Gibson Les Paul "oversized" Bass....

bigsnaketex · #1 01-17-2012, 01:24 PM

Has anyone had any experience with a Gibson Les Paul Bass?

I have never seen one before but recently came across one - but it was in a store that was closed so I couldn't lay my greasy, tone inflecting fingers on it!

I must admit, that to have one in the cherry sunburst to match my Les Paul guitar would be pretty cool.......but somehow I was thinking in my heart of hearts that it may be novelty for that very reason.

So if anyone has played one of these things, please let me know your impressions!!

TN WOODMAN · #2 01-17-2012, 01:28 PM

Good tone, extremely heavy weight.

bigsnaketex · #3 01-17-2012, 01:29 PM

yea, my Les Paul Standard weighs in about 11.6 lbs so I'm sure if they "oversized" it, it would be much heavier!

TN WOODMAN · #4 01-17-2012, 01:34 PM

When I was younger I was of the school that the heavier the guitar or bass, the better tone. At 51, I feel the opposite!

bigsnaketex · #5 01-17-2012, 01:36 PM

I would agree with that theory......on both sides of the argument.....for I too, at age 51 second that emotion!!

iriegnome · #6 01-17-2012, 01:36 PM

I had one for a while. Hated it. To chunky for me. Brought it back to the store where I bought it and traded it for my Music Man Sterling.

bigsnaketex · #7 01-17-2012, 01:37 PM

I just played a MM Sterling and fell in love with it. Do you like yours - like better than ice cream?

johnk_10 · #8 01-17-2012, 01:46 PM

IMO, the new les Paul OSB goldtop is one of the best looking basses that i've ever seen, and even though it's chambered to supposedly save weight, i'd own one right now if there weren't over 9 1/2lbs. so, i'm just going to build one of my own with some NOS gibson 34" scale bass necks that i bought a while ago. i just refuse to deal with an 11-12 lb bass anymore.

iriegnome · #9 01-17-2012, 02:41 PM

Please don't misunderstand. I think the look of the LP is awsome. The neck just felt chunky and fat. By the way, loved my Sterling, but hated the P-up position.

soulman969 · #10 01-17-2012, 02:47 PM

It is good looking but that's about where it ends for me. It's heavier than hell it isn't the greatest tonally (to dark for me) or the easiest to play due to the neck size (fat). It's expensive and actually kind or uncomfortable to play. With the possible exception of the Firebird and Ripper I don't know that Gibson has ever conquered basses the way they have guitars.

coolet5 · #11 02-28-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

IMO, the new les Paul OSB goldtop is one of the best looking basses that i've ever seen, and even though it's chambered to supposedly save weight, i'd own one right now if there weren't over 9 1/2lbs. so, i'm just going to build one of my own with some NOS gibson 34" scale bass necks that i bought a while ago. i just refuse to deal with an 11-12 lb bass anymore.

Hey John,

Please let us into the process when you start building the lighter version.
I would definitely would consider a Les Paul bass if it would have been lighter including a white pickguard for a classic look.

johnk_10 · #12 02-28-2012, 09:11 PM

i've had everything in stock to build it for a while now, and as soon as i get some of my other build obligations completed, i'll start building it.

when i do, i'll probably start at thread on the process in the luhier's corner section.

ShoeManiac · #13 02-29-2012, 12:38 AM

I tried out one of the Goldtops, and I agree: aesthetically it's a gorgeous bass. It's so beautiful that you want to love it.

From a playability standpoint it had some pro's and con's. The neck felt somewhat comparable to a P-bass in shape. And it felt good playing with the bass resting on your knee. But the weight was totally a dealbreaker. It just felt too heavy to strap on and even play a 45 minute showcase gig.

My other gripe? The position of the rear pickup. It's just too far back. The neck pickup sounds great when it's solo'd, but the rear pickup is just too honky/nasal to enjoy when it's solo'd.

coolet5 · #14 02-29-2012, 08:24 AM

yea I`m starting to develop a major GAS for this bass and was thinking of contacting JohnK before he posted here, to see if he can make a lighter version. Cant wait to see what he`s going to do with it.

Is the original bass has a major neck dive issues?

Baird6869 · #15 03-01-2012, 08:22 PM

Great sounding bass but heavy as hell and playing over the bridge PU sucks as the string tension is so high. Neck is definately more of a P feel as well. They do look great though.....

I have owned 60-70 basses and this is the heaviest I have owned excluding a 13lb T-40.

In any case, I love mine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShoeManiac

I tried out one of the Goldtops, and I agree: aesthetically it's a gorgeous bass. It's so beautiful that you want to love it.

From a playability standpoint it had some pro's and con's. The neck felt somewhat comparable to a P-bass in shape. And it felt good playing with the bass resting on your knee. But the weight was totally a dealbreaker. It just felt too heavy to strap on and even play a 45 minute showcase gig.

My other gripe? The position of the rear pickup. It's just too far back. The neck pickup sounds great when it's solo'd, but the rear pickup is just too honky/nasal to enjoy when it's solo'd.

Barkless Dog · #16 03-02-2012, 12:49 PM

Mine is a regular LP standard with the chambered body and weighs just a bit over 10 pounds (on my bathroom scale)

johnk_10 · #17 03-02-2012, 01:34 PM

that's actually pretty reasonable, but i just can't play a 10lb'er for any real length of time on a gig anymore, so i'm going to try my best to make my custom LP goldtop stay in the 9lb flat region.

f64 · #18 03-02-2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkless Dog

Mine is a regular LP standard with the chambered body and weighs just a bit over 10 pounds (on my bathroom scale)

I'd been gassing for one since the new oversize body was introduced. Weight is an issue to me also. Living 1/2 way between NYC and Phila I can get to either market in less than an hour. I started playing store models to see if the sound was there and it was. I then started looking at shops in both markets weighing each instrument. I just used a battery operated portable scale that you hang the bass from. Some of the stores knew what I was doing, some thought I was nuts. I was surprised at the variation in weights. Very telling about the density and dryness of the blanks.
Anyway, I found one that met my specs: under 10#. When I got it home I weighed it on my UPS scale and its 9.6#
I've had discussions with Gibson about this and they acknowledge the variation in weight. Although they are out of the 400 each of the initial run they eluded to reintroducing it into the standard line this spring with a different fret board.
When I heard that I immediately thought - Hmmmm could the original run have been built out of the fret board material they were raided over?? If so these would go down as the Les Paul Raid Bass.

Barkless Dog · #19 03-03-2012, 05:01 AM

Wood does vary in weight, especially mahogany, which is typically a heavier wood, not as heavy as maple, Walnut or northern Ash

dopejohnpaul · #20 03-20-2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f64

When I heard that I immediately thought - Hmmmm could the original run have been built out of the fret board material they were raided over?? If so these would go down as the Les Paul Raid Bass.

I just ordered mine today from Zzounds. Got their last new GT OSB for $1250 shipped- a STEAL! I actually called Gibson to ask them a few questions about these. I asked about the production run numbers, and they could not give me an exact number other than to say "about 150 per finish". My next question was about the boards and the raid. All they could say was "We paid a hefty fine, and most of the Madagascar Rosewood was confiscated, however they did not confiscate finished instruments with the components already utilized. We can not determine utilization for individual instruments." I think you may be on to something there