Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

utilitarian tool(s).......
View attachment 4139782

That is a very nice Strat.

 

[TBird1958]

utilitarian tool(s).......
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Nice Green Things!

 

[69'Vette]

What year?

It was advertised as an '86. Gibson did a run of these for a Japanese store (or distributor) in 1985. Most the the photos I've seen of those are white (faded tp cream like this one), but I've seen one black and one dark burst that was beautiful. I believe this one was not part of that run because it doesn't have the "custom shop" sticker on the back of the headstock and is a different year.

 

[TBird1958]

View attachment 4140070

It was advertised as an '86. Gibson did a run of these for a Japanese store (or distributor) in 1985. Most the the photos I've seen of those are white (faded tp cream like this one), but I've seen one black and one dark burst that was beautiful. I believe this one was not part of that run because it doesn't have the "custom shop" sticker on the back of the headstock and is a different year.

I have a major sproinkyness for that bass, of all the basses Uwe has - that one!

 

[69'Vette]

'65 TBII, 66 Embassy, '67TBIV, '68TBII, '72LP, '72EB4 (modded by a previous owner)

'76 or '77, '77, '76, '77, '79, '86

'80, '01, '03, 05

'71 SB400, early Ibanez Ripper project (original pickups looked like mud buckers but the previous owner let it sit in a leaky car trunk for two years and the electronics were ruined), '72 EBL currently waiting restoration with modern SG bass pickups (that mud bucker lives in an RD Artist in Scotland now).

'75 Ibanez (bolt on neck, one of the best recording birds I've ever owned), '77 Greco TBII, '88 Greco TBIV, Epi Japan TB IV (not sure what year)

Some of these dates are approximate or based on foggy memory.

It was suggested I share these again (some of you will remember these photos). Once upon a time I went through a bit of a collecting phase and in 2005 this was my Gibson (and Gibson adjacent) contingent. I still have 8 of these, but the rest were sent off into the world. I regret selling a few of them, but am mostly grateful I got the chance to own and play them for a few years.

 

[MCF]

View attachment 4140070

It was advertised as an '86. Gibson did a run of these for a Japanese store (or distributor) in 1985. Most the the photos I've seen of those are white (faded tp cream like this one), but I've seen one black and one dark burst that was beautiful. I believe this one was not part of that run because it doesn't have the "custom shop" sticker on the back of the headstock and is a different year.

That is beautiful.

 

[JIO]

View attachment 4140070

It was advertised as an '86. Gibson did a run of these for a Japanese store (or distributor) in 1985. Most the the photos I've seen of those are white (faded tp cream like this one), but I've seen one black and one dark burst that was beautiful. I believe this one was not part of that run because it doesn't have the "custom shop" sticker on the back of the headstock and is a different year.

Wow - was not aware of such a beast! Very cool and unique!

 

[JIO]

View attachment 4140085
'65 TBII, 66 Embassy, '67TBIV, '68TBII, '72LP, '72EB4 (modded by a previous owner)

View attachment 4140086
'76 or '77, '77, '76, '77, '79, '86

View attachment 4140090
'80, '01, '03, 05

View attachment 4140095
'71 SB400, early Ibanez Ripper project (original pickups looked like mud buckers but the previous owner let it sit in a leaky car trunk for two years and the electronics were ruined), '72 EBL currently waiting restoration with modern SG bass pickups (that mud bucker lives in an RD Artist in Scotland now).

View attachment 4140097
'75 Ibanez (bolt on neck, one of the best recording birds I've ever owned), '77 Greco TBII, '88 Greco TBIV, Epi Japan TB IV (not sure what year)

Some of these dates are approximate or based on foggy memory.

It was suggested I share these again (some of you will remember these photos). Once upon a time I went through a bit of a collecting phase and in 2005 this was my Gibson (and Gibson adjacent) contingent. I still have 8 of these, but the rest were sent off into the world. I regret selling a few of them, but am mostly grateful I got the chance to own and play them for a few years.

 

[godofthunder59]

I never understood the reluctance to simply make a RI, a replica. G&L recently accomplished this with their recent CLF RI's of the L-1000 and L-2000 - dead on replica's. Regardless - anyone who's a geek enough to know would know a vintage version from a brand new version and whatever, all G&L's are good and some people will still want a vintage bass. I would really like to be a fly on the wall at the marketing sessions that determines how far they are going to go to "reintroduce" a classic model of their bass.

