Thunderbird Club

[gaffster787]

Hmmm, I wonder what's up with all the vintage birds on ebay from Japan all the time? Been goin on for a few years I believe...big $$$ too.

 

[GBassNorth]

Hmmm, I wonder what's up with all the vintage birds on ebay from Japan all the time? Been goin on for a few years I believe...big $$$ too.

It's well beyond vintage birds. Do an eBay search for "Bass Guitar" then select cost high to low in the sort box. A huge percent of the most expensive basses are listed in Japan. All of them are mint, many are very unique or rare or custom shop type basses and nearly every one is over priced for the going rate n the U.S. Market. I don't know if it's a collector or a high end music store or what but it's crazy.

 

[Toptube]

It's well beyond vintage birds. Do an eBay search for "Bass Guitar" then select cost high to low in the sort box. A huge percent of the most expensive basses are listed in Japan. All of them are mint, many are very unique or rare or custom shop type basses and nearly every one is over priced for the going rate n the U.S. Market. I don't know if it's a collector or a high end music store or what but it's crazy.

Japan has been expensive for years. Its common to pay $23USD or more, for a CD. Concert DVDs are often double or more.

The Yen is also really anemic now. Making some prices worse.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

It's well beyond vintage birds. Do an eBay search for "Bass Guitar" then select cost high to low in the sort box. A huge percent of the most expensive basses are listed in Japan. All of them are mint, many are very unique or rare or custom shop type basses and nearly every one is over priced for the going rate n the U.S. Market. I don't know if it's a collector or a high end music store or what but it's crazy.

Wonder if it's confiscated instruments from bands that toured over there. Just a theory.

There's also the possibility of counterfeit.

 

[Gaolee]

...ooh look, SHINY.

That's enough reason for me.

 

[hillerup]

Hmmm, I wonder what's up with all the vintage birds on ebay from Japan all the time? Been goin on for a few years I believe...big $$$ too.

I've been wondering about that too...

Seems that my searches always turns up quite a bit of them - Even if I state I only want results from the European Union.

 

[TBird1958]

Just me and Imgur, I may try Flickr too.

 

[JIO]

You mean like an ad hominem attack describing a deranged old man as "starting to get a bit foggy".

I resent that remark. I'm a fully foggy fogey.

...say that 6 times real fast

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Just me and Imgur, I may try Flickr too.

You look different

 

[Off-Beat]

And the troops come rushing in to justify boorish behavior. Excellent.

I don't think Carlo has any bad intent, always been class and helpful ever since I started posting. But..

You mean like an ad hominem attack describing a deranged old man as "starting to get a bit foggy".

I resent that remark. I'm a fully foggy fogey.

..lately you've been kind of rude in those PUP discussions; seems a bit out of character for me.

Leads me to another questions though: Does Gibson know about your friend's work?

 

[veebass]

Hmmm, I wonder what's up with all the vintage birds on ebay from Japan all the time? Been goin on for a few years I believe...big $$$ too.

It's not only TBirds. I have seen high value Fenders as well listed on eBay with multiple Japanese sellers. I have noticed over the last 12 months or more that what appears to be the same bass is often offered by a few different eBay "sellers". Often using exactly the same pics. Often different prices- usually well above market. Here's one example, which happens to be a TBird. These have been on eBay for ages, from memory- I think at one point there were three different "sellers" on this one, again from memory.

Gibson 76 Thunderbird IV Used w/ Hard case 711106000688 | eBay

Gibson '77 THUNDERBIRD IV bass w/Hard case/456 711106000688 | eBay

I am guessing what is going on is that at least one "seller" (possibly both in this case) doesn't actually own the bass. It may be in a shop somewhere for example. The "seller's" plan would be to either rip you off completely (ie take your money and you get no bass) or more likely buy the bass from where ever it actually is after you pay them for cheaper than you paid and make a profit on the difference.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

It's not just TBirds. I have seen high value Fenders as well listed with multiple Japanese sellers. I have noticed over the last 12 months or more that what appears to be the same bass is often offered by a few different eBay "sellers". Often using exactly the same pics. Often different prices- usually well above market. Here's one example, which happens to be a TBird. These have been on for ages from memory- I think at one point there were three different "sellers" on this one, from memory.

