New Gibson EB bass

[wvbass]

Originally Posted by kurosawa

Fender committed some crimes too, like the Bass V and the Mustang/Musicmaster, but nothing like the Ripper/Grabber/S3 or the RD series, ermagerd. It makes it worse that I want so much for a grand old name like Gibson to hit one out of the park.

Huh. I'd love to have an RD. Wouldn't mind a Mustang. I'm criminal minded, I guess.

[kurosawa]

Originally Posted by hdracer

Can you describe what you think hitting one out of the park would be?

They did it with the reverse T-bird.

[kurosawa]

Originally Posted by wvbass

Huh. I'd love to have an RD. Wouldn't mind a Mustang. I'm criminal minded, I guess.

Yeah, the RD made some great noises. I forgot which one I played but it seemed to have some advanced electronics. I gigged a Musicmaster in a big band for a while when I was in a short scale mood. It worked OK. Came with heavier gauge flats than I'm used to seeing on short scale basses, nickel wrap, and had a surprisingly thick sound for what looked like a guitar single coil pickup.

[Nobody]

I like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GLa9T2CtI

[TRichardsbass]

This 1960's Silvertone has nearly the same body:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho...8#post14523358

[Primakurtz]

Well, that escalated quickly!

A few thoughts on Gibson: I have owned Gibson guitars since my childhood; my first student guitar was a 120T, purchased from Johnny Smith. I currently own and love an RD, a Flying V, and a '63 SG junior. I would like to own a Gibson bass. A beloved American company!

However, in recent years, under the "leadership" of Henry J., Gibson has really suffered. It is consistently rated as one of the worst companies to work for. Their new models have been consistently... Odd. The Firebird X? Someone mentioned focus groups - Gibson uses them, but Henry overrules their findings and does as he pleases. They stay afloat selling overpriced Les Pauls to middle aged dentists and lawyers.

I started the thread because I really want Gibson to come back with some good new ideas, executed well. I appreciate the reviews from the few who have tried one. Thanks!

[Not yet]

Henry is a pc of work, ever met him? He fully lives up to reputation ... First real bass was an EBO from the early 70s still have... Always had a soft spot for Gibson but do have to agree w ya

[swamp2]

I still give Gibson a lot of credit for trying new stuff. Yeah, much of it misses the mark, but compare how adventurous and innovative they are to Fender. No comparison.

I've never seen 2 companies rest on their laurels and manage to succeed like Fender and Harley Davidson. Amazing. Exact same business model, take the same ol' technology, dress it up, change the paint, add some bling... I guess you can't argue with success but I sure find it boring.

Gibson on the other hand has done a lot of interesting things - particularly with guitars which is obviously a much stronger emphasis for them than basses. Still I have an SG Supreme which is an awesome short scale bass. Had a Money bass which was a nice instrument as well, but I just didn't play it.

[midichlorine]

aight ladies!!
i got one and played it to death the past week.
just a side note to let you guys know where im coming from.
im a fulltime player and have been.
i gig 4-5 nights a week and do session work and some touring.
i own and play a jazz (lakland), p-bass (1980 something 57 reissue), a few hollow bodies and such.
i play mostly vintage or vintage setups on all my basses ( no active electronics).
i was and have been looking around for a new "workhorse" bass for weekly gigs.
basically im put in situations where i find myself needing to comp different tones on the fly because of all the different styles i cover.
i also needed something that was easy to manage physically.
i am 6' 180lbs.
anyway, i wanted to avoid active electronics if at all possible not hating on them just not my thing and also i like vintage or older looking styles.
i came across this bass and decided to give it a shot.
all i can say is for the money you cant beat this!!
the neck feels great.
the pickups produce nice even, loud, aggressive and punchy tones.
the ability to switch to single coil is awesome as well.
i can get a convincing p, jazz, stingray and a totally original ballsy gibby thump!
this thing has thunderous lows but remains focussed.
the babics bridge is sweet too, it sets up wonderfully and with ease.
the grover tuners are tight and responsive.
the pre-finish body work is not great i think they call it "textured" but i dont really care about that.
im buying a tool not art
anyway, it sits great on me.
no neck dive what so ever and the weight is awesome!!
i spent 3 hours on stage with it last night and was fine.
its also thinner than my fenders im guessing because of set neck.
this thing feels great and plays awesome (after a set-up).
im so glad i took a gamble on this bass its a workhorse for sure, probably not for everybody but works for me.
if any of you guys are on the fence with this one, just do it!!
you can always return it..
i got the cream and i cant wait for it to turn!!


people please stop tripping on companies!!
just play bass and love basses!!
its simple

[Chadrtc]

There's a shot video featuring the natural version here:

http://youtu.be/psezobkVBLE

[TBird1958]

Originally Posted by swamp2

I still give Gibson a lot of credit for trying new stuff. Yeah, much of it misses the mark, but compare how adventurous and innovative they are to Fender. No comparison.

