Controversial Opinion: Gibson Basses Questionable Design Choices

[Bassist59]

My back is starting to hurt already. I had a Gibson Grabber with the movable pickup, BAD IDEA. The pickup would move back an forth when you played and if you moved wrong it would change your sound mid song. I had a Kramer with a Koa wood body and an aluminum neck which I loved when I was younger but it weighed a ton. I just recently had to get rid of it and I got an Ibanez Road Series 1900 and I can say It's the finest bass I've ever owned.

Hmmm...I’d love to play a Grabber. Every instrument I own needs tweaking, maybe the Grabber just needed a little work.

I think the reality is, I want a symmetrical, bound, gloss Gibson that’s pretty much a bass version of a Les Paul double cut that doesn’t cost $4,000.00 or more. That doesn’t currently exist. The closest I’ve found is this (No Gene hate, please):

 

[ajkula66]

That doesn’t currently exist. The closest I’ve found is this (No Gene hate, please):

Not a Gibson, and missing binding but very close in other respects IMO: Dan Armstrong London Bass.

Yes, the pickup moves along the rail.

They are not easy to come by on this side of the pond, otherwise I would've bought one already. Came in both short and long scale versions, the latter must suffer from some serious neck dive but is also more interesting *to me* because of the longer pickup travel.

Good luck in your noble quest.

 

[mark harison]

Hmmm...I’d love to play a Grabber. Every instrument I own needs tweaking, maybe the Grabber just needed a little work.

I think the reality is, I want a symmetrical, bound, gloss Gibson that’s pretty much a bass version of a Les Paul double cut that doesn’t cost $4,000.00 or more. That doesn’t currently exist. The closest I’ve found is this (No Gene hate, please):

View attachment 3753947

That isn't a Gibson from what I can see in the pic. It's got a no name Head stock. I don't see the Gibson Diamond. And as far as i can remember Gibson has never made a bass in that body shape. That looks more like a 335. I hope someone didn't sell you that guitar telling you it was a Gibson and charging you Gibson coin because that ain't a Gibson. And if you've got 4 large to spend step into my office, but you don't have to spend that kind of cash to get a good quality bass unless you're a collector.

 

[Bassist59]

Not a Gibson, and missing binding but very close in other respects IMO: Dan Armstrong London Bass.

View attachment 3753948

Yes, the pickup moves along the rail.


They are not easy to come by on this side of the pond, otherwise I would've bought one already. Came in both short and long scale versions, the latter must suffer from some serious neck dive but is also more interesting *to me* because of the longer pickup travel.

Good luck in your noble quest.

Hey thanks! There are a lot of LP Jr DC type basses out there. They seem to be heavily inspired by the early EB-0 basses which probably were all unbound instruments.

What I want doesn’t exist. I even emailed Gibson about having a DC bass made to my liking from the custom shop. They responded but did not answer the question.

I should just buy one, especially since they’ve really dropped in price and just re-finish it. I don’t know anything about binding, though.

The bass isn’t of the greatest quality to start with so it wouldn’t be too much of a shame to modify it. Check out the upside down pickup at 9:14, lol!:

 

[Bassist59]

That isn't a Gibson from what I can see in the pic. It's got a no name Head stock. I don't see the Gibson Diamond. And as far as i can remember Gibson has never made a bass in that body shape. That looks more like a 335. I hope someone didn't sell you that guitar telling you it was a Gibson and charging you Gibson coin because that ain't a Gibson.

Hey Mark,

You are correct, it’s a Gene Simmons Lobue replica bass. There is a fascinating thread on TB showing the builds.

I don’t necessarily want Gene’s bass, I just wish Gibson made something similar. They don’t, so I might radically modify one of the new LP DC Tribute basses.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[mark harison]

Not a Gibson, and missing binding but very close in other respects IMO: Dan Armstrong London Bass.

View attachment 3753948

Yes, the pickup moves along the rail.

They are not easy to come by on this side of the pond, otherwise I would've bought one already. Came in both short and long scale versions, the latter must suffer from some serious neck dive but is also more interesting *to me* because of the longer pickup travel.

