Shaggy

£1300 for a '79 (still usually called "bicentennial model" even though technically that was '76) is good if neck repair is decent, as it looks to be - they're much nicer than subsequent models. Chrome 3-point bridge is right, separate bridge / tailpiece is only on '60's models Good luck!

[quote name='Bob Goo' timestamp='1384451717' post='2276922'] Cheers for the replies guys. I don't think that's my old one. The finish looks too vibrant. I'm sure mine was a little more faded. The only stand out thing I remember about mine was that there was quite a bit of wear near the bottom of the body where it had been stood against a wall and not on a stand by the previous owner. I really don't mind scuffs and scrapes but would never have mistreated it like that. During the time I owned it I couldn't find any presence of the GS Galaxy bass anywhere on the internet. No pics, nothing so I don't think thre are many of them. [/quote] No wear on my ex (above) at all - dated to '85 I think but it was pristine. The GS Galaxy guitars are fairly well known and respected (and still made I think), but I've never seen another bass version......wish I still had her!

Bought mine on ebay about 5 years back, only thing about deal I remember was it was "collection only" but I managed to persuade seller to post Lovely bass - simple, but fabulously crafted and finished. Since traded with lozbass on this forum who I'm fairly sure has moved it on, but may be a trail worth following! Good luck, and let us know if you find your old squeeze......

Excellent upgrade currently FS here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221289-jason-lollar-precision-pickup/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221289-jason-lollar-precision-pickup/[/url] I've had a few "boutique" P p/ups, favourite is the Fender '62 RI currently in my '65 P.

Blimey, this is hell of a deal for someone!!! Driver is a near new Eminence (Kappa I think), cab is UK made; proper ply construction - rats fur covering a tad scruffy (or was!) but I spent a long afternoon once hammerite-ing the grille. Very lightweight for size. Anyone wants the original Scorpion driver they can have it for postage, but it'll need a re-cone Really fancying that Bassman rig of your Chris if you still have it.....

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1382305125' post='2250535'] In much the same boat, with my BC Rich Eagle. [/quote] Is that "Wonky" or have you acquired another? Fab bass.... Already got my faves too, although wouldn't say no to a nice '60's Ric 4005 and a Gibson RD Artist CMT

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1382002333' post='2246487'] Current Gibson Thunderbird pickups are completely different to those which appeared on the original T-Birds in the 60s. It's not just the colour of the covers that have changed, whereas the current crop of replacement pickups from Thunderbucker, Lull and Lollar are based on the original classic designs. Which you like best of course is entirely subjective. BTW Gibson/Epiphone in the past have been very reluctant to sell replacement parts without a genuine instrument to receive them, and TBH if the Epiphone T-Bird pickup sounds good to you, it would probably to simpler and maybe even cheaper to buy a second hand one and butcher it for the parts. [/quote] +1 to all that. Thunderbuckers [b]are[/b] pricey, but they're astonishing pickups; as punchy and growly as a really good "P" p/up but with more depth and clarity. Each one is hand-wound to order, and Steve at the Thunderbucker Ranch is as helpful as can be. It seemed an expensive gamble at the time fitting to my gigging Fenderbird ( [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/180496-the-welsh-fenderbird-mk-2-a-quest-for-perfection/page__p__1736514__hl__welsh__fromsearch__1#entry1736514"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/180496-the-welsh-fenderbird-mk-2-a-quest-for-perfection/page__p__1736514__hl__welsh__fromsearch__1#entry1736514[/url] ), but never looked back. Sounds like a good project this, but if you prefer the Fender-type body then personally I'd make a non-reverse Fenderbird with jut one p/up (I use just the neck p/up 90% of the time) - in a nice aged white or Pelham blue would look and sound the absolute mutts

It's a common theme on here - that certainly applies to me, although there seem to be some iron-willed guys above - of gigging happily for years and even decades with one bass and one amp, until joining BC......... ........and then you're doomed

Passive = Ovation Magnum 1, although the '70's Fender Tele bass would run a close second Active would be the one with the maddest preamp (which from personal experience was a '79 MM Sabre)

And blimey, I've bought another amp off him (Marshall silver jubilee 3530), even faster this time! Thanks again jacko!

American amps have the power socket (kettle lead type) upside down, and on European ones it's the right way up? Just wondering.......

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1380825587' post='2231248'] Very sorry to hear this and I hope you get sorted at reasonable cost. I also retired my Mesa bag right after I bought the amp and like WOT, replaced it with a very strong, semi-rigid, and good fitting computer case. Frank. [/quote] Ditto - £3 charity shop job that's served me well

At the risk of starting a sub-forum, try Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" too, and anything by Mysterie de voix Bulgares.........

Sublime. My "go to" piece of music for the last 30 years, along with (strangely enough) the "Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis" by Vaughan Williams

Bought an '80's Wal case from Donny - or rather from his friend, with Donny doing all the hard work! (ie: 2 awkward sods for him to deal with rather than 1 ) As before, a top guy to do business with; great communications and he posted the case off immaculately packed (once he was back from one of his "shady" trips to Germany..... ) Thanks fella

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1375967180' post='2168013'] I hated both the Thunderbird Pros that I've tried. Apart from the body shape they didn't have any of the feel or sound that I would associate with a classic Gibson Thuderbird from the 60s. Essentially it's just a very ordinary MiK active bass with an over-inflated price tag due to the name. and body shape. I think you need to ask yourself what it is about the Thunderbird that appeals to you. If it's the sound of all those classic rock records from the 70s then probably nothing but an original (not a modern one) Gibson will do. You could get whichever of the modern versions feels best and put one of the good aftermarket 60s-style pickups in it, but you'll probably end up paying more the pickups than you paid for the bass. If you just like the shape, then there are plenty of other options to look at like the Spector Rex, models from various Japanese manufacturers and there's someone in the US making B-O neck Fenderbirds all of which would be worth your consideration. [/quote] +1 to all that "Proper" Thunderbird tone is all about (1) the pickups, and to a lesser extent (2) the resonant mahogany body. Best solution - as BigRedX says - is either to mod a cheap but decent T 'bird (so Korean Epi or Tokai, unless you can pick up a cheap Gibbo or Orville) with Mike Lull or Thunderbucker p/ups (they ARE expensive), or do the same with the Fenderbird route which gives you far more customising options and a stronger neck. Latter is what I did - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/180496-the-welsh-fenderbird-mk-2-a-quest-for-perfection/page__p__1736514__hl__welsh%20fenderbird__fromsearch__1#entry1736514"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry1736514[/url] - it was conceived purely as a gigging tool (which it is), but in fact tone-wise is simply the loveliest passive bass I've ever played - and I own a '65 T'bird IV, '65 Precision, '58 and '69 EB-2's, early '73 Ric 4001, '77 Travis Bean TB2000, '77 Ovation Magnum 1, '85 Explorer among others. It's all I use now for fretted.