LeftyBassist.com

I've always been a fan, I have read there is only one true Gibson lefty Thunderbird bass and the guy in Cheap Trick owns it.

So, what are the other options? Epiphone, Dillon, others?

My knowledge of all these makes other than Gibson, Fender, G&L, Musicman is rather limited. I like the weigh of a mid 90's Jazz reissue, I don't like the weight of heavier guitars. Anyone have both and can give some advice? PJ seems to have everything.

I like the idea of tele bass too but don't know who makes what.

I saw an original lefty T-bird in Woodside, Queens, N.Y., in a club called Finnegan's Rainbow. A bassist in a regional band that played there sometimes had it. It had an ADDED EBO humbucker in the neck position. I'll never forget that. It was circa 1975. Pre-re-issues. I never did talk to the guy, just kinda stood and watched, wishing it were my bass.

The one owned by Rick Peterson is available for purchase on Gbase here: http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-thunderbird-ii-on-consign-1967-sb

Petersons is a lefty non reverse Tbird. If you want a Nr. you could get a Bach, they're nice and cost a lot less.

iome is right, go get a bach and you'll not be disappointed.

they are great basses for the money, sounds good with stock pick ups, just yesterday i put lollar tbird pickups on it and now it sounds amazing !!

Okay so Bach is a good brand? I will investigate, thanks.

May i also suggest to check out the thunderbuckers from Thunderbucker ranch. They are reproductions of the original Tbird pickups from the first series, very nice. http://www.thunderbuckerranch.com/

I just came across this ESP Phoenix that was custom ordered at Drum City Guitarland.
It's a Standard Series instrument, and apparently sold for 2399 USD.

Is ESP a good brand? I see alot of brands brought up on this forum that I've never heard of or in some cases they were considered kinda blah in the in 90's...

ESP is a big name among modern heavy metal guitarists and bass players. Very well-made with a lot of attention to detail. They're made in Japan. ESP also has a few more affordable brands (most notably LTD, but also Edwards and Grassroots) who manufacture instruments that look similar or identical to ESP but made in Korea or Indonesia with cheaper hardware, electronics and finish.

But don't expect this Phoenix to sound anything like a classic T-bird. It'll be a very modern and agressive tone with a lot of bite. It has two EMG DC35 pickups, each with their own volume control, and a passive master tone control.

If I was spending $2400 USD on a bass, I would not buy an ESP, I'd buy something vintage...

My frame of reference might be a Fender jazz bass.

Tokai and Gaskell both make lefty T-Bird copies. I haven't played ether, though I do own an Epi T-Bird and a Gaskell Explorer. The Gaskell T-Bird comes close in specs in that it's mahogany and neck thru. Tokai's specs have changed on/off over the years, and at one point they did offer a neck thru model. Everything else out there is usually bolt on and maple? bodied, so while they do sound decent they wouldn't sound exactly like a T-Bird. The Epi BO T-Bird I own has the look and vibe of a real T-Bird but with a cleaner/tighter/thinner tone than the real deal and definitely less beefy/dark sounding.

The Gaskell might be the ticket, but I'm not a fan of the headstock:

http://www.gaskellguitars.com/models/72.html

Not sure what he's charging for them, as I don't see them on his price list. But his other instruments are typically running around $1000.

Tokai T-Bird:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Left-Handed-T ... 0690508464