The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Bionic-Joe on August 27, 2012, 11:46:32 AM

Title: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 27, 2012, 11:46:32 AM
On Ebay??? Reverse...Non Reverse..60's 70's....glad I'm not jonesing...
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: godofthunder on August 27, 2012, 12:17:07 PM
 I'm always Jones'n.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: TBird1958 on August 27, 2012, 12:50:54 PM
Quote from: godofthunder on August 27, 2012, 12:17:07 PM
I'm always Jones'n.


Is the TB NR in your sights?  ;)
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: the mojo hobo on August 27, 2012, 01:00:58 PM
Quote from: TBird1958 on August 27, 2012, 12:50:54 PM

Is the TB NR in your sights?  ;)

It was, we discussed it previously: http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=7210.0
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: godofthunder on August 27, 2012, 01:37:28 PM
 I am passing for now. Seller is a nice guy we just couldn't come to terms.  Its up on tb's gfs forum. I might be hotter for it if the new NRs were not about to show up.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: gweimer on August 27, 2012, 01:51:20 PM
Quote from: godofthunder on August 27, 2012, 01:37:28 PM
I am passing for now. Seller is a nice guy we just couldn't come to terms.  Its up on tb's gfs forum. I might be hotter for it if the new NRs were not about to show up.

I'd agree with that.  It's not always having an original that we want, but the idea of having one.  Of course, I was foolish enough to let a white '66 NR Thunderbird II go a long time ago, in favor of a Jazz bass.

I've had my fanfret Precision up there for almost a year.  Lots of "really nice bass" comments, but no interest.  A listing on TB will pretty much vanish in a day or so, with all the volume.

The BaCH TH-1 runs were our little way of getting a version of something we liked and bypassing the outlandish price of the originals and having them a little more accessible.  I'd say the BaCH basses were a stroke of genius, in the end.  We can thank Rob for all the work on that.   The one time I took mine to a blues jam, I got stopped as I walked to the stage.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: godofthunder on August 27, 2012, 01:59:27 PM
 A number of things make this poor busted refin '65 less desirable than say a few years ago. 1. the economy. basket cases and poor refins just are not commanding top dollar. These are entry level pieces and those in that market (me included just don't have the $) A mint unbroken custom color will still sell to a high end buyer. 2. The Bach birds very nicely filled the void, those of us who may have gone out on a limb for such a poor example may just be satisfied with a Bach. Last but not least 3. After 47 years Gibson is finally re releasing this bass. Though not a exact replica of the 60's bass I think most of us will be satisfied........................once we chrome them out.  ;) Btw I will have no problem slapping a Badass on one of these.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: TBird1958 on August 27, 2012, 02:03:23 PM
Quote from: godofthunder on August 27, 2012, 01:37:28 PM
I am passing for now. Seller is a nice guy we just couldn't come to terms.  Its up on tb's gfs forum. I might be hotter for it if the new NRs were not about to show up.


You really can't ever have too many Thunderbirds  ;)
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: godofthunder on August 27, 2012, 02:30:51 PM
Quote from: TBird1958 on August 27, 2012, 02:03:23 PM

You really can't ever have too many Thunderbirds  ;)
Agreed! I'm just not going to pay to much for one!
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: gweimer on August 27, 2012, 02:31:23 PM
Quote from: TBird1958 on August 27, 2012, 02:03:23 PM

You really can't ever have too many Thunderbirds  ;)

Love,
Tom Petersson, Nikki Six, Uwe.....and Mark.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 27, 2012, 03:08:28 PM
Lets please do not mention Tom Petersson in my presense....Thanks.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Dave W on August 27, 2012, 04:03:39 PM
Quote from: Baz Cooper on August 27, 2012, 03:08:28 PM
Lets please do not mention Tom Petersson in my presense....Thanks.

I hope you're not serious. Tom's a legit topic of discussion. IIRC you had some sort of unpleasant experience with him, so you certainly don't have to like him, but keep in mind that Tom has fans here.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: nofi on August 27, 2012, 04:48:52 PM
he used to be your great buddy, baz. you would  sing his praises to the moon, in capital letters no less. lovers spat? ;D
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 27, 2012, 06:13:39 PM
I'd rather not  say anything right now.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 27, 2012, 06:15:20 PM
It really doesn't matter what happened between us. Just Not a fan of his anymore.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: gearHed289 on August 28, 2012, 09:08:53 AM
Quote from: gweimer on August 27, 2012, 01:51:20 PMThe BaCH TH-1 runs were our little way of getting a version of something we liked and bypassing the outlandish price of the originals and having them a little more accessible.  I'd say the BaCH basses were a stroke of genius, in the end.  We can thank Rob for all the work on that.

I agree 100%. It was a great way for me to satisfy my non-rev curiosity without spending a pile of money. Great basses, GREAT bargain, but in the end, I found, without a doubt, that non-rev birds are not for me.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Psycho Bass Guy on August 28, 2012, 12:28:37 PM
Quote from: gearHed289 on August 28, 2012, 09:08:53 AMI found, without a doubt, that non-rev birds are not for me.

