PRETTY sure that's NOT a Gibson!

[gearHed289]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261004746693&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

[Nocturnal]

I saw that and had the same thought. Plenty of pic's, but not one of the front of the headstock?

[the mojo hobo]

Supposedly it was "Built by Bill Thornbrough from Gibson Guitars". So who is Bill Thronbrough?

Definately not a Gibson, but Gibson inspired.

[Big_Stu]

Maybe "Bill" built the bass but he made a pig of the rear cover; what did he cut the panel with, a can opener?
Still like it though; but never liked either of the pickups.

[Dave W]

If you look at the plate closely, it's actually spelled Thornbrugh. So I looked him up using Bill Thornbrugh guitar and found this on a site from someone named Brad Howard in the Dallas area: "I have two other Electric guitars that were custom made by Bill Thornbrugh (now Deceased). These two instruments were built from scratch and are works of art. They are heavy instruments though. Made from walnut and birds eye maple tops. They both play very very nice and sound a bit different from each other."

So he was a guitar builder. Who knows, he may have worked for Gibson at one time. But the auction bass is certainly not a Gibson.

Look how well it fits in the case.  

[Iome]

But still, DiMarCo makes great piickups, didn't you know?

[Pilgrim]

I saw that and had the same thought. Plenty of pic's, but not one of the front of the headstock?

That's the first thing that yumped out at me.

[Dave W]

Wait a minute, hold the presses! Does the buyer's name on the plate -- Byron Goad, Jr. -- ring a bell?  Anyone else remember this Early Explorer thread from 2008? Byron Goad Jr. was the Cadillac dealer from Victoria Texas who ordered an Explorer Bass replica in the early 80s from the Gibson Custom Shop. I wonder if this has any connection to the so-called west coast custom shop run by Roger Giffen? I wonder if Roger would know Bill Thornbrugh?

In any case it's not a genuine Gibson bass, but it's possible that the builder had some connection to Gibson.

[the mojo hobo]

It would have to be a very loose connection. Why a Dimarzio Model 1 and a creme colored Model G? They are similar pickups and two that match would be more pleasing to the eye, especially if they were chrome TB pluses. The bridge and string spacing are not very Gibsonish either. The pickup pole pieces appear to be way off especially on the E string side.

[Dave W]

You're right, if he ever had any connection at all to Gibson this bass wasn't part of it. The ones Giffen made later used some leftover Gibson parts. Nothing Gibson about this except the body shape. Even the headstock shape isn't quite right.

I have no idea if he really ever was. The only possible connection would be Byron Goad Jr.

[Dave W]

Sold for $660. Hope the buyer knows he's getting a pig in a poke.

[uwe]

Wait a minute, hold the presses! Does the buyer's name on the plate -- Byron Goad, Jr. -- ring a bell?  Anyone else remember this Early Explorer thread from 2008? Byron Goad Jr. was the Cadillac dealer from Victoria Texas who ordered an Explorer Bass replica in the early 80s from the Gibson Custom Shop. I wonder if this has any connection to the so-called west coast custom shop run by Roger Giffen? I wonder if Roger would know Bill Thornbrugh?

In any case it's not a genuine Gibson bass, but it's possible that the builder had some connection to Gibson.

Old eagle eye, Dave! That Byron Goad reference is interesting, I have his initials "BDG" on that eighties Custom Shop Explorer.

[garrettj]

Hey, sorry to dig up an old thread, but I'm Bill Thornbrugh's grandson and have been looking around to see if I could find any of his guitars online. I sure wish I'd known about that auction six months ago.

He didn't work for Gibson. He made guitars as a hobby, out in a shop behind his house in Victoria, TX.

If anyone reading this would like to sell me a Bill Thornbrugh guitar, please contact me. My email address is shown below (as an image to avoid spam).



Thanks.

[Highlander]

Being a (part-time) researcher and knowing how difficult it sometimes is to trace things I'd see no problem to trying to find family items - good luck and welcome...

[FrankieTbird]

Hi John, welcome to the forum.  Maybe you can contact the seller from that eBay auction to see if they can put you in touch with the buyer.  They may be sympathetic to your quest.  You could try to get in touch with http://www.1scom.net/~bwhoward/Guitar.htm also.  Good luck!