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Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: pilgrim9 on January 20, 2014, 02:32:48 AM

Title: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: pilgrim9 on January 20, 2014, 02:32:48 AM
Way over priced project, but it has some original parts.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-Custom-Gibson-Non-Reverse-Forward-Thunderbird-II-Electric-Bass-Guitar-/281249087415?pt=Guitar&hash=item417bc07fb7 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-Custom-Gibson-Non-Reverse-Forward-Thunderbird-II-Electric-Bass-Guitar-/281249087415?pt=Guitar&hash=item417bc07fb7)
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 07:40:23 AM
 The asking price is just crazy. I'd have to be in love and drunk off my ass  to pay $1,500 for it
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 08:59:02 AM
 Uh Oh......................I think I'm in love, crap. Is anyone going after this? If not I may toss a offer at it see if they bite.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 09:07:43 AM
 Blast it I made a offer.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 20, 2014, 09:22:15 AM
I made an offer as well but it was declined.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 09:45:08 AM
 I offered $1,100 way low next to his BIN  but what the heck. I'm sure any offer he accepts is still to much for that thing. I bet it goes a couple rounds on ebay.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Dave W on January 20, 2014, 11:38:39 AM
He may eventually decide to be reasonable. At least he's straightforward about what it is and what he knows about it. But you gotta laugh at the description of the mods as "custom parts." I never knew routing for a J pickup constituted a custom part.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 11:41:02 AM
 Also without a black light test I presume it to be broken.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 20, 2014, 12:09:37 PM
This would be a good candidate for Inverness Green once sorted out!

Scott, does the black light test show gaps or grain breaks or old glue?
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: amptech on January 20, 2014, 12:11:29 PM
Saw it yesterday.. There was a ´56 EB bass too..
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 12:18:39 PM
 Tell you the truth I'm not sure. Opps reply to the black light question not this
Saw it yesterday.. There was a ´56 EB bass too..
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Highlander on January 20, 2014, 03:15:20 PM
You have better examples and this has been wrecked... let this be someone else's problem... there, best advice I've given you this year... ;)
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 03:41:20 PM
 I said before I'll stand down if someone wants else wants it but I can't let it go begging. I'd be the best thing to happen to this bass in 20 years.  ;D
You have better examples and this has been wrecked... let this be someone else's problem... there, best advice I've given you this year... ;)
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: FrankieTbird on January 20, 2014, 03:55:00 PM

What's with the black pickguard in the parts picture?  Is that a Gibson piece?

That could be an awesome bass.  I think the red one from GC for something like $2200 is a better deal though.  Unless you could get this one for like $1200 or less.  I don't know if it would be worth much more.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 20, 2014, 04:05:55 PM
 I tossed 1,100 and 1,200 both declined............................ I'll let it simmer for a while.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: pilgrim9 on January 20, 2014, 06:18:13 PM
What's with the black pickguard in the parts picture?  Is that a Gibson piece?
It looks like a original white guard that was painted black to me.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: cmaj on January 20, 2014, 09:34:22 PM
It looks like a original white guard that was painted black to me.
I agree.  You can see the Bird in the corner.  The bass was played a fair amount after the guard was painted black.  There's plenty of nicks and scratches where the paint was knocked off and you can see the white underneath. 

I kind of like the idea of putting the black guard back on it and dropping some kind of j bass pup back in the hole.  Just to have some fun.  Serious restoration could begin later. 

Not saying I'm in this thing.  I'm totally skint. :-[
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 29, 2014, 07:11:20 PM
Well, it's mine. Add another NR to the LBO family!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Rob on January 29, 2014, 07:45:13 PM
Well, it's mine. Add another NR to the LBO family!
Congrats!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: chromium on January 29, 2014, 07:48:23 PM
Congrats!!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Nocturnal on January 29, 2014, 09:54:36 PM
Well, it's mine. Add another NR to the LBO family!

Damn Denis you are building quite the collection!!! Congrats!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Highlander on January 30, 2014, 12:29:54 AM
Well done, but what was the damage, if you don't mind...?
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 30, 2014, 05:20:06 AM
Damn Denis you are building quite the collection!!! Congrats!


Haha, thanks! I know, but I'm not sure if I like what that says about me!

Well done, but what was the damage, if you don't mind...?

Thanks! Don't really want to say but it was a LOT less than his BIN and a good chunk less that what GC told Scott they wanted for that red one on it's website.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: godofthunder on January 30, 2014, 06:42:08 AM
 Congrats Dennis! Glad you got her. Anything I can help with let me know.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 30, 2014, 11:27:10 AM
Thanks, Scott!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Highlander on January 30, 2014, 12:12:11 PM
All that counts is a happy owner...

