Despite having less than the best of luck in recent years with new Gibson basses, I took delivery of a new Pelham Blue Non Reverse Thunderbird yesterday which was sold to me at a most agreeable price. I am pleased to report that everything is peachy - the fit, the finish, the electronics, the frets, everything in its right place. Had a blast of it at band practice last night and I was pleased with what I heard and felt. My faith in Gibson has been restored - not that it totally went away, just became a wee bit diminished.
Pics or it never happened, right?
![](http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/pics/nonrevtbird/02_all.jpg)
![](http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/pics/nonrevtbird/03_body.jpg)
![](http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/pics/nonrevtbird/04_all_angle1.jpg)
![](http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/pics/nonrevtbird/07_all_back.jpg)
![](http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/pics/nonrevtbird/08_body_back.jpg)
I find the finish intriguing - you can see the mahogany grain in the Pelham Blue, but the top coat is filled and buffed flat. I find that odd but not objectionable:
![](http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/pics/nonrevtbird/06_finish.jpg)
The only issue that springs to mind is just how LONG from end to end this bass is. Sitting in the rack, it protrudes slightly higher than my RD Artist. I know I have been provided with a hard case, but I'm really a gig bag guy, I tend to take my own transport to and do my own loading/setting up at rehearsals/gigs and I find a gig bag much more convenient. The only gig bag I could fit this bass in was the rather oversized Dean one which I use for my Epi JC and my Fender Starcaster. Brainwave though - how about loading it in flipped round to my Ritter Thunderbird/RD bag? Might work, must try that.
Please, no comments about chrome, or swapping the jack socket with the tone pot, it's been done to death
![Smiley :)](https://bassoutpost.com/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
I'm looking forward to being a timid mouse of a bassist playing a sexy beast of a bass at a gig soon
![Smiley :)](https://bassoutpost.com/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)