Thunderbird Club

[dasherf17]

Found a 1940 Gibson in mint condition for under $3000, but I think I’ll pass on it….
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Just stumbled in here...Gibson, like the guitar maker?

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

It seems like the Gibson shop wasn’t too concerned with exact placements of covers and pickguards. 60 years later, we (bass nerds) notice the details, but at the time things like TRCs might have been seen as relatively simple tasks delegated to whoever in the shop had some time. And as long as it looked ok, the basses went out the door.

you may be right…after all, 7ender started out as a radio repair (amps/audio electronics) shop, Gibson as a stringed music instrument (mandolins?) builder over 70 years before….in fact, the original Leo Broadcaster (1 pickup Tele) of 1948 was devised to augment his amp sales past the hawaiian/pedal steel market….sharp cookie..

 

[dasherf17]

Y’all tossing around cars with that paint scheme. Figured I better pony up..

This would have been about 63-64 during the AFX classes in NHRA
View attachment 4535164

(...and here I thought AFX was slot cars...)
Seriously, I knew some drag classes...I was more of a dirt tracker, but I read Hot Rod mag...

 

[GonePlaid]

Hmm, lemme see. Coupla older shots. I currently can't upload new pix. Phone problem.
View attachment 4575397 View attachment 4575398

New shot of old bass(clip-on stays clipped on):

 

[dasherf17]

New shot of old bass(clip-on stays clipped on):
View attachment 4575926

Kinda new to the Tbird Club...what's the clip-on for?

 

[WillyW]

Kinda new to the Tbird Club...what's the clip-on for?

keeps the headstock from falling off, AND enhances neck dive

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

New shot of old bass(clip-on stays clipped on):
View attachment 4575926

is the h/s front blk? hard to tell…

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Kinda new to the Tbird Club...what's the clip-on for?

tuner I think…

 

[GonePlaid]

Kinda new to the Tbird Club...what's the clip-on for?

Tuner.(D'addario NS Micro)

 

[dasherf17]

keeps the headstock from falling off, AND enhances neck dive[/QUOTare!

Gotta love that dive! My left arm is SO much stronger, now...

 

[GonePlaid]

is the h/s front blk? hard to tell…

In as brief a description as possible, yes.

 

[JIO]

What about "limited colour series"?
May work for them (Epiphone/Gibson), and us (buyers)

They have done a few - that silver-ish "TV" finish, and silver/blackburst are ones I can think of. But yah, something to inspire sales seems like a good tact.

 

[dasherf17]

Tuner.(D'addario NS Micro)

Thanks GP...I've seen those, but haven't gotten one...

 

[GonePlaid]

Thanks GP...I've seen those, but haven't gotten one...

It works well. I have one on each bass(4). They 'disappear' against black headstocks.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

so many variables....guess the next one is the positioning of the lettering on the TRC itself...were they decals? OR, already printed on the panels prior to singulation?....who knows...
mine - top left
Plaid's - right
JIO's - bottom left...

 

[dasherf17]

It works well. I have one on each bass(4). They 'disappear' against black headstocks.

I also have a P/J clone with a black headstock, a 3/1 tuner configuration. Can't wait to get m'bird finished...

 

[JIO]

Honestly, I'm thinking the inconsistency arises because Gibson likely had to cut the TRCs especially to fit when the screw holes are next to the nut. The TRCs like mine, Danny's and Jio's are likely from the Firebird parts bin.

Not unlikely - factory parts-bin resourcefulness. When Fender introduced the Telecaster Bass (basically their 1st RI of the '51 P w/o calling it that) in early '68 - they pieced together the hs decals using 'Telecaster' from their guitar and 'Bass' from their Coronado bass of the same time before they had a specific decal made for it. A Tele bass with this decal also had a 2-piece maple (separate neck & fb) unlike a one piece maple neck since.

this one from '78 -

at this point it had the neck-hugging Seth Lover Fender mud-bucker

 

[JIO]

so many variables....guess the next one is the positioning of the lettering on the TRC itself...were they decals? OR, already printed on the panels prior to singulation?....who knows...
mine - top left
Plaid's - right
JIO's - bottom left...

View attachment 4575973

Screened on with gold ink - mine's turned nearly white with a faint gold outline.

 

[dagrev]

It seems like the Gibson shop wasn’t too concerned with exact placements of covers and pickguards. 60 years later, we (bass nerds) notice the details, but at the time things like TRCs might have been seen as relatively simple tasks delegated to whoever in the shop had some time. And as long as it looked ok, the basses went out the door.

No, it can't be that simple. There has to be a conspiracy in there somewhere, otherwise this whole internet thing isn't working properly.

 

[JIO]

It seems like the Gibson shop wasn’t too concerned with exact placements of covers and pickguards. 60 years later, we (bass nerds) notice the details, but at the time things like TRCs might have been seen as relatively simple tasks delegated to whoever in the shop had some time. And as long as it looked ok, the basses went out the door.

Yah, it was most likely a day-to-day 'make it happen' decision.