What's the plan once she comes home...?
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 30, 2014, 12:24:27 PM
The seller thinks it was originally a burst. With the hole square in the middle for a j pup, going to a burst refin isn't really feasible since it would show up.
So, strip the whole thing, carefully fill in that j pup hole and go to one of the solid colors Gibson offered on those. Inverness Green comes to mind as a No. 1 choice though some of the other colors are actually pretty good looking. However, I don't care for the Cardinal Red so much.

Wasn't there a poll around here for colors?
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Highlander on January 30, 2014, 12:30:18 PM
Rob ran it for custom Bach fins... iirc IG won it...

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/482223_316875438440901_1189859411_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 30, 2014, 01:16:53 PM
Ah, that's right, Rob's BaCH poll! That is pretty damn nice looking.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: dadagoboi on January 30, 2014, 02:04:28 PM
Glad to see you're getting into the real vintage, Denis, congrats!  What Scott said goes for me, I'll help if I can.

...strip the whole thing, carefully fill in that j pup hole and go to one of the solid colors Gibson offered on those...

No need to strip it if you're doing a solid color.  Unless you're into paying big bucks for a lacquer refin the painter will be using modern paint, not nitro.  A skim coat of poly primer will be shot over the PROPERLY prepared feathered and filled body,scuff sanded and then a color coat and clear coats.

There are very few people shooting nitro besides me (quick note: IT"S BEEN ILLEGAL TO BRING LACQUER OF ANY KIND INTO CALIFORNIA FOR FIVE YEARS).  Any of the quality finishers there, Marty Bell, Curtis Novak, Bruce Johnston, and the guy in L.A. (don't remember his name) included are using thin modern basecoat/clearcoat finishes.  I'm now using poly primer under my lacquer color finishes.  6 ounces of the stuff will do an entire body.  I can't tell any difference tonewise between it and multiple coats of lacquer sealer and primer.  It also perfectly fills the invisible lines you thought wouldn't be a problem when filling pickup holes.

Inverness Green is a metallic, it's only available in acrylic lacquer if you want to go that way.
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Rob on January 30, 2014, 06:15:52 PM
I also perfectly fills the invisible lines you thought wouldn't be a problem when filling pickup holes.

Snipped but funny line of the day  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Bionic-Joe on January 30, 2014, 07:15:13 PM
I would suggest restoring it properly and not Honky it out. RS Guitarworks did an Inverness Green Thunderbird II relic for me a few years ago. It came out FANTASTIC!!!!!! Well worth the money. Tell 'em Baz sent ya!!!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: dadagoboi on January 30, 2014, 09:09:37 PM
Snipped but funny line of the day  :mrgreen:

... It also perfectly fills the invisible lines you thought wouldn't be a problem when filling pickup holes.

I obviously need to proofread my posts more thoroughly :-[ :-[
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on January 31, 2014, 06:32:45 AM
Glad to see you're getting into the real vintage, Denis, congrats!  What Scott said goes for me, I'll help if I can.

No need to strip it if you're doing a solid color.  Unless you're into paying big bucks for a lacquer refin the painter will be using modern paint, not nitro.  A skim coat of poly primer will be shot over the PROPERLY prepared feathered and filled body,scuff sanded and then a color coat and clear coats.

There are very few people shooting nitro besides me (quick note: IT"S BEEN ILLEGAL TO BRING LACQUER OF ANY KIND INTO CALIFORNIA FOR FIVE YEARS).  Any of the quality finishers there, Marty Bell, Curtis Novak, Bruce Johnston, and the guy in L.A. (don't remember his name) included are using thin modern basecoat/clearcoat finishes.  I'm now using poly primer under my lacquer color finishes.  6 ounces of the stuff will do an entire body.  I can't tell any difference tonewise between it and multiple coats of lacquer sealer and primer.  It also perfectly fills the invisible lines you thought wouldn't be a problem when filling pickup holes.

Inverness Green is a metallic, it's only available in acrylic lacquer if you want to go that way.


Thanks for all the great info, Carlo!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: dadagoboi on January 31, 2014, 06:36:24 AM
You're welcome, Denis.  Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out!
Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: the mojo hobo on February 01, 2014, 07:19:55 PM
Luckily Denis and I don't live in California. And Tower Paint will make lacquer any color you want and even put it in a rattle can if you want.

http://www.apstowerpaint.com/index.php

Title: Re: Refinished Modded non reverse II
Post by: Denis on February 02, 2014, 06:46:57 AM
Excellent! Thanks for that link. Good to know there's that option for paint.