Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

“you’re waiting for a train…”

Have mercy!
Been waitin' for the train all day
Have mercy!
Been waitin' for the train all day
I got my brown paper bag and my take-home pay


Apologies to ZZ Top

 

[PillO]

Reposting here on a recommandation from someone on the main forum saying that there may be some people including @godofthunder59 that can help me decode this thing:

So, here we go. This is a late 70's, Gibson Thunderbird. It does not have a serial number. Bought back in the early 80's when I was in high school in Chicago, sold to someone 20 years ago, and just bought back this weekend.

The legend, when I bought it, was that a very famous luthier in Chicago named Jim Beach went to Kalamazoo when Gibson was moving their custom shop and bought up all kinds of bodies and necks, then built some custom guitars and basses. He has since passed and his shop (Wooden Music Company) is no longer around, though they do have a Facebook page and I posted this there as well.

The bass is burgundy with a cream binding and pick guard. No beveled edge like a normal Thunderbird. Schaller heads, Bartolini Hi-A pickups, Badass bridge. Gibson logo on the headstock, no serial # anywhere. The binding is the most unique feature on the bass, I have never seen another one anywhere with this type of edge on it.

Back in the 80's I took it to a shop for some work and when the guy saw it, he immediately said "oh, this is a Jim Beach special" before I said anything about it, so that checked out. The bass weighs and has the fit and feel of a real Gibson, everyone that has played it said that this was a Gibson.

I have no reason to suspect that it is counterfeit and all of the story details check out from multiple vectors. It is a legit Gibson of some sort, I'd just like to see if anyone knows anything about it.

Trying to find anyone that might possibly know anything about either the Gibson Custom shop, Jim Beach, or this particular bass.​

Can anyone help? Here are some additional pictures:

View attachment 4299704
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I can't help, but what an awesome bass!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

“you’re waiting for a train…”

“A train that will take you far away.”

 

[Nocturnal]

Seems like you know plenty about it already.! Definitely a Bicentennial, the serial number would have been a oval decal on the back of the headstock Bicentennials were made from 76-79 the '79s had stamped serial numbers, I think all the other years had the decal. The only bound Gibson Thunderbird I have seen was one of Overend Watts birds on the Shouting and Pointing album cover. Anyway that's a really cool bass I'd certainly leave it as is.

My 77 has a stamped serial number.

 

[dagrev]

I had a Fender '51P RI ('06) with a single-coil and liked it for a bit but it was too much of a one-trick pony for someone weened on T-bird buckers. But I do like a Darkstar single though.., so what do I know?

I have to admit I have often struggled to get the single coil PU on my 55 to sound "fantastic." Are used to use road I was on it back in the early 80s, so maybe I need to try that again. Currently it has TI Jazz Rounds. It sounds nice and it's different, but not anywhere near the pleasure of the Thunderbird. However, this Regenerate does sound fantastic. It has Nordy PUs and pre, and can be active or passive. This thing does sound fantastic. Not Thunderbird fantastic, but then again nothing else does. I originally used both pick ups with the bridge barely on except when I played with pick and then I would have it full on along with the neck. I used it a week ago and it sounded fantastic and I never rolled at the bridge PU on at all. I love the electronics in this place. Very well thought out design in the building implementation. (I don't know what awesome pictures turn out so easy after they get posted.)

 

[dagrev]

Reposting here on a recommandation from someone on the main forum saying that there may be some people including @godofthunder59 that can help me decode this thing:

So, here we go. This is a late 70's, Gibson Thunderbird. It does not have a serial number. Bought back in the early 80's when I was in high school in Chicago, sold to someone 20 years ago, and just bought back this weekend.

The legend, when I bought it, was that a very famous luthier in Chicago named Jim Beach went to Kalamazoo when Gibson was moving their custom shop and bought up all kinds of bodies and necks, then built some custom guitars and basses. He has since passed and his shop (Wooden Music Company) is no longer around, though they do have a Facebook page and I posted this there as well.

The bass is burgundy with a cream binding and pick guard. No beveled edge like a normal Thunderbird. Schaller heads, Bartolini Hi-A pickups, Badass bridge. Gibson logo on the headstock, no serial # anywhere. The binding is the most unique feature on the bass, I have never seen another one anywhere with this type of edge on it.

Back in the 80's I took it to a shop for some work and when the guy saw it, he immediately said "oh, this is a Jim Beach special" before I said anything about it, so that checked out. The bass weighs and has the fit and feel of a real Gibson, everyone that has played it said that this was a Gibson.

I have no reason to suspect that it is counterfeit and all of the story details check out from multiple vectors. It is a legit Gibson of some sort, I'd just like to see if anyone knows anything about it.

