FS: Custom Build NR Thunderbird + Case - *SOLD* £525 Potton, Central East Bedfordshire

[silverfoxnik]

Hi Folks, 

 

Bit of a clear out going on at Silverfox Towers at the moment, so... 

 

For sale only, this completely unique Custom Build Non-Reverse Thunderbird bass that I bought in 2017 from Sean, aka @Billy Apple. 

 

The bass comes with an excellent quality hard case that I bought from @Chimike especially for this bass, as it's a bit longer than most standard 34" scale basses.

 

For the bass & case, I'm looking for £NOW SOLD. 

 

The history of this bass from when it was first commissioned in 2013 is quite a story in itself; read more about it here:

 

 

 

To describe the bass properly and give it it's full due, I hope Sean won't mind me quoting him from his For Sale advert at the time:

 

"Completely unique custom built NR Thunderbird. The last of the Bachbird body blanks made from mahogany and a lovely rosewood board. Bach also supplied the two piece bridge. Routed to vintage specs by the Bass Doc, with a hand-made bone nut, vintage white scratch-plate, TRC and control cover. Pups are '66's from Steve at the Thunderbucker Ranch, along with one bevel surround and shim. Tuners are Gotoh Resolite GB528's. Vintage white top-hats with a matte white finish and set-up from John Williams at Noiseworks."

 

I actually sold this to Rod aka @howdenspur a year after I bought it from Sean, and then did a trade with Rod last summer to get it back, specifically to use on a recording project. 

 

As I hope can be seen in the photos, it's still in excellent condition, though the matte white finish is beginning to mellow into more of an off-white colour, now that ( to me anyway) just oozes those retro rock & roll vibes! 

 

By the way, it's quite tricky to show the colour properly in the photos. The first 8 photos were taken yesterday. All the others are from 2018. Between all of those, I hope it shows what the colour is... 

 

As basses go, it's totally unique; a one-off, that sounds amazing and gets so much attention at gigs because it looks so cool. 

 

With a slim and super-fast neck, and after having been set up so well by John at Noiseworks, the bass really does play like a dream..

 

And it sounds great, and not just for rock either - you'd be amazed at how much of a slap monster this bass is !! 

 

"So, why are you selling? ", I hear you say, which is a good question.

 

To which the answer is that I'm predominately using two of my basses all the time these days - my BC Rich Eagle, and a Fender P that I bought from @Mudpup recently... So much so, that I'll probably be selling a couple of my other basses quite soon too. 

 

Anyway, back on topic... 

 

Collection from Potton, Central Bedfordshire preferred, but I'm happy to drive to meet up if it's within a reasonable distance (say an hour). 

 

With a bass of this nature, I don't want to courier it - it's just too risky!

 

Anyway, thanks for looking and if you have any questions about this amazing T-Bird, please ask away here or PM me.

 

Cheers 

 

Nik

Edited June 24, 2023 by silverfoxnik
Now SOLD

[NancyJohnson]

It's amazing reading the linked thread.  I've not thought about the trauma Sean went through since the last post there, but it's amazing how memories come back some eight years later.

[BreadBin]

That's a lovely thing

[ricksterphil]

GAS, a bit like nicotine addiction, pops up and grabs you when least expected. I shall remove myself to a small dark room to repeat the mantra...."I don't need another bass.....I don't need etc etc"

[Rayman]

Oh…. My……

[Cosmo Valdemar]

52 minutes ago, Rayman said:

Oh…. My……

Ditto.

[also played on]

Do you know the weight please Nick and are there any issues with neck diving? Cheers

[Shaggy]

Really beautiful bass - I put Thunderbucker ‘66 pickups in my custom Warmoth T’bird, put together so that I wouldn’t have to gig my 1965 T’bird IV, and can confirm that they actually sound better than the originals.  

