Thunderbird Club

[GonePlaid]

bout time you showed up..

I misplaced my pith helmet, so nothing pithy to say.(no, I don't lisp/lithp).

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I misplaced my pith helmet, so nothing pithy to say.(no, I don't lisp/lithp).

last time i saw one of those was in Nassau almost 50 years ago!….

 

[GonePlaid]

last time i saw one of those was in Nassau…

Close as it is, never been-or gonna go(no passport). When I went places internationally, I didn't need one-as a 'guest' of the Navy.

 

[dagrev]

Amp.
View attachment 4528090

Clips w/ 'Bird coming...

Is it OK to not like you?

That is sweeeeet! Been a good while since I've seen one in person.

 

[dagrev]

I misplaced my pith helmet, so nothing pithy to say.(no, I don't lisp/lithp).

Some times not being pithy is prostate related.

 

[Blazer]

A T-bird and two awesome SG Juniors in this music video for "Been it" by the Cardigans.

 

[Count Bassie]

Is it OK to not like you?

That is sweeeeet! Been a good while since I've seen one in person.

In some circles it's required...
Thing's the size of a suitcase. It sounds very glossy, like it's totally built to sound like what you want but without the artifacts of an otherwise "baked in" tone that you have to work around. Tube-powered hi-fi.
The lows are so pure and clean, it's a beautiful experience. I'm going to be a minute dialing in. But. I think it's not so intimidating as I've heard. Just a little time spent. I'm definitely bringing this to some gigs.

 

[Bent77]

So anyways, what’s out there for 30” scale birds?

What are the pickups like under the covers? Pole pieces, blades?

Anybuddy made a ThunderBass VI?

95-22ish

Try the EB3. It’s like a thunderbird, only filled with thick, wooly hate

 

[Gaolee]

Gibson did make a short scale Tbird, but they are pretty rare. I think @MCF has one.

I picked one up in Seattle and shipped it for a member here. I don't remember the details. It was matte black and he polished it. That improved it a lot. I think he sold it.

 

[JIO]

…and all this time I thought they were puking because of my playing


I’ve been watering my string trees, but to be honest they just aren’t growing.

Are you sure it is a string-cheese tree?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Are you sure it is a string-cheese tree?

That's the theory.

 

[GBassNorth]

wow! always had the hots for that styling….what’s their collectibility factor like?

Collectibility? Good question, probably similar to a USA Fender of the same era, unfortunately not nearly as good as most USA Thunderbirds.

This one was a limited run of 12 basses IIRC. Looks and plays beautiful (the active electronics really bring the Jazz pups to life). Wood selections and Fit and finish on the Woodstock Spectors are some of the best in the business, kind of the PRS of the bass world. All that said, if you buy one new (much like a USA Fender) you’ll be hard pressed to get your money back out of it on a resale, prolly more like a 25% to 50% depreciation. If you buy a used Woodstock it’ll hold its value quite nicely but won’t appreciate at nearly the rate of most USA thunderbirds.

Case in point, a numbered and signed bass from this limited run (total of 12 matching ones made) had roughly a $3000 sticker price when new in 2010. I’ve seen one of the 12 recently up for sale on Reverb for around $1500. Compare that to my 2013 Tbird Anniversary bass which was also a limited but much much larger run. IIRC it sold new for around $1200, good luck finding a used one for under $2000 now and don’t be too shocked when you see asking prices north of $3000. Heck, even a used run of the mill Eppi VP these days is fetching close to what I paid for mine new just a few years ago, and don't even get me started on the recent street price increase of the previous run of Gibby PB NR birds.

Spectors are phenomenal basses in every way, and like Thunderbirds they have a very strong following. I’m actually kind of surprised they haven’t skyrocketed on the used market like USA Thunderbirds or Alembics or German Warwicks or some other brands have over the last few years.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Collectibility? Good question, probably similar to a USA Fender of the same era, unfortunately not nearly as good as most USA Thunderbirds.

This one was a limited run of 12 basses IIRC. Looks and plays beautiful (the active electronics really bring the Jazz pups to life). Wood selections and Fit and finish on the Woodstock Spectors are some of the best in the business, kind of the PRS of the bass world. All that said, if you buy one new (much like a USA Fender) you’ll be hard pressed to get your money back out of it on a resale, prolly more like a 25% to 50% depreciation. If you buy a used Woodstock it’ll hold its value quite nicely but won’t appreciate at nearly the rate of most USA thunderbirds.

Case in point, a numbered and signed bass from this limited run (total of 12 matching ones made) had roughly a $3000 sticker price when new in 2010. I’ve seen one of the 12 recently up for sale on Reverb for around $1500. Compare that to my 2013 Tbird Anniversary bass which was also a limited but much much larger run. IIRC it sold new for around $1200, good luck finding a used one for under $2000 now and don’t be too shocked when you see asking prices north of $3000. Heck, even a used run of the mill Eppi VP these days is fetching close to what I paid for mine new just a few years ago, and don't even get me started on the recent street price increase of the previous run of Gibby PB NR birds.

