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Controversial Opinion: Gibson Basses Questionable Design Choices

#241
I don't care for their bridges, that nutsert into the wood and then a screw in stud holding a tail piece. I've had the nut-serts pull out of the wood. Had to glue the nut sert back into the body. I was never sure if it would pull out again maybe on a gig so I unloaded it on CL. I'm a Fender guy forever.
 
#242
My problem with Gibson basses is that outside of EB's and Thunderbirds, sorry I don't care much for either, they don't stick with them long enough to establish themselves in the market. There are a couple I'd love to have and at the top of the list would be an honest to god Ripper or even an updated lightened RD Artist, needs better electronics than the recent reissue. Even a lighter Victory reissue would be pretty awesome. I really liked the 2013-14 EB but its a perfect case in point, they made it two years and moved on to a different bass that is not very interesting to me anyway.

If they came out with an honest reissue of a Ripper I'd be lined up to purchase one. And I'd bet many others would as well.

Just my opinion.
 
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#243
So after all of this, let’s all face the situation head on. The “Bass” IS and Should be one of the most creative instruments around. You have to “play” what you like and “like” what you play. Lot’s of great choices out there these days, and you have to make a choice that is right for you. That situation may actually change over time and you need to adapt. We all need to stop looking in the rear view mirror and move FOWARD! “Living in the Past” (hey wait, that’s a cool JT Tune) is fine, but we all should move on and be progressive.
 
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#246
bigtone23 said:
Gibson should do accurate reissues of the Ripper and Grabber.
Click to expand...

One of Gibson’s numerous major problems is being mired in a seemingly endless cycle of doing “accurate reissues” of the Les Paul. While I love the original designs as much as anybody, for a company to survive they really need to embrace modern technology and concepts (and no, I’m not referring to the Firebird X...).
Have the Ripper 4 way switch do Neck---Neck + Bridge parallel--Neck + Bridge Series--Bridge. All much more usable sounds.
Click to expand...
Case in point. That would veer outside the bounds of an “accurate reissue”, but it would also adapt the model to modern usage. :thumbsup:
 
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#247
Allegrus said:
Just for fun .. I checked out Gibson's page for their current models ... not much there.

Thunderbird
SG
Les Paul

Surely I'm missing something. I see the EB for sale (2018 model) on a common music store website ... are those done or are there models not listed on Gibson's site?
Click to expand...

It’s no longer in production AFAIK. But you can still get a 2018 EB brand new from a number of places.

AFAICT Gibson’s main site only shows their most current models. You can find the discontinued model archive here.
 
#248
I love the look and sound of the LP basses, but a) I couldn’t find a finish I liked (all I ever found was the cherry sunburst or whatever it’s called), and b) the neck dive problem. The T-Bird basses presented the same problem for me. They look and sound fantastic, but the neck dive annoys the hell out of me. I’ve got Stingray basses and a Squier Classic Vibe’50’s style P-Bass. The Stingrays are my go-to basses.

I think Gibson did some good things bass-wise, (hence why Billy Sheehan’s Attitude bass has dual inputs for the Gibson and fender sounds from reading about them when he first came out with them). I think they just a) didn’t get the market share early on as mentioned previously, and b) they weren’t a “bass company” as also mentioned earlier, and c) they often priced themselves out of competition somewhat, and d) the neck dive issue. If that LP Jr. Tribute bass doesn’t neck dive, I’d be looking at getting one. Just this a-hole’s opinion.
 
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#250
peteygrizz said:
So I was thinking about why Gibson Basses are so rarely used and why I have never felt a connection to any Gibson bass I have ever played and it hit me:

Gibson's approach to basses is to simply make a larger guitar. There is no consideration of it being its own instrument with its own needs. They simply make a larger version of their guitars, take two strings off, and call it a bass.

Now I understand there are many guys who like their Thunderbirds, and I'm not trying to poopie in anyone's cereal, I'm just pointing out that while Fender designed the P and Jazz basses from the ground up as unique instruments, Gibson simply made a Les Paul bass, an SG bass, a Firebird bass... Why couldn't they have a designer work with some working bassists and design a bass that wasn't just an upscaled guitar. They build some of the finest guitars ever made, why can't they make great basses as well?
Click to expand...
 
#252
Used to have an SB-450 back in the mid to late ‘70’s. Getting back to bass-ics after 40 years, I went with a Michael Kelly acoustic to retest the waters, then jumped to a fretless Jazzbass. Love them both, very different feels and tones, but I still wonder what that SB would feel and sound like now....no telling what would have transpired if that GC had had a Gibson or Epi the day I stumbled in and tried the JB.
 
