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Thunderbird Club

#2,081
hillerup said:
What a great show we had tuesday night supporting Die Krupps!!!

The venue was really great - Nice stage and soundsystem and the best backstage room I've seen so far with an adjecent kitchen, where the staff cooked us a meal.

We shared backstage room with Die Krupps, who are some of the coolest and nicest guys I've met in the industrial scene.

The venue was packed and the audience were totyally digging the show! :)

We even had a fan, who left during Die Krupps's performance to get her Epi Goth T-bird for us to sign - That was a first for us! :)
[/QUOTE]

That is extremely cool Michael!!!!
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#2,082
basscow said:
So here I am just enjoying playing my thunderbird, and then this happens:
View attachment 458922
The E string side bridge ferrule(?) just starts pulling out. Anybody ever had that happen to them? Any real solution other than installing a screw in bridge? I was planning on refinishing it soon anyways!
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Yup, to both actually. I just used contact cement. gently tapped them back in (with one having aluminum tape on the bridge ground wire for my killswitch. Applied enough pressure with some clamps for 36h (i wait that long just to be safe) re-assembled everything and nothing has happened since. Pretty sturdy bridge now
 
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#2,084
I know, I know... I'm obsessed... a friend of mine sent me this link last night to very suspect "1976" Thunderbird.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Throwing me off?
  • four control knobs in a strange configuration (looks like someone changed the jack location with a knob location)
  • 1979 pick guard
  • serial number missing/refinished over
  • that neck pick-up, jeez
  • control cavity shape
  • selector switch?
  • mentions that it's been refinished, but looks like it was originally white inside the control cavity
Thoughts? for $700 it might be worth it as a restoration project. Or a gigger that I'm not worried about losing.
 
#2,085
It's very buggered up to be nice about it. He says the electronics are in original condition - No way!
Having restored three '76s I'd careful that thing is pretty far gone as a restoration project and parts are difficult to find as well as expensive. Even as a beater it's in crappy shape, really a tragedy. Be careful!
 
#2,086
mistergoats said:
I know, I know... I'm obsessed... a friend of mine sent me this link last night to very suspect "1976" Thunderbird.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Throwing me off?
  • four control knobs in a strange configuration (looks like someone changed the jack location with a knob location)
  • 1979 pick guard
  • serial number missing/refinished over
  • that neck pick-up, jeez
  • control cavity shape
  • selector switch?
  • mentions that it's been refinished, but looks like it was originally white inside the control cavity
Thoughts? for $700 it might be worth it as a restoration project. Or a gigger that I'm not worried about losing.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't touch this thing...nope...nada...
 
#2,088
TBird1958 said:
It's very buggered up to be nice about it. He says the electronics are in original condition - No way!
Having restored three '76s I'd careful that thing is pretty far gone as a restoration project and parts are difficult to find as well as expensive. Even as a beater it's in crappy shape, really a tragedy. Be careful!
Click to expand...

Ya, I'm not in on this. It's in awful shape. Tragic, to be sure.
 
#2,089
It is a '76 re issue, however the PG does indeed look to be from a '79. Gibson decaled the S/N in '76 and (I think into '77) as they began to produce more (at Kalamazoo, MI.) they went to they the revised date code
YDDDYXXX. The seller dosen't show the tip of the headstock but does mention the lack of a S/N. Those controls are all Shite, only the 3 screw pup is original, as a carcass maybe $500 - Poor thing :dead:
 
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#2,090
TBird1958 said:
It is a '76 re issue, however the PG does indeed look to be from a '79. Gibson decaled the S/N in '76 and (I think into '77) as they began to produce more (at Kalamazoo, MI.) they went to they the revised date code
YDDDYXXX. The seller dosen't show the tip of the headstock but does mention the lack of a S/N. Those controls are all Shite, only the 3 screw pup is original, as a carcass maybe $500 - Poor thing :dead:
Click to expand...

