Looking at the original guitar, it shows that the empty holes are where the bridge was.

What is the going rate for these guitars?

honestly imo, i think they are overpriced @ well over $1000 now, for the reduced features (less electronics) that they have but the improved pickups may counter that... i'd rather find a good used classic player and then change the bridge to a tune-o-matic (possibly w/ rollers) or maybe even a mastery bridge if you want to go all out, that would run you about $800 or so, at least under a $1000.

then again i think all guitars nowadays are overpriced, guitars and related gear (amps/effects) are just flat out expensive, for fairly decent quality stuff. i find it rather annoying.

I didn't notice that. This one is now effectively a baritone drifter as the hard tail string anchor is now functioning as the bridge, giving a longer scale length. Thus the lines on the fretboard no longer indicate positions of notes in the western 12 note system. Perhaps this is the first of a whole expanded line of mutant drifting instruments: solid body guitar, semi-hollow body guitar, 12 string guitar, baritone guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo.

Ladies and Gentlemen.... Tripping Eric and the Burning Spear Jass Band!

i just got the thurston jazzmaster and it's pretty great. i put a mastery bridge on it and it's now my favorite guitar along with my 68 jaguar and sg. it plays really well and sounds awesome.

im generally pretty skeptical when it comes to signature guitars but this one is excellent. im glad that thurston's signature is hidden on the back.

I still would love the Jazzblaster, sigh

jazzmaster would do me ;-)

can i get these gtrs anywhere these days?

There's a Thurston model on eBay right now, $3000 US.