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Thunderbird Club

No idea what a reasonable price is, but this is beautiful. I'd be tempted to put gold p/u covers and a gold PG on.

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Those are expensive these days. It seems like all Thunderbirds are expensive these days. We need to get out there and reinforce the idea that they dive, are fragile, have no versatility, sound like mud, and are only for heavy metal on Tuesdays and only if you have a screamo singer. Did I miss anything? That should help.
 
Love mine! It’s probably my best playing Gibson Tbird and the gold finish is to die for. Fortunately I only paid about $1100 for mine back in 2016. Most of the ones you find today are $2500 and up. I’d jump on one today if it were priced around $2000 or less and I didn’t already have one.
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But for $2500 or more I’d probably hold my cash for a nice one of a kind Gibson Tbird from the MOD collection instead.…
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Love mine! It’s probably my best playing Gibson Tbird and the gold finish is to die for. Fortunately I only paid about $1100 for mine back in 2016. Most of the ones you find today are $2500 and up. I’d jump on one today if it were priced around $2000 or less and I didn’t already have one.
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But for $2500 or more I’d probably hold my cash for a nice one of a kind Gibson Tbird from the MOD collection instead.…
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What's the tone like? I'm sure I played one at the GTG but can't recall what it sounded like. Soooo many great basses there.
 
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What's the tone like? I'm sure I played one at the GTG but can't recall what it sounded like. Soooo many great basses there.
I don’t think I saw one at the GTG. It sounds pretty much like any modern (post 2000) Gibson Tbird (big and dark yet articulate on the top end). The big difference is the neck is super slim with well worn in rounded fretboard edges and the action is super low. It’s like Gibson spent a bit more time on fabrication of these basses, they just seem a step above my other Gibsons in playability and fit and finish, even better than my 2015, which is also very good, and much better than my 2022 NR which brings up the rear on fit and finish.
 
I posted this in the Portaflex sub, but I’ll repost since we have a few geniuses here too.

I am swapping out the 1971 Eminence speaker in the B-15 for the year correct 1964 (44th week) CTS. Given the age, I plan on using new wiring and jack. I have Monoprice 16 gauge speaker wire and wondering if that is the appropriate gauge. Also, any recommendations on a quality 1/4” jack.
 
I don’t think I saw one at the GTG. It sounds pretty much like any modern (post 2000) Gibson Tbird (big and dark yet articulate on the top end). The big difference is the neck is super slim with well worn in rounded fretboard edges and the action is super low. It’s like Gibson spent a bit more time on fabrication of these basses, they just seem a step above my other Gibsons in playability and fit and finish, even better than my 2015, which is also very good, and much better than my 2022 NR which brings up the rear on fit and finish.
If that's true about the increased attention to detail, I'm willing to bet the same thing goes for the lefty models of the same year. Mine is perfect.
 
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I don’t think I saw one at the GTG. It sounds pretty much like any modern (post 2000) Gibson Tbird (big and dark yet articulate on the top end). The big difference is the neck is super slim with well worn in rounded fretboard edges and the action is super low. It’s like Gibson spent a bit more time on fabrication of these basses, they just seem a step above my other Gibsons in playability and fit and finish, even better than my 2015, which is also very good, and much better than my 2022 NR which brings up the rear on fit and finish.

Does V have one? I feel like I played one, but can't recall where. Maybe I didn't, which is why I can't recall the tone.
 
I posted this in the Portaflex sub, but I’ll repost since we have a few geniuses here too.

I am swapping out the 1971 Eminence speaker in the B-15 for the year correct 1964 (44th week) CTS. Given the age, I plan on using new wiring and jack. I have Monoprice 16 gauge speaker wire and wondering if that is the appropriate gauge. Also, any recommendations on a quality 1/4” jack.

16 gauge will be fine. I typically use Switchcraft jacks for speaker outs, especially with tube amps, as they tend to grip the plug well, and tube amps hate open circuits (can fry the OT and/or output tubes).
 
I posted this in the Portaflex sub, but I’ll repost since we have a few geniuses here too.

I am swapping out the 1971 Eminence speaker in the B-15 for the year correct 1964 (44th week) CTS. Given the age, I plan on using new wiring and jack. I have Monoprice 16 gauge speaker wire and wondering if that is the appropriate gauge. Also, any recommendations on a quality 1/4” jack.
The vintage Ampeg experts will be able to tell you what the B-15 had originally ( I'm guessing 18 AWG), but as far as functionality 16 AWG will be plenty.

I used to use this tool for checking installed audio gauges. Input your information and it will tell you how much power will be lost due to cable length/gauge:
Cableloss Calculator by Electro-Voice

Switchcraft jacks are good quality.
 
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The guy who ordered this bass saw the II that I built a few years ago. And he asked me to build one for him too.
During the build he changed his mind and asked me to add the second pickup.
Is the pickup on the II placed a little south from the IV neck position? Or an optical illusion?

BTW I tried a double cut and a $ money bass a few years ago and really liked them. I can’t remember anything else about them :laugh:
except I liked them.