A search of the Limited Edition decal image only comes up with knock-offs. I haven't found a match to a Gibson product... yet.
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This is the fake decal from Etsy:
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This is from the Reverb ad:
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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
- Start date
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- club thunderbird
A search of the Limited Edition decal image only comes up with knock-offs. I haven't found a match to a Gibson product... yet.
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This is the fake decal from Etsy:
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This is from the Reverb ad:
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The pickup and bridge covers are noted as aftermarket in the ad.
It is a Gibson. That much I am certain about. For a little bit, I was thinking it could've been a Classic Pro refin to a faux-Gibson but then I saw the back of the headstock and its barely visible model/date stamp. Epi's have stickers.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
That hardware ( not the covers) looks like cack. The body looks Gibson to me, but as a whole...…...Fishy.
They're also claiming that it is the successor to the "Bicentennial" model? I didn't know that Thunderbirds ( or Gibson for that matter ) have been around for more than 200 years. . . Lol
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The serial number ( if that's what you mean ) is STAMPED into the back of my Epi Classic Pro T-Bird's headstock.
Ah, now I see. Thank you for that.
This is the bolt on silverburst that I got, hated and sent right backNope, I'm talking about my Epi VP
The silverburst discussion should have been in a separate paragraph or postIntended to be 2 different thoughts,
This is my short scale
I'll have to look at my Epi's again. I thought they had stickers.
I have a Classic Pro and a Custom Shop and I don't remember them being stamped.
It did have the "Made in Indonesia" and "inspected by" stickers there, but the serial number is most definitely stamped into the wood, which I think is way cool.
Total refin and not done by Gibson. Either this dude got scammed or he's trying to pull a scam.
Totally sketchy looking bass, IMO.
Nailed it!
I don't buy it. No way that came off the Gibson production line or their Custom Shop.
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Look what I found being sold on Etsy.
View attachment 3536408
The all black back and the loss of the headstock model/date stamp are clear indicators of a refin. Same thing with the "nickel" and chrome hardware combo. I hate to think the seller is looking to rip someone off but maybe they truly believe what they're saying.
Can't speak for the honesty of the seller but I can say, this ain't no 1995 Gibson Reissue. As Larry noted, complete refinish. Judging from the back of the headstock I'd guess it was refinished after a headstock repair that over the years is now starting to flex and show through the newer finish as stress cracks. The pickguard looks brand new, the chrome covers look brand new and one is on backwards. If it were a reissue of a vintage bird why would it have a three point bridge. And isn't it amazing that a thin little limited edition water slide decal is still visible but the stamped in information on the back of the headstock isn't. The wiring doesn't even look correct.
That's a "three strikes and your out" bass. Refin + non original parts + false claims of rarity. Which means I cross that seller off my shopping list.
Here's the back of the headstock of my 2013 EpiBird. The serial number looks like it was silk screened on
Here's the back of a brand new one from Sweetwater, which has a stamped serial number:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...thunderbird-vintage-pro-bass-tobacco-sunburst
Here's the back of the 'mystery bass'. You can barely make out the Made in USA (circled in green) and the serial number stamped in (underlined in yellow) under what looks like, to me, to be an extra coat of black applied as part of a repaint/ touch up?
WINNER! WINNER! CHICKEN DINNER!!!!
Maybe so. But don't Gibsons sometimes have fainter stamps? Not trying to defend the bass in question by any means. I am BY NO MEANS an expert on this. The tuners do say Gibson on them as well.
I happened to still have these pics on my phone.
This is the back of the headstock for an Epi Limited Edition TV Silver that I sold awhile back. All stickers and maybe a print for the SN.
And here’s the back of the headstock to my SS Gibson Thunderbird. All stamped.
I’m glad to hear that Epiphone is stamping them now. Always thought the stickers were chintzy.
When did Thunderbirds have tuners like that? I never saw Gibson-branded ones like that.
dunno.... another thread to this mystery! 
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,894
- 142,211
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
It's not unusual for the number stamp to be filled in with paint, mine's really hard to see, and to be sure there have been some Custom Shop basses, i.e. those Sapphire Blue ones, so it may not be out of reason completely - there's just some thing that aren't quite right.
