Thunderbird X

[Basvarken]

This popped up on Facebook.




A guy named David Bourke posted it and wrote this:

A unique opportunity to acquire one of only three (and the only red, the other two were blue) Gibson Thunderbird X prototypes, made and gifted to me in 2012 when I worked at Gibson.  Gorgeous pearloid finish, robo-tuners, Babicz bridge, built in digital amp modelling, bass type modelling, player modelling (the Flea preset is spot on!), plus phaser, flanger, echo, distortion, compressor, exciter, eight-string, fretless, and foam mute simulations. USB, midi, 1/4" jack and balanced line outputs. Will work off a car battery if needed. Nothing this beast can't do.  Will include custom flightcase, bass is located in Kent, UK. Will ship worldwide and buyer's expense and risk.  Serious 5-figure offers only.  Will consider p/x for a Warwick Adam Clayton upside-down Explorer, preferably in gold. No timewasters please.

Go for it Uwe!

[uwe]

Oh wow, I certainly would have in my younger years ... Crawled over broken glass to get it, even considered a resumption of the all too soon aborted Operation Seelöwe ...

I always wondered whether they built bass prototypes of the Firebird X. I'm shaken. Utterly cool.

[Chris P.]

I was reading it with interest this morning, but when I came to Flea and the Clayton sig.....

[morrow]

April foolery .

[Basvarken]

I wouldn't dare... 

[morrow]

This ad appeared on the local kijiji ...

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-guitar/bedford/sold-vintage-gibson-les-paul/1558641618

I'm sure someone was just trying to get the local vultures going , that looks like an original first run with the trapeze replaced with a Bigsby ...

[Granny Gremlin]

Rob's photoshop skills are pretty stellar, hmmmmn....

Too cruel / not cruel enough though.  Like that thing is fugly.  A bass only Uwe could love.

I will say a bit interesting what they did with the pickup compliment though.  ... but that bridge pup is useless; they put it there for purely aesthetic reasons because adding a neck pup to a more typical TBIV config would be crouded/weird, like a 60s euro import.

[morrow]

[Basvarken]

@ Jake: it wasn't me (this time)

[Dave W]

I'm holding out for the even rarer model with the propane powered preamp. The Hank Hill signature model.

[TBird1958]

I have the other red one, just gotta find a blue - I collect for fins 

[uwe]

It just dawned on me ...  , I should have put two and two together ... der lügende Holländer ...

To my defense, I was doped this morning with anti-allergy drugs and had my mind on other things. But how rare this thing must be crossed my mind a couple of times today and I might have succumbed for even five digits ...

You know what made me think twice? That you monikered it Thunderbird X. If this thing had existed as a prototype, I would have expected them to retain the Firebird X (XB?) designation.

Good one, Rob, you broke my heart twice, first by having me decide against it, now by my belated realization it doesn't even exist. 

Böser Holländer! 

[Basvarken]

Don't shoot the messenger. 😉

I was just passing it on.
The joke was made by David Bourke.
But I figured you would appreciate / take the bait 😂

[4stringer77]

Not for nothing, those tuning keys look nice on the 2x2 headstock. Kluson should really make those for Gibson basses.

[Granny Gremlin]

Oh good, the world is safe from such things once more.