Thunderbird Club

[Basvarken]

BaCH is a Czech brand, long ago now on a defunct bass forum called "The DudePit" (I know, sounds a bit gay) the guys that were part of the Gibson group discussed and eventually found a way to have a small number of Non Reverse Thunderbirds made by this mfg. The project really came together through the efforts of Rob van den Broek here on Talkbass @Basvarken as he did the field work and dealt with BaCH directly. Rob is a very talented bassist, graphic designer and is the author of The Gibson Bass Book | An Illustrated Tribute by Rob van den Broek Highly recommended reading!

Thank you Mark.
The project started on the Dudepit. But after that folded, it was migrated to the Outpost.
There were at least 5 batches made of these BaCHbirds. Each of them a little different.
The first series were all white. Had quite a thick body that was veneered on the top and bottom. One humbucker.
The second series where finished in White, Baby Blue and Black. These had considerably thinner bodies. Quite accurate copies of the original Gibson ones in fact. One humbucker.
The third series were finished transparant wine red. This was the first series that offered the choice for two humbuckers.
The fourth series were available in Transparant Red, Black, Honeyburst. Available with one or two humbuckers.
The fifth series featured an armcut on the body and a volute on the neck.

I also initiated some other models with BaCH. Such as the Fenderbird, The EB-2 (short scale and long scale), Telecaster bass (short scale)

BaCH quit making the BaCHbird (and other Gibson models they offered) after they received a cease and desist letter from Gibson.


I had a few of them refinished in Pelham Blue and Inverness Green.

I never really liked the Fenderbird they built. Because they did not build it to my specs. I had sent them drawings with the large pickguard, not the half pickguard of a regular Thunderbird.
They messed of the shape of the large pickguard and made half of the batch with the smaller pickguard.

I refused to buy them off BaCH.
Eventually I succumbed and I modified them a bit with different pickups

Here's my long scale BaCH EB-2D

And a long scale BaCH EB-2 naturel which I no longer own

And a short scale BaCH Telecaster bass that is also long gone

I quit my cooperation with BaCH seven years ago.
And I've been building bass guitars myself under the name Brooks since then.

 

[lidl e]

Thank you Mark.
The project started on the Dudepit. But after that folded, it was migrated to the Outpost.
There were at least 5 batches made of these BaCHbirds. Each of them a little different.
The first series were all white. Had quite a thick body that was veneered on the top and bottom. One humbucker.
The second series where finished in White, Baby Blue and Black. These had considerably thinner bodies. Quite accurate copies of the original Gibson ones in fact. One humbucker.
The third series were finished transparant wine red. This was the first series that offered the choice for two humbuckers.
The fourth series were available in Transparant Red, Black, Honeyburst. Available with one or two humbuckers.
The fifth series featured an armcut on the body and a volute on the neck.

I also initiated some other models with BaCH. Such as the Fenderbird, The EB-2 (short scale and long scale), Telecaster bass (short scale)

BaCH quit making the BaCHbird (and other Gibson models they offered) after they received a cease and desist letter from Gibson.


I had a few of them refinished in Pelham Blue and Inverness Green.

I never really liked the Fenderbird they built. Because they did not build it to my specs. I had sent them drawings with the large pickguard, not the half pickguard of a regular Thunderbird.
They messed of the shape of the large pickguard and made half of the batch with the smaller pickguard.

I refused to buy them off BaCH.
Eventually I succumbed and I modified them a bit with different pickups

Here's my long scale BaCH EB-2D

And a long scale BaCH EB-2 naturel which I no longer own

And a short scale BaCH Telecaster bass that is also long gone

I quit my cooperation with BaCH seven years ago.
And I've been building bass guitars myself under the name Brooks since then.

Wow. I'd happily rock any of those.

If you don't mind me asking, what was retail price for each of these? (I understand these weren't retail, but what did they sell for to users?)

That EB2 natural in particular is beautiful.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Thank you Mark.
The project started on the Dudepit. But after that folded, it was migrated to the Outpost.
There were at least 5 batches made of these BaCHbirds. Each of them a little different.
The first series were all white. Had quite a thick body that was veneered on the top and bottom. One humbucker.
The second series where finished in White, Baby Blue and Black. These had considerably thinner bodies. Quite accurate copies of the original Gibson ones in fact. One humbucker.
The third series were finished transparant wine red. This was the first series that offered the choice for two humbuckers.
The fourth series were available in Transparant Red, Black, Honeyburst. Available with one or two humbuckers.
The fifth series featured an armcut on the body and a volute on the neck.

I also initiated some other models with BaCH. Such as the Fenderbird, The EB-2 (short scale and long scale), Telecaster bass (short scale)

BaCH quit making the BaCHbird (and other Gibson models they offered) after they received a cease and desist letter from Gibson.


I had a few of them refinished in Pelham Blue and Inverness Green.

I never really liked the Fenderbird they built. Because they did not build it to my specs. I had sent them drawings with the large pickguard, not the half pickguard of a regular Thunderbird.
They messed of the shape of the large pickguard and made half of the batch with the smaller pickguard.

I refused to buy them off BaCH.
Eventually I succumbed and I modified them a bit with different pickups

Here's my long scale BaCH EB-2D

And a long scale BaCH EB-2 naturel which I no longer own

And a short scale BaCH Telecaster bass that is also long gone

I quit my cooperation with BaCH seven years ago.
And I've been building bass guitars myself under the name Brooks since then.

sweet!!!
who drove the idea of using those Artek pickups?…..were the ones on the EB-2s made by Artek as well?

