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Show Me Your Thunderbird Bass
- Thread starter FenderHotRod
- Start date
Nice collection....
Ok, I know a couple aren't 'birds, but the Triumph sort of belongs anyway, the RD is close enough, and the EB has 'bird pickups, so it's an honorary 'birdie.
The last pic has the hos including Ibanez, Greco, and Epiphone Japan. The rest are various Gibsons (except for the Epiphone Embassy, which is a 'bird in everything but shape alone).
When I was young I didn't like the natural/sunburst 'birds all that much either, but these days I like 'em all. I still need a 63-64 reverse IV, but other than that I've finally got at least one of each stock model from every era. I guess I could always try to find one of those '91 three pickup customs, but I'd rather get the black twin of my '86 II (second pic on the right). Last I heard it was in Japan, but it was sold in '02 so I'm not sure where it is now. Anyone know?
P.S. I loves me some Thunderbirds!
I m Peter from Europe and i would like to found if this bass is original.
I will be happy of any replay
Sure looks original to me - besides the defret and bridge replacement. Looks to me like there's been a headstock repair (like with most of them). Nice bass - congrats!
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You can put a Bad Bird Bridge on there made by Scott adds son....He sells them on EBAY.
They look like the original correct bridge, except the bridge base is just a little wider SOMTHE old Thunderbirds will,intonate correctly. Most pro players who use 1960s Thunderbirds have those on their TBirds, so they intonate.
They look like the original correct bridge, except the bridge base is just a little wider SOMTHE old Thunderbirds will,intonate correctly. Most pro players who use 1960s Thunderbirds have those on their TBirds, so they intonate.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,600
- 222,015
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
The molded grounding tray they did on the later 60's T-bird's was a nice touch. Wasn't done on the first generation ('63-'65) as they used silver paint instead.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,059
- 38,443
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I was asked about my '69 Thunderbird in a now closed post, so her she is! I do have the covers btw 
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,059
- 38,443
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I'd buy that in a heartbeat! The headstock is replaced not repaired, no big deal pretty common really. I do sell a replacement bridge for 60's Thunderbirds. Above is a picture of the Badbird Bridge mounted on my '69 Thunderbird.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Badbird-Bridge/166569760043127?ref=hl
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,059
- 38,443
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I noticed no holes for a tug bar on your pickguard...................it looks legit other than that might have been replaced at one time or maybe the tug bar wasn't installed at the factory. They more I look at it the more I think it is original and they just forgot to install the tug bar lol.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,059
- 38,443
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Trying to find any info on this (posted in another thread). Mid to late 70's custom, never seen another with binding. Supposedly built by a luthier in Chicago who bought the Gibson bodies / necks and turned them into custom finished guitars and basses.
Got it in the early 80's and the story checked out at the time (verified at a shop, they saw it and told me the same story as the guy that sold it to me.)
Sold it 20 years ago and just bought it back. Great to have it again.
Got it in the early 80's and the story checked out at the time (verified at a shop, they saw it and told me the same story as the guy that sold it to me.)
Sold it 20 years ago and just bought it back. Great to have it again.
