• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

You are very welcome. I've noticed that as well and was about to ask JIO about his also. This is must be when they began to think of inconsistency as a characteristic to be built in. :rolleyes:

So, the TRC on yours, mine and Jio's are different than the two pictured in The Gibson Bass Book, which why I was confused about mine. Both of the Birds in the book show the TRC mounting screws closer to the nut and the TRC actually touching it. Pages 37, 42 and 43. An interesting variation.
 
So, the TRC on yours, mine and Jio's are different than the two pictured in The Gibson Bass Book, which why I was confused about mine. Both of the Birds in the book show the TRC mounting screws closer to the nut and the TRC actually touching it. Pages 37, 42 and 43. An interesting variation.

Well, chalk it up to the early months of production. If what's been written about the 1st year only producing 3 T-bird II's is true, '64 was essentially the first (and only) full year for the gen1 T-bird. It would be interesting to know a month-by-month as things like this tr cover seemed to have moved sometime within the year. Unlike Fender, the month within a year when something at Gibson was produced was not documented.
 
Last edited:
I’d be up for that! If we get serious about a SoCal GTG keep me in the loop, I can bring a boat load of different basses for folks to noodle on.


So, do you have a favorite player yet?

Yep - Bass = leon-wilkeson / Guitar = Johnny Winter

Was cleaning out the garage yesterday and ran across an old WWII era Minerva tube AM radio that belonged to my Grandparents. All original and still works just fine.
View attachment 4573623 View attachment 4573624



Ok guys, stop it with the 2021 NR talk already! You’re killin my wallet!


A classic! Oil changes are fun on the V12, about 10 quarts required IIRC. I had a 1973 XKE V12 convertible for a short while back in the late 1980’s. Sold it for a more predictable 1988 Mercedes 560 SEC, an autobahn monster in its day.
 
My TRC, at least you can see why I want to replace it.

7ynqgJv.jpg
 

I'd offer you mine, but I'd have to ask $3K ... (joking) Related, there's an eBay seller that has a brass mute-plate from a '63 T-bird for sale. (for about $350 if I recall) and being curious about the very rare '63 T-bird having owned one, I wrote and asked how they knew it was off a '63. A very nice woman wrote back that it was from her husbands bass and he bought it new in '63. (!) She seemed legit and I thanked her for replying. It's still on eBay - has been for years. The over-the-top priced tr cover previously talked about here is just stupid-overpriced, but the thing about actual original 'artifacts' (at this point) - they can be "worth" as much as the seller asks to the right person. Most likely not you or I, but money to some is a moot point if they want something. For example, asking prices for '60s T-birds are going up. They were going up in value before the US economy crashed in '08, stagnated/leveled off for a few years, and now are climbing up again, some for over $10k. Vintage Fender basses also - and higher for the same years/period. But compared to vintage 6-string guitars? Ridiculous asking prices - sometimes double a same vintage Fender or Gibson bass. Same in the classical world - a 100yr old Italian double bass - $$$$, a similar vintage cello or violin? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (not joking)
 
My TRC, at least you can see why I want to replace it.

View attachment 4575664

A possibility it is original, but for whatever reason someone at some point altered the upper part of it. No indication on the hs face so it was probably done when it had the neck surgery/re-fin on the hs. Best to keep for continence sake, but otherwise replacing it is the way to go.
 
Last edited:
No, not mine, but why can't Epiphone do what this guy did?
View attachment 4575683

If you mean.., bright colored finishes... I'd have to say it probably wouldn't be a big selling point today. The '80s were when outrageous colours and finishes flourished but being an exclusively "style" thing - it had a definite (short) 'shelf-life'. (as most 'styles' do) Most T-bird owners gravitate to "classic" colours and finishes. Somewhat conservative I know... but it is what it is. In this regard, supporting your local guitar finisher is a good alternative to such mediocracy. :)
 
Last edited:
I'm pretty sure Tommy Shannon played one for a while with SRV. Not sure what PUs were in it, but it looked like your bass.

Tommy did play a similar Robin for many years. Supposedly still occasionally does. It’s a terrific bass and I could see someone loving the pickups. I just don’t :)
 
If you mean.., bright colored finishes... I'd have to say it probably wouldn't be a big selling point today. The '80s were when outrageous colours and finishes flourished but being an exclusively "style" thing - it had a definite (short) 'shelf-life'. (as most 'styles' do) Most T-bird owners gravitate to "classic" colours and finishes. Somewhat conservative I know... but it is what it is. In this regard, supporting your local guitar finisher is a good alternative to such mediocracy. :)
No, I just liked the Bright Cherry...sometimes listed as Cardinal Red...that Gibson had a few years ago.
They all sold out, of course, and the used ones are selling for more than they did when they were new.
 
Last edited:
No, I just liked the Bright Cherry...sometimes listed as Cardinal Red...that Gibson had a few years ago.
They all sold out, of course, and the used ones are selling for more than they did when they were new.

That pic looks day-go red. Cardinal Red is Gibson's version of Fender's Fiesta red. I dig it.

upload_2022-2-7_23-51-56.jpeg

Cherry (red) is a different, translucent shade of red - not aware of 'bright cherry' but I see Cardinal red is sometimes referred to as that. Can't see any similarity.
upload_2022-2-7_23-54-35.jpeg
 

Latest posts