Trying to find anyone that might possibly know anything about either the Gibson Custom shop, Jim Beach, or this particular bass.​

Can anyone help? Here are some additional pictures:

View attachment 4299704
View attachment 4299705
View attachment 4299706
View attachment 4299707
View attachment 4299708
View attachment 4299709
View attachment 4299710
View attachment 4299711

Very cool! Looks like a Gibson in all respects from a quick look. The 70s versions didn't have the beveled belly cut in the back. Or at least my '76 does not. I find it odd that Gibson would sell off a bunch of bodies like that, but anything is possible. They may be thought they would never produce them again and didn't give a flip about that design. Or maybe Jim had a little something on someone at Gibson! A friend of mine used to work at Gibson in Nashville and at that time they didn't seem to let anything go out the door. If they couldn't sell it as a second or to an employee it would get cut up. It seems really odd that they would let one of the most unique designs go out the door like that, but it sure looks like they did and you ended up with a great bass.

 

[JIO]

I have to admit I have often struggled to get the single coil PU on my 55 to sound "fantastic." Are used to use road I was on it back in the early 80s, so maybe I need to try that again. Currently it has TI Jazz Rounds. It sounds nice and it's different, but not anywhere near the pleasure of the Thunderbird. However, this Regenerate does sound fantastic. It has Nordy PUs and pre, and can be active or passive. This thing does sound fantastic. Not Thunderbird fantastic, but then again nothing else does. I originally used both pick ups with the bridge barely on except when I played with pick and then I would have it full on along with the neck. I used it a week ago and it sounded fantastic and I never rolled at the bridge PU on at all. I love the electronics in this place. Very well thought out design in the building implementation. (I don't know what awesome pictures turn out so easy after they get posted.)
View attachment 4299930

Cool bass! I just saw this on line - for that price it looks like a great bass. (Nordstrom pu's & roasted neck) This model has a couple different levels (one much cheaper) but with those features it checks all the boxes.

Ibanez TMB500 Talman Bass Standard Bass Metallic Forest

 

[dagrev]

Cool bass! I just saw this on line - for that price it looks like a great bass. (Nordstrom pu's & roasted neck) This model has a couple different levels (one much cheaper) but with those features it checks all the boxes.

Ibanez TMB500 Talman Bass Standard Bass Metallic Forest

Thanks! I love it. Very interesting. Don't think someone could go wrong at that price. My Regenerate has a two band EQ which I really like.

 

[Nocturnal]

Reposting here on a recommandation from someone on the main forum saying that there may be some people including @godofthunder59 that can help me decode this thing:

So, here we go. This is a late 70's, Gibson Thunderbird. It does not have a serial number. Bought back in the early 80's when I was in high school in Chicago, sold to someone 20 years ago, and just bought back this weekend.

The legend, when I bought it, was that a very famous luthier in Chicago named Jim Beach went to Kalamazoo when Gibson was moving their custom shop and bought up all kinds of bodies and necks, then built some custom guitars and basses. He has since passed and his shop (Wooden Music Company) is no longer around, though they do have a Facebook page and I posted this there as well.

The bass is burgundy with a cream binding and pick guard. No beveled edge like a normal Thunderbird. Schaller heads, Bartolini Hi-A pickups, Badass bridge. Gibson logo on the headstock, no serial # anywhere. The binding is the most unique feature on the bass, I have never seen another one anywhere with this type of edge on it.

Back in the 80's I took it to a shop for some work and when the guy saw it, he immediately said "oh, this is a Jim Beach special" before I said anything about it, so that checked out. The bass weighs and has the fit and feel of a real Gibson, everyone that has played it said that this was a Gibson.

I have no reason to suspect that it is counterfeit and all of the story details check out from multiple vectors. It is a legit Gibson of some sort, I'd just like to see if anyone knows anything about it.

Trying to find anyone that might possibly know anything about either the Gibson Custom shop, Jim Beach, or this particular bass.​

Can anyone help? Here are some additional pictures:

View attachment 4299704
View attachment 4299705
View attachment 4299706
View attachment 4299707
View attachment 4299708
View attachment 4299709
View attachment 4299710
View attachment 4299711

That is a beauty!!!

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

love this thing….looking forward to tomorrow’s open mic..

 

[TBird1958]

Reposting here on a recommandation from someone on the main forum saying that there may be some people including @godofthunder59 that can help me decode this thing:

So, here we go. This is a late 70's, Gibson Thunderbird. It does not have a serial number. Bought back in the early 80's when I was in high school in Chicago, sold to someone 20 years ago, and just bought back this weekend.

The legend, when I bought it, was that a very famous luthier in Chicago named Jim Beach went to Kalamazoo when Gibson was moving their custom shop and bought up all kinds of bodies and necks, then built some custom guitars and basses. He has since passed and his shop (Wooden Music Company) is no longer around, though they do have a Facebook page and I posted this there as well.

