The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Johnbob on July 01, 2012, 12:05:55 AM

Title: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: Johnbob on July 01, 2012, 12:05:55 AM: Haven't seen anyone post this yet. If so, sorry and feel free to delete this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140787294180

This thing looks pretty awesome IMO. He's unsure if it's a refinish or not but it looks pretty legit to me. I'm sure some of you guys are better at spotting the refins than I am. Regardless if it's the original finish or not, I think it looks perfect. Not too sure about the pickups though but I guess it's cool if it hasn't been rerouted.
Title: Re: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: Chris P. on July 01, 2012, 02:54:38 AM: I think it are sawn of Jazz pickups. Just put some NOS covers in it.. Great bass! It has to be restored by someone!
Title: Re: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: TBird1958 on July 01, 2012, 06:42:37 AM: I do like the color, Pelham Blue really looks great on T Birds. I think the seller is pretty straight up about it as well............Would I buy it? Probably not.
Restoration with '76 pups (Which I like!) would be spendy and difficult, OTOH making it a "player" with aftermarket pups would be a viable alternative. Under any circumstances for me that Supertone would go ;)
Title: Re: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: Bionic-Joe on July 01, 2012, 07:24:44 AM: Looks like a pretty good fin on it. If it was refinished...It was done a long time ago and you could probably restore it to full on all original parts and have a cool bass....Was the headstock busted??? ????? If I was into it, I'd for sure find a way to buy it...get original 1976 T bird pickups, etc...
the '76 Birds are cool...they do have a sound of their own...although when compared to a real 63-69 T birds, they are kinda limp.....But...Still...a cool bass!!! Better than those NEW ONES!!! HA!
Title: Re: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: godofthunder on July 01, 2012, 08:34:59 AM: Man that thing is climbing! I like my unbroken black '77 for $800 bucks much better ;D
Title: Re: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: Dave W on July 01, 2012, 10:59:12 AM: Wouldn't a factory Pelham Blue have aged to a greenish shade by now, especially on one that obviously hasn't been a case queen? More likely it's an older non-Gibson refin.

Friend of mine got $1500 (IIRC) for his yellow and black refin Bicentennial a year or two ago, someone before him had put two J pickups in, but he still had the original pickups and reinstalled them before selling. And his had the original bridge. This one's already at $1224 without those. Too high.
Title: Re: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: Nocturnal on July 01, 2012, 12:03:41 PM: This one has been for sale before and it went for much more $$$ than I thought it would back then. IIRC it went for less than it has been bid up to now. I think it went for around $1000 plus shipping. I'm pretty sure it was refered to as a refin last time it sold on ebay.
Title: Re: Pelham Blue Thunderbird.
Post by: 999 on July 01, 2012, 02:46:09 PM: I remember the same as Nokturnal. This was on ebay maybe two years ago and was in L.A. Though I thought the guy was representing it as "probably" the original finish. Easy to remember that color with the Hipshot bridge and EMGs. I believe it had a black pickguard at the time that the owner said he had changed. I also think it went in the $1K range IIRC.