Tbird with sunburst headstock & no serial#

4stringer77 · June 17, 2013, 11:02:28 AM

I thought this bird would be worth discussion here.
http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-thunderbird-ii-1963-sunburst#
If the headstock is original, wouldn't the serial number be visible?

nofi · June 17, 2013, 01:31:54 PM

the seller is playing a pretty good guessing game with this bass. of course by writing 'circa' he relieves himself of the job of dating this thing exactly.

Bionic-Joe · June 17, 2013, 01:37:57 PM

I went over there one day and played it...It needs a fret job...it has a crack across the back..it really looks good...but I believe it was rep[aired, stripped and refinned a LONG LONG time ago...I think the owner is trying to play dumb...He's a repair guy..If he can't tell it's been repaired, he's a Nucklehead..otherwise...he is trying to find some dummy...It's worth about $2,00. I told him that broken ones are going for around $3,00...he said he would go down to the $4,00 range...it's NOT worth it..Fret job needed??? Fuggetaboutit!!!

TBird1958 · June 17, 2013, 02:24:00 PM

Thanks Baz!

I was about to sell a kidney to finance it!

Bionic-Joe · June 18, 2013, 02:53:49 PM

Bro, there is one for $3,000 on Gbase...headstock replacement..but he still has the original..Look at Martin Turner's bass....

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-thunderbird-ii-1963

Elderley Instruments...

mc2NY · June 26, 2013, 03:28:45 PM

Kinda weird that they replaced the headstock with a correct 9-piece new headstock and scarfed it on.....but put a volute on it?

Guess the owner wanted to be extra sure it wouldn't't break again?

uwe · July 11, 2013, 07:21:12 AM

Did it have a full maho neck? The early ones had.