Author Topic: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass  (Read 3298 times)

Bionic-Joe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1403
    • View Profile

nofi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2954
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2016, 09:34:07 AM »
that it is. what's your point. ???
"life is a blur of republicans and meat"- zippy the pinhead

Bionic-Joe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1403
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2016, 10:40:59 AM »
Uh...My POINT?   No point. Just sharing a ridiculously overpriced instrument...

uwe

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 21334
  • Enabler ...
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2016, 11:23:44 AM »
A Thulembic.

The neck-thru design is a redeeming feature - I hate Rev TBs which aren't.

The flamey natural look will of course meet derision today, but in 1982 that was still something I guess.
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

Dave W

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 22193
  • Got time to breathe, got time for music
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2016, 12:17:31 PM »
It's a product of its time. Ribbecke is either retired now or on the verge of it, but he hasn't made anything like this for years. He's the guy who developed the "halfling"bass for Bobby Vega and then expanded it to a line of guitars.

If you're a Ribbeke collector, the asking price probably isn't out of line. Likewise if you 're looking for a fancy Alembic-type bass in a Thunderbird form. For the rest of us, it's overpriced.

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1344
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2016, 12:55:14 PM »
Who could take an instrument like that to the usual local venue to play a 4 hour show on the weekend to a room full of people drinking and dancing, when you're making the same amount of money for a gig that you made in 1975?

Doesn't make sense for a weekend warrior.

Maybe if I was a well paid touring professional, playing 300 shows a year...

copacetic

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2016, 12:58:46 PM »
Ribekke's acoustic basses are something to behold. Beware....if you happen to get your hands on one they will take you off track and you might start calculating how to get one. Jack Casady made one for him. This was a special order by Jack that included some of his late wife's hair for that DNA feature.

copacetic

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2016, 05:43:44 PM »
Mistake: he made one for Jack. There is a video on Jack's website of the process. Quite a beast.

nofi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2954
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2016, 08:13:13 AM »
i found this video really interesting from a musical history/philosophical point of view. it's kind of long but may be worth it for somebody out there.

http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2014/06/26/bass-of-the-week-jack-casadys-ribbecke-guitars-diana-bass/

as a part of casady's bass story you have to include alembic. jack owned the first bass made. i did not know of the owsley connection until now. ;D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alembic_Inc
« Last Edit: March 02, 2016, 08:34:31 AM by nofi »
"life is a blur of republicans and meat"- zippy the pinhead

gearHed289

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4414
    • View Profile
    • Book of faces...
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2016, 08:42:15 AM »
Definitely some Alembic cues there, especially the headstock veneers.

TBird1958

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6536
  • "you know the rule, No boots,No glam!"
    • View Profile
    • www.thenastyhabits.com
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2016, 02:57:38 PM »


 I think it's pretty cool (I'm not always fond of the boutique stuff) thanks for sharing Baz!

I may have to start selling my body (or organs) to pay for it  :-\
Resident T Bird playing Drag Queen www.thenastyhabits.com  "Impülsivê", the new lush fragrance as worn by the unbelievable Fräulein Rômmélle! Traces of black patent leather, Panzer grease, mahogany and model train oil mingle and combust to one sheer sensation ...

amptech

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1508
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2016, 01:27:56 AM »

I may have to start selling my body (or organs) to pay for it  :-\

Those nice shaved legs of yours in stockings should fetch a decent amount alone :mrgreen:

TBird1958

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6536
  • "you know the rule, No boots,No glam!"
    • View Profile
    • www.thenastyhabits.com
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2016, 08:02:37 AM »
Those nice shaved legs of yours in stockings should fetch a decent amount alone :mrgreen:

 It's my weekend - Wuhoo! Time to shave  :-*
Resident T Bird playing Drag Queen www.thenastyhabits.com  "Impülsivê", the new lush fragrance as worn by the unbelievable Fräulein Rômmélle! Traces of black patent leather, Panzer grease, mahogany and model train oil mingle and combust to one sheer sensation ...

drbassman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6699
  • Gone but not forgotten
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2016, 08:53:49 AM »
It would look nice in front of my couch.  A good place to put our drinks.  Seriously, it's beautiful but a bit over the top, especially pricing.  If you got the bucks, splurge!  Otherwise, it has a very small market.
I'm fixin' a hole where the rain gets in..........cuz I'm built for a kilt!

Dave W

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 22193
  • Got time to breathe, got time for music
    • View Profile
Re: Handmade Thunderbird TYPE Bass
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2016, 01:05:31 PM »
All Ribbecke instruments have a very small market, yet he still had a waiting list of a few years at one time. He may still, if he hasn't retired yet.