Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

The Element was supposed to attract young people with active lifestyles. However, the purchasers ended up being much older than expected. It became popular amoungst grandparents.

The story I heard from a friend who lives in Tokyo is that when first introduced in Japan, it was aimed at young people taking care of elderly parents, which is very Japanese culturally. So the 'suicide' doors and vinyl floor covering for wheelchair access. Then, when sold in the US - it was targeted at active lifestyle people who could "hose-down" the interior after a muddy off-road bicycle or camping excursion. The vinyl however was not water sealed and if you got carried away hosing it down, you'd eventually end up with a rusted floor under the vinyl.

 

[Stealth57]

I would take the NR. Absolute incredible sound out f it. The sound I was always looking for. And sounds best in Inverness Green.

Let the color wars begin.

 

[PillO]

Let the color wars begin continue.

FTFY

 

[PillO]

Let the color wars begin.

Also, my local L&M currently has all 3 colours of NR in stock.

 

[BklynKen]

Early, early BC Rich with Hi-A pickups!!!!

Very interesting pickups. Curious what they're like on their own, without the Varitone.

 

[GBassNorth]

Thunderbird people, if you had a choice between a 2012 reverse TB and a 2020 non-reverse TB and they were about the same price (maybe $50 difference including shipping), which would you lean towards? Both are being sold by reputable shops and are described as never broken. The 2012 has some finish rubbed off where the lower wing connects to the neck through part of the body. Both have original the original bridge and tuners.

Quick, go for the NR before it’s sold. Gibson has a history of limiting runs of the NR, so no telling if it’ll even be offered next year. The reverse models can always be found at a later date with plenty of good deals out there. I’ve seen some new/demo NR pricing as low as $1600.

New glasses? 4 out of 6 on the same word

I guess if you spell it enough different ways one of them is bound to be correct.

The NR is Inverness green and while deciding, it was sold. Both did come with original cases.

Hate it when that happens. Don’t automatically jump to the reverse purchase. The NR is worth the couple hundred dollar premium you might pay for it. Some interesting Tbird buys out there right now…
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Gibson Non Reverse Thunderbird Bass - Inverness Green | Reverb
Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass Faded Pelham Blue | Reverb
Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird, Sparkling Burgundy | Demo | Reverb
For Sale - *Price Drop* 1990 Greco Thunderbird TB-700
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[_Tay_]

I would take the NR. Absolute incredible sound out of it. The sound I was always looking for. And sounds best in Inverness Green.

Glad i picked the correct colour!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

HAPPY FATHER’s DAY!!

 

[MCF]

Quick, go for the NR before it’s sold. Gibson has a history of limiting runs of the NR, so no telling if it’ll even be offered next year. The reverse models can always be found at a later date with plenty of good deals out there. I’ve seen some new/demo NR pricing as low as $1600.


I guess if you spell it enough different ways one of them is bound to be correct.


Hate it when that happens. Don’t automatically jump to the reverse purchase. The NR is worth the couple hundred dollar premium you might pay for it. Some interesting Tbird buys out there right now…
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Gibson Non Reverse Thunderbird Bass - Inverness Green | Reverb
Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird Bass Faded Pelham Blue | Reverb
Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird, Sparkling Burgundy | Demo | Reverb
For Sale - *Price Drop* 1990 Greco Thunderbird TB-700
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The NR has been in production for two years now with no telling how many made to date. I was so worried that the runs in each color would be limited to 400 each and be gone. I hounded my SW rep to no end to make sure I got one. I’m happy I did, as new ones are a steep $500 more now. They certainly have been popular.

 

[MCF]

Glad i picked the correct colour!

The Pelham Blue ones have a more magical vintage tone. Even if they look green in certain lighting.

 

[GonePlaid]

This is what we do.
Well, some of us.

View attachment 5097686

Oh, right, gig last night @ PSL American Legion. Decent crowd for a Saturday(Friday's the big night-fish fry).
No pix.