Spectors are phenomenal basses in every way, and like Thunderbirds they have a very strong following. I’m actually kind of surprised they haven’t skyrocketed on the used market like USA Thunderbirds or Alembics or German Warwicks or some other brands have over the last few years.

didn’t know about the skyrocketing Warwicks…have heard you talk about that feud from time to time….how close are they dimensionally?….

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Collectibility? Good question, probably similar to a USA Fender of the same era, unfortunately not nearly as good as most USA Thunderbirds.

This one was a limited run of 12 basses IIRC. Looks and plays beautiful (the active electronics really bring the Jazz pups to life). Wood selections and Fit and finish on the Woodstock Spectors are some of the best in the business, kind of the PRS of the bass world. All that said, if you buy one new (much like a USA Fender) you’ll be hard pressed to get your money back out of it on a resale, prolly more like a 25% to 50% depreciation. If you buy a used Woodstock it’ll hold its value quite nicely but won’t appreciate at nearly the rate of most USA thunderbirds.

Case in point, a numbered and signed bass from this limited run (total of 12 matching ones made) had roughly a $3000 sticker price when new in 2010. I’ve seen one of the 12 recently up for sale on Reverb for around $1500. Compare that to my 2013 Tbird Anniversary bass which was also a limited but much much larger run. IIRC it sold new for around $1200, good luck finding a used one for under $2000 now and don’t be too shocked when you see asking prices north of $3000. Heck, even a used run of the mill Eppi VP these days is fetching close to what I paid for mine new just a few years ago, and don't even get me started on the recent street price increase of the previous run of Gibby PB NR birds.

Spectors are phenomenal basses in every way, and like Thunderbirds they have a very strong following. I’m actually kind of surprised they haven’t skyrocketed on the used market like USA Thunderbirds or Alembics or German Warwicks or some other brands have over the last few years.

Inverness green. $1675 with case.
For Sale - Gibson Thunderbird Non Reverse Inverness Green Mint Condition PRICE DROP

 

[JIO]

Collectibility? Good question, probably similar to a USA Fender of the same era, unfortunately not nearly as good as most USA Thunderbirds.

This one was a limited run of 12 basses IIRC. Looks and plays beautiful (the active electronics really bring the Jazz pups to life). Wood selections and Fit and finish on the Woodstock Spectors are some of the best in the business, kind of the PRS of the bass world. All that said, if you buy one new (much like a USA Fender) you’ll be hard pressed to get your money back out of it on a resale, prolly more like a 25% to 50% depreciation. If you buy a used Woodstock it’ll hold its value quite nicely but won’t appreciate at nearly the rate of most USA thunderbirds.

Case in point, a numbered and signed bass from this limited run (total of 12 matching ones made) had roughly a $3000 sticker price when new in 2010. I’ve seen one of the 12 recently up for sale on Reverb for around $1500. Compare that to my 2013 Tbird Anniversary bass which was also a limited but much much larger run. IIRC it sold new for around $1200, good luck finding a used one for under $2000 now and don’t be too shocked when you see asking prices north of $3000. Heck, even a used run of the mill Eppi VP these days is fetching close to what I paid for mine new just a few years ago, and don't even get me started on the recent street price increase of the previous run of Gibby PB NR birds.

Spectors are phenomenal basses in every way, and like Thunderbirds they have a very strong following. I’m actually kind of surprised they haven’t skyrocketed on the used market like USA Thunderbirds or Alembics or German Warwicks or some other brands have over the last few years.

Aside from quality etc - guitars/basses like a lot of things go through 'fashion' phases... when everyone wants them and they are the "it" instruments. The '80s produced a lot of such instruments and music that was made using them. Kubicki Ex-Factors (as an example) were born in the mid '80s and are still one of the most well-designed innovative basses ever made, but it took decades before their resale equaled the original asking price for one. (primarily because they were a "head-less" bass when everyone started wanting "retro" classics in the early '90s) That's why traditional design became the default - (most) players wanted something that wouldn't go "out of style"... somewhat sad but true. But at the end of the day as long as players are playing anything - it all comes down to personal style preference and otherwise who cares what it is/looks like as long as it sounds/plays good.

 

[GBassNorth]

Inverness green. $1675 with case.
For Sale - Gibson Thunderbird Non Reverse Inverness Green Mint Condition PRICE DROP

Tempting

 

[GBassNorth]

didn’t know about the skyrocketing Warwicks…have heard you talk about that feud from time to time….how close are they dimensionally?….

The used German Warwicks have been going up steadily in resale value. The Warwick Streamer is basically the same body size and shape as the Spector USA NS Bolt on. Both are great basses, but this is one model of Warwick that I won’t own. As far as I’m concerned, the rest of their models are fair game.

 

[Larry V]

Gibson did make a short scale Tbird, but they are pretty rare. I think @MCF has one.

...and I have one that isn't in the "forever bass" column.

 

[Count Bassie]

I would, but I don't enjoy the thicker neck on the NRs. Still hoping for news on a new Reverse.

You could pull a "Geddy" and sand it down to your liking...?

 

[Larry V]

Dirty Honey's Justin Smolian got himself a custom lefty NR.

In the last pic the frets looked jacked but that's just a video anomaly caught with the screen grab.

It's definitely an authentic Custom Shop Gibson.