Gone >:(
Got a message Sunday, that it was still available. I was scheduled to pick it up on Wednesday, so I arranged with train, hotel and re-scheduling all amp deliveries/repairs in my workshop, since they promised to hold it.
Yesterday I got a message that his 'neighbour' (the owner) accidentally sold it. What a mess >:(
-
That is rather impolite of mr. Neighbour! >:(
-
That's sad news. :sad:
-
Sorry you didn't get it.