Early Thunderbird custom color headstocks?

scars · July 03, 2013, 05:39:22 PM

Hello, I've been mostly quietly reading these forums for a little while and had a Question.

I've seen a few pics of both a Polaris White and a Inverness green Solid color '63-'64 Thunderbirds where the whole headstock was the solid color. No black face.

Can anyone confirm if this actually happened or if they are likely refins?

I know I've seen a natural like this too some where.

To clarify, I'm talking about Early Gen 1 Reverse Thunderbirds pre 1965.
I know that the solid color Non Revs had matching solid color headstock.

Thanks.

TBird1958 · July 03, 2013, 05:54:59 PM

Now that I see the pic of the Inverness Green one I'm about 99.9% sure that it's original. That bass *was* owned by a guy on TB. He sold it, as I recall it was a '64.

It's a stunning looking bass, I couldn't have brought myself to selling, were it mine.

Chris P. · July 04, 2013, 01:38:12 AM

I believe in the early days only the sunburst (and of course black) T-birds had black headstocks?

dadagoboi · July 04, 2013, 03:04:30 AM

That white one not a 60s, it's a Bicentennial similar to my original paint '77.

Polaris white '64

amptech · July 04, 2013, 03:56:31 AM

Aah.. polaris white... A sexy bass does'nt get more nude than that!

scars · July 04, 2013, 04:23:55 AM

Quote from: dadagoboi on July 04, 2013, 03:04:30 AM
That white one not a 60s, it's a Bicentennial similar to my original paint '77.

Thanks! I did 't catch that Pickguard until you said that.

Bionic-Joe · July 04, 2013, 10:51:35 PM

I've seen both.. Gibson did what ever they felt...

mc2NY · July 06, 2013, 12:26:20 PM

Gibson did them both ways.

vates · July 06, 2013, 02:11:02 PM

Quote from: mc2NY on July 06, 2013, 12:26:20 PM
Gibson did them both ways.

And both are without "blackface" on you picture

uwe · July 09, 2013, 11:22:59 AM

Quote from: mc2NY on July 06, 2013, 12:26:20 PM
Gibson did them both ways.

I've always said that, but it has been contested by others!

TBird1958 · July 09, 2013, 11:29:36 AM

Quote from: uwe on July 09, 2013, 11:22:59 AM
I've always said that, but it has been contested by others!

Going both ways.................

mc2NY · July 25, 2013, 11:57:37 AM

I'm guessing that it was either a case of the painters each having the freedom to interpret the custom orders back then....OR...the orders either specified "custom color" OR " custom color with matching headstock."

Probably would need an old time Kalamazoo employee who handled custom orders to know for sure....but any of those who handled 60s TBirds would likely be in their 70s and hard to find.

Highlander · July 25, 2013, 12:05:13 PM

I have a hard enough time trying to track down WWII vets and they were numerous once ...

How many employees were there back then to even find if you could ... ?

Dave W · July 25, 2013, 07:31:33 PM

Quote from: CAR-54 on July 25, 2013, 12:05:13 PM
I have a hard enough time trying to track down WWII vets and they were numerous once ...

How many employees were there back then to even find if you could ... ?

Jules talked to some of them when he made his trip to Kalamazoo, I don't know how far back any of them were there.

mc2NY · August 04, 2013, 01:27:30 PM

I bought my black custom 74 Les Paul Signature from a former Kalamazoo employee, who had his own luthier shop after Gibson moved....but I recently lost half my Drafts folder with all that contact data in it. He likely would have known, since he had them custom paint his guitar with extra coats and did factory mods to it.

I'll keep searching my old files to see if I come across any old email address on him. But it's been about seven or eight years since I dealt with him and he was selling off stuff because he was old and retired....