GIBSON Club. Part II

[ajkula66]

I ajkula55, could you provide more information about that model, please?

I've never owned one of these basses, and only played a single $ Bass a couple of years ago. Not sure what you'd like to know, but they sold poorly when new and are not commanding high prices on the used market. Like most Gibsons built in this millennium, QC is a hit or miss. I'm reasonably certain that the truss rod tool used on these basses is unique to them, and not the standard Gibson one.

If you like the bass, just play the heck out of it and enjoy...

 

[vates]

I'm reasonably certain that the truss rod tool used on these basses is unique to them, and not the standard Gibson one.

The truss rod tool is standard Gibson. I share the same tool on my "Money" bass, as well as Gibson acoustic and electric guitars.

 

[Kriegs]

Gibson Thunderbird Short Scale

My flock of 'Birds (Gibson Firebird, Gibson Thunderbird SS & Epi CP)

 

[vates]

And welcome!

#393 Kriegs

 

[red7flag]

OK. Got bass back and here are the pics.
Tony

 

[Showdown]

Gibson Thunderbird Short Scale
View attachment 3593959

My flock of 'Birds (Gibson Firebird, Gibson Thunderbird SS & Epi CP)
View attachment 3593960

Love the silverburst on that SS. I have one, but in the standard matte black. I assume you refinished?

 

[Kriegs]

Love the silverburst on that SS. I have one, but in the standard matte black. I assume you refinished?

The original owner wanted to make it look like a Nikki Sixx T-Bird and started to carve XX's into the top but then stopped, tried to sand them down and then gave up and sold it to the guy that I bought it from. He's small, local shop and he had it professionally refinished to the burst by Noll Guitars, her in Rhode Island, and I bought it not long after that.
I LOVE the silverburst on a Tbird and had bought one before, an Epiphone bolt on version:

But the neck/ body transition was horrible, so it went right back after an hour.

 

[xroads64]

1976 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass in Polaris White

 

[aproud1]

1976 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass in Polaris White

View attachment 3596311 View attachment 3596313 View attachment 3596314 View attachment 3596315 View attachment 3596316View attachment 3596321 View attachment 3596319 View attachment 3596320

Sweet! Thats the kind of weirdness I'm talkin about! Would love to play that!

 

[xroads64]

Sweet! Thats the kind of weirdness I'm talkin about! Would love to play that!

It's the only shorty I own, and it fills up a room like none other...this is one bass I will never sell. The details are hard to track down, but according to a Gibson shipping record I found only 207 white Triumph's were made. I don't take that as gospel, but for sure the white ones are much more rare than the natural finishes. Here's the best part; I bought it for $400 about 10 years ago. I would have paid much more, but this is the price that the local Sam Ash music had on the used bass. I guess the 'used gear buyer' that day was not on their game. That's ok, the Ash's have enough money. Score one for the home team

 

[red7flag]

I am really pleased with the 2007 Les Paul DC (appears to be the same as the "Money" bass, but without the $ one the truss rod cover. Has a deep rich tone and for some reason I am not aware of is quite a bit louder than my other passive basses. On stage, it sounds great, but does not cut like a P through a drum kit, even though it is louder. I am not sure why they did not make more of these wonderful basses. I love the long scale, beautiful figured laminated wood and nicely figured mahogany on the back and sides. More than anything, love the rich, deep tone. This will not be a metal bass, but it does what it does extremely well. Will be selling my nice Gretsch HB to make room for this Gibby.

 

[cellkirk74]

1976 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass in Polaris White

looks like a pic from ishibashi. Is it for sale there?

 

[xroads64]

looks like a pic from ishibashi. Is it for sale there?

Ishibashi??? What the heck is that? Look two posts above, this is my bass. Why would I post a picture of a bass in the Gibson Club that I don't own?

 

[SturmUndDrang]

I am really pleased with the 2007 Les Paul DC (appears to be the same as the "Money" bass, but without the $ one the truss rod cover. Has a deep rich tone and for some reason I am not aware of is quite a bit louder than my other passive basses. On stage, it sounds great, but does not cut like a P through a drum kit, even though it is louder. I am not sure why they did not make more of these wonderful basses. I love the long scale, beautiful figured laminated wood and nicely figured mahogany on the back and sides. More than anything, love the rich, deep tone. This will not be a metal bass, but it does what it does extremely well. Will be selling my nice Gretsch HB to make room for this Gibby.

Glad you like the bass. Another difference is the money basses have an extra layer of walnut underneath the flame maple cap. The sound owes more to the pickups I believe. They are the same tb+ as other les paul basses have and are hot and middy. The PAF size bobbins might be a factor as well. I did play my money bass in a metal band but had plenty of clean headroom through a GK 1001 RBII and a neo 4x 12. Neat color on yours. Looks halfway between the rootbeer and black cherry finishes.
edit* I see you asked about the controls. They should be V, V, T. Also try adjusting pickup height. For more bite bring them up closer to the strings.

 

[cellkirk74]

Ishibashi??? What the heck is that?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

oh, just Japan`s biggest Music retailer.... The pictures in their used gear adds look a lot the the ones you posted, but I didn`t want to offend you....

 

[Kriegs]

View attachment 3596311

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

oh, just Japan`s biggest Music retailer.... The pictures in their used gear adds look a lot the the ones you posted, but I didn`t want to offend you....

It's definitely close, to my eyes at least
Here's an example from Ishibashi's Website

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Need a little bit of help from my Gibson pals... I'm having a bit of trouble with the volume pots on my Thunder Series V, mainly the neck pickup volume, but sometimes the bridge pickup volume cutting out. Exercising has helped, but not fixed...

What's the best course of action here? Can I get some DeOxit to somewhere that'll do any good? Time for new pots?

Here's what's under the plate...

 

[aproud1]

Need a little bit of help from my Gibson pals... I'm having a bit of trouble with the volume pots on my Thunder Series V, mainly the neck pickup volume, but sometimes the bridge pickup volume cutting out. Exercising has helped, but not fixed...

What's the best course of action here? Can I get some DeOxit to somewhere that'll do any good? Time for new pots?

Here's what's under the plate...

View attachment 3605968

If you have de-oxit handy it's worth a ... shot .... If you have to buy de-oxit, I'd just replace the pots. A recent experience with Dunlop Superpots made me a believer. Super smooth, nice even taper and they are sealed. Of course any decent pot will do. I tried these because I've been having issues with wider than normal tolerance on CTS pots. Because not only am I a dad joke nerd, i'm also the nerd that tests all of my electronic components before installing in my basses.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

If you have de-oxit handy it's worth a ... shot .... If you have to buy de-oxit, I'd just replace the pots. A recent experience with Dunlop Superpots made me a believer. Super smooth, nice even taper and they are sealed. Of course any decent pot will do. I tried these because I've been having issues with wider than normal tolerance on CTS pots. Because not only am I a dad joke nerd, i'm also the nerd that tests all of my electronic components before installing in my basses.

Invalid Link Removed

Thanks!

Oh yeah, I keep some DeOxit spray around. I guess the trick is getting it where it'll do any good.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

As an aside, I'm really enjoying having my two Gibsons out in rotation right now... both from 1987, a black Q-80 and my red Thunder Series Bass V 5-string. Totally different machines. I've got the Q-80 set up with D'Addario Chromes right now, and wow, that's a wicked sound. Conversely, the Thunder Series V is wearing T-I Jazz Rounds. I may change that around before I park them again... flats back on the fiver and rounds back on the Q-80.