1987 pre-regular line Custom Shop TB IV

uwe · February 22, 2011, 11:58:19 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Thunderbird-Bass-1987-Custom-Shop-/260738242009?pt=Guitar&hash=item3cb535d5d9

Still has the jack on the top and the headstock might actually still be a large one, hard to tell from those pics, but it certainly has large open gear tuners. But for a pre-regular series model the price he asks isn't outrageous. Whether this thing sounds better or even different than the regular Reissue Birds that came out later is anybody's guess though. I hadn't been aware that in 1987 they did a Cusrom Shop "test run" before reinstating the TBird as a regular model but it makes sense. Auction over in a few minutes, if no one snipes at it it will no doubt be relisted ...

Or should I give it a try? $:-\$

uwe · February 22, 2011, 12:07:17 PM

I just did ... 1.666 Dollars, so if anybody here wants it more than I ... feel invited. Destiny at work.

TBird1958 · February 22, 2011, 12:15:29 PM

Yeeech.......Black Hipshot! He wrecked it.

uwe · February 22, 2011, 12:19:47 PM

Calm down, Mark, the original bridge is still there.

George Carlston, where are you? You have a TBird foster child waiting for you. Seller won't ship to ze Reich and given how you have experience in trying out pre regular-line Birds for me I want this sent to you for a lengthy stay and a fastidious report here before it makes its way over the Atlantic.

uwe · February 22, 2011, 12:21:58 PM

I hasten to add: This was not collecting for fins!!! (And in any case my 97 TB IV has the same fin.) It's a Custom Shop model, that is entirely different.

Dave W · February 22, 2011, 12:22:15 PM

Another one for Uwe's collection. I think that's a decent price, doesn't look like any great difference between it and the later production but the Custom Shop Edition logo does add to the value.

The orphan three-point will make a nice doorstop.

uwe · February 22, 2011, 12:49:07 PM

This is probably not any more "Custom Shop" (in the sense of premium quality) than the Q-80ies the CS churned out at the same time. More likely the CS had nothing to do so they let them build the first 50. Wonder whether the larger headstock will make a sound dif. Herr Carlston will let us know.

Once he's awake that is.

TBird1958 · February 22, 2011, 01:03:38 PM

Ended already!

uwe · February 22, 2011, 01:04:47 PM

Mark is a bit slow today.

Highlander · February 22, 2011, 01:27:37 PM

Congrats...

You must have rolled past the 100th "Gibson" by now - just curious what was the 100th...

TBird1958 · February 22, 2011, 01:27:59 PM

Hey!

I put the S-L, in O-W!

Plus I'm at work............Damn distractions.

uwe · February 22, 2011, 01:45:22 PM

Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on February 22, 2011, 01:27:37 PM
Congrats...

You must have rolled past the 100th "Gibson" by now - just curious what was the 100th...

I have no idea! Numbers don't mean anything to me, only completeness does.

Highlander · February 22, 2011, 02:35:31 PM

I guess a family album shot would take one of those extra looooong rolls of continous paper to print out... rather handy most digital cameras come with a built in "stitch" function too...

(completism... that was another well known in other circles German's problem, too...)

OldManC · February 22, 2011, 02:40:34 PM

I was wondering what you'd gotten Uwe. I knew it was a bird from the emails but that's all I could find. I should have known there would be a thread here! I'm looking forward to playing with it. I've been wondering about that Hipshot...

godofthunder · February 22, 2011, 03:11:20 PM

Nice score Uwe!, I was looking at that but no my cup of tea really. I did not notice the jack on top! Makes it all the more special.