1966 Gibson Thunderbird II Non-Reverse bass just into the shop!
This Thunderbird first came into the shop via it's second owner, who'd purchased it in 1976, and used it in GB bands throughout the decades in the Boston/New England area. It's not only a great and somewhat rare model by Gibson bass standards (paled in comparison to EB production), but it's an example that has survived a half century and then some without the famed headstock breaks that commonly occur on Gibson electric 'birds.
This long-scale solid Mahogany bodied bass has remained in great overall shape, and the instrument weighs in at just about 8 3/4 lbs. It's very resonant and balanced acoustically, and plays phenomenally well thanks to a prior pro refret. The original Thunderbird bass pickup has a distinct tone - rich in lows and midrange with a slightly rounded top end.
At some point in its life, the tailpiece started to pull away from the body, resulting in some stripping out of the original tailpiece screws. Additional screws were added long ago and the bridge was reinstalled, but misaligned. We filled all existing holes and re-centered the bridge just behind the original holes. Everything is now sturdy and working just as it should! The tone pot was also replaced but the original CTS volume pot remains, with a 137 66xx date code visible.
The original case has certainly been through it, and its previous owner made certain it would not fail in its job of safe transport to and from various gigs over the years. The exterior was painted over, additional hinges were added, and the interior walls were blocked to add more rigidity. The latches and handle were all replaced as well. Still, the original golden yellow interior remains, and the Thunderbird fits comfortably as originally intended.
**Due to the fragility of Gibson's Firebird and Thunderbird models, we require expedited shipping to ensure safer transit.**
