That's a beaut, Clark!
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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- club thunderbird
That's a beaut, Clark!
Not a 'band'wagon!
upright playing friend of mine hauls his around in the passenger seat of his Mazda Miata.
BnB
BnB
Saw an Olds 442 Wagon on the road the other day. Rare and Uber cool..
Carlo - I'm aware of the Entwistle FenderBird history, but thanks for the refresher. I was just trying to shorten an already too long post. However, for the record and to circumvent further propagation (intended or not) of the myth surrounding John's FenderBird, I've modified my original post to read..."install a Fender or Epiphone Bolt on neck (the NR FenderBird look worked well for John Entwistle)."Entwistle NEVER used Gibson bodies for his FenderBirds, I wish people would stop perpetuating that myth. Peter Cook and he redesigned the shape slightly WITH NO RAISED CENTER and scratch built bodies to go with TBird guts and Precision necks (no Jazz necks, JAE used 1.75 inch wide at the nut basses for the rest of his life.) Many sources and direct quotes will back that up...and 'FenderBirds' is his spelling.
Otherwise, good advice.
OP contacted me on FB and I was negative about attempting repairs. IMO 2007 is the middle to end of the run of very common still depreciating TBird model. If it were a car, no collector would be interested. Needing that much work it's never going to be worth the money put into repairs. Get it as playable as possible, live with it, or pass it on to another dreamer....
I suspected the owner contacted you and I also agree with your assessment about throwing good money after bad. That's why I suggested he do the free things first and hope for the best. If he goes down the neck replacement route with a luthier he will likely be out at least another $500 to $600 and will have a bass that can be played but probably isn't worth as much as he has in it.
If it were me, I'd go down the free route first and if I wasn't satisfied I'd part out the bass to offset my losses and buy a new or used Epiphone Thunderbird VP for about the same money or less than what it would take to fix this one.
Also sorry to hear about your car costs, I think we've all been there. I just sunk $5000 in repairs in a Porsche Cayenne that's probably only worth $10,000. That's the magic number for me. When repairs exceed 50% of the value of the car it's time to let go. Now I'm in the market for a low mile 2014 Cayenne GTS.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
- 142,212
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
- 142,212
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Can't remember if I've posted this before, Mr. Brian Wheat of Tesla with a custom Non Reverse.
Hmm. Don't remember seeing that pic b4, cool! BTW, any luck w/ video from the Pt.T. gig?
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
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- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Your advice is spot on for both bass and car. My mechanic's advice was, 'It's not running that bad, trade it in.'
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I went down the repairs rathole with my old van. It was a 1973 Chevy that should have been scrapped before I got it, but I kept it running, at great cost, for about six years. I really liked it, partly because it was so uncouth looking. It was loud, slow, thirsty, and had bad brakes, and it could haul anything. The body shape and cargo space was better than the 2002 I have now, but it wasn't worth the agony and expense. I could have bought two more 2002 vans like the one I have now for what I dumped into that junker to keep it going. The $300 purchase price should have been a dead giveaway, but I can be kinda dumb at times.
Compare to classic cars. Who in their right mind would have bought a used 1966 Mustang in 1972. It would have been reaching the time in its life when expensive repairs will start being needed, although cheap, it would be nearly fully depreciated. But, buy it and hang onto it for another 14 years, keep it running and the price starts to go up.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
There's a small little difference between a van and a pony car. I bought a 1968 Camaro convertible in 1980. It was a rusty old Chevy at the time. I still have it, although it needs a bit of work to move under its own power. I got it cheap, blew it up twice, replaced the transmission twice, and the rear end once. A van doesn't get that kind of use, but it also doesn't deserve that kind of attention. It's a tool far more than a toy. The car is more of a toy. Of course, that's why it needs some work that I haven't got around to for 15 years or so.
..I think I found a good Drummer..He says he was “big”in the 70’s..doesn’t talk much but has a huge groove.
Probably true if he can fix the existing neck. Unfortunately a neck replacement on a Through neck bass would equate more to an entire drive line replacement on a 1966 Mustang. Not worth nearly as much without the original engine, transmission and rear end. That would be called a daily driver vs a collector and adjusted for inflation probably wouldn't be worth much more than you had put in it over the years.
I had forgotten about a time much more awesome than a flying bass! A smallish pickup truck was coming down the hill. The light went yellow, and (perhaps because of the upright piano in the back, but who knows) the driver did not want to stop. So he barreled down the hill, took a hard left (tee intersection), tires screeching, and...
...time slowed down...
the piano, not secured well (if at all), leaned over, did a 3/4 flip and hit the pavement with a *glorious* sound, bounced onto its base with more noise, and bounced onto its back across the curb and sidewalk with still more glorious noise. Ivory and wood flew everywhere.
The driver screeched to a halt, jumped out of the truck, and stood staring at the mess.
When Martin and I (maybe 16 or 17?) could finally stop laughing, we asked the guy if he wanted help. He cussed, jumped in his truck, and drove off!
I can still see and hear the scene.
Did I mention how glorious it was?
Dual intakes!
There is nothing quite like a late 60s/super early 70s muscle car.
I knew you were not happy about it.
Just can't believe the "Go Package" in these included the 390, Positraction, 4 speed Hurst manual, front discs and a Holley 790CFM four barrel all stock from the factory....crazy...
