Orville Thunderbird on the Bay...

uwe · August 31, 2010, 07:15:38 AM

I bought my sixties TB IV from Kevin at the time, the bass was a little derelict (no neck break, but drilled holes for extra pots and other crimes) and not all parts were original, but that was evident. Paid something like 5.000 bucks for it at the time and thought that an ok price back then, it would probably go cheaper today, I wanted to refin it anyway

so the badly, but not nicely worn fin was of no concern to me (but would have been an issue to buyers wanting to keep it original hence Kevin's more moderate pricing). I felt neither cheated nor running away with a steal. I have nothing against the guy, he makes a living selling basses at a profit to people who can afford them.

But I remember the EB-650 episode Dave recounted very well and Kevin's arguments were downright cynical at the time. Along the lines of "someone will stumble over this bass one day and want to have it for that price (not knowing what its value is), you just wait". Well it seems Kevin is the one still waiting. At the time I actually thought that he didn't know the difference between an EB-650 and a -750 which at least regularly fetches 3.000 bucks (or used to, today it would probably be closer to 2.500) and is much rarer (only about 70 were produced) 4.500 bucks for an EB-650 - fine bass that it is - is out of this world.

And the whole Orville thing is frankly a hype and only explainable before the background of the dearth of affordable sixties and seventies neck-thru TBs. Reminds me of the Tokai hysteria in the eighties.

Uwe

Bionic-Joe · August 31, 2010, 07:49:50 AM

That is my old thunderbird. I bought it for $2,000.00 from an old rocker from Queens, NY. Had a small headstock crack repair and mixed parts. In fact, I had a friend at work machine the original bridge before Uwe put the Dasson one on. You can tell because it doesn't have the 3 screws on the bottom for the mutes. Another bass I sold after my son was born. Hey...do you still have that bridge???

uwe · August 31, 2010, 09:00:48 AM

Yup, I do. It did have a small tuner route crack repair, you're right. Kevin said that the bass 'might' have belonged to Kenny Aaronson at one point, can you shed a little light on that? It's not why I bought it - I was happy to have a sixties IV that no one would feel bad about to see refinned.

TBird1958 · August 31, 2010, 09:03:24 AM

That one would look good on me Herr Moderator, I have some hair that matches nicely

uwe · August 31, 2010, 09:06:01 AM

As always, I was trying to emulate you! Poorly, alas!, but sincerely!!!

TBird1958 · August 31, 2010, 09:54:37 AM

Now that, kind Sir, is flattery

Vielen Danke

Aussie Mark · September 02, 2010, 05:50:58 PM

Quote from: Dave W on August 30, 2010, 11:07:02 AM
Unreasonably high BIN

Somebody obviously didn't think so.

uwe · September 02, 2010, 06:11:59 PM

Drunk driving is unreasonable too, yet people do it all the time.

Dave W · September 02, 2010, 08:50:50 PM

Quote from: Aussie Mark on September 02, 2010, 05:50:58 PM
Somebody obviously didn't think so.

Somebody overpaid. Or to put it another way, paid more than these have been selling for.

Bionic-Joe · September 02, 2010, 08:54:20 PM

Oh.....Kevin Gave me a great deal as always. Good Friend. Now I can keep the vintage ones at home......we'll see. Maybe I'll canibalize it!!!!! Ah Ha! ha! ha! ha! Dr. Frankenstein is back!!!!!!

Dave W · September 02, 2010, 08:58:27 PM

Quote from: Baz Cooper on September 02, 2010, 08:54:20 PM
Oh.....Kevin Gave me a great deal as always. Good Friend. Now I can keep the vintage ones at home......we'll see. Maybe I'll canibalize it!!!!! Ah Ha! ha! ha! ha! Dr. Frankenstein is back!!!!!!

Aha! So someone didn't overpay!

I can remember a time when you and Kevin got into it at the Pit. Glad you both got past that.

TBird1958 · September 02, 2010, 09:37:09 PM

Quote from: Baz Cooper on September 02, 2010, 08:54:20 PM
Oh.....Kevin Gave me a great deal as always. Good Friend. Now I can keep the vintage ones at home......we'll see. Maybe I'll canibalize it!!!!! Ah Ha! ha! ha! ha! Dr. Frankenstein is back!!!!!!

Don't hurt it Baz

Bionic-Joe · September 02, 2010, 10:32:15 PM

Yeah, Dave, That was back in 2000 over a Precision value vs. a Jazz bass value. And I was pissed at George Carlston because he had so many thunderbirds. What an ass I was. Immature. Message boards can suck ass too sometimes. You cannot always communicate precisely what point you are trying to get across. Mark...YOU LOVE Pain!!!! You love it so much you want me to feel pain and you won't trade me back my NR 8!!! Ha!! Ha!! This shit is why I need to go to luthier school. Seems every time I build a bass and sell/trade it, the owner's don't want to give it back!!! I must be doing something right!!