Gibson 76 Thunderbird IV Used w/ Hard case 711106000688 | eBay

Gibson '77 THUNDERBIRD IV bass w/Hard case/456 711106000688 | eBay

I am guessing what is going on is that at least one "seller" (possibly both in this case) doesn't actually own the bass. It may be in a shop somewhere for example. The "seller's" plan would be to either rip you off completely (ie take your money and you get no bass) or buy the bass from where ever it actually is after you pay them for cheaper than you paid and make a profit on the difference.

Funny that the '76 post it says there's been headstock repair but the '77 post does not. Definitely screams sketchy.
I usually message the seller for more info and more pics, if they reply and send pics it usually means it's legit

 

[kat888]

Funnily enough, I was wondering more or less the same thing. Did a 'what if' search the other day for white Gibson Birds and found 2 x '2005' on Reverb.com from the same seller and both happen to have ebony FBs, so no CITES. Did that version come in ebony? [updated year details as the Reverb thumbnail advert says '2003' but the actual page says '2005']

Gibson USA Thunderbird IV Classic White
Gibson USA Thunderbird IV Classic White

 

[TBird1958]

You look different

We don't give Tesla a lot of love here but Brain Wheat is a long time Thunderbird player, Gibson or otherwise (ESP mostly), that's a custom in the pic.

 

[Haji]

They'd probably have better luck selling them with an actual description.

 

[PillO]

If we all chip in and pay you something to do it, then you are a professional. Sound like a plan?

I thought you were going to suggest we all chip in for some personal training at the gym for our Kat. Then she could just scare the neck straight.

 

[gaffster787]

It's not only TBirds. I have seen high value Fenders as well listed on eBay with multiple Japanese sellers. I have noticed over the last 12 months or more that what appears to be the same bass is often offered by a few different eBay "sellers". Often using exactly the same pics. Often different prices- usually well above market. Here's one example, which happens to be a TBird. These have been on eBay for ages, from memory- I think at one point there were three different "sellers" on this one, again from memory.

Gibson 76 Thunderbird IV Used w/ Hard case 711106000688 | eBay

Gibson '77 THUNDERBIRD IV bass w/Hard case/456 711106000688 | eBay

I am guessing what is going on is that at least one "seller" (possibly both in this case) doesn't actually own the bass. It may be in a shop somewhere for example. The "seller's" plan would be to either rip you off completely (ie take your money and you get no bass) or more likely buy the bass from where ever it actually is after you pay them for cheaper than you paid and make a profit on the difference.

Wow, I think you are right. I wonder if the inflated prices effect other sellers....I got my tabacco burst '76 for 1900 bills about 8 years ago, my buddies said I was crazy. I figured it would at least hold value.

 

[kat888]

I don't see how @Dadagoboi's 'ooh shiny' could have been misinterpreted, considering this sub-forum is known for its raging chrome addictions.

An $AUD1800 Gibson Bird is kind of tempting, but no chrome AND there's no way I would drop serious change on an overseas bass--even one with an ebony fretboard--unless I knew and trusted the seller. Therefore an alpine white Vintage Pro it is going to be and unless the pups are spectacularly good it will be Thunderbuckered.

That will leave the question of what to do with the PRO IV - Thunderbucker or Lace Alumitone? And then I will be DONE. I can sit back and post cat pictures, laugh at Carlo's jokes, admire people's orange paint jobs and carp about tort.

 

[JJR58]

I don't see how @Dadagoboi's 'ooh shiny' could have been misinterpreted, considering this sub-forum is known for its raging chrome addictions.

An $AUD1800 Bird is kind of tempting, but no chrome AND there's no way I would drop serious change on an overseas bass--even one with an ebony fretboard--unless I knew and trusted the seller. Therefore an alpine white Vintage Pro it is going to be and unless the pups are spectacularly good it will be Thunderbuckered.

That will leave the question of what to do with the PRO IV - Thunderbucker or Lace Alumitone? And then I will be DONE. I can sit back and post cat pictures, laugh at Carlo's jokes, admire people's orange paint jobs and carp about tort.

Here's Junior, one of my cousins two orange cats. Going to take his que and kick it and

have a beer.

 

[kat888]

Here's Junior, one of my cousins two orange cats. Going to take his que and kick it andView attachment 1173332 have a beer.

That's a good orange paint job right there. Looks like a lad who knows how to relax.