Author Topic: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)  (Read 8258 times)

dexter

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Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« on: May 08, 2009, 10:22:49 PM »
let me start buy saying thats the sellers description of this Epiphone Bass
 
I aint seen one of these till now!

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140319534854

whatever , its an AMAZING looking bass , notice that it has the early T-bird configuration bridge/tailpiece . very nice!
 Two bird p/ups.
condition looks fantastic,
long scale too, and the batwing headstock just floors me , incredibly gorgeous.
whats the consensus on the price ?

i know if i had the money i would be hittin' the button
oscar

gweimer

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2009, 08:50:00 AM »
Looks very nice, even with all the checking.  The seller obviously doesn't know the full history of the Epiphones built in Kalamazoo during the '60s.  The reason they sound like a Thunderbird is because all the hardware and pickups were identical.

I'd say the price is way over the top for an Embassy.  Despite the fact that I prefer the Embassy to the Thunderbird (but that's just me), I don't think I've seen one go over $3000 ever.  Couple that with the current economy AND the fact that the bass is in Tokyo, I'd say he's not going to get any takers.

I must have been lucky with my Embassy.  In the 20 years I had it, it never checked at all.  And I was borderline abusive to that bass.
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Stjofön Big

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2009, 09:16:04 AM »
I guess you're right about that, Gary. Though I wouldn't bet on it until I see where the Ebay auction is going. I visited an old friend of mine in Stockholm, Sweden, last Tuesday. The guy's a famous, and reliable, guitar dealer. As I've been thinking about selling one of my two Embassies, I asked what he thought I could get. His guess was $2 000. That's a little to small an amount for such a bass, especially when knowing that I would have a hard time finding another in decent shape for a comfortable amount. Guess I'll sell my old friend, a 65 Fender P-bass, instead. But anyway you look at it, when selling old instruments, you feel screwed...

uwe

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2009, 09:42:29 AM »
They're nice basses and deliver a vintage TB sound, but since no famous player ever played one as his mainstay bass, they have the celebrity/history factor missing in the vintage pricing market.
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Dave W

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2009, 10:45:37 AM »
You have to be "of a certain age" to remember Fang playing one, and even then his Hoffie and Vox got more notice.

Also, IMHO the price of any Kalamazoo-made Epi is affected a bit by what Gibson did to the brand starting in the 70s.

This one looks great. I just don't think he'll get an offer anywhere near the BIN. I agree with Gary, never saw one sell for over 3K.

nofi

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2009, 10:58:29 AM »
i guess i'm of a certain age . i saw fang with a white vox something or other was i was a mere lad.

he had 'fang' on the bass back in big black letters. and the girls went wild... :mrgreen:

Dave W

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2009, 11:06:46 AM »
Hey, nothing wrong with having a trademarked move.

I think he had Fang on the back of all of them. The Vox was a Phantom IV, the Hofner was a Club.

About 5 years ago he had a band called Fang & the Gang, he was playing a Jazz Bass, also with Fang on the back.

gweimer

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2009, 12:58:00 PM »
Well, this guy owned mine, and he's been known to play them every once in a while on stage...

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Dave W

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2009, 07:20:09 PM »
If you asked 100 Cheap Trick fans which bass they identify with Tom Petersson, would anyone choose the Embassy?

Rhythm N. Bliss

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2009, 08:12:45 PM »
Didn't he play a Zemaitis too?  8)

Oh yeah~ a 12 string Zemaitis!!!!!!!!!!!!




« Last Edit: May 09, 2009, 08:25:14 PM by Rhythm N. Bliss »

Lightyear

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2009, 11:04:00 AM »
Where are the other 8 tuners?  Or is this just a pic of him with a 4 banger?

MARICOPAA

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #11 on: May 11, 2009, 02:20:17 PM »
Tom Petersson played a Chandler 12-String built by Paul Chandler up in Chico Ca. Paul does a huge business in pickguards.

http://www.chandlerguitars.com/

Highlander

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #12 on: May 11, 2009, 04:52:28 PM »
The London branch quoted me £50 for a replacement (hand made) for my damaged RD Artist 'plate and £125 for a new Moog PCB (post her accident) 22 years back... which is why she lay dormant for so many years...  :sad:
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Barklessdog

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #13 on: May 12, 2009, 10:36:00 AM »
GreatDealz had RD scratchplate for $24.00 US or 10 Pounds US and they are original unused

Highlander

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Re: Rare! 1965 Epiphone Embassy Bass (Epiphone Thunderbird)
« Reply #14 on: May 12, 2009, 03:35:56 PM »
Uwe made me an offer I could not refuse...  :o
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...