The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Bionic-Joe on April 07, 2015, 05:53:04 AM

Title: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: Bionic-Joe on April 07, 2015, 05:53:04 AM: Ok...so this guy shows an OBVIOUS photo of the rear of the headstock with 2 serial numbers...but only mentions one...the one that was Obviously stamped in after the headstock was repaired and resprayed... Claims their are no brakes or cracks...but it's Obvious that it has been refinished...just like the newer style sunbursts...which is done to completely hide the repair...I'm just glad it isn't a II...right Scott???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-Gibson-Thunderbird-IV-Non-Reverse-Bass-Guitar-Original-Case-VGC-/251908854592?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aa6f01340
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: godofthunder on April 07, 2015, 06:35:32 AM: Your right Baz defiantly something going on there. As you say I'm glad it's not a II !
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: Denis on April 07, 2015, 07:05:10 AM: I need a serial number for mine. He should give me one of them.
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: 66Atlas on April 07, 2015, 07:32:20 AM: Even if you re-finned it, why would you add a second serial number? The original is still plainly visible...odd.
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: JazzBassTbird on April 07, 2015, 11:30:08 AM: The dark shaded finish at the point where a headstock repair would be is suspicious. It also looks like what might be checking on the back of the headstock stops where the shaded finsish is but hard to tell from the pics.

The second serial number could be a former owner's personal ID #. I didn't bother squinting to see
whether it was the same as the inked on # or even a Gibson serial #.
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: Bionic-Joe on April 07, 2015, 01:07:25 PM: Nope...6 digit serial number... VERY Fishy to me....He just ended the listing by the way...
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: Dave W on April 07, 2015, 08:55:20 PM: Original number is a 600000 series.
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: JazzBassTbird on April 07, 2015, 09:40:55 PM: Yeah, I saw that he ended it. Fishier than a tractor trailer full of sardines with anchovies, but without having the bass in hand not possible to know what the story is.

This looks really bogus but Gibson did do weird stuff occassionally. For example I once saw a Peham Blue NR T Bird IV with two Gibson logos, one as usual on the TR cover and another one (gold, typical for say, an SG Jr. etc.) under the original clearcoat on the headstock that I'm sure was factory stock.
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: Denis on April 08, 2015, 05:41:47 AM: Mine doesn't seem to have a serial number at all and also doesn't seem to have been sanded down.
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: JazzBassTbird on April 08, 2015, 09:50:13 AM: Really? I've never seen an original finished Gibson without a serial number. I suppose it could be an employee made instrument but that would probably be impossible to verify. Most likely your bass was refinished at some point in time and the serial number lost.
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: Bionic-Joe on April 08, 2015, 11:34:05 AM: It's Back up for sale....
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: 66Atlas on April 08, 2015, 11:55:04 AM: Ah, revised the listing this time to say it's had a headstock repair I see...
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: JazzBassTbird on April 08, 2015, 12:04:22 PM: "strings lay low over fretboard", what a quaint way of putting it. I love knowledgable sellers...
Title: Re: Look at this screwy NR Thunderbird IV
Post by: Bionic-Joe on April 14, 2015, 08:36:52 PM: It's at a More realistic starting price...Just glad it isn't a II....