The bass is burgundy with a cream binding and pick guard. No beveled edge like a normal Thunderbird. Schaller heads, Bartolini Hi-A pickups, Badass bridge. Gibson logo on the headstock, no serial # anywhere. The binding is the most unique feature on the bass, I have never seen another one anywhere with this type of edge on it.

Back in the 80's I took it to a shop for some work and when the guy saw it, he immediately said "oh, this is a Jim Beach special" before I said anything about it, so that checked out. The bass weighs and has the fit and feel of a real Gibson, everyone that has played it said that this was a Gibson.

I have no reason to suspect that it is counterfeit and all of the story details check out from multiple vectors. It is a legit Gibson of some sort, I'd just like to see if anyone knows anything about it.

Trying to find anyone that might possibly know anything about either the Gibson Custom shop, Jim Beach, or this particular bass.​

Can anyone help? Here are some additional pictures:

The laminations mark it as a Gibson body, I think without question. Gibson used decals for the S/N from '76-mid'77 from what I understand, I used have a black '77 with a stamped S/N. I have no problem believing that parts could be obtained from the Kalamazoo plant, some years ago I bought N.O.S. '76 pup covers from a guy selling them on Ebay. As to it's heritage I'd say what you already know is likely correct, but with Gibson one never knows for certain because employees would often build their own instruments from components on hand. This odd little fellow from Uwe Hornung's collection being an example of such

Similarly the Explorer second from left.

 

[TBird1958]

love this thing….looking forward to tomorrow’s open mic..
View attachment 4299972

Greco LOVE!

 

[godofthunder59]

My 77 has a stamped serial number.

Interesting my '77 has a decal. I am not really sure when the switch took place.

 

[GonePlaid]

love this thing….looking forward to tomorrow’s open mic..
View attachment 4299972

HAT! (or lack thereof)
Enjoy!

 

[TBird1958]

Interesting my '77 has a decal. I am not really sure when the switch took place.

As I understand it was mid '77 when Kalamazoo began stamping headstocks. What I don't know for certain is if Nashville made any Thunderbirds during 76-79, it seems that someone back on The Dudepit said they did. That thread about the 5 digits S/N White 'Birds on the FB group recently was quite interesting.

 

[AustinBike]

Seems like you know plenty about it already.! Definitely a Bicentennial, the serial number would have been a oval decal on the back of the headstock Bicentennials were made from 76-79 the '79s had stamped serial numbers, I think all the other years had the decal. The only bound Gibson Thunderbird I have seen was one of Overend Watts birds on the Shouting and Pointing album cover. Anyway that's a really cool bass I'd certainly leave it as is.

Based on the fact that it did not come out of the Gibson factory proper, I would not expect a serial #.

 

[dagrev]

HAT! (or lack thereof)
Enjoy!

It's on the table, so Chuck's READY!

 

[Engle]

Just got the cutting machine and did a test logo. I’ll probably change it, but wanted to see how it works.

 

[Bassmike62]

Reposting here on a recommandation from someone on the main forum saying that there may be some people including @godofthunder59 that can help me decode this thing:

So, here we go. This is a late 70's, Gibson Thunderbird. It does not have a serial number. Bought back in the early 80's when I was in high school in Chicago, sold to someone 20 years ago, and just bought back this weekend.

The legend, when I bought it, was that a very famous luthier in Chicago named Jim Beach went to Kalamazoo when Gibson was moving their custom shop and bought up all kinds of bodies and necks, then built some custom guitars and basses. He has since passed and his shop (Wooden Music Company) is no longer around, though they do have a Facebook page and I posted this there as well.

The bass is burgundy with a cream binding and pick guard. No beveled edge like a normal Thunderbird. Schaller heads, Bartolini Hi-A pickups, Badass bridge. Gibson logo on the headstock, no serial # anywhere. The binding is the most unique feature on the bass, I have never seen another one anywhere with this type of edge on it.

Back in the 80's I took it to a shop for some work and when the guy saw it, he immediately said "oh, this is a Jim Beach special" before I said anything about it, so that checked out. The bass weighs and has the fit and feel of a real Gibson, everyone that has played it said that this was a Gibson.

I have no reason to suspect that it is counterfeit and all of the story details check out from multiple vectors. It is a legit Gibson of some sort, I'd just like to see if anyone knows anything about it.

Trying to find anyone that might possibly know anything about either the Gibson Custom shop, Jim Beach, or this particular bass.​

Can anyone help? Here are some additional pictures:

View attachment 4299704
View attachment 4299705
View attachment 4299706
View attachment 4299707
View attachment 4299708
View attachment 4299709
View attachment 4299710
View attachment 4299711

 

[Nocturnal]

Interesting my '77 has a decal. I am not really sure when the switch took place.

Mine also has the "76" on the pickguard. Funny how different models made within the same year can differ.