Thunder 1A Bass Project

So tonight I scored myself a 1984 Thunder 1A Bass with the original case for £40.

It's got a few issues but is definitely fixable. I'll post pics tomorrow.

The body has been stripped at some point and re-finished with varnish. It's also got a Les Paul style jack plate screwed on, one of the switches has snapped off. The original nut is gone and there is a far-too-wide one is in it's place. The control cavity cover is also missing.

There is a patch of thumbnail wear above the pickup and one of the neck bolts has been replaced with a strange looking screw.

On the plus side, the neck is straight and true with minimal fretwear, the electrics are all present and original, the Matsumoku neck plate is still there, as are the original knobs. Original brass bridge, strap buttons, machine heads and truss rod cover and battery cover are all in place.

My plan is to strip it and re-finish the body 'Jaydee' style with red body wings. The switch is easily replaced, I can make a new cavity cover and I have a brass Warwick Just-a-Nut going spare. The paint will cover the nasty bits on the body and hey presto - a living, breathing Thunder!

All in all, a good little project - and at £40 it's a friggin' steal. The neck alone is worth more than that!

£40!! what a bargain...A good priced original Westone case with a Westone Thunder 1A project bass thrown in for free ... nice catch.. and good luck with the restoration.

As promised, here's the pics. I've done nothing with it yet as I only picked it up late last night:

Nice score, cheap at half the price

Seen some rough times but she can take it! She'll respond to some TLC.

And just how expensive is a pair of wire cutters anyway? Really! Talk about yer spaghetti head.

I know! That's one of my pet hates.

I think this baby is due some new strings anyway