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Thunderbird Club

#322,962
Stanny Bouchard said:
Probably messed up, but got a pretty good discount on the Bullion Gold that CME had listed for a century. Hopefully the neck isn't as bad as the zoomed in picture looks. And if it is, at least I have a return window! I feel like a real member now 😎
Click to expand...
You’re gonna love how the Anniversary bird looks, feels and plays. It’s one of my best sounding Gibson birds and clearly a standout on looks. The finish will be difficult to repair but someone like Pat Wilkins could probably do it for a reasonable price. As Irv noted, it’s metallic gold bullion sprayed directly on open pore mahogany then covered in a bunch of clear coat layers to smooth it all out.

One of the watch outs with a clear coat this thick is checking or finish cracking. It happens as the wood expands or contracts faster than the finish can. Mine has a couple, normally nothing to worry about, just adds mojo and character.

For those that haven’t seen the finish up close, it’s actually very cool, one of my favorite non traditional finishes. Tricky to catch on camera, but if you get the bass in good light and look thru the clear coat you can see how rough and porous it looks, but it’s actually smooth as glass. The entire bass is as smooth and glossy as the side of the bass in the pic below, but in that pic you can see how porous it looks on the front because of the way the light is hitting it, that front is actually every bit as smooth and glossy as the side, very neat effect. No idea how many clear coats it would take to do this but it’s gotta be a bunch…
IMG_3345.jpeg
 
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#322,964
Instagator said:
Thunderbird sighting at the pool yesterday evening.
Those things are everywhere..even southern Maryland.
Cheers!
View attachment 7268303
Click to expand...
Did you ask for his license to play a Thunderbird? Sometimes posers try to cosplay like a Thunderbird player. But he looks legit.

I got to use my '64 today. Never gets old.
 
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#322,965
Ringhammer said:
All this talk of workbenches, I figure I’d share:

View attachment 7268383

The whole thing is resting on a 2x4 along the back and mounted to one long piano hinge that runs the entire length, and by removing two of three bolts at each leg attachment, the legs swing up and the whole bench can be put up against the wall and out of the way. I have never once done this, but someday a future owner might find it handy. This bench is over built, level, despite the floor not being level, and solid, with no rattle or vibrations.


View attachment 7268385

The drill press “table” gets a bit crowded, and the mini belt sander “table” sometimes gets a bit covered over, but they are always mostly ready for use.

The plank across the door is for the king of the house so he can look out the window. Not much to see on the side, but he still looks.
Click to expand...
Very nice! But what does the high tech gadget do on the end (side) of the workbench?

:whistle:
 
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#322,967
GBassNorth said:
You’re gonna love how the Anniversary bird looks, feels and plays. It’s one of my best sounding Gibson birds and clearly a standout on looks. The finish will be difficult to repair but someone like Pat Wilkins could probably do it for a reasonable price. As Irv noted, it’s metallic gold bullion sprayed directly on open pore mahogany then covered in a bunch of clear coat layers to smooth it all out.

One of the watch outs with a clear coat this thick is checking or finish cracking. It happens as the wood expands or contracts faster than the finish can. Mine has a couple, normally nothing to worry about, just adds mojo and character.

For those that haven’t seen the finish up close, it’s actually very cool, one of my favorite non traditional finishes. Tricky to catch on camera, but if you get the bass in good light and look thru the clear coat you can see how rough and porous it looks, but it’s actually smooth as glass. The entire bass is as smooth and glossy as the side of the bass in the pic below, but in that pic you can see how porous it looks on the front because of the way the light is hitting it, that front is actually every bit as smooth and glossy as the side, very neat effect. No idea how many clear coats it would take to do this but it’s gotta be a bunch…
View attachment 7268536
Click to expand...
Please tell me the SN isn’t only on the PG.
 
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#322,968
dagrev said:
Did you ask for his license to play a Thunderbird? Sometimes posers try to cosplay like a Thunderbird player. But he looks legit.

I got to use my '64 today. Never gets old.
Click to expand...
No services in July so just lots of woodshedding for me. So far all Nikki but plan to give the other birds some love, too.
 
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#322,969
GBassNorth said:
You’re gonna love how the Anniversary bird looks, feels and plays. It’s one of my best sounding Gibson birds and clearly a standout on looks. The finish will be difficult to repair but someone like Pat Wilkins could probably do it for a reasonable price. As Irv noted, it’s metallic gold bullion sprayed directly on open pore mahogany then covered in a bunch of clear coat layers to smooth it all out.

One of the watch outs with a clear coat this thick is checking or finish cracking. It happens as the wood expands or contracts faster than the finish can. Mine has a couple, normally nothing to worry about, just adds mojo and character.