"...ah, no Jim... we have a stack of 3-point bridges from China that we need to use up so get that 'authentic concept' out of your head"
View attachment 4137584

I never understood the reluctance to simply make a RI, a replica. G&L recently accomplished this with their recent CLF RI's of the L-1000 and L-2000 - dead on replica's. Regardless - anyone who's a geek enough to know would know a vintage version from a brand new version and whatever, all G&L's are good and some people will still want a vintage bass. I would really like to be a fly on the wall at the marketing sessions that determines how far they are going to go to "reintroduce" a classic model of their bass.

"...ah, no Jim... we have a stack of 3-point bridges from China that we need to use up so get that 'authentic concept' out of your head"
View attachment 4137584

I must admit their clinging to the three point is baffling. Gibson surly must monitor bass forums and know the vast majority want the return of a 60's style bridge. With the introduction and success of the Epiphone Vintage Pro surely they can't be that dense.

 

[JIO]

In the words of Arte Johnson: "Verrry interesting". So. The new Gibson NR is here(YAY!)and so far, except for positive remarks about the colo(u)rs available, most of the comments have been negative re the bridge-prolly the easiest upgrade-and that it looks kinda like the 2013 revisited. Doesn't really matter to me, can't afford one anyway.

I can't personally justify that price ether. I've toyed with the idea of building up one - but my total costs would be easily twice that. (parts and labor) My '68 Coral and Hornet are pretty close to that shape and both are major league players that could contest any '60s T-bird.

 

[Instagator]

I must admit their clinging to the three point is baffling. Gibson surly must monitor bass forums and know the vast majority want the return of a 60's style bridge. With the introduction and success of the Epiphone Vintage Pro surely they can't be that dense.

Agreed..If Gibson had used the Vintage Pro bridge set up I would have been all in..I'm sure it's going to be a great Bass but I was looking for something more retro.

 

[Mr.Fingers]

I must admit their clinging to the three point is baffling. Gibson surly must monitor bass forums and know the vast majority want the return of a 60's style bridge. With the introduction and success of the Epiphone Vintage Pro surely they can't be that dense.

As I already stated here, it’s very likely just using up already built stock that they still had laying around from 2013. The NR T-bird is a rather niche iteration of a rather niche model of a rather niche bass-brand. That’s why the knobs are located so strange, the 3-point bridge,... they’re now using up the woodwork of 8 years ago with updated hardware that might appeal more to the audience (black was rather peculiar), and some colours they know might spark interest like Inverness & Burgundy.

 

[godofthunder59]

As I already stated here, it’s very likely just using up already built stock that they still had laying around from 2013. The NR T-bird is a rather niche iteration of a rather niche model of a rather niche bass-brand. That’s why the knobs are located so strange, the 3-point bridge,... they’re now using up the woodwork of 8 years ago with updated hardware that might appeal more to the audience (black was rather peculiar), and some colours they know might spark interest like Inverness & Burgundy.

Manufacturers today don't stock a huge backlog of parts, the order what they need.

 

[TBird1958]

View attachment 4140085
'65 TBII, 66 Embassy, '67TBIV, '68TBII, '72LP, '72EB4 (modded by a previous owner)

View attachment 4140086
'76 or '77, '77, '76, '77, '79, '86

View attachment 4140090
'80, '01, '03, 05

View attachment 4140095
'71 SB400, early Ibanez Ripper project (original pickups looked like mud buckers but the previous owner let it sit in a leaky car trunk for two years and the electronics were ruined), '72 EBL currently waiting restoration with modern SG bass pickups (that mud bucker lives in an RD Artist in Scotland now).

View attachment 4140097
'75 Ibanez (bolt on neck, one of the best recording birds I've ever owned), '77 Greco TBII, '88 Greco TBIV, Epi Japan TB IV (not sure what year)

Some of these dates are approximate or based on foggy memory.

It was suggested I share these again (some of you will remember these photos). Once upon a time I went through a bit of a collecting phase and in 2005 this was my Gibson (and Gibson adjacent) contingent. I still have 8 of these, but the rest were sent off into the world. I regret selling a few of them, but am mostly grateful I got the chance to own and play them for a few years.

Be still, my heart!

 

[Mr.Fingers]

Manufacturers today don't stock a huge backlog of parts, the order what they need.

that is true, however, that was in the final spasms of Henry-ownership. I know they stopped production of the SG-bass and Thunderbird around 2015 because the warehouse was filled to the roof with them, and had enough stock to last at least 2 years of demand. It’s not too far fetched (I.e. believable) the same happened with the non-rev T-bird.

