| Comments | The original Jupiter Thunderbird was designed by and built for Bo Diddley in 1959, by a Gretch employee using Gretsch necks and hardware. Bo’s concern was that the larger electric he was using – an L-5! – was so big that it hindered his energetic performance. The smaller trapezoidal and rectangular designs let him be much more active (and not hidden by the guitar). These were never regular production guitars, but were certainly well known.
The Jupiter Thunderbird was given to Billy Gibbons, who didn’t want to use it on tours, so he prevailed on Gretsch to make it a production item. This 2006 Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird is in great condition with no real wear. |
| Serial Number | JT06062915, built during June 2006 at the Terada plant in Japan. |
| Pricing | $$1,995.00 CAD with original black hardshell case. |
| Neck | Maple neck with bound rosewood fingerboard; mother of pearl neo-classic ‘thumbnail’ position markers. 24.6 inch scale length, 1.6875 inch nut width. |
| Frets | No appreciable wear on the original frets. |
| Body | Maple body in the unique Jupiter Thunderbird shape. Creme binding with black-wite purfling on the body. |
| Finish | Red top, blakm back, sides and neck. |
| Hardware/electronics | All original; TV Jones pickups, Grover Sta-Tite open gear tuners, pickup selector, master volume, individual volumes and master tone controls. Raised pickguard. adjusto-matic bridge on ebony base. |
| Playability/Action | Plays well. |
| Case |
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