Louisfw Posted June 22 Posted June 22 (edited) I've always wanted an Ironbird bass but never really expected to own one. Then last week, after my after-dinner nap, I was browsing through Facebook Market place and saw one for £250, including the case. Even better, it was only 3 miles away. I immediately offered to buy it and collect it within half an hour and I did. Now that I own it, I'd like to know more about my new acquisition. I've done a bit of research but details are sparse. Also there are no real markings on the bass or in the 'bag of spaghetti' wiring compartment. How can I tell where the bass was made? Does the serial number suggest it was made in 1989? Is it right that the 'R' logo is a custom build? Anyone have any ideas on what the set of toggle switches do? The case is ridiculously heavy and well built. You could throw it off the Eiffel Tower and the guitar inside would remain intact! Any information will be gratefully received. ............. and by the way, do any of the music shops sell a prop to hold the neck up? Just wondering! Edited June 22 by Louisfw 9 Quote
Lozz196 Posted June 22 Posted June 22 Nice bass, screams 80s metal which is no bad thing imo. If naming it it will have to be Spiky McSpike of Spikyland. 1 Quote
Skybone Posted June 22 Posted June 22 Looks like you bgot a real bargain there. It doesn't look like it's a bolt neck from the pics, so it could possibly be a US built one. 2 Quote
Louisfw Posted June 22 Author Posted June 22 2 hours ago, Skybone said: Looks like you bgot a real bargain there. It doesn't look like it's a bolt neck from the pics, so it could possibly be a US built one. Whoops! I never thought about the neck. It's a thru neck. I've added a picture 🙂 1 Quote
Louisfw Posted June 22 Author Posted June 22 2 hours ago, Lozz196 said: Nice bass, screams 80s metal which is no bad thing imo. If naming it it will have to be Spiky McSpike of Spikyland. 😁 Quote
Woodinblack Posted June 22 Posted June 22 It seems to have the same logo and switch arrangement as Geezer Butlers Live Aid one (but not the same pickups), I presume coil tap and series / parallel, you should be able to see from the wiring. 2 Quote
Doctor J Posted June 22 Posted June 22 Lovely, always wanted one of them. What a steal of a deal too. Well done. 1 Quote
Doctor J Posted June 22 Posted June 22 (edited) Kahler bridge too, they did the works on that one. If it's US made, you got it about a grand cheaper than it should have been. Edited June 22 by Doctor J 1 Quote
Cosmo Valdemar Posted June 22 Posted June 22 £250?! That could be the bargain of the century... @dudewheresmybass is the expert here. 1 Quote
dudewheresmybass Posted June 23 Posted June 23 250??? 250 !!! That is a score and a half! Looks to be american made, The R logo and serial would put it in the 80's for certain. All the switching options and knob design all point to the USA as well. I would put the pictures and details onto the BC rich Junkies page on facebook. There are people on there that could tell you what the builder's wife's cat was doing at 7 minutes past 3 there Thank you for sharing dude!! I look forward to seeing it on FB 3 Quote
White Cloud Posted June 23 Posted June 23 Absolute bargain. Definitely (maybe?) a US model. High quality bit of kit. Congratulations! 2 Quote
Doctor J Posted June 23 Posted June 23 The R was used on sone Japanese models and some also had complicated switching. I would lean 95% towards it being USA but there would be a little bit of doubt. 1 Quote
impathological Posted June 24 Posted June 24 3 hours ago, Doctor J said: I saw them on that tour, the bass was stolen in Nottingham a few days later, as I recall. Savage gig, although quite short as it was all of the first album and one song off what would become Legion. It was a white Stealth that had ants airbrushed on it that was stolen, affectionately known as " ant war", last I knew Glen still wanted it back, it has never surfaced 2 Quote
Doctor J Posted June 24 Posted June 24 Ah, I remember it being reported as the Ironbird in Kerrang or Metal Hammer at the time. He used the Ironbird for the full set at the show I was at. 2 Quote
Muzz Posted June 24 Posted June 24 My best advice is never to run while carrying it: it looks at least 200% more dangerous than a pair of scissors... 1 Quote
mikebass456 Posted June 24 Posted June 24 Did it come with it's own risk assessment? You'll be having someone's eye out with that, if you're not careful....... 1 Quote
christhammer666 Posted June 25 Posted June 25 23 hours ago, Doctor J said: I saw them on that tour, the bass was stolen in Nottingham a few days later, as I recall. Savage gig, although quite short as it was all of the first album and one song off what would become Legion. didnt see them until the serpents tour, totally dialling it in by then. wish id seem them back in the early 90s Quote
Doctor J Posted June 25 Posted June 25 (edited) The Ironbird which really grabbed my attention first was Johnny Rod's yellow one, love this bass. Edited June 25 by Doctor J 3 Quote
sascha peakman Posted Tuesday at 17:36 Posted Tuesday at 17:36 On 28/06/2025 at 08:52, kingforaday said: Crazy, I saw this bass on marketplace… I’m in Plymouth so I messaged asking for more pics etc and asked questions thinking it must be stolen or something… but she explained it was her dads who had passed, she answered everything, provided more pics, and while I was frantically google searching trying to figure out if it was genuine at that price… you bought it! I knew something was weird about it though. There were others too, she offered me a couple of BC Rich Widows but something still felt off about it all so I declined. I asked if she’d ever actually got these valued and she stopped replying! I stopped replying due to the amount of messages I was receiving and was being overwhelmed. I’m sorry that I never got back to you. 1 Quote
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