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SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!

#6,041
Top (Sherwood?) green one looks to be one of the rare late '65's with lollypops. Sherwood green is pretty rare also. And it appears the Tele is amber'd Sonic blue, or Ice blue metallic. Pretty cool.

And the '64? T-bird II is like mine. Just after unpacking it in late '78. (it came with OHSC, brass mute w/white felt pads and both covers) Original pg & all parts safely stored.

upload_2023-6-27_8-34-32.jpeg
upload_2023-6-27_8-40-37.jpeg
upload_2023-6-27_8-40-51.jpeg

Original bridge replaced by a Scott Dasson Badbird bridge that allows proper intonation - something the original didn't. I added the Seymour Duncan "Hawkbucker" in the late '80s.
upload_2023-6-27_8-43-17.jpeg


recently -

upload_2023-6-27_8-36-43.jpeg
upload_2023-6-27_8-51-33.jpeg
 
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#6,043
JIO said:
Top (Sherwood?) green one looks to be one of the rare late '65's with lollypops. Sherwood green is pretty rare also. And it appears the Tele is amber'd Sonic blue, or Ice blue metallic. Pretty cool.

And the '64? T-bird II is like mine. Just after unpacking it in late '78. (it came with OHSC, brass mute w/white felt pads and both covers) Original pg & all parts safely stored.

View attachment 5106916View attachment 5106922 View attachment 5106924
Original bridge replaced by a Scott Dasson Badbird bridge that allows proper intonation - something the original didn't. I added the Seymour Duncan "Hawkbucker" in the late '80s.
View attachment 5106925

recently -

View attachment 5106917View attachment 5106929
Click to expand...

The top J is Charcoal Frost and the Tele is Ice Blue Metallic. It has really ambered out. :cool:

Nice T-bird. Didn't know it was originally a single pickup.
 
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#6,044
SJLee said:
The top J is Charcoal Frost and the Tele is Ice Blue Metallic. It has really ambered out. :cool:

Nice T-bird. Didn't know it was originally a single pickup.
Click to expand...

Yep, it's a II. I wanted more tones from it (it was my only bass then) and "vintage worth" wasn't on my radar screen in '86. I mounted the Hawkbucker in the same place the IV's bridge pu would be and received a hand written letter from Seymour Duncan how to wire it. It was advertised as being good for Thunderbirds and I later learned that Alan Whitman of the Mermen had a '64 IV that he installed those same pu's in. I never regretted installing it as it is my bass and it sounds awesome. Seymour Duncan still sells this fine pu.

Before getting it in '78, I owned one of the uber rare '63 T-bird II's (only 3 II's sold that 1st year) - which was stollen the month before in Aug '78.
 
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#6,045
JIO said:
Yep, it's a II. I wanted more tones from it (it was my only bass then) and "vintage worth" wasn't on my radar screen then. I mounted the Hawkbucker in the same place the IV's bridge pu would be and received a hand written letter from Seymour Duncan how to wire it. It was advertised as being good for Thunderbirds and I later learned that Alan Whitman of the Mermen had a '64 IV that he installed those same pu's in. I never regretted installing it as it is my bass and it sounds awesome. Seymour Duncan still sells this fine pu.

Before getting it in '78, I owned one of the uber rare '63 T-bird II's (only 3 II's sold that 1st year) - which was stollen the month before in Aug '78.
Click to expand...
We need more anecdotes where instrument thieves were caught in the act only to have their _____ _____ promptly. Thus saving the overworked denizens of hell having to do overtime.
SD is a mensch.
 
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#6,046
Kubicki Fan said:
We need more anecdotes where instrument thieves were caught in the act only to have their _____ _____ promptly. Thus saving the overworked denizens of hell having to do overtime.
SD is a mensch.
Click to expand...

Stealing someones tools is the lowest.
 
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#6,048
JIO said:
Yep, it's a II. I wanted more tones from it (it was my only bass then) and "vintage worth" wasn't on my radar screen in '86. I mounted the Hawkbucker in the same place the IV's bridge pu would be and received a hand written letter from Seymour Duncan how to wire it. It was advertised as being good for Thunderbirds and I later learned that Alan Whitman of the Mermen had a '64 IV that he installed those same pu's in. I never regretted installing it as it is my bass and it sounds awesome. Seymour Duncan still sells this fine pu.

Before getting it in '78, I owned one of the uber rare '63 T-bird II's (only 3 II's sold that 1st year) - which was stollen the month before in Aug '78.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information on the Hawkbucker. Seymour Duncan make great products. I believe their 51 Stinger Stack pickup is in the Dusty Hill tribute bass and it’s a tone monster.

Thieves suck. I have fortunately never had a bass stolen, but did have an amp head nicked. It put me out of commission for a while until I saved up for another. I did have to drop out of the band I was in as I had no backup. :atoz:
 
#6,049
SJLee said:
Thanks for the information on the Hawkbucker. Seymour Duncan make great products. I believe their 51 Stinger Stack pickup is in the Dusty Hill tribute bass and it’s a tone monster.

Thieves suck. I have fortunately never had a bass stolen, but did have an amp head nicked. It put me out of commission for a while until I saved up for another. I did have to drop out of the band I was in as I had no backup. :atoz:
Click to expand...

Back in '78 when it was stollen, I lived in an apt and I had (now very rare if even still available) renters insurance. I think it was $50yr. The bass, a new Fender amp, and a turntable were stollen. I applied for reimbursement and got $750 from the insurance company. I looked in a GuitarPlayer magazine and found an ad in the back pages for Guitar Trader in NJ. I sent a letter requesting their list of available basses. (way pre internet) and I got it a week later. Inside was two available '64 T-birds, a II and a IV - both in VGC w/OHSC. I wanted the IV but it was $800, and the II was $750. I sent a check for $750 and bought the II. It arrived in "closet classic" condition. (my '63 II was a bit beat-up) $50 was a lot of money then - it's laughable today. :)
 
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#6,050
JIO said:
Back in '78 when it was stollen, I lived in an apt and I had (now very rare if even still available) renters insurance. I think it was $50yr. The bass, a new Fender amp, and a turntable were stollen. I applied for reimbursement and got $750 from the insurance company. I looked in a GuitarPlayer magazine and found an ad in the back pages for Guitar Trader in NJ. I sent a letter requesting their list of available basses. (way pre internet) and I got it a week later. Inside was two available '64 T-birds, a II and a IV - both in VGC w/OHSC. I wanted the IV but it was $800, and the II was $750. I sent a check for $750 and bought the II. It arrived in "closet classic" condition. (my '63 II was a bit beat-up) $50 was a lot of money then - it's laughable today. :)
Click to expand...

Indeed! In the early 80’s when I lost my amp head, I was working in a grocery store for $5 an hour.
 
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