I know it's near heresy here, but likewise. I played Scott's 60's 'bird from a local CL find a bunch before sending it on. I don't disdain them like I do many overpriced coffee table monstrosities, but my string attack is already very midrange heavy and the NR sound doesn't do it any favors.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 28, 2012, 03:37:20 PM
I'm kinda digging mine...I LOVE the reverse 65's I have...I almost thought about trading the Non Reverse T Bird  for a 1958 Rickenbacker 4000 replica.....
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 28, 2012, 06:51:25 PM
I love how people are listing tons of T Birds....at prices from a few years ago...and nobody is buying...Because 1 in 6 of US are living in poverty!!
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: godofthunder on August 28, 2012, 09:19:18 PM
 Well that's it isn't it? It's a great time to buy if you can, but people are asking pre 2008 prices........................... I know I'm not paying that.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 28, 2012, 09:26:41 PM
I agree.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: uwe on August 29, 2012, 05:32:05 AM
Quote from: Psycho Bass Guy on August 28, 2012, 12:28:37 PM
I know it's near heresy here, but likewise. I played Scott's 60's 'bird from a local CL find a bunch before sending it on. I don't disdain them like I do many overpriced coffee table monstrosities, but my string attack is already very midrange heavy and the NR sound doesn't do it any favors.

Baloney, anybody is free here to not like a Non Rev, they are certainly a cult instrument (but with more usability than other unicorn basses such as the Ric 4005). I personally prefer Revs, both for sound and ergonomics (Non Revs don't hang well at all), the only department a Non Rev is better in is upper register access. I think that they are (endearingly) ugly too and kind of "surfish" (I don't like the look of surf guitars).

That's the charm of Gibson basses, there is such a vast variety of them, you can love Victories and dislike TBirds (or vice versa). Dave W himself has never been a TBird fan (Rev or Non Rev) though I don't know why. Ergonomics, look or sound?

Essentially, a TBird is a bass that defies the Fender shape, appears larger than it is, has a look totally of its own (the Rev even more so) and has a sound that is less obstrusive in the mix than an agressively eq'ed 4001/4003, Stingray or P Bass. A TBird never grates, no matter what you do with it and I like that inherent mellowness/warmth in it, perhaps as many pick players do (Martin Turner of Wishbone Ash is on record for stating that it goes together well with pick playing). OTOH, it is not a snappy or naturally assertive bass, it tends to sit musically in the mix, neither a shrinking violet nor an attention grabber. And there are basses with more focus too.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Dave W on August 29, 2012, 08:48:49 AM
QuoteDave W himself has never been a TBird fan (Rev or Non Rev) though I don't know why. Ergonomics, look or sound?

I like 'em fine, especially like the look of the NRs. Just don't like 'em as much as some others. If I had the money to buy a lot of basses, no doubt I'd have at least one of each.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Psycho Bass Guy on August 29, 2012, 02:02:51 PM
I really do love the Rev-Birds, but I have rarely found any worth their asking prices, though I've not seriously bass-shopped in years. The NR's feel is really nice, and I am curious as to what the new ones with their modern pickups will sound like.

Doesn't matter though. I'm currently job hunting; after a year and half of my former employer trying to find an excuse to fire me, they finally put me in a situation where I would be fired no matter what I did, and they made it clear that they relished every minute of it. Pretty sure I've been blackballed too, (been there before and this 'feels' the same) but try proving that. Even consulted two different lawyers who both told me I had a good case for retaliation termination, even in this 'right to work' state, but since I don't have any money, they don't have the time. Things aren't desperate, just REALLY tight, and I have had a couple of call backs out of about three dozen serious applications, but no offers.

If I can get enough of a handle on my health to make it through basic again and get some waivers, I'll see if the military, who is pretty desperate right now, could be an option. Been getting grocery money selling off my toy ('toy' toys, not MI stuff) collection. Collectable toys actually still do pretty well, probably because its market is generally broader and more well-off. Musicians are poor in the best of times, and right now, nothing I have could be sold for more than a third of its value, even my huge collection of rare tube amps, and I know better than to try and go back into servicing them for others. I can't afford to eat parts costs for non-payment on repairs, which is how I ended up with a bunch them to start with.
Title: Re: Have you Noticed a Ton of thunderbirds have been for sale???
Post by: Bionic-Joe on August 30, 2012, 12:15:28 AM
Quote from: Psycho Bass Guy on August 29, 2012, 02:02:51 PM
I really do love the Rev-Birds, but I have rarely found any worth their asking prices, though I've not seriously bass-shopped in years. The NR's feel is really nice, and I am curious as to what the new ones with their modern pickups will sound like.

Doesn't matter though. I'm currently job hunting; after a year and half of my former employer trying to find an excuse to fire me, they finally put me in a situation where I would be fired no matter what I did, and they made it clear that they relished every minute of it. Pretty sure I've been blackballed too, (been there before and this 'feels' the same) but try proving that. Even consulted two different lawyers who both told me I had a good case for retaliation termination, even in this 'right to work' state, but since I don't have any money, they don't have the time. Things aren't desperate, just REALLY tight, and I have had a couple of call backs out of about three dozen serious applications, but no offers.

If I can get enough of a handle on my health to make it through basic again and get some waivers, I'll see if the military, who is pretty desperate right now, could be an option. Been getting grocery money selling off my toy ('toy' toys, not MI stuff) collection. Collectable toys actually still do pretty well, probably because its market is generally broader and more well-off. Musicians are poor in the best of times, and right now, nothing I have could be sold for more than a third of its value, even my huge collection of rare tube amps, and I know better than to try and go back into servicing them for others. I can't afford to eat parts costs for non-payment on repairs, which is how I ended up with a bunch them to start with.

I sold all of my action figure collection to buy the T birds and Hiwatts I now have....Now...I'm playing the piss out of them and not looking back....but I would like to buy another Hot Toys Indiana Jones, Taylor from Planet of the Apes and Six Million dollar man toys again someday...