 

[MCF]

The NR has been in production for two years now with no telling how many made to date. I was so worried that the runs in each color would be limited to 400 each and be gone. I hounded my SW rep to no end to make sure I got one. I’m happy I did, as new ones are a steep $500 more now. They certainly have been popular.

The PBs are listing at $2199 while the IG and SB NRs are now listing at $2399. That’s a whopping $700 more than at launch two years ago for the latter two colors.

 

[GBassNorth]

The NR has been in production for two years now with no telling how many made to date. I was so worried that the runs in each color would be limited to 400 each and be gone. I hounded my SW rep to no end to make sure I got one. I’m happy I did, as new ones are a steep $500 more now. They certainly have been popular.

Gibson/Epiphone marketing logic is always a mystery. Why only 400 of the NRs back in the twenty teens? Why not issue IG, PB and BR colors at the same time? Why discontinue white VPs? Why change the VP name? Why not use the Eppi two point bridge on the new NR? Why only one year for the DeCola split coil pickups? Why such a limited Tbird color selection compared to the Firebird color selection?

 

[MCF]

Gibson/Epiphone marketing logic is always a mystery. Why only 400 of the NRs back in the twenty teens? Why not issue IG, PB and BR colors at the same time? Why discontinue white VPs? Why change the VP name? Why not use the Eppi two point bridge on the new NR? Why only one year for the DeCola split coil pickups? Why such a limited Tbird color selection compared to the Firebird color selection?

There are 400 of the ‘13 NRs in PB and 400 of them in burst. And only 400 of the ‘11 short scales. And even fewer of the ‘13 and ‘18 lefty reverses. I’ve never found out how many of the wonderful ‘15s with the DeColas there are.

Do you know how many of your gold anniversary edition reverses were made?

 

[PillO]

The NR has been in production for two years now with no telling how many made to date. I was so worried that the runs in each color would be limited to 400 each and be gone.

Any time now, they will abruptly end production.

I hounded my SW rep to no end to make sure I got one. I’m happy I did, as new ones are a steep $500 more now. They certainly have been popular.

That is a steep price increase. I haven't looked at the price recently. And having been popular argues for Gibson ending production.

 

[TBird1958]

More beautiful things in small packages showed up yesterday, our own @godofthunder59 has provided a new, proper pickgard, tug bar, bridge cover and tailpiece for my BaCH. I'm refitting the original tuners, which required drilling a couple of screws that the first owner had broken off when the aftermarket tuners were installed. The holes have all been doweled, will do the same to mount the new tailpiece along with a height shim for the pickup.

 

[MCF]

More beautiful things in small packages showed up yesterday, our own @godofthunder59 has provided a new, proper pickgard, tug bar, bridge cover and tailpiece for my BaCH. I'm refitting the original tuners, which required drilling a couple of screws that the first owner had broken off when the aftermarket tuners were installed. The holes have all been doweled, will do the same to mount the new tailpiece along with a height shim for the pickup.

You are bringing that, right V? But keep it close to you, wouldn’t want that pickup to disappear now, would we. I’m bringing mine.

 

[GBassNorth]

There are 400 of the ‘13 NRs in PB and 400 of them in burst. And only 400 of the ‘11 short scales. And even fewer of the ‘13 and ‘18 lefty reverses. I’ve never found out how many of the wonderful ‘15s with the DeColas there are.

Do you know how many of your gold anniversary edition reverses were made?

I heard 400 but have not confirmed that.

 

[GBassNorth]

You are bringing that, right V? But keep it close to you, wouldn’t want that pickup to disappear now, would we. I’m bringing mine.

Cool! I get to touch it again. Loved that neck!

 

[TBird1958]

You are bringing that, right V? But keep it close to you, wouldn’t want that pickup to disappear now, would we. I’m bringing mine.

Pickup? As Sargent Schultz would say "I know nothing!"
If I'm happy with it, a visit to scenic California could happen