Author Topic: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question  (Read 2963 times)

calibanrecords

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Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« on: December 27, 2019, 08:43:38 AM »
This is my bass. Found an old post here where it suggest it could be very, very rare, maybe only one or two in this color. Original post below.
Any new info around? Anyone? Thanx.

"Gibson did a special small run of these in 1986 for key Gibson dealers in Japan, mostly in Polaris White color with ebony fingerboards. The ones from this run all have the Gibson Custom Shop decal on the back of the headstock.

I was told it was a run of only six but I ran across a post on the internet that states it may have been around 20.

Either way...they are VERY rare. I've seen three of them so far, including mine and the one Uwe owns,  all Polaris White.

...I wish I could find another! I'd actually passed on a second one about a week after I'd bought this one, not realizing how rare it was at the time....and haven't found another since in six or seven years. DUH!


TBird1958

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2019, 10:00:20 AM »


 It's a lovely bass, certainly one that I'd really like to own someday.
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slinkp

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2019, 10:28:32 AM »
Are those leftover '76 pickups? I see three screws!
Basses: Gibson lpb-1, Gibson dc jr tribute, Greco thunderbird, Danelectro dc, Ibanez blazer.  Amps: genz benz shuttle 6.0, EA CXL110, EA CXL112, Spark 40.  Guitars: Danelectro 59XT, rebuilt cheap LP copy

calibanrecords

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2019, 11:54:18 AM »
I doubt it, bass was made in 86`.

4stringer77

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2019, 01:55:50 PM »
Nice bass. They made the bicentennial through ‘79 so I’d think there’s a chance there were some nos pickups still around when they made this run. I’m wondering if the pickguard is original or if the logo wore off or just never was applied at all. Thanks for sharing, welcome and happy new year.
Contrary to what James Bond says, a good Gibson should be stirred, not shaken.

FrankieTbird

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2019, 11:10:05 PM »

Tell us how you found that one?  It's a beauty.

OldManC

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2019, 11:02:56 PM »
I owned a white one and the pickup was either NOS from the 76-79 models or wound with the exact components the 70's models used. Uwe owns it now. Very beautiful basses. 

calibanrecords

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2019, 09:17:35 AM »
I owned a white one and the pickup was either NOS from the 76-79 models or wound with the exact components the 70's models used. Uwe owns it now. Very beautiful basses.

So, any new information on how many were made? And have you ever seen another black one?

OldManC

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2019, 07:28:07 PM »
I saw a photo of a black one about ten years ago. It was in Japan and had the custom shop sticker in the same spot. I've also seen one photo of a sunburst one. All the rest were white (well, faded into cream, like mine). Mine did not have a custom shop sticker, and I believe it was not part of the main batch that were sent to Japan (my seller was in the U.S., didn't really know what they had, and the bass came in what looked like an original (and huge/heavy) hard case with the blue fur inside).

Dave W

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2019, 11:33:21 PM »
I doubt if there are any records of how many were made.

calibanrecords

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #10 on: December 31, 2019, 03:47:58 AM »
Ait, thanx!

I am considering selling it, what would be a fair price, in your opinions?

ajkula66

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2019, 07:57:03 PM »

I am considering selling it, what would be a fair price, in your opinions?

The problem with setting a price for an unicorn-ish item like your Bird is lack of comparable past sales. Hence it's tough to establish a "fair price".

If you have a figure in mind, list it on Reverb or any other place of your choice and see whether the Bird flies.

Good luck.
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Highlander

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2020, 03:48:56 PM »
Price it like this to start... how much would a 60's T2 cost, then half it...
The realistic price is what someone is willing to pay... even a one off will have a price someone is willing to pay... or they won't...
Really depends how much you want and how much you need to sell yours...
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If research was easy, it wouldn't need doing...
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Highlander

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #13 on: January 02, 2020, 03:57:14 PM »
This is for sale right now...

1964 Thunderbird two
The random mind of a Silver Surfer...
If research was easy, it wouldn't need doing...
Staring at that event horizon is a dirty job, but someone has to do it; something's going to come back out of it one day...

Dave W

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Re: Thunderbird II single pickup 1986 question
« Reply #14 on: January 02, 2020, 11:49:21 PM »
I don't think it would bring even remotely near half of what a 60s Bird would fetch. Bicentennial Birds don't go for more than $4K and that high is an exception. I wouldn't ask more than $2500 to start.