Shaggy Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 (edited) As I’m currently winding my bass playing down to a low level I’m putting some stuff up for sale. I rather feel quite a pang about this one, as I acquired it in a trade about this time last year to satisfy a 40-year old itch of wanting one, and very lovely bass though it is, its acquisition coincided with my starting to intensely focus on playing my other non-bass instruments. This is a Thunder II, I believe from 1983, and is exactly the same spec as the P/J version of the Thunder III other than having the earlier pre-Eagle headstock logo, and with creme pickup covers and TRC rather than black. Matsumoku (Japan) built. Neck-through construction, solid Canadian ash body wings with the darker “walnut” finish, rock maple neck with walnut stringers, ebony fingerboard with real mother-of-pearl “snowflake” fret marker inlays, chunky solid brass nut and bridge/tailpiece. Switchable passive or 18V active operation, controls explained here: http://www.westone.info/manual/index.html In very decent nick for a 40 year old bass, with a few small dings and scratches, and some light tarnishing to the bridge where the lacquer has worn off the brass. All original as far as I’m aware, bar the truss rod cover which I had custom made in the USA to replace the missing one. Lots of love for these from bass players, and decent condition II and III models are getting increasingly scarce. Looking for just £550 on this; you’ll see them going for £1K+ on evilBay. Collection from South Wales, near Swansea - I can deliver to Bridgend services M4, or possibly further for fuel costs. Postage a potential option, but I’m putting 4 basses up for sale and only have one box! Any questions or requests for specific pics; please message me. Edit: price drop: £475 Edited October 12 by Shaggy 24 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 I spent the whole of the early 80's dreaming on owning one of these, while plugging away at my Satellite 🤔 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted November 25, 2023 Author Share Posted November 25, 2023 1 hour ago, Beedster said: I spent the whole of the early 80's dreaming on owning one of these, while plugging away at my Satellite 🤔 Ee, I used to dream of owning a Satellite, when I were hiding at back of t’stage wi’t shame of playing a......Columbus Jazz bass copy........🙁 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 Amazing versatile basses. I have two of 'em (see my signature pic below), although mine are around 81/82 with the double P pickups. GLWTS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 One of my "dream" basses back in the late 80's/early 90's. That is such a great looking bass. GLWTS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted November 29, 2023 Author Share Posted November 29, 2023 17 minutes ago, Skybone said: One of my "dream" basses back in the late 80's/early 90's. That is such a great looking bass. GLWTS. Thanks Skybone, these seem to have been the “Pamela Anderson” of the bass world, in being unattainable objects of desire for a certain generation of bass players whilst in their formative years....... Though my main object of desire when I started out was a Ric, as in your avatar. I’ve since been lucky enough to own 3 - still got my early ‘73 4001. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 Though these came in a number of pickup configurations the PJ has got to be the one to have IMO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted November 30, 2023 Share Posted November 30, 2023 15 hours ago, Shaggy said: Thanks Skybone, these seem to have been the “Pamela Anderson” of the bass world, in being unattainable objects of desire for a certain generation of bass players whilst in their formative years....... Though my main object of desire when I started out was a Ric, as in your avatar. I’ve since been lucky enough to own 3 - still got my early ‘73 4001. 🙂 Very true. Mine still IS a 4001, I'll settle with my 4003. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjay69 Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 There was a few of these kicking around Swansea 40 odd years ago, i think John Degay had one or the guitar version at least. Retro classic right there 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eboclive Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 I have a sister bass to go along with this. Exactly the same, except mine is fretless. (blank fingerboard, side dots). Fantastic instruments, although I don't currently play it. It has sat in the loft for the past 10 years or so. Very high quality build, lovely neck through body, lovely wood grains. GLWTS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 As soon as I see one of these, it takes me right back to Rock School and Henry 'Magic Thumb' Thomas. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 On 12/01/2024 at 20:31, lowregisterhead said: As soon as I see one of these, it takes me right back to Rock School and Henry 'Magic Thumb' Thomas. A big +1 for Rock School though I always thought H.T.'s nickname was 'King Thumb'. 😊 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 (edited) 7 hours ago, Stingray5 said: A big +1 for Rock School though I always thought H.T.'s nickname was 'King Thumb'. 😊 Could well be. It was a looooong time ago! Edit: just did a quick search, and you’re quite right - he did call himself ‘King Thumb’. Not sure where I got the ‘Magic’ from! 😁 Edited January 14 by lowregisterhead 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 3 hours ago, lowregisterhead said: Could well be. It was a looooong time ago! Edit: just did a quick search, and you’re quite right - he did call himself ‘King Thumb’. Not sure where I got the ‘Magic’ from! 😁 Hehe, indeed it was a long time ago - I'm slightly surprised I even remembered it, myself. (Just don't ask me what I had for breakfast! 😉) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 Re above; had to google “School of rock” as I’ve seen it a couple of times, and absolutely no recollection of Henry “King Thumb” Thomas being in it 🤔 Doh - Rock School, not School of rock........ Never watched it, never seen or heard of the guy, but if he slaps a Thunder II he must be a discerning man of taste 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 15 hours ago, Shaggy said: Re above; had to google “School of rock” as I’ve seen it a couple of times, and absolutely no recollection of Henry “King Thumb” Thomas being in it 🤔 Doh - Rock School, not School of rock........ Never watched it, never seen or heard of the guy, but if he slaps a Thunder II he must be a discerning man of taste 👍 I couldn't find a clip from Rock School that may have showed Henry playing his Westone, but here's part of one of the episodes from, I think, around the mid to late 80's. He's upgraded slightly -- to a Wal 5-string! 😊 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 (edited) 3 hours ago, Stingray5 said: I couldn't find a clip from Rock School that may have showed Henry playing his Westone, but here's part of one of the episodes from, I think, around the mid to late 80's. He's upgraded slightly -- to a Wal 5-string! 😊 Thanks Stingray5 - I think I had a jacket like that circa 1985 too.......🤔 Edit: and you mean downgraded slightly, surely......😉 Edited January 19 by Shaggy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 2 hours ago, Shaggy said: Thanks Stingray5 - I think I had a jacket like that circa 1985 too.......🤔 Edit: and you mean downgraded slightly, surely......😉 Haha, I definitely had a jacket like that circa 1985! 😁 And yes, of course, what I meant to say was 'downgraded'... 😄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Man that's a doozy... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy67 Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 On 25/11/2023 at 21:11, Shaggy said: Ee, I used to dream of owning a Satellite, when I were hiding at back of t’stage wi’t shame of playing a......Columbus Jazz bass copy........🙁 Aye I used to dream of owning a Columbus while playing my K pbass! Oh the shame of it all 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Of Spades Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 Blimey. I wish the last 40 years had been as kind to me - can’t believe the condition of this bass, looks absolutely amazing. There is something about those 80’s neck through models that just screams quality build, and in this condition at that price it’s an absolute bargain. I am sure this one won’t be around for long especially as these ‘vintage’ basses are getting harder and harder to find in anything like that condition... a little gem from the Welsh Man Cave GLWTS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobiewharton Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Very cool, and a YOB bass for me... Glwts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted October 12 Author Share Posted October 12 Last bump on this, with a price drop; been using this as my studio bass for the last year and v happy to keep it as such Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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