Thunderbird Club

[tomshepp]

I layered two of Larry's vinyls on my pearloid gard'. Thanks Larry!

 

[Nocturnal]

I found a place that has black/red/black pickguard material. That with a red Bird would be badass IMO.

 

[Larry V]

I layered two of Larry's vinyls on my pearloid gard'. Thanks Larry!

No no, thank you 'cause I stole your idea! Layering the black and chrome for my Goth! Awesome idea, Tom!

 

[SVTbird]

View attachment 551041 View attachment 551036


Red you say?

I have white, shiny gold, dull gold, black, shiny silver, dull silver and red. I don't have the 50% larger white any longer but I do have the white in a true 2X. It's awrsome on my pickup truck.

You should try to get red foil. That would be really slick

 

[JIO]

 

[Larry V]

Damn! That is pretty! Who's doing those PG's, JIO?

 

[JIO]

Damn! That is pretty! Who's doing those PG's, JIO?

I made it over 30 years ago (crazy) - it was my 2nd, the 1st one (not as good) on my stolen '63. Keep hoping it will show up somewhere as this is the only other one like it anywhere.

 

[Larry V]

That's real craftsmanship. Hand cut or did you have access to water jet cutting or laser cutting?

 

[JIO]

That's real craftsmanship. Hand cut or did you have access to water jet cutting or laser cutting?

The ebony was planed on a planer to get the correct thickness, but everything else was done by hand. I don't think they had laser cutters back then! The pale abalone was cut from pre-cut/leveled blanks, but the rest was made by me using rough chunks of shell. I had no clue the dust was poisonous back then!

 

[Larry V]

You're right, lasers came later. We had water jet in the mid-80's and that was a real game changer. Like I said, that's true craftsmanship.

Awesome!

 

[Showdown]

That is awesome!

 

[tomshepp]

The ebony was planed on a planer to get the correct thickness, but everything else was done by hand. I don't think they had laser cutters back then! The pale abalone was cut from pre-cut/leveled blanks, but the rest was made by me using rough chunks of shell. I had no clue the dust was poisonous back then!

I'd love to see the rest of the bass too!

 

[JIO]

The bass that's been with me since 1978. And yes, I added the Seymour Duncan Hawkbucker (in the 80's) when it was my only bass. Received a hand written letter from SD explaining how to wire it back when letters weren't referred to as 'snail mail'. It's seen many hours of smoky blues bars in Chicago and has stories to tell. Nothing sounds like it and it follows me to the end of the coil.

 

[Nocturnal]

Beautiful bass!!!!

 

[JIO]

Beautiful bass!!!!

thanks! It's a '64 and was purchased for the 1978 'vintage' price of $750 from a dealer back east. They had a IV for $50 more and I couldn't justify/afford the extra 50! Ah, to be young, poor and so lucky I could afford even $750! (when a new bass cost 1/2 that) It was a 'closet classic' in 100% original VG condition w/OHSC. The thin brass mute came right off (still have it w/white felt pads in perfect condition) and the covers haven't seen the sun for years! It replaced my '63 II which was a bit more worn that I bought 4 years earlier from a loan-shop in Omaha Nebraska for (wait for it) $150 w/OHSC and 100% intact. Back then, most of the T-birds I saw had broken/repaired necks (at the nut), so to have one without even the hint of a crack there was rare. I was attracted to the R&R look but the neck profile really hooked me. (not to mention that deep lusty T-bird tone) I'm playing Fenders more these days, but this was the bass that got me going.

 

[Feral Feline]

I'll echo here:

Beautiful bass, JIO, but the inlay is absolutely gorgeous. I've always thought I'd like a pearl/abalone inlay in my Holy Grail Gibson, so if I ever find myself a '66 non-reverse T-bird, I'll be knocking on your door.

 

[ptleftybass]

Cleaning the basses today took a shot of the T-Bird and his little brother the SG Standard.

 

[JIO]

I'll echo here:

Beautiful bass, JIO, but the inlay is absolutely gorgeous. I've always thought I'd like a pearl/abalone inlay in my Holy Grail Gibson, so if I ever find myself a '66 non-reverse T-bird, I'll be knocking on your door.

This time around I'll wear a respirator!

 

[veebass]

Some lovely basses and guards!

 

[hillerup]

I found a place that has black/red/black pickguard material. That with a red Bird would be badass IMO.

That would look really sweet on my Metallic Red Epi!