The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Johnbob on February 28, 2012, 09:06:24 PM
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Does anyone know who owned/owns this? Or any additional info on it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190646497220
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I don't think that really is a BaCH neck. The tuners certainly are not the ones BaCH uses. And BaCH does not use serial numbers on any of their instruments.
The entire neck looks older than any BaCH could be. The dotted inlays are yellowed. Frets look older too.
Nice bass nonetheless
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The neck looks to be legit Gibson as does most of the rest of the bass. I will be bidding. ;D
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SSHHH!!! Yes, it's a Bach neck. And a Greco body. The pickups came from Wal Mart. ;) ;D 8) :P
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It's such a piece of crap I had already put a bid in on it.
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I think some of you might be setting yourselves up to be disappointed. That head stock doesn't look Gibson to me. The shape is slightly off and it is too thick. There are no holes from the original tuners and the serial number is completely different.
Now look closely at the pickups. They are too tall to be Sixties Gibson pickups, and of course the ring is wrong.
All that brown paint at the heel of the neck worries me too, and I'm not sure about the bridge either.
And what's with that case?
I would certianly like to see it in person before bidding too much more than the current bid ($760).
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"buy in haste, repent at leisure". that should be the motto of this place.
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My token bid didn't even get me to high bidder once, so I'm out anyway.
Based on my experience with antique motorcycles, a good restorer can make a brand new piece of aluminum look like it was dug out of the ditch it layed in for 100 years. That said, the yellowed inlays and other signs of wear could all be artificial.
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At first blush it looks good but there are concerns, the back off the headstock does looks off. I'll look over the pictures ore tonight and compare with my birds. If it goes cheap I'll take a chance.
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I agree with Mojo. Also check the bird logo, neck 'feathers' are way wrong as is the angle on the wings. The wood does not appear to be Honduras. Pickups look rewired judging by how shiny the leads are. Orvilles or Grecos? And what's with that cavity shield?
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The more you guys point out the more I think your right.
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The finger board is pretty high off the body.
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Wherever that neck came from, I'll take his word that it's not original. The body might be, but that's all.
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Couple of things I see although I'm definitely not an authority:
There are no holes for the tug bar.
The ring around the bridge pup looks too large when compared to photos of other NRs I'm looking at.
The tuners look chrome: shouldn't they be nickel?
The thunderbird isn't in the right spot on the pg and the wings look stubby compared to pics of originals.
The access cover for the pots has 5 screws in it instead of 4, but some of the photos on the web have either 4 or 5.
THe hook in the headstock looks very sharp in comparison to others.
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Price seems awfully high for a mystery bass :-\ A lot more than I would be willing to risk.
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At least the seller started it at only $199. A bidding war for a parts bass. Nice for the seller.
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I don't understand all the negativity. As far as I can see from looking at the pictures it is a bass in good condition with all the features of a NR Tbird bass, wether it's a Gibson, Greco or BaCH. The price is not sky high.
The pickups are the most vital part and they can either be originals, rewound originals, repro pickups or Greco/Maxon pickup. All of which are excellent.
The pickguard is probably non original. So what. It is close enough in my book.
The neck is probably not a BaCH neck. So what is it then? Most likely a neck made by the luthier who refinned the bass. As far as I can see he did a damn fine job on rebuilding that neck. Wood looks to be mahogany. The only valid reason to build a new neck for such a bass is if the original neck was damaged beyond repair. I'd prefer a new neck any time over an obliterated neck that has been glued back together like a puzzle.
The body cannot be a Greco, because the Greco's have the three point bridge plus tailpiece. There would have been visible extra holes in this body.
Tailpiece might be one of them repro tailpieces. Nothing wrong with those.
Bass looks to be in good condition. And it comes closer to the real deal than any BaCH.
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I'm not knocking the bass; hell, I had put a bid in on it. However, trying to figure out what things are is, to me, interesting because it invites closer study on things I wouldn't normally scrutinize. We do it in the antique motorcycle world all the time. I think the bass is pretty sweet and damn nice looking.
Thinking about it, if the neck IS from a BaCH, another bass or luthier-made, perhaps the inclusion of the serial number was simply to indicate what the serial number of the original was. This one is just a number: did they originally say "Made in USA" in addition to the number like more modern Gibsons?
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I don't understand all the negativity. As far as I can see from looking at the pictures it is a bass in good condition with all the features of a NR Tbird bass, wether it's a Gibson, Greco or BaCH. The price is not sky high.
The seller lists a year of manufacture for the bass and specifically states it's a Gibson with a BaCH neck.
IMO in the best case scenario the seller is ignorant. At worst he's lying.
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I didn't mean to knock the bass either, just to point out what looks like it isn't Gibson to me.
Earlier this morning I recalled seeing a non-reverse unfinished body and neck on Ebay some time ago. It was advertised as an incomplete copy created by an Ohio luthier. Maybe there is a connection to this bass.
