Headless Thunderbird

[Jonesy]

Quite a unique mod!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156658530392?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m164380.l178264&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=c94bfe4ab8ac49f89a94f44800489968&bu=43119291937&ut=RU&exe=0&ext=0&osub=-1~1&crd=20250128012836&segname=11021&recoId=156658530392&recoPos=1

"Headstock: Good aesthetic condition."

 

Is it?! 🤔

[tauzero]

£350 when intact ones are about £250? I think they've added a zero.

[rwillett]

I think the headstock is in a good aesthetic condition.

 

It's not attached to the neck and I'm fairly certain the worlds best luthier might struggle to reattach it, but there's no marks on the headstock and it looks in excellent condition, apart from the fact it's no longer connected.

 

I wonder if my Aria Pro neck would fit the body?

 

I am actually designing a headless thunderbird myself for 3d printing and if this was a lot less, I'd look at buying but not for £350.

Rob

[rwillett]

5 minutes ago, tauzero said:

£350 when intact ones are about £250? I think they've added a zero.

 

Weren't these circa £750+ when they came out. They look great but I've never played one to try them out. If you know of one for £250 please let me know.

 

Anyway, I agree that £350 is waaaaay too much for one with no neck even if the headstock is in lovely aesthetic condition (though unattached)

[PaulThePlug]

Thru neck model... shame.

If it was a bolt-on, instant Fender-Bird!

[rwillett]

Ah! Didn't notice that at all, whoops.

 

Then @tauzero is probably spot on with his £35 valuation.

 

Rob

[tauzero]

Must admit, I hadn't noticed it was through-neck either - I'm looking out for a cheap Thunderbird body to Fenderbirdise.

[rwillett]

Just now, tauzero said:

Must admit, I hadn't noticed it was through-neck either - I'm looking out for a cheap Thunderbird body to Fenderbirdise.

Have now read the eBay description (yes, yes, I know....). They have priced this based on the second hand price minus the cost of repair to the neck. I would have thought the second hand value of a good one was circa £450 to £550. So the cost of a repair is costed in as £100 to £200. Be interested in who can do that.

Rob

[Hellzero]

24 minutes ago, rwillett said:

Be interested in who can do that.

Certainly the local carpenter who is also a part time butcher, with loads of glue and screws and no refinish. 🤦🏻🤣

 

I had an old Warwick Streamer (advertised here) in similar state and when I asked my friend Christophe (Leduc) how much it would cost to have it back to a fully working condition, he said between £500 and £1000 depending on the level of non seeable repair and I pay way less than anyone else...

 

In my glory days I rebuilt an exploded acoustic Landola guitar that had fallen from the top of a 3 rows guitar shop presentation shelf and it took me a full week to get a non seeable repair, just do the maths...

 

Strangely after the repair, the guitar was sounding better than its fully original still on the shelf sister, go figure.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Quote

We have priced this guitar based upon the second hand value of a fully functional example, minus the cost of repair and how much the guitar will be worth once any repairs are completed.

 

I don't think the price has taken into account that a complete bass with a headstock repair will be worth less than one that has always been intact.

 

It doesn't look like a particularly clean break, and matching the metallic finish perfectly will be impossible.

 

If the seller believes that their pricing strategy is accurate, they have nothing to lose by getting the repair done before listing it for sale.

[rwillett]

1 hour ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

If the seller believes that their pricing strategy is accurate, they have nothing to lose by getting the repair done before listing it for sale.

 

A perfectly reasonable suggestion.

[tauzero]

2 hours ago, rwillett said:

Have now read the eBay description (yes, yes, I know....). They have priced this based on the second hand price minus the cost of repair to the neck. I would have thought the second hand value of a good one was circa £450 to £550. So the cost of a repair is costed in as £100 to £200. Be interested in who can do that.

 

I would have thought that the second-hand value of a repaired one would be rather lower, maybe £300-£350.

[dudewheresmybass]

4 hours ago, rwillett said:

Have now read the eBay description (yes, yes, I know....). They have priced this based on the second hand price minus the cost of repair to the neck. I would have thought the second hand value of a good one was circa £450 to £550. So the cost of a repair is costed in as £100 to £200. Be interested in who can do that.

Rob

He who shall not be named? 
🤔

[rwillett]

2 minutes ago, dudewheresmybass said:

He who shall not be named? 

 

Now that made me laugh....

[rwillett]

2 hours ago, tauzero said:

I would have thought that the second-hand value of a repaired one would be rather lower, maybe £300-£350.

 

Especially one so damaged.

[neepheid]

I saw this up on Facebook Marketplace for £300.  Which is still about £100 too much considering the state it's in, IMO.

 

Also hard disagree with the "£350 when intact ones are about £250?" - this is a Thunderbird 64, not the bolt on IV.  They're around £750 new.  I would expect a second hand price of around £500.  I get that some people don't like Thunderbirds, but try not to throw nonsense around.