Rare Bird - What's it worth

[steveonbass]

Asking for a very good friend

64 T Bird II in original Pelham Blue. - 30 year old headstock repair (very clean/very stable).

I am positive it's all original - my buddy has had it for about 10 years now and another friend that sold it to him had it for 10 years prior to that. the bass has a lot of famous recording history.

Played it the other night - the bass seemed to weigh nothing - drooling.

What is it worth?

[uwe]

US-$ 5.000 (if that high)? If the pelham blue is original, that would generally fetch a much higher price, but the neck break taketh away (and more) whatever the color giveth.

I'm coming from what I paid for my four 60ies Birds (all sunburst, three unbroken) pre-financial crisis. That was around US-$ 5,000 except for my NR II which needed a severe neck repair and was in horrible shape.

If prices are now indeed higher, I'll be delighted - wow, value increase of ze kölleckshün!!!

Mahogany Birds are never heavy. Today's maho might weigh more than what they used in the 60ies, but that still doesn't make these basses shoulder benders. Anybody not accustomed to a TBird will always be surprised about how light it is. Same with Explorers.

[Bionic-Joe]

That's a tough call....Does he want to sell it??? Any pics of the bass and pics of the repair? They are still asking big bucks but I don't see too many right now and I don't see any selling...

[Highlander]

A 30 year old repair... would be interesting to see the "refin" (which would have had to take place) around the repair area... to see how the paint-matching has coped with age... it may not have been as perfect a match in that era as you could potentially get now...?

Any chance of pics of the repair...?

[steveonbass]

I have no photos at the moment.  The repair is hazed over with just a little black - it was never trying to match.   You can see that it was broken and repaired very cleanly and minimally - no extra wood/filler - just one hairline where it was glued

It's the nicest feeling and sounding bird I've ever played and it's his No 1 bass  - He is not looking to move it.

I appreciate all the knowledge here - thanks for the help!

[mc2NY]

I don't know......still a broken neck TBird.

A broken one is worth maybe $3000-3500, depending on the break and repair.

Custom color but still broken and refinned.....IMO, not much more.

I'd rather have an unbroken, refinned 'Bird, than a broken custom color one any day.

Does it have a black front headstock or a matching Pelham Blue?

[Basvarken]

Speaking of neck repairs; there is an Orville Thunderbird on Ebay right now with a low BIN because of a not so well executed neck repair.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orville-by-Gibson-THUNDERBARD-SB-No-126014-AS-IS-w-soft-Case-RefNo-66617/171826453645?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33277%26meid%3Db4df143cbac7450790e27dabcdebf3f4%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D161778960782

[Highlander]

Thunderbard...?

Shakespeare on a Bard day...?

[steveonbass]

I don't remember what color the HS is.  Broken or Unbroken - I'd rather have the better playing and sounding bass - real inherent value.  I was wondering it's $$$ value for my friend.  Again, i appreciate the input.

[Pilgrim]

Thunderbard...?

Shakespeare on a Bard day...?

Shakespeare after a bad taco dinner = Thunderbard.

[Highlander]

Alas poor ring-piece, I knew it well...