Author Topic: Bicentennial T-Bird value?  (Read 2526 times)

Dave W

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Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« on: March 23, 2012, 01:30:03 PM »
Interesting afternoon... the man who was here to quote some replacement windows for me turns out to be a bassist in an area blues band, and he has a white Bicentennial 'Bird that he would like to sell. He's the original owner. It's unbroken.

He says he made two mistakes when he first bought it: he traded the original case back to the dealer for an anvil case, and he thought the emblem on the pickguard was cheesy so he had them put on a plain black one instead; he doesn't have the original guard.

I haven't followed these closely anytime lately, any ideas? He seemed to think that he could have gotten $2K if it had the original case and guard, is that about right?

Denis

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2012, 02:01:29 PM »
That's cool. According to Jules's site, the white Bicentennials are the rarest of the lot so I would think $2 at least, maybe $3k. I don't think I've ever even seen on on eBay.
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dadagoboi

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2012, 02:38:52 PM »
A few years a go I would have paid $3k for an unbroken white one, now that I have a pair of '60s I'm not interested...he's right, that bicentennial bird is goofy, especially since the white ones weren't shipped until mid '77, definitely not cool to me back in the day.  I got the first one in L.A. that year and immediately replaced the guard with a black one I made.  The original and the ashtrays stayed in the case until I traded it.  Neck was never to my liking but it sounded great!

Here it is July '77 Whisky a Go Go, ThunderBucker on guitar, me on bass and backup vox.  2 Coliseum heads, 2 SVT cabs.  Steve's playing a 50s tele straight thru a Marshall.
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TBird1958

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2012, 03:04:24 PM »


 They have gone up a bit - I'd love to have a white one. IIRC someone on TB posted some closed auctions recently and a good natural one had sold at 2.5K. My three were substaintailly less but had "issues" i.e. broken necks, missing parts, no finish! etc. 
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godofthunder

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2012, 04:53:37 PM »
 I'd say 2.5k is about right, the white as stated is the toughest to find. Unbroken is always a plus.
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Dave W

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2012, 10:12:29 PM »
Are you saying he might get 2.5K for his, or that one with the original case and pickguard might go for that much?

TBird1958

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2012, 10:34:19 PM »

 Personally I don't care for '76 cases at all, pretty much a non issue as far as price goes. The PG OTOH is a point, as we've seen (goofy or not!) they go for $$$ on ebay. So from 2.5K to 2.2K. He'd be wise to try and find one - with bridge and pup cover he'd have a 3k bass. 
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godofthunder

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2012, 07:56:49 AM »
 I think he could get 2.5k without the case and even maybe without the guard and covers. Like Mark says the case isn't a real issue.
Are you saying he might get 2.5K for his, or that one with the original case and pickguard might go for that much?
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dadagoboi

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2012, 07:59:26 AM »
Quit driving up the price, guys! ;D

godofthunder

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2012, 08:00:58 AM »
 I would never pay that kind of money for a '76, hell for that kind of dough I'll go out and buy another NR.
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godofthunder

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2012, 08:25:15 AM »
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Bionic-Joe

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2012, 12:34:06 PM »
I would actually trade my refin unbroken NR II for a white '76.........no really...I've ALLWAYS loved the white '76 birds...don't know why...Just do.

Bionic-Joe

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2012, 02:09:09 PM »
Were not the ones driving up prices! Check Olivia's auction  :o http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Gibson-THUNDERBIRD-IV-bicentennial-BLACK-/370597296834?pt=Guitar&hash=item564951fac2

Great guys to deal with...really awesome guys...But their prices are always high....and for a cracked T bird??? I'd say 2K tops.....

Dave W

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2012, 02:44:43 PM »
I have no idea if Olivia's ever gets their asking prices, but their asking prices are almost always well above usual market value. Even on less expensive stuff.

uwe

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Re: Bicentennial T-Bird value?
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2012, 04:51:03 PM »
Aye, 2.5.
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