Thunderbird Club

[JJR58]

As superfluous and nasty as you can get. Minus the blood.

 

[BklynKen]

View attachment 3536849 Talk about an ugly close-up...

This is what I found when I opened my Gibson control cavity.

I don’t have an “after” shot, but it was no worse after I dropped the Lollars in.

Was the after shot it giving birth?

 

[GBassNorth]

View attachment 3536849 Talk about an ugly close-up...

This is what I found when I opened my Gibson control cavity.

I don’t have an “after” shot, but it was no worse after I dropped the Lollars in.

That's a seriously funky looking output jack. Does it work ok?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

???? 1995 Limited Edition ????

1995 Gibson Thunderbird IV Limited Edition Vintage Reissue Bass Ebony Board w/ohc

“Limited to however many I modify for sale which is so far one.”

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Well, shoot. I would have bought a disappearing mic stand. I have never seen one of those. But then, they disappear, so I probably never will.

I always trip over them.

 

[MCF]

Dopey question I know, but which Thunderbird is the reverse body style and which is the non-reverse?

No such thing as a dopey question here!
I’m in catch up mode plowing along. I’m assuming others have already answered this. And explained reverse non-revered reversed.

 

[GBassNorth]

I always trip over them.

...I can never find one when I need it!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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.

Neither of my Epis have stickers; they appear to be printed or stamped on.

 

[Goatrope]

That's a seriously funky looking output jack. Does it work ok?

Yeah. I had to tighten it up when I first got it. It was kinda flopping around.

 

[MCF]

It looks nice, but... The pickup cover is on backwards, and that bugs the crap out of me. Plus, the covers look brand new, and the other hardware has been there for a while. Could it be an Epi? I didn't know Gibson ever made a "Limited Edition" anything like that. The case looks like it could be about the right vintage, based upon the small differences between the '91, the '01, and the '15 that live in my flock. It looks nice, but I'm highly skeptical that it's a Gibson.

It’s in Seattle. Do you know the store?

 

[MCF]

Nope, I'm talking about my Epi VP

The silverburst discussion should have been in a separate paragraph or post Intended to be 2 different thoughts,

Been reading Ulysses?

 

[Goatrope]

Was the after shot it giving birth?

Now that you mention it, I can’t unsee it.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I do feel kinda sorry for the seller of the "Limited Edition 1995 TBird". He's probably looking at all the hits his ad is getting, over 250 as of this post. Thinking, cool lots of interest in the listing. In reality, it's about a dozen of us each looking at it multiple times trying to figure out what the heck it is. I bet half the hits have been from this thread alone. Oh well, I wish him luck in finding out what it actually is and pricing it accordingly, I don't wish him luck with the sale as it stands.

Note: this is the same seller that has had a vintage TBird listed for quite some time at nearly $10,000 because there is a "John Entwistle" signature on the pickguard, but has zero photographic or other provenance to back it up. Heck, I have an exceptionally rare bass custom made for, owned by and played by John Entwistle with all the proper provenance and I doubt I could get that kind of money for it.

Are there pics of that on TalkBass? How did you get it?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I think you COULD get upwards of 10k for that bass! Not from me, though. However, there are rich Entwistle fans out there who would I'd bet.

Sell it to Mark’s superfan.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I have seen vintage Thunderbirds near $10K without a signature. Never mind whether it's real or not, that is about the top end for a '64 or '65. The bottom end seems to be around $6K these days. I'm out of that market by orders of magnitude.

Yeah, they are steals compared to equivalent guitars, but out of my range.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Looking at this somewhat fishy bass and it made me think of a Tbird model called the Elitist and it was an Epiphone. It looks similar and changing the truss rod cover is simple. It could be one of these although I think they were out in the early 2000's for a few years. Google Epiphone Elitist Thunderbird Bass and see if I'm crazy or not. HA!

Ironically, here’s one with a Gibson truss rod cover. I need that purple lined case!
Epiphone Elitist Thunderbird bass

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Afaik 90’s-early 2000’s and white Birds. Don’t know why the white ones but they are.

For looks, of course.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I believe Epiphone Elitist Birds are later versions of what had been the 'Orville by Gibson' instruments, which were made from Gibson parts in Japan for the local market.
View attachment 3536698

That is my understanding.

 

[GBassNorth]

Are there pics of that on TalkBass? How did you get it?

See post 99885 in this thread...
Thunderbird Club

 

[Miles_ONeal]

...is that foreshadowing, or is it an attempt to drive @PillO nutz

But now that I’m here and looking at your wonderful black Tbird on THUNDERBIRD Thursday I’ll add some fuel to the fire...
View attachment 3536785
...and before @PillO brings it up, yes that is a Gary Larson book in the background. LOL - looking at @fasterpussycat reading list you’ll find all kinds of thought provoking political science and philosophy materials. I’ve got Far Side cartoons, kinda says a lot.

We have all the Far Side, Bloom County, and Calvin & Hobbes.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

See post 99885 in this thread...
Thunderbird Club

Ah. I remember that now. Very cool.