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Thunderbird Club

#178,201
The Bird (tuned BEAD, should I call it the BEA(r)D?) with my other toys (Squier P-Bass and unfinished yet Disco-sparkling fretless)
5F0CAD8D-1518-474A-8AAA-1FC897B4960A.jpeg
 
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#178,202
AustinBike said:
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
Click to expand...
Dunno, but I am in love!
 
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#178,205
AustinBike said:
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
Click to expand...

That's a really special bird. :thumbsup:
 
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#178,211
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#178,220
Engle said:
TRC logo V2 with matte gold foil
View attachment 4301143
Click to expand...
That looks pretty darn good!
I'm in desperate need of a Greco truss rod cover with gold foil letters for my white Greco. I've looked everywhere and none are to be found. I believe @dukeorock is also in need of a Greco truss cover with gold foil text. If you decide to start making covers to sell I'd be interested in buying one.
 
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