The caffeine made me do it. Either that or the mahogany dust I've been huffing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=370476776159&si=NA8TdKGVeCtR1vhjw2OXLUrX0Sw%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
Nice Carlo looks like a good deal to me! Funny I check ebay at least once a day for Thunderbirds, never saw this one :( was it a BIN ?
Definitely the dust! Nice bass none the less!
Quote from: godofthunder on January 20, 2011, 05:46:48 AM
Nice Carlo looks like a good deal to me! Funny I check ebay at least once a day for Thunderbirds, never saw this one :( was it a BIN ?
Yes, Scott, BIN. The TBird listings are the first thing I see when I fire up the computer. The deal seemed reasonable considering how few seem to have intact necks and be relatively unmolested...and the $5K I've seen others listed for. I've got the correct tuners sitting on my Embassy carcass. The jack breakout is an easy fix, etc. But basically, I wanted it. Gotta call the guy and make sure it arrives in one piece!
edit: actually those might be the original tuners.
It is just as well I didn't see the BIN!
Congrats. Which year?
I was positive if I didn't pull the trigger it would have been gone by the end of the day. It was a BIN or make an offer but I didn't want to risk it. The price was worth it to get a closer look.
Thanks, Uwe. It's a '64, will go nicely with my Polaris white (refinned) '65 IV. Hopefully my TBird G.A.S. is cured.
"Hopefully my TBird G.A.S. is cured." sure.............. sure it is. ;D
Ugatzzz!!!!!!! :o I am green.And no it ain't easy
A 64 like mine then. I used it on one track of our most recent recordings, it sounded great and that is what the engineer thought too.
Quote from: uwe on January 20, 2011, 08:31:17 AM
A 64 like mine then. I used it on one track of our most recent recordings, it sounded great and that is what the engineer thought too.
A great year, left home for college and rarely returned.
Baz and I were discussing the vintage TBird sound a while back, he described it as the 'best Precision sound ever.' I had to agree. Perhaps your engineer would also. There's something about vintage instruments be it the tonewood or electronics that just does it for me. There's no question about "Made By Hand", that's for sure!
Thunderbird II = Drool, Sex, Want ;)
Somewhere down the line or in another life I'd like to attempt a through neck Honduras Tbird. This might be a great template. Looking forward to putting one of Scott's Badbirds on this one.
Just spoke to the seller about making sure it gets here in one piece. He sold it for a guy in need of $$ to get to back to Nashville, probably not TP ;D
It's a rare bird that escapes Tom.
Hipshot has all they need form me for the bridges, I'm hoping March ! Lots of interest lately!
Nice one...!
That's good to hear, Scott! Must be all those new reliced Thunderbirds Gibson is sneaking out the back door ;D
Arrive Thursday AM smelling like a wino on a 2 week drunk. Case is from an RI, missing handle, seller is sending one, really nice guy in Glendale CA. There was a chrome football shaped plate covering the bad jack hole I cut a pice of plastic to replace it, crude but effective. The plate said Freedom Guitars on it, Sunset Strip shop, so I guess it's lived most of its life in CA. Friday PM, I changed out the chrome tuners for nickel off my Embassy, ditto the bridge. Cleaned the bird with ScratchX, replaced rusted screws, polished the pup with Mother's metal polish. The neck is straight as an arrow, plays great...I knew I bought those gold knobs two weeks ago for a reason.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/1964%20Thunderbird%20II/DSC03301.jpg)
There was 2" tape residue over the logo and wrapping around the back...wtf? Came off the paint with ScratchX but is fused to the pickguard.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/1964%20Thunderbird%20II/DSC03302.jpg)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/1964%20Thunderbird%20II/DSC03299.jpg)
That's so frickken' cool!
It has a somewhat reddish color in the pics (which I like!) is that true? or from the sunlight?
Looks like it started life a a Cherry Sunburst, there IS a lot of red in it. First noticed it as I was removing the nicotine coating from the finish (adds new meaning to 'Tobacco Sunburst'). Unusual that it hasn't totally faded by now. I'm digging it.
Good score, sir. Very mojo-ey.
MAN, Carlo!!! That reddish colour is amazing!!! Nice score!!!!
Nice bass ! On the color I think the top has been refinished, just my gut feeling. I have never seen one like that. The shading looks very un Gibson to me. Regardless beautiful bass.....................your lucky I didn't see it first. ;)
Your mentioning nicotine removal reminded me of my apprentice days - we used to get the 747 outlet valves to clean up - 1/4" of tar build up in places... :o
Regarding the bass... lost for words...
Looks good to me.
From the pics, I think the finish is original. It's possible the top has been oversprayed, but I've seen finishes change colors in unpredictable ways depending on what they've been exposed to.
very nice indeed.....
I consider myself fairly competent when judging refins and this is all original IMO.
In Entwistles book he shows a pair of Firebirds with the caption, "this ones cherry...this one isn't". I'm thinking whoever was painting that day was doing cherry sunbursts or cherry SGs or whatever. I'm just happy with it however it ended up this way.
I love it. I'm envious! Enjoy the heck out of it!
I've seen several slightly Cherry looking sunbursts. It's real.