For those that haven’t seen the finish up close, it’s actually very cool, one of my favorite non traditional finishes. Tricky to catch on camera, but if you get the bass in good light and look thru the clear coat you can see how rough and porous it looks, but it’s actually smooth as glass. The entire bass is as smooth and glossy as the side of the bass in the pic below, but in that pic you can see how porous it looks on the front because of the way the light is hitting it, that front is actually every bit as smooth and glossy as the side, very neat effect. No idea how many clear coats it would take to do this but it’s gotta be a bunch…
View attachment 7268536
Click to expand...
I love it. I'm excited to get it in my hands and begin bonding with it. As for the finish cracking on the neck, I'm moderately concerned. I spoke with two techs over there, and they both stated that it was all finish, no structural. But it looks bad. MJT is local to me, and they could probably get it back and make the fix invisible, but I suppose I will cross that bridge when I have an extra arm and leg 😂. Attached is the photo of the HORRIBLE spot on the bass, for anyone who wants to:
1. Call me an idiot for buying it.
2. Tell me "everything is going to be ok."
3. Offer advice on a potential fix.
 

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  • media_6f4a3529-0895-4231-9d27-5b2961ba90a3.jpg
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#322,971
Stanny Bouchard said:
I love it. I'm excited to get it in my hands and begin bonding with it. As for the finish cracking on the neck, I'm moderately concerned. I spoke with two techs over there, and they both stated that it was all finish, no structural. But it looks bad. MJT is local to me, and they could probably get it back and make the fix invisible, but I suppose I will cross that bridge when I have an extra arm and leg 😂. Attached is the photo of the HORRIBLE spot on the bass, for anyone who wants to:
1. Call me an idiot for buying it.
2. Tell me "everything is going to be ok."
3. Offer advice on a potential fix.
Click to expand...
Looks superficial to me and only in the finish from the way it "cracked" in something of a "S" shape and no grain cracking appears. Now for fixing it... Depends on if anything is flexible or moves. If it's solid, I wouldn't worry about it. If it moves, have someone look at it so I chunk doesn't flake off.

On second thought it's likely junk, but I will buy it from you. ;)
Kidding aside, should be fine.
 
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#322,977
GBassNorth said:
You’re gonna love how the Anniversary bird looks, feels and plays. It’s one of my best sounding Gibson birds and clearly a standout on looks. The finish will be difficult to repair but someone like Pat Wilkins could probably do it for a reasonable price. As Irv noted, it’s metallic gold bullion sprayed directly on open pore mahogany then covered in a bunch of clear coat layers to smooth it all out.

One of the watch outs with a clear coat this thick is checking or finish cracking. It happens as the wood expands or contracts faster than the finish can. Mine has a couple, normally nothing to worry about, just adds mojo and character.

For those that haven’t seen the finish up close, it’s actually very cool, one of my favorite non traditional finishes. Tricky to catch on camera, but if you get the bass in good light and look thru the clear coat you can see how rough and porous it looks, but it’s actually smooth as glass. The entire bass is as smooth and glossy as the side of the bass in the pic below, but in that pic you can see how porous it looks on the front because of the way the light is hitting it, that front is actually every bit as smooth and glossy as the side, very neat effect. No idea how many clear coats it would take to do this but it’s gotta be a bunch…
View attachment 7268536
Click to expand...
I would guess they built it up with sanding sealer before shooting lacquer.
 
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#322,978
Stanny Bouchard said:
I love it. I'm excited to get it in my hands and begin bonding with it. As for the finish cracking on the neck, I'm moderately concerned. I spoke with two techs over there, and they both stated that it was all finish, no structural. But it looks bad. MJT is local to me, and they could probably get it back and make the fix invisible, but I suppose I will cross that bridge when I have an extra arm and leg 😂. Attached is the photo of the HORRIBLE spot on the bass, for anyone who wants to:
1. Call me an idiot for buying it.
2. Tell me "everything is going to be ok."
3. Offer advice on a potential fix.
Click to expand...
Trust a good luthier but the pattern doesn’t suggest actual neck damage to me.. If those have raised edges that caught my hand as I played, I’d ask about gluing them down or something. Otherwise, I’d just consider it character and enjoy.
 
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#322,980
dagrev said:
Very nice! But what does the high tech gadget do on the end (side) of the workbench?

:whistle:
Click to expand...
I believe it’s a carbonated beverage seal de stabilizer
Miles_ONeal said:
Please tell me the SN isn’t only on the PG.
Click to expand...
No serial number on the guard. Just the anniversary dates. SN is stamped into the back of the headstock.
 
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