 

Something really special about a white Thunderbird; plus I’m sure this will be the equal of a Mike Lull for a lot less dosh - GLWTS 👍

[silverfoxnik]

1 hour ago, also played on said:

Do you know the weight please Nick and are there any issues with neck diving? Cheers

I haven't had any issues with neck dive since fitting a strap lock at the heel of the neck ( as shown in the pics above). 

 

I'll weigh it now.... 

[silverfoxnik]

42 minutes ago, Shaggy said:

Really beautiful bass - I put Thunderbucker ‘66 pickups in my custom Warmoth T’bird, put together so that I wouldn’t have to gig my 1965 T’bird IV, and can confirm that they actually sound better than the originals.  

 

Something really special about a white Thunderbird; plus I’m sure this will be the equal of a Mike Lull for a lot less dosh - GLWTS 👍

That is one very lovely looking bass! 

[silverfoxnik]

1 hour ago, also played on said:

Do you know the weight please Nick and are there any issues with neck diving? Cheers

By using that not so scientific method of weighing myself with and without the bass, I make it 4.1 kg (or 9.03 lbs in old money). 

 

Hope that helps.... 

[also played on]

5 minutes ago, silverfoxnik said:

By using that not so scientific method of weighing myself with and without the bass, I make it 4.1 kg (or 9.03 lbs in old money). 

 

Hope that helps.... 

Thanks Nik, much appreciated

 

[oldslapper]

Blood and sand that’s sexy! 

[Mudpup]

@Jonesy

[howdenspur]

This is indeed an awesome looking and sounding bass - and much missed in these parts!

Think I've read somewhere that Thunderbucker Ranch (Steve?) is no longer making pickups, so potentially an even rarer bass on sale here.

GLWTS Nik!👍

[silverfoxnik]

43 minutes ago, howdenspur said:

This is indeed an awesome looking and sounding bass - and much missed in these parts!

Think I've read somewhere that Thunderbucker Ranch (Steve?) is no longer making pickups, so potentially an even rarer bass on sale here.

GLWTS Nik!👍

Cheers Rod, 

 

Hope you're keeping well 👍😊

[briansbrew]

@silverfoxnik Pity about the postage Nik, loverly Bass

[silverfoxnik]

9 minutes ago, briansbrew said:

@silverfoxnik Pity about the postage Nik, loverly Bass

It's a set neck Brian, 

 

I just don't have any confidence in courier companies for jobs like this these days.. 

[briansbrew]

4 minutes ago, silverfoxnik said:

It's a set neck Brian, 

 

I just don't have any confidence in courier companies for jobs like this these days.. 

I have always used Parcelforce with no problems, sent a fabulous vintage 1983 JV precision over the pond 2 weeks ago and all went well..

[Jonesy]

Really lovely t'bird, it just oozes cool and I bet it sounds just as good as it looks. I'd be very tempted if I didn't have a limelight on the way!

[Steve Browning]

There are times I wish I was remotely cool enough to play a T-bird. Doubly restricted by playing in a band with an ex UFO and Pete Way Band drummer. Rather too big a pair of boots to fill!

[silverfoxnik]

1 minute ago, Steve Browning said:

There are times I wish I was remotely cool enough to play a T-bird. Doubly restricted by playing in a band with an ex UFO and Pete Way Band drummer. Rather too big a pair of boots to fill!

You definitely are cool enough, Steve, hence the calibre of musicians company that you keep! 

[ricksterphil]

On 19/06/2023 at 13:38, ricksterphil said:

GAS, a bit like nicotine addiction, pops up and grabs you when least expected. I shall remove myself to a small dark room to repeat the mantra...."I don't need another bass.....I don't need etc etc"

 

Well that didn't work.... pm'd 🙂

[silverfoxnik]

3 hours ago, ricksterphil said:

 

Well that didn't work.... pm'd 🙂

And replied.... 👍

[ricksterphil]

15 minutes ago, silverfoxnik said:

And replied.... 👍

....and replied