I was thinking about buying a pickguard like that and putting a thin sheet of red plastic or something similar behind the cutout.You are not alone in the Goth "reconditioning" department. This was once a Goth as well:
Your bass looks very original.
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
Your bass looks very original.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,056
- 38,404
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Yeah I have been watching it. Way to much dough, that thing has been road hard and put up wet.
I think it's about time Gibson/Epiphone changed the name of the Goth line. Thunderbird…Graphite Edition or Thunderbird...Midnight Edition would be better. Plenty of names with black conotations. Ebony, onyx, jet, etc.
Thunderbird Jet.
That would be perfect!
Last edited:
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,206
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
If that goes for $1,500 plus $500 (US) for a proper restoration. Someone's going to have a real sweat TBird that's highly collectible. Look at some of the late 60's EB's on eBay that are beaters going for the same money.
For sure. I just think, according to the description and looking at the pictures, there is more like $1200 - $1500 in restoration to do on that one. A little rich for my blood. I'd rather dump $3000-$4000 on a period spec original than have a refin for the same cost.
I guess when I think of the work involved in the refinish, I'm doing most, if not all of it so I think $500 would cover it. A painted TBird is easy to restore and make look perfect.
For sure, but that one has some major body work to do before painting, assuming I'd be putting it back to stock. Plus hunting down one new old stock pickup, period correct knobs, etc. Plus, I think you're in the US, so everything costs less there. 
I can totally see how it would be less to restore that versus a sunburst.
I can totally see how it would be less to restore that versus a sunburst.
I don't think I'd go period correct on the pup. I'd replace all the electronics with new Gibson OEM. I'm keeping the PG and the tuners and restoring those the best I can.
Haji
Supporting Member
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,056
- 38,404
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I'd put a chrome cover over that Model G and rock the poopie out of it.
I'd do the same. I believe you've done that on at least one of your TBirds haven't you?
Those are Gibson 1976 Thunderbird pickup covers with TBPlus pickups from the Les Paul Standard basses (or the Money bass models) inside. They are VERY aggressive sounding and I think this bass would cut thru the mix in any band, regardless of how loud they are. The covers were available for a while from a seller on Ebay. I also have the same setup with a single pickup in my Bach NR TBird.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,056
- 38,404
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Yes I have, Dimarzio Model G under a chrome cover. A killer combination!
So are you saying that there are separate covers that will fit OVER The Gibson pups? Then you could add rings? My issue is on my bass I have epi shaped pups. What can I do?
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,206
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
If you peel the plastic off the pups there are several makers of chrome covers, on a 3 screw Epi pup you'll need to drill another hole as well. I've done it to Gibson TB Plus and other mfgs. pickups.
With a sharp cutter the plastic cover strips off easily....This is a Burny Thunderbird pickup, 3 screw, kinda like an Epi.
Evil black plastic stripped, but before I drilled a new screw hole.
These are polished nickel, not chrome to match this bass' hardware, I got them from Mike Lull, but there are other supplier out there.
Yes, the humbucker sized pickups fit perfectly inside the covers. I used a little silicone gel to glue them in so that they can be removed if I ever want to change anything. The rings just sit on the body surface (they are supposed to have spacers under them but I don't have those).
Not sure how the covers work out with the Epi pickups but you could probably make them work.
