Otherwise this is truly Exceptionally Clean in anyone's book. Slight weather checking…slight fade…only the nickel parts have oxidized. It is a sight to see that would make any “Mint” guitar or bass collector drop to their knees & beg to own. It is without a doubt, the cleanest T’bird anywhere that is in virtually “near mint” condition showing only the slightest age & wear. Now on to this magnicent Bass of ours…this is the most amazing original Thunderbird in the World PERIOD ! It is an original special ordered bass still wearing its “Polaris White” finish from the factory.
We waited outside the show to get autographs (Overend blows us off like he was Elvis or something) & Ariel Bender stopped to sign my “Playbill” magazine for me & I still cherish that today. I wen w/my older brother to see the show as “Queen” opened up the show (what a frikin show Freddie & the boyz did) as I waited patiently for Ian Hunter (rhythm guitar), Overend (on his White T’bird) & Ariel Bender (lead guitar AKA Luthier Grosvenor of “Spooky Tooth” fame) played their asses off & today was one of my most memorable concerts I ever saw (as a young 15 year old lad).
Our luv for this T’Bird II Bass stems from my early contact with the band Mott the Hoople when their bass player, “Overend Watts” played his White T’Bird II Bass painted White on their 1974 “Marionette Tour” at the Uris Theater in NYC. Being a very feminine color choice, obviously Gibson had very few takers as with most of its color options & no more than a few were ever produced. This particular example came from the factory in what is known as “Polaris White” which was essentially like Fender’s own “Olympic White” finish.
#1964 thunderbird white plus
Gibson offered a handful of Custom Colors including the usual Black & White plus a batch of colors that were similar to Leo Fenders guitars of this period. Most of these T’birds came in a natural mohagany finish with a slight Sunburst’d border around its face & a black band around its natural finished headstock…quite bold in its day. These were offered in a single pickup configuration call the T’bird II & a double pickup version called the T’bird IV. These early Thunderbirds & Firebirds had a very heavy neck/headstock design that fell forward as you played & were not a very popular player…hence the newer non-reverse style guitars & basses were born as they were far more balanced to play standing up for hours.
They started production in 1963 along with its Firebird guitar sibling & had what were referred to as a “Reverse” style body shape…as compared to its later “Non-Reverse” style body shape which were more like a Fender Jazzmaster in design which was far more popular. The Gibson Thunderbird has to be one of the most desirable & most limited production run electric solid body basses of all time.
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