Gould Non Reverse Thunderbird

[Basvarken]

Last weekend a nice British gentleman living in Germany came to my place to check out my BaCHbird and to order one for himself.

He brought along another bass guitar that he owns.
A Gould Stormbird.

A take on the Non Reverse Thunderbird.
The pickguard is obviously different.
But if you take a closer look, you'll see the neck isn't set as deep into the body as with the original NR Tbirds or BaCHbirds. How's that for upper fret access!
And with the neck more forward, the bridge isn't as close to the edge. Nice bridge by the way. Individual saddle height adjustment.
The bass looks very nicely done. One piece body with nice grain. The neck is a little bit chunky. Much like the Epi JCS.
Of course the bass suffer a bit from neck dive, but is stays horizontal at a certain point.
Pickups look and sound quite similar to the Artecs on a BaCHbird.

Anyone ever seen these?

http://www.soundsmusical.com/product-image.ashx?productid=134841

[Dave W]

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=5442.0

Mark obviously didn't care for the one he had.

[Basvarken]

Totally forgot about that thread. 

Well, my impression of this bass wasn't as negative as Mark's.
The neck dive on this one wasn't really that severe.

The ergonomics were kinda bad though. When you're not looking where you place your right hand, it automatically lands on the bridge.
You have to slide the entire bass to the right make your thumb land on the bridge pickup, or even further to the right to have it on the neck pickup.

The neck is kinda chunky. Not at all like the BaCHbirds.

As far as I could tell heard through my amp in the living room (master volume wayyyy down) the pickups weren't all that bad. Haven't heard them in a band situation though.


Having said all this; For the money I'd buy a BaCH.
But my opinion may be slightly coloured 

[TBird1958]

 BaCH's are way better basses Rob.

I took a chance on the one I bought and really didn't care for it at all, aside from feel, it didn't reccomend itself in the tone dept. either.