All I'm saying is that if you expect to find a lot of Sixties Gibson hardware on this bass you will probably be disappointed.
On the other hand, it looks like it's a great bass for the current price.
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Not knocking it, no reason to think there's anything wrong with it as a bass, just can't see why anyone would pay a lot for what the buyer represents as a parts bass. It's currently at $998 with 3 1/2 days to go. To me, that's just crazy.
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Way too much for a parts bass with a dubious pedigree.
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Thats a REAL 60's Gibson body!Im looking at my 68 right now without the guard on it,and that front pickup wiring channel is spot on!So is the control cavity!That neck is either a greco or orville.Im thinking the later.Pickups are greco as well.Those tuners look exactly like my old Bach bird tuners..So They must be greco or he had them laying around in his parts box..Gibson stopped putting the tug bar on basses after 67.My 68 never had one installed.gotta take that guard off to see if its pre 68.The guard is not original either.COOL bass though! i dont think that price is out of line at all.Find another with a real Gibson body at that price! 8)Also a little FYI..Gibson stopped using nickle and went to chrome parts after 67..So the last 40(or so) TBirds (like my 68)were Chrome adorned.
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i dont think that price is out of line at all.Find another with a real Gibson body at that price!
True, because most people don't make parts basses from Gibson bodies intended for set necks. But it's still a parts bass. Wouldn't be worth any more to me than a new Honduras mahogany body unless I could find all the other original parts at a reasonable price.
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You have to like non reverse Tbirds first...I know like you,most guys are thinking..This aint worth shite!But me as a Bird player....with a real 60's non reverse body...
Pretty cool man
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I think NRs are pretty hot. I have two BaCHs but someday would like to come across an original. The Holy Grail for me would be an original finish Inverness Green NR.
Anyone here get this one?
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If that Frankenbass is worth 2013.01 what's an original worth?
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Way to much for that bass. :o
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I've seen an original one go for 12.000 USD
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I've seen an original one go for 12.000 USD
That one isn't worth 1/12 of $12,000 judging by the percentage of original unbutchered parts and the total lack of provable provenance. Does he actually believe BaCH makes their own proprietary tuners?
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For two grand I'd buy two from Carlo and Steve and pocket the change. I'd be better off for sure.
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For two grand I'd buy two from Carlo and Steve and pocket the change. I'd be better off for sure.
Thanks, Dave...If I were willing to spend $2K on an NR I'd try to convince Scott to sell me the least favorite of his on a first refusal buy back option. I have a similar deal with Baz on my Polaris White '65 IV.
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I'd buy seven BaCHs for two grand :mrgreen:
Waitaminute. No I don't need 7 identical basses. I'd buy a new iMac ;)
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Those tuners look exactly like my old Bach bird tuners..
No they're not the one BaCH uses. The open gear tuners that BaCH uses are the same on all their basses. The shape of the platform is different.
BaCH (don't have pic of BaCHbird handy, so here's a Fenderbird pic. same tuners)
(http://www.numberoneguitars.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/t/ft-1-headstock-back-angle.jpg)
Bass on Ebay
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Vintage-1966-Gibson-Thunderbird-IV-Bass-Guitar-Non-reverse-Beauty-XLNT-NR-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqF,!nkE8VNZy--0BPTB8Ws5)Q~~60_57.JPG)
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They are pretty close......... ;)
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Close at first glance, but very different if you compare one section of the tuner to the same on the other bass.
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Thanks, Dave...If I were willing to spend $2K on an NR I'd try to convince Scott to sell me the least favorite of his on a first refusal buy back option. I have a similar deal with Baz on my Polaris White '65 IV.
Hey...I have a refin an unbroken Non Reverse II (in the shop having the bridge /tailpiece properly aligned)....and $2,000.....would ya trade back for my white bird????
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Hey...I have a refin an unbroken Non Reverse II (in the shop having the bridge /tailpiece properly aligned)....and $2,000.....would ya trade back for my white bird????
No Thanks. I'm currently selling NRs, not buying. ;D
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/NR%202012/P1050371.jpg)
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Sorry man my NRs are not going anywhere soon ;) I am however always looking for more ;D Seriously Baz why are you messing with that NR ? You know your not going to be satisfied with it, I could save you from a lot of headaches.
Thanks, Dave...If I were willing to spend $2K on an NR I'd try to convince Scott to sell me the least favorite of his on a first refusal buy back option. I have a similar deal with Baz on my Polaris White '65 IV.
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Pretty sure you weren't selling Scott, just stirring up trouble! ;D
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Like I said, Scott.....Find me a reverse II and you got a deal!!!! Olivia's just listed a nice one...has a few issues....a bit overpriced.....
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I just put my BaCH Bird IV up for sale in the classified section.Its a sweet bass!