Epi Elitest Tbird 650 BIN

[godofthunder]

Another Xmas bargain ! I'd snap this up if not for the a fore mentioned Hiwatt deal. I must say I am exhibiting amazing self control (for me anyhow) http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-ELITE-Thunderbird-Bass-4-string-Sunburst-Tbird_W0QQitemZ320467316464QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item4a9d572ef0

[TBird1958]

That's so nice! I want it.................

I may not have it tho 

My silly German sense of (financial) discipline is kicking in.......dammit!

[chromium]

OMG - good deal.  Somebody grab it!  It's a great bass

Here's my old one.  You can see how closely they patterned it off of the 76-79s:

[godofthunder]

Joe...........................your not helping

[Dave W]

$735 shipped is a reasonable price, not a steal. These sold new for $1000 shipped and there's no collector value. Another one will come up later at a price like this.

OTOH if you could get it for $535 shipped that would be a deal. So just exercise your financial discipline and bid lower.

[chromium]

Joe...........................your not helping

  

Yeah this isn't the first or last at that price, and when you factor the $85 shipping...  The case is huge, though, so the seller probably isn't too far out of line with that (esp. if they're using UPS). 

I just haven't been seeing the Elitist/Japanese Epis/OBG/etc... popping up like they used to, and when they do people seem to want a fortune for them.  There was a gorgeous white OBG local to me on CL, but they wanted something ridiculous like 1200 for it, IIRC 

[TBird1958]

 I was gonna say it sure reminds me of my Orville a lot.

[Denis]

That's a nice Epi for sure! Bet they sound great too!

[Nocturnal]

I just haven't been seeing the Elitist/Japanese Epis/OBG/etc... popping up like they used to, and when they do people seem to want a fortune for them.  There was a gorgeous white OBG local to me on CL, but they wanted something ridiculous like 1200 for it, IIRC 

You're right about the Orville that was on CL, it was $1200. You can get a real Gibson for that much. It was pretty tho!

[TBird1958]

 I don't know what Orvilles are supposed to go for but the one I have is easily as good as any post '88 Gibson, better in many regards.......Just my .02 tho.

[godofthunder]

The $85.00 shipping is absurd. At 650.00 and reasonable shipping rates I think this bass is a pretty good deal. I do think they will have collector value, maybe not right now but 5-10 years down the road for sure, especially if Gibson continues to ignore that most Tbird players want a "real" Tbird

[OldManC]

One thing I think of as a plus on the Orvilles and Japanese Epiphones is the set neck (contra what Gibson or anyone else says). In that way they are their own bird and with the difference in sound (even if small) can be a great addition to one's collection.

[hieronymous]

I've never been a huge Thunderbird fan but Joe's pictures got my heart jumping!

[uwe]

They sound a little deeper than a modern day Bird would, less obvious mids. And their upper register sustain isn't quite up there with their neck-thru brothers. To the extent modern Epis can have collector's value at all, these probably will one day especially as their production phase was short.

[Highlander]

Still no spare greens...