It's neither a '76 or a '79. IMHO it is likely a 1977 based on production numbers, assuming it was originally white - which I don't think it was looking at the control cavity. White was (allegedly) not produced those years, that color showed up in that funky '77-'78 range. Surely not a '76 pickguard, and that's ok. For the serial number it may or may not be stamped into the wood (1977 was a mixed year) but was in full swing by '78, it would surely have it stamped on a '79 (I've owned 3 myself). If the strap button on the neck heel is original (location) not added later, and there is no hole on the upper horn, it is most definitely not a '76 because they changed up the front location through those 4 years. So ya, '77 or 78 likely - but horribly in need of someone willing to throw down big cash for a labor of love restroration.
 
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#2,092
Haji said:
I'm wishing somebody sold a gig bag for a reasonable price that was made to fit Thunderbirds, or a HSC that doesn't cost what my 'Bird did.
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I bought the Rockbag from Warwick. It's huge and provides plenty of room for everything. It's been great. Exactly what I needed to get me in and out of the music school I go to without the hassle of the HSC because I use the backpack straps to free up my hands.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


162605.jpg
 
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#2,093
Furious_Man77 said:
It's neither a '76 or a '79. IMHO it is likely a 1977 based on production numbers, assuming it was originally white - which I don't think it was looking at the control cavity. White was (allegedly) not produced those years, that color showed up in that funky '77-'78 range. Surely not a '76 pickguard, and that's ok. For the serial number it may or may not be stamped into the wood (1977 was a mixed year) but was in full swing by '78, it would surely have it stamped on a '79 (I've owned 3 myself). If the strap button on the neck heel is original (location) not added later, and there is no hole on the upper horn, it is most definitely not a '76 because they changed up the front location through those 4 years. So ya, '77 or 78 likely - but horribly in need of someone willing to throw down big cash for a labor of love restroration.
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The later PG '78? -'79 (without the stylized 76 logo) and the lack of a date stamp are inconsistent, I have two '77s one stamped, one decaled both have the '76 logo PG, that's my point of curiosity. Mine are all refins now, they were in various degrees of crapitude when I bought them, it took a lot of $$$ to put them back together - the one in the auction is the worst I've seen for a long time!
 
#2,094
TBird1958 said:
The later PG '78? -'79 (without the stylized 76 logo) and the lack of a date stamp are inconsistent, I have two '77s one stamped, one decaled both have the '76 logo PG, that's my point of curiosity. Mine are all refins now, they were in various degrees of crapitude when I bought them, it took a lot of $$$ to put them back together - the one in the auction is the worst I've seen for a long time!
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No doubt, the extra holes and modification to the control cavity killed it. Most everything else was fixable, depending on the damage in the neck pickup area.
 
#2,096
mistergoats said:
The listing states that one of the screws holding the neck pickup in place went through the back of the body. Someone just use that thing for firewood and end its miserable torture.
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That bass is easily restorable IMO. Everything major is there except for a neck pickup, which can be bought for $150-300. Plugging excess holes and getting the control cavity right is no big deal. Then it basically needs a refin.

I've seen a lot worse for a higher asking price.
 
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#2,098
Dadagoboi said:
That bass is easily restorable IMO. Everything major is there except for a neck pickup, which can be bought for $150-300. Plugging excess holes and getting the control cavity right is no big deal. Then it basically needs a refin.

I've seen a lot worse for a higher asking price.
Click to expand...

I should have clarified "by a dude who has limited skills in refinishing a bass". That bass just equals me dropping coin, then coming to the likes of you and dropping yet more coin. Anything can be done with deep enough pockets and a bit of drive!
 
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#2,099
My three were some $$$ to restore for sure, they were a labor of love as the costs overran the value of the bass at that time. As refins their price is subjective, but since the work involved was all first rate I'm not worried about what they're worth. I should say that I have a very soft spot for '76s as that is my first experience with Thunderbirds, we tend to remember our first loves ;)
 
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#2,100
My new 2012 ebony TBird, old stock that had been kicking around in one of the shops locally.. Oddly with a baked maple board! (Which I actually like, adds a snappiness).

I had grand plans about changing out the pickups and putting on chrome hardware.. But I actually like the pickups and I'm digging the black on black.

131C97D4-FE58-4A05-A7C9-941622D4EE95_zpsbenb1wdn.jpg
 
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