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Gibson Grabbers.. In White..

throbgod13

throbgod13

Mar 26, 2005
1,365
50
Texas
#1
does anyone know if the white Grabbers came in Alpine or Ivory White??

i'm getting a 78 Grabber.. it's a beater bass.. i'm wanting to refinish it in white.. i know that white was an optional color.. i've never actually seen one in white, or have seen a pic of one in white..

so, help me out.. if you have a pic of one in white, please post it..

thanks..
 
#2
throbgod13 said:
does anyone know if the white Grabbers came in Alpine or Ivory White??

i'm getting a 78 Grabber.. it's a beater bass.. i'm wanting to refinish it in white.. i know that white was an optional color.. i've never actually seen one in white, or have seen a pic of one in white..

so, help me out.. if you have a pic of one in white, please post it..

thanks..
Click to expand...

i've never seen a white grabber.and as far as i know they WEREN'T an optional color.they never made them in white.
it's entirely up to you to do this!
 
#5
I have 2 Grabber 77 and 78.
I would never refinish it. It's most beautiful on Natural and Wine. That's enough.
White ? yep, it's pretty color and so modern look.
But, Not for my grabber. and, I would never buy search "too pretty" refinished Grabber.

Cross fingers

throbgod13 said:
does anyone know if the white Grabbers came in Alpine or Ivory White??

i'm getting a 78 Grabber.. it's a beater bass.. i'm wanting to refinish it in white.. i know that white was an optional color.. i've never actually seen one in white, or have seen a pic of one in white..

so, help me out.. if you have a pic of one in white, please post it..

thanks..
Click to expand...
 
#6
Here's a mockup for ya. It's the new version of the Grabber but you can at least get an idea of what it would look like. Let me know if you want it in any other color or combo.

GibsonGrabber.gif
 
#10
thanks.. i guess it's Alpine White, not Ivory..

the reason i'm refinishing is because it was black and was stripped along time ago.. now, it just looks grimy.. i'm going to have to do the neck too, because it was stripped and left bare.. it's just dirty looking..

also, does anyone know what the string pitch is?? 17mm, or 19mm?? because it has a replacement bridge on it and it won't allow anything but a fairly high action.. and i want to replace it with some thing else.. i'm going to use all black hardware on it.. i just want a black and white bass.. ;) the headstock is black..

again thanks for all the help...
 
#13
Here is the production timeline:

1973-74 Model introduction - maple body, only wine red or ebony finishes available. However only 1 instrument shipped in 1973, and 219 in 1974 according to the Gibson Shipment totals)
1975 Body wood changed to alder. Peak year for grabber production, 2637 instruments shipped. Natural also now available.
1976 White finish introduced.
1977 Walnut finish introduced.
1982 Model discontinued


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

some close up pics on the parts:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

and the tech specs:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

There's a ton of other info on there, but I figured these would be the most useful to you if you're going to be bring it back to semi-original condition.
 
#14
i just got it.. and it's dirty, but cool..

does anyone know what the frequency of having stock sealed grover tuners are on Grabbers?? the serial says it's a 1978, but it has mini-grovers on it.. and the holes are for the smaller shafted tuners.. there are no previous holes for the larger tuners..

seems strange.. and the "Made in USA" stamp is between the A and D tuners.. and the serial is stamped in the "normal" area, but it's not straight..

this is going to be alot of work, but it's going to be pretty cool when it's done.. ;)
 
#15
coreyfyfe said:
Here is the production timeline:

1973-74 Model introduction - maple body, only wine red or ebony finishes available. However only 1 instrument shipped in 1973, and 219 in 1974 according to the Gibson Shipment totals)
1975 Body wood changed to alder. Peak year for grabber production, 2637 instruments shipped. Natural also now available.
1976 White finish introduced.
1977 Walnut finish introduced.
1982 Model discontinued


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

some close up pics on the parts:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

and the tech specs:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

There's a ton of other info on there, but I figured these would be the most useful to you if you're going to be bring it back to semi-original condition.
Click to expand...

hm. must have been pretty rare.i never seen white grabbers,besides here
 
#16
They came with schaller tuners, BM open gears on older models and sealed M4 with a gibson G instead of the schaller S on the 80 and later basses. These are close up pics of them.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

If the Made in USA and serial stamp aren't together maybe it was a factory second? I've seen a Ripper which was a second that had the number and made in USA stamped oddly, but it also had SECOND stamped in big letters between them. For reference, my 78 G3 has the BM open gear tuners, and says Made In USA on the neck plate not the back of the head stock.

Are you sure it's a 78? What is the serial? Mine is 70208*** which is jan 20th, 78. Maybe yours is earlier or later if it's stamped differently.
 
#18
coreyfyfe said:
They came with schaller tuners, BM open gears on older models and sealed M4 with a gibson G instead of the schaller S on the 80 and later basses. These are close up pics of them.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

If the Made in USA and serial stamp aren't together maybe it was a factory second? I've seen a Ripper which was a second that had the number and made in USA stamped oddly, but it also had SECOND stamped in big letters between them. For reference, my 78 G3 has the BM open gear tuners, and says Made In USA on the neck plate not the back of the head stock.

Are you sure it's a 78? What is the serial? Mine is 70208*** which is jan 20th, 78. Maybe yours is earlier or later if it's stamped differently.
Click to expand...

it's a 78.. 73128***, it's not a second.. it would be stamped that way.. i found some pics of another 78 that has the same stampings.. i'll take some pics of my headstock..

150146318699-3.gif


apparently, in 1978, a few of the Grabbers did come with mini tuners.. the Grovers on mine have to be replacements.. i had just assumed that they all came with the Schaller BM tuners, and didn't come with the M4 mini tuners.. i probably won't be able to find any of the "G" marked M4s, so i'll replace them with something else that will fit the capstan hole..
 
#19
Weird, I think I've seen ones dated 79 and 80 that still had the BM tuners. Well, we are at opposite ends of the year haha. Either way, cool score. I wonder if mine says made in usa under the tuners, I've never had them off.
 

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