Whats going on in the control cavity ? Is that some kind of shielding paint ? As for Entwistle on things being original or fake even he has been fooled.
Quote from: Baz Cooper on January 30, 2011, 04:04:45 PM
I've seen several slightly Cherry looking sunbursts. It's real.
Just because you have seen it doesn't mean it's real. No disrespect but I still believe something isn't right. The back is light in color and I still say the top doesn't look correct. I have my doubts, I started in music and vintage retail in '76 I have seen more than my fair share of Thunderbirds. With no other documented examples, with only two pictures and not being able to physically see the bass I still have my doubts.
:popcorn:
what does it sound like?
This'64 was on Ebay a few years back. Same paint in the cavity less the chrome tape.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/1964%20Thunderbird%20II/240881.jpg)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/1964%20Thunderbird%20II/240881FB.jpg)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/1964%20Thunderbird%20II/240881P.jpg)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/1964%20Thunderbird%20II/240881Pots.jpg)
I would have thought your T-Bird was an old refin too but what do I know. Not a T-Bird expert by any means. Heck, there are folks here who think $289 Mike Lull perfect repro pickups are expensive but don't hesitate to bid $275 for a used Orville pickup. ???
Quote from: Hörnisse on January 30, 2011, 08:42:12 PM
I would have thought your T-Bird was an old refin too but what do I know. Not a T-Bird expert by any means. Heck, there are folks here who think $289 Mike Lull perfect repro pickups are expensive but don't hesitate to bid $275 for a used Orville pickup. ???
And there are folks here whose budget for a whole bass is $275.
Quote from: Dave W on January 30, 2011, 09:23:30 PM
And there are folks here whose budget for a whole bass is $275.
Hey, I resemble that remark! I paid $249 for my DR-5 Heartfield Bass and it is my main axe. 8)
Quote from: Hörnisse on January 30, 2011, 08:42:12 PM
I would have thought your T-Bird was an old refin too but what do I know. Not a T-Bird expert by any means. Heck, there are folks here who think $289 Mike Lull perfect repro pickups are expensive but don't hesitate to bid $275 for a used Orville pickup. ???
;) I hear ya! ;D
But truthfully they're both great pickups!
Well....From what I understand the Pickup is not "Used", only soldered to test it out. It still has a 12" long lead on it, It sounds f***ing amazing. If you've never heard an Orville Thunderbird pickup, you have no entitlement or opinion to judge with. Way Hotter than a Mike Lull T bass pickup. And as for you, my Pal, Scotty...My 65 sunburst thunderbird II has some red in the burst as well. Not Doubting you. Stranger things have happened! And I have played the above mint 64 thunderbird. It was at a music store in Brookfield Wisconsin. I almost did a deal with it. I think I offered 2 60's refinned t birds, one headstock repair and a 60's P bass. They wanted an additional $3,000.00. Warp Drive Music. So there are exceptions. I've seen a lot myself. And from what I understand...there are some consistencies and well as inconsistencies. So who is right and who is wrong. But the Orville I am selling is not used and it is KICK F'ing ASS!!!!!
Quote from: Baz Cooper on January 30, 2011, 09:36:13 PM
If you've never heard an Orville Thunderbird pickup, you have no entitlement or opinion to judge with.
You've got me there. But I still wouldn't pay $275 for it.
basically when it comes to finishes i couldn't tell you beans from apple butter but i am glad my friend got it, i know it will be loved and played.
Quote from: Baz Cooper on January 30, 2011, 09:36:13 PM
Well....From ASS!!!!!
yeah what he said
I just think it's a great looking bass and really wish I could afford one like it, to me it's THE BASS.
As for the pups, well I have two 'Birds with Orvilles and they're very nice and as Baz says a hot signal, but tonewise (and this is just my to own ear!) the Lull is far better if you like a vintage tone, esp. as a single pup - Again just my opinion tho ;)
I agree with you on the Orville pups, Mark. Personally I prefer the sound of original Reverse pups but I know Baz loves his Orvilles. It will be interesting to see what Jim thinks about the Orville if he gets it since he has the largest collection of pups of anyone I know, including a Lull. $275 doesn't seem unreasonable to me.
At the price of this baby and its structural intactness, discussing whether the fin is original or not borders on sinful inmodesty! :mrgreen:
I don't give a damn one way or the other. Excellent buy. Yes, I havent seen a sixties, or any Bird for that matter where the fin has aged like that, but otoh my 64 TBird has the strongest red of all my TBirds of all decades in it too, albeit with the black border still much more prominent.
I agree it is a fantastic buy! Refin or not I would have snagged it. I am not 100% sure that is a refin but the color and the spray pattern are two red flags for me. That's two inconsistencies in one stage of production, bad even for Gibson.
Quote from: godofthunder on January 30, 2011, 05:11:51 PM
Whats going on in the control cavity ? Is that some kind of shielding paint ? As for Entwistle on things being original or fake even he has been fooled.
But he won't get fooled again...
Beautiful bass, Carlo! Congrats!!!
... and the Groan Award goes to... ;D
Beautiful TBird Carlo, congrats sir!
It is a great score! I like the wear on it too.
Beautiful bass!