I've never seen 2 companies rest on their laurels and manage to succeed like Fender and Harley Davidson. Amazing. Exact same business model, take the same ol' technology, dress it up, change the paint, add some bling... I guess you can't argue with success but I sure find it boring.

Gibson on the other hand has done a lot of interesting things - particularly with guitars which is obviously a much stronger emphasis for them than basses. Still I have an SG Supreme which is an awesome short scale bass. Had a Money bass which was a nice instrument as well, but I just didn't play it.

Well said..........

It looks pretty nice in classic white

[jackcassruce]

I'll buy one , think . I have four Gibson basses . The last one I bought was a double cut Les Paul from 2006 . It is an extremely well made bass , everyone comments on it's tone and aesthetics . My original Les Paul was purchased in 1970 and used in the studio . In the past 42 years I have owned many basses from Epi's to Alembic's . I have a soft spot for Gibson's because of Casady and Bruce in the 60's , simple as that but Gibson has fallen down hard on some of it's basses . Last week I looked at a new T-bird and a SG , they both looked like someone's high school shop project , very poor quality , it's really too bad and hard to imagine they came from the same shop my doublecut did . Gibson can do it right and can do it very wrong but I have a feeling this EB might be something , hope so , sad to see a great company produce junk .

[Chadrtc]

Yep, I'm jonesing pretty hard for one of these right now. From doing some hunting it seems like there is only one currently in stock in the UK. I might go on a bit of a road trip tomorrow to check it out. I'll report back if I do with another opinion.

[swamp2]

I played one of these for a while at our big local independent (the "great, great House of Guitars"). I liked it very much. Nice and light, very comfortable neck. Think it looks pretty cool in the flesh, too. The only disappointment I felt was the coil splitting - the change in tone was bordering on insignificant. I was hoping for a lot more tonal variety and it just wasn't there. The tones that were there were pretty solid, but... You ain't gonna convince anybody it's a j bass, that's for sure.

Pretty good value for the money, though. I'm thinking about it.

[midichlorine]

^^ true for me, you and most folks on here swamp but to folks at the party this will do just fine.
please excuse the trashy groove just a quick phone recording

http://2.recordertheapp.com/20634045db808f038907

[kurosawa]

I am looking at that pic where the pickguard screws are too tight and the pickguard is too thin and it's buckled. It has unpleasant associations from the bad old days, I can't remember exactly what. I am thinking OK, maybe it sounds like a J, so of course it sounds like a SR, but a P? And of course it has to TRY to make the money sounds. That's why Fender doesn't change, and why Gibson keeps trying to come up with something new, so they can have a gold mine like that too. Someone mentioned Harley, and a good many people buy them for the sound, so it's a fair comparison. Why would they want to try something new, say their own inline four? You know Fender kept trying once upon a time, but no one ran out and bought a Coronado bass or a Bass V or a 6.

[Tommygunn]

God I threw up

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by midichlorine

Nice looking bass! I really like it in that color.

[subbasshz]

prolly sounds good but jeesh. . . . no thanks. ill stick to my eb-0s

[bassman10096]

Oh my God. I thought all the threads I'd ever read through trashing Gibbie basses would have exhausted some of the venom! Too bad so many people want to pin their credibility on their capacity to bitch about long worn-out complaints. Yes - we all get that Gibson has made lots and lots of mistakes with the designs it has marketed to bass players. Awwwww. Poor babies. Remember that it's Gibson who's lost money doing this - not you! Just because they try again (and again and again...) with a new design doesn't make your terribly unoriginal critiques interesting.

That said, I have had good experiences with vintage Gibbies and always hope that a company that produces cool guitars (remember???) might find a good bass design as well. I happen to be a fan of the older EBs and the Ripper line. But I'm disappointed with most of the rest. To tell the truth, the most interesting thing I've noticed about the new EB is that at least the natural finish version looks like it's got a swamp ash body!!. Gibson claims all the different finishes are ash: "The foundation of the new EB Bass from Gibson USA lies in a solid ash body and glued-in maple neck. Ash has long been respected for its open, resonant tone, and lends itself perfectly to a rich, versatile-voiced bass." That would set it apart from most of the market. Unless you hate anything that's not maple, bolted on a separate body wood. You might want to pay at least minimal attention. Imagine Gibson, the ultimate in maple and mahogany necks, trying something different!!!

Yes, it may suck, but at least you can't say they aren't willing to try some different wood choices. Did they fail again, who knows? Certainly not all the "experts" who have weighed in to this thread. Sorry if I've insulted anyone, but Jeez, I guess I meant to.