 

[GBassNorth]

Manufacturers today don't stock a huge backlog of parts, the order what they need.

Agree.

I suspect the threepoint decision on the new NR was driven largely by a combination of supplier cost for the bridge, installation cost of the bridge and ease of meeting quality control standards with the more forgiving threepoint. Don't forget, there were a slew of Epiphone Embassy basses with the new two piece bridge that wouldn't intonate properly - many of which were probably returned to the store for a refund. IIRC to a lesser degree it even happened with some of the Thunderbird VPs. And it's not a cheap fix to correct it.

If I worked in the product supply chain at Gibson I'd ask which bridge can I get cheaper (probably the three point, maybe not by much though), what are we already tooled for (pretty much the three point but not a huge deal to change this tooling), what's our QC failure rate with the three point (probably approaching zero out the door) vs the two piece (significantly higher, including returns, reimbursements, bad press and potentially lost customers - very big deal, especially to a company trying to improve its image). Kind of a no brainer.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

View attachment 4140085
'65 TBII, 66 Embassy, '67TBIV, '68TBII, '72LP, '72EB4 (modded by a previous owner)

View attachment 4140086
'76 or '77, '77, '76, '77, '79, '86

View attachment 4140090
'80, '01, '03, 05

View attachment 4140095
'71 SB400, early Ibanez Ripper project (original pickups looked like mud buckers but the previous owner let it sit in a leaky car trunk for two years and the electronics were ruined), '72 EBL currently waiting restoration with modern SG bass pickups (that mud bucker lives in an RD Artist in Scotland now).

View attachment 4140097
'75 Ibanez (bolt on neck, one of the best recording birds I've ever owned), '77 Greco TBII, '88 Greco TBIV, Epi Japan TB IV (not sure what year)

Some of these dates are approximate or based on foggy memory.

It was suggested I share these again (some of you will remember these photos). Once upon a time I went through a bit of a collecting phase and in 2005 this was my Gibson (and Gibson adjacent) contingent. I still have 8 of these, but the rest were sent off into the world. I regret selling a few of them, but am mostly grateful I got the chance to own and play them for a few years.

HOLY SHIITE!!!!!!!

 

[MCF]

Agree.

I suspect the threepoint decision on the new NR was driven largely by a combination of supplier cost for the bridge, installation cost of the bridge and ease of meeting quality control standards with the more forgiving threepoint. Don't forget, there were a slew of Epiphone Embassy basses with the new two piece bridge that wouldn't intonate properly - many of which were probably returned to the store for a refund. IIRC to a lesser degree it even happened with some of the Thunderbird VPs. And it's not a cheap fix to correct it.

If I worked in the product supply chain at Gibson I'd ask which bridge can I get cheaper (probably the three point, maybe not by much though), what are we already tooled for (pretty much the three point but not a huge deal to change this tooling), what's our QC failure rate with the three point (probably approaching zero out the door) vs the two piece (significantly higher, including returns, reimbursements, bad press and potentially lost customers - very big deal, especially to a company trying to improve its image). Kind of a no brainer.

At least it’s chrome.

 

[TBird1958]

Manufacturers today don't stock a huge backlog of parts, the order what they need.

Re the 3 point I would also think that there is likely a jig or some kind of CNC program that's set up to precisely drill for the installation. Go with what you already have.

 

[godofthunder59]

Agree.

I suspect the threepoint decision on the new NR was driven largely by a combination of supplier cost for the bridge, installation cost of the bridge and ease of meeting quality control standards with the more forgiving threepoint. Don't forget, there were a slew of Epiphone Embassy basses with the new two piece bridge that wouldn't intonate properly - many of which were probably returned to the store for a refund. IIRC to a lesser degree it even happened with some of the Thunderbird VPs. And it's not a cheap fix to correct it.

If I worked in the product supply chain at Gibson I'd ask which bridge can I get cheaper (probably the three point, maybe not by much though), what are we already tooled for (pretty much the three point but not a huge deal to change this tooling), what's our QC failure rate with the three point (probably approaching zero out the door) vs the two piece (significantly higher, including returns, reimbursements, bad press and potentially lost customers - very big deal, especially to a company trying to improve its image). Kind of a no brainer.

I don't buy it, with computer modeling, CNC manufacturing and a very good two piece bridge available I call it unresponsive at best. The dislike for the three point isn't exactly news to anybody...........even Gibson.