 

[Basvarken]

Wow. I'd happily rock any of those.

If you don't mind me asking, what was retail price for each of these? (I understand these weren't retail, but what did they sell for to users?)

That EB2 natural in particular is beautiful.

The BaCHBird (TH-1) initially cost €181 (!).
Not bad for a limited edition custom made bass, huh? ;-)

 

[Basvarken]

sweet!!!
who drove the idea of using those Artek pickups?…..were the ones on the EB-2s made by Artek as well?

The initial idea was to have BaCH just build a barebones bass as a platform for each to complete to their own wishes.
But along the way BaCH suggested they rather offer them as a complete bass with hardware and electronics installed. The Artecs they used appeared to be more than decent pickups. So many of the customers just kept them original.
I asked BaCH to make a wider bridge for better intonation than the sixties Thunderbird bridge. It took some time, but they really did an excellent job!


I think the mudbucker they used on the EB-2 was an Artec as well, yes.

 

[lidl e]

The BaCHBird (TH-1) initially cost €181 (!).
Not bad for a limited edition custom made bass, huh? ;-)

***?!!??!

What? That's not a typo?

 

[dagrev]

from my 40th HS graduation reunion that I didn’t attend….
please have mercy…..
View attachment 4868040

If you were rocking that Ric (or any bass), you definitely had better things to do.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

The initial idea was to have BaCH just build a barebones bass as a platform for each to complete to their own wishes.
But along the way BaCH suggested they rather offer them as a complete bass with hardware and electronics installed. The Artecs they used appeared to be more than decent pickups. So many of the customers just kept them original.
I asked BaCH to make a wider bridge for better intonation than the sixties Thunderbird bridge. It took some time, but they really did an excellent job!


I think the mudbucker they used on the EB-2 was an Artec as well, yes.

“excellent job” (bridge) is right! got me some of Scott’s (GOT) goodies on there as well….this bass gets played out quite a bit….thanks for bringing them back!…

 

[Basvarken]

***?!!??!

What? That's not a typo?

Nope. That is what the basses of the first batch cost. There were additional costs such as shipping cost and import taxes of course. But €181 was the price of the complete bass itself.

 

[JJR58]

from my 40th HS graduation reunion that I didn’t attend….
please have mercy…..
View attachment 4868040

 

[lidl e]

Nope. That is what the basses of the first batch cost. There were additional costs such as shipping cost and import taxes of course. But €181 was the price of the complete bass itself.

I'll give you €185 for one! You pick...

 

[Instagator]

I can't believe no one's chimed in on this, unless I've missed it. Rogue Dead Guy?

Yes it is.
My daughter turned me on to dead guy ale.
She was doing work for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science while she was finishing her masters degree. They sent her to Oregon for a month to seed (restoration) oysters in Yaguina bay shellfish reserve.They also seeded some other coastal areas as well.
The kids would go over to the Rogue brewery every day after planting oysters to hit free samples or happy hour specials. Her small group of college kids were looking for the best way to make the money stretch.
One evening one of the managers came over to ask if they were the ones working on the oyster seeding project..at first they thought they were busted for mooching free samples.
It turns out that he was one of the owners. He thanked them for their volunteer work and gave them each a business card. He said for the rest of your stay you guys can drink beer here for free.
I got a dead guy ale tee shirt out of the deal. I still buy a few six packs now and then to support the brewery.

Just a little feel good story for the day.
Cheers!

 

[BklynKen]

Yes it is.
My daughter turned me on to dead guy ale.
She was doing work for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science while she was finishing her masters degree. They sent her to Oregon for a month to seed (restoration) oysters in Yaguina bay shellfish reserve.They also seeded some other coastal areas.
The kids would go over to the Rogue brewery every day after planting oysters to hit free samples or happy hour specials. Her small group of college kids were looking for the best way to make the money stretch.
One evening one of the managers came over to ask if they were the ones working on the oyster seeding project..at first they thought they were busted for mooching free samples.
It turns out that he was one of the owners. He thanked them for their volunteer work and gave them each a business card. He said for the rest of your stay you guys can drink beer here for free.
I got a dead guy ale tee shirt out of the deal. I still buy a few six packs now and then to support the brewery.

Just a little feel good story for the day.
Cheers!

That's so cool! Many years ago at a Rogue event I met Sebbie, who's on the Chocolate Stout label. We got a cool photo of her holding up the label. I think her brother Dave was one of the founders of Elysian.

 

[TBird1958]

A little sleaze for Wednesday............

 

[BklynKen]

A little sleaze for Wednesday............

Nothing wrong with a little sleaze on hump day.

 

[TBird1958]

Nothing wrong with a little sleaze on hump day.

Hump day!?!?
Remember to love your Thunderbirds often!

 

[JIO]

Yes, but without the red crescent inlays.

Ok, I wasn't aware there was a Gibson Goth.

 

[TBird1958]

Ok, I wasn't aware there was a Gibson Goth.

Here's a Gibson Goth.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

If you were rocking that Ric (or any bass), you definitely had better things to do.

yeah, playing pro at that (mentioned before) with my teacher who used to sign a disclaimer since I was 15 and the drinking age in FL was 18 at the time. since as you pointed out before, I have a PhD in stupidity, I had that bass refinned natural, made fretless, and finally traded it in for a bar tab at 21.....

 

[JJR58]

yeah, playing pro at that (mentioned before) with my teacher who used to sign a disclaimer since I was 15 and the drinking age in FL was 18 at the time. since as you pointed out before, I have a PhD in stupidity, I had that bass refinned natural, made fretless, and finally traded it in for a bar tab at 21.....