#253
peteygrizz said:
So I was thinking about why Gibson Basses are so rarely used and why I have never felt a connection to any Gibson bass I have ever played and it hit me:

Gibson's approach to basses is to simply make a larger guitar. There is no consideration of it being its own instrument with its own needs. They simply make a larger version of their guitars, take two strings off, and call it a bass.

Now I understand there are many guys who like their Thunderbirds, and I'm not trying to poopie in anyone's cereal, I'm just pointing out that while Fender designed the P and Jazz basses from the ground up as unique instruments, Gibson simply made a Les Paul bass, an SG bass, a Firebird bass... Why couldn't they have a designer work with some working bassists and design a bass that wasn't just an upscaled guitar. They build some of the finest guitars ever made, why can't they make great basses as well?
Click to expand...

, post: 23553051, member: 189904"]So I was thinking about why Gibson Basses are so rarely used and why I have never felt a connection to any Gibson bass I have ever played and it hit me:

Gibson's approach to basses is to simply make a larger guitar. There is no consideration of it being its own instrument with its own needs. They simply make a larger version of their guitars, take two strings off, and call it a bass.

Now I understand there are many guys who like their Thunderbirds, and I'm not trying to poopie in anyone's cereal, I'm just pointing out that while Fender designed the P and Jazz basses from the ground up as unique instruments, Gibson simply made a Les Paul bass, an SG bass, a Firebird bass... Why couldn't they have a designer work with some working bassists and design a bass that wasn't just an upscaled guitar. They build some of the finest guitars ever made, why can't they make great basses as well?[/QUOTE]
peteygrizz said:
So I was thinking about why Gibson Basses are so rarely used and why I have never felt a connection to any Gibson bass I have ever played and it hit me:

Gibson's approach to basses is to simply make a larger guitar. There is no consideration of it being its own instrument with its own needs. They simply make a larger version of their guitars, take two strings off, and call it a bass.

Now I understand there are many guys who like their Thunderbirds, and I'm not trying to poopie in anyone's cereal, I'm just pointing out that while Fender designed the P and Jazz basses from the ground up as unique instruments, Gibson simply made a Les Paul bass, an SG bass, a Firebird bass... Why couldn't they have a designer work with some working bassists and design a bass that wasn't just an upscaled guitar. They build some of the finest guitars ever made, why can't they make great basses as well?
Click to expand...

I have one of the last 1979 Thunderbird reissues with NOS '67 Epiphone Embassy pickups (same as TBird pickups from the first generation), and a Warwick bridge installed to emulate the original '60s tailpiece, an improvement as it can be intonated properly! The bass sounds amazing, numerous recording and live sound engineers have stated it is the best sounding bass that they have recorded or mixed onstage. It certainly isn't the most comfortable bass to play, and I recently purchased an Epiphone Embassy Pro with the hope of getting close to the sound of the TBird with more comfort. I did have to get the bridge moved for proper intonation adjusting, but once that was done and set up the the bass plays and sounds unbelievable! It is incredibly articulate and although not an exact replacement for the TBird it has become my go-to axe. I have a '74 Jazz and a '78 Music Man Stingray that have seen much use over the years, but neither can match the clarity and overall fullness of sound that I get with the Epiphone and the Gibson...
 
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#254
Just Loving this Stuff! So if we are going to get REALLY crazy here let me bring this one up. I am sure most people have heard of the “Gibson Vault”. Supposedly this is where super select, maybe vintage models, signature artist stuff is kept. If that indeed is true, which models of Gibson Basses could, or SHOULD be in there? Here once again we go “Into the Fire”, Dokken. Or “Desire burns, like a fire, a fire within”, from “The Hunter”.
 
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#258
My first bass was a Gibson EB-O 1965. I sold it and went to college very dumb. The sound that EB-O produced was amazing. should have kept that bass. Next was a Gibson EB2-D again very good sound but the treble baratone is too tinty for my taste. Still own it. Next was a Gibson 2016 Less Paul - love it but the tone is not as deep as the EB-o and EB2-D. Im going to get it fixed though. I have always liked the sound a Gibson gets. Not so much with others. I have had at least 5 other brands and always sell em off in a couple of months. For me it's sound and playing comfort. I believe too many people go for looks.
MY 2 cents
 
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