The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Basvarken on March 21, 2023, 09:33:14 AM
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David Kiswiney shared these pics with me.
Gibson's master builder Jim De Cola built this beautiful Thunderbird II for him.
The neck is not a nine ply laminate. But three piece mahogany.
The machine heads are Hipshot Ultra-lites.
The pickup is DeCola's reissue of the historic 60's T-Bird Pickup. He made the bridge a little hotter than the neck pickup, so they would balance better. David Kiswiney's bass has the hotter bridge position pickup.
It also has the Rex Brown Active boost via a push/pull switch on the tone control.
At the request of David the lower strap button was placed off-center, for better balance
Gibson should be taking these into production! They'd have a real winner in their hands.
(https://www.thegibsonbassbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jim-De-Cola-built-TB-II-David-Kiswiney12.jpg)
(https://www.thegibsonbassbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jim-De-Cola-built-TB-II-David-Kiswiney5.jpg)
(https://www.thegibsonbassbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jim-De-Cola-built-TB-II-David-Kiswiney4.jpg)
(https://www.thegibsonbassbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jim-De-Cola-built-TB-II-David-Kiswiney10.jpg)
(https://www.thegibsonbassbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jim-De-Cola-built-TB-II-David-Kiswiney6.jpg)
(https://www.thegibsonbassbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Jim-De-Cola-built-TB-II-David-Kiswiney3.jpg)
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That's so pretty! I think a one pickup Tbird is my holy grail. In white!
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There’s a lot to be said for two knob simplicity.
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I want that bass!
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I'm not Mr Nostalgia, but this looks nice and well-done.
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Gorgeous!
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Let's not get carried away.
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That work is pure magic! The future as we saw it, in 1963. How much?
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Great looking bass, and well thought out. The relocated strap pin is a good idea. Hamer started doing that in the 70s on their Standards (Explorers).
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Hot damn! What a beauty...
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Outstanding!
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I'm shutting this thread if you all don't get a grip on yourselves! :mrgreen:
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I'm shutting this thread if you all don't get a grip on yourselves! :mrgreen:
Hey now!
I have a firm grip on myself, secondly the bass is finally the one most of us have wanted for decades! Gibson need to get this into production then you can assail them for a SPCB re-issue. :P
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I will continue to closely monitor this thread and herewith reserve the implementation of any and all warranted public security measures at any time.
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Gibson, please just take my money!
(https://i.imgur.com/4eaZmLM.jpg)
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Great looking bass, and well thought out. The relocated strap pin is a good idea. Hamer started doing that in the 70s on their Standards (Explorers).
The Thunderbird Studio has its lower strap button located off center as well, although not as much so as this bass.
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Hey now!
I have a firm grip on myself, secondly the bass is finally the one most of us have wanted for decades! Gibson need to get this into production then you can assail them for a SPCB re-issue. :P
Let's not forget reclaiming the Continental V.
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Ah, yes, ze Cöntinental V, that one would have been interesting!
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I will continue to closely monitor this thread and herewith reserve the implementation of any and all warranted public security measures at any time.
What if it had black hardware?
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Then that wouldn't look good on this particular bass which valiantly attempts to stem from another time.
It's purdy, no two ways about it. That doesn't mean that everything on and to it is better than on a standard modern TBird. That it's active/passive is neat. I've never been a great fan of that 60ies TBird bridge, separate stringholders are a somewhat makeshift structural concept if you have a stable bridge that doesn't tip forward, but as you know there is no reasoning with nostalgiacs! :mrgreen:
The tuners are a good idea too. Not sure why I should favor three-ply-maho over the tried and trusted nine-ply maho/walnut mix for the neck, but maybe the ole Scream Dreamer knows something we don't.
Sandberg hasn't been sleeping on the subject either ...
(https://www.session.de/thumbnail/54/52/f1/1674133696/sandberg-forty-eight-5-pf-brownburst-hca-01_960x960.jpg)
.https://www.session.de/products/sandberg-forty-eight-5-pf-brownburst-hca/?cpkey=3-AgUI2Zg1i_JBXilNMosvRDy8TxzZGMgbR3KQEQQ0EH3XQs4YqCiCM4Z716DvYF4j8jDwYZZhV_E4jJbe_aKg~~&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8e-gBhD0ARIsAJiDsaVjiCwnzNms6radVk6z686Y8mn-5UUanrMa0WlbsIihipyS3RLPQWcaAji1EALw_wcB
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I've never played a Sandberg, but love that you can get aged hardware. I don't want artificial aging, but I hate shiny hardware. I love it dulled down.
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Sandberg makes some beautiful basses but their relic jobs are awful.
Their take on the TBird (above) just doesn't look right to my eyes.
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It's nigh impossible to get a 5-string Rev TBird to look right. The sleekness of the neck and fretboard is essential for the design.
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David Kiswiney shared these pics with me.
Rob, does this mean you'll be gearing up for another edition of the book?
I know that my OCD would take issue with this one floating around without being compiled and dutifully registered.
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The Sandburgs are cool, but I hate fake relic jobs. They have them locally here at Chicago Music Exchange.
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I play with a guitarist who has a penchant for expensive boutique relics, yet is totally distraught if he bumps or scratches one of them! That is wrong in so many ways. :mrgreen:
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I play with a guitarist who has a penchant for expensive boutique relics, yet is totally distraught if he bumps or scratches one of them! That is wrong in so many ways. :mrgreen:
That is so incredibly perfect.
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When it comes to Thunderbirds Herr Dietrich got it right, Gibson has always done it best - That Sandberg is not for me!
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Gibson is indeed getting closer. I'm curious about the bridge being so high, have they reverted the acute neck angle? I think the Rex Brown boost is superfluous and hopefully be left off any production modelsthat may be coming. I'm not sure I like the non tapered body wings, but it adds body mass for those who whine about neck dive and it's also easier to manufacture. I'll be talking with my Gibson contact soon, hopefully I can get some more info.
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Rob, does this mean you'll be gearing up for another edition of the book?
I know that my OCD would take issue with this one floating around without being compiled and dutifully registered.
I think I ought to be. But I'm not (yet).