Thunderbird Club

[D.M.N.]

George, I'll have to post mine later - pretty sure it's a '77. If I recall @D.M.N. Dylan knows how to date the S/N.

In that era, letter is the month (A = 1), next two numbers are the year, last 4 are the serial number. So, the one I was looking at was A787874. January 1978 serial #7874.

Yep, that's correct, Letter is the month, then year, then production number. Mine is G788249.

 

[dagrev]

Nice! And nothing is off topic here.

Are we now cleared on MA?

 

[BklynKen]

With the Willy totem on the red one. Can't beat that.

Isn't that Transformers?

 

[D.M.N.]

Oh man! That looks so much like my '74, you're killin'me! I played mine so much that I wore the finish off the back of the neck and had to have it refretted.
Roto Sounds were brutal on those soft frets. What a beauty!

V you need a Ric

Orrrrr......A Greco Rickenbacker.

 

[D.M.N.]

Also, since it’s Greco Monday, a poor quality photo of my II, did some clean up and pulled the pickguard to measure for a new one.

 

[BklynKen]

Well, in that case, here’s about the lowest price of entry into the Greco Tbird club I’ve seen in a long time (under $700 including shipping). Plus it’s a very rare (love it or hate it look) reversed reverse Non non reverse at about the same price as an Eppi VP (which it will run circles around sound wise).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2968596560...KviCB8vyklWkyMPxHAFIFPtw==|tkp:Bk9SR5zk9ZKVZQ

That could be a fun conversion project for me, but I'm not sure how much I'd like the Greco pickups. I'd first need some personal experience.

 

[Ringhammer]

Here's a Greco pickup out of the bass, the rings are likely not a problem, the covers on the other hand.....

I don’t have one yet, but, since I have now satisfied my most recent bass obsession, getting my two Fender (Japan) 32” P and J basses, and I have figured out that I MUST obsess about the next bass as soon as I think I’m done, I’m thinking of getting a white Greco TB, but not a fan of black hardware on white. I have some covers, but I’d need to get some measurements to be sure. OTOH, I know people speak highly of the stock Greco pickups, but does that only refer to the ‘70’s pickups, or…? If the ‘80’s and or ‘90’s pickups are just meh, then some aftermarket pickups in a later model one might be the ticket.

This will replace the white VP, once I have the Greco in hand.

Can anyone summarize which era or years to avoid, or are they all good ,70’s through ‘90’s?

 

[D.M.N.]

I don’t have one yet, but, since I have now satisfied my most recent bass obsession, getting my two Fender (Japan) 32” P and J basses, and I have figured out that I MUST obsess about the next bass as soon as I think I’m done, I’m thinking of getting a white Greco TB, but not a fan of black hardware on white. I have some covers, but I’d need to get some measurements to be sure. OTOH, I know people speak highly of the stock Greco pickups, but does that only refer to the ‘70’s pickups, or…?

This will replace the white VP, once I have the Greco in hand.

Can anyone summarize which era or years to avoid, or are they all good ,70’s through ‘90’s?

I can't say with 100% authority, but I'd be surprised if the pickup build changed significantly over the run. My '77 and '89 Grickenbackers both had the same pickups. As far as I'm aware, the Greco 'Birds are regarded well throughout the run, without any preference for specific years, other than the IIs were only made for the first few years. I also think the wood may have changed at some points during the run, but not sure if that's hard and fast, think someone had one that was a lighter wood underneath a solid finish, so maybe some of the solid color models used Sen Ash or Maple instead of the Mahogany used on the burst models.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Oh man! That looks so much like my '74, you're killin'me! I played mine so much that I wore the finish off the back of the neck and had to have it refretted.
Roto Sounds were brutal on those soft frets. What a beauty!

My '74 (in 81) with RS66 of course....

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Nice! And nothing is off topic here.

Ok.......

 

[RedVee]

Yep, that's correct, Letter is the month, then year, then production number. Mine is G788249.

Which month starts with G?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It currently has Roto flats on it, all the clank without all the chew on the frets.

Flats = Clank
Rounds = Twang

 

[Count Bassie]

Which month starts with G?

Grectober

 

[TBird1958]

Yep, that's correct, Letter is the month, then year, then production number. Mine is G788249.

Mine is J778148, October of '77.

 

[TBird1958]

Which month starts with G?

July or Guly if you wish

 

[TBird1958]

Ok.......
View attachment 7137194View attachment 7137195View attachment 7137196
View attachment 7137197

Où es-tu aujourd’hui mon ami ?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

On our way back to SF through Paris....miss my Birds and hounds!.......

 

[D.M.N.]

Which month starts with G?

A=January
B=February
C=March
D=April
E=May
F=June
G=July
H=August
I=September
J=October
K=November
L=December

 

[D.M.N.]

Mine is J778148, December of '77.

I think J is October '77.

 

[BklynKen]

My '74 (in 81) with RS66 of course....
View attachment 7137188

Is that your rookie card?