Good luck in your noble quest.

Well over in the Guitar Center in Oxnard Ca. Right now they have in the used section the have a Gibson (Rogue?). I believe that was the name of the other model without the move able pick up. You can check it out online. They can ship it to you and you don't have to worry about the virus thing.

 

[mark harison]

Hey thanks! There are a lot of LP Jr DC type basses out there. They seem to be heavily inspired by the early EB-0 basses which probably were all unbound instruments.

What I want doesn’t exist. I even emailed Gibson about having a DC bass made to my liking from the custom shop. They responded but did not answer the question.

I should just buy one, especially since they’ve really dropped in price and just re-finish it. I don’t know anything about binding, though.

The bass isn’t of the greatest quality to start with so it wouldn’t be too much of a shame to modify it. Check out the upside down pickup at 9:14, lol!:

Looks Like a Melody Maker, but I wouldn't buy a new guitar to refinish. Better to hunt Down the color you want.

 

[mark harison]

Hey Mark,

You are correct, it’s a Gene Simmons Lobue replica bass. There is a fascinating thread on TB showing the builds.

I don’t necessarily want Gene’s bass, I just wish Gibson made something similar. They don’t, so I might radically modify one of the new LP DC Tribute basses.

Sorry for the confusion.

Well if you can find a LP kit body you like you can get that then you can get a good aftermarket bass neck and build the bass of your dreams. You can get the Parts on Amazon. You could probably do it all for less than $200.00 but it wouldn't have that Gibson name.

 

[ctmullins]

Check out the upside down pickup at 9:14, lol!:

It’s not upside down, because that pickup architecture doesn’t have an “up” or a “down”. I don’t care what the clown in the video says.

 

[Bassist59]

It’s not upside down, because that pickup architecture doesn’t have an “up” or a “down”. I don’t care what the clown in the video says.

In all fairness, the kid in the video did not mention it, was all over the comment section. True, it probably doesn’t make a difference.

 

[Bassist59]

Well if you can find a LP kit body you like you can get that then you can get a good aftermarket bass neck and build the bass of your dreams. You can get the Parts on Amazon. You could probably do it all for less than $200.00 but it wouldn't have that Gibson name.

I've thought of that as an option and may end up doing it, thanks!

 

[msb]

Gibson did do a run of these , but it was a small run , they're hard to find .

 

[Jeff Scott]

A friend may be giving me a mid '60s EB-3. If I get it, my plan is to do some major reshaping of the body, and replacing the pickups and hardware with modern stuff to make it a better bass (that's the plan, anyway). If I do so, the vintage components will be going up on ebay/Reverb to finance the project.

 

[Heffy]

I’ve always wanted a Gibson bass. And when I say “Gibson bass”, I mean one that has those Gibson Les Paul guitar characteristics but in a bass: Big solid glued in neck joint, highly polished finish, binding, that rectangle headstock with the logo...damn, I’m starting to sound like that obnoxious “play authentic” video, sorry!

The SG bass is close but the SG shape never appealed to me. Now they are close with the new LP DC Tribute basses but they blew it with the satin finish. One of those in gloss black, with white or cream binding? Wow! That’s what I want.

It sounds crazy, but I’d almost like to buy one of those and refinish it and get binding installed. I wish Gibson made an affordable quality bass that looks good to me, but currently they do not.

 

[Heffy]

I have recently purchased a 2016 Gibson Less Paul Hollow body bass. I love it, however, the tone is not as low as my EB2-D (pictured) I am going to get the LP modified. The Best parts of the LP are playability, Tones available, and it's almost as light as a Hoffner! As for the price Save UP and buy one! I have never had a Gibson bass let me down. Spend the bucks you'll look good (who cares!) and sound great!

 

[Gary Stevens]

My back is starting to hurt already. I had a Gibson Grabber with the movable pickup, BAD IDEA. The pickup would move back an forth when you played and if you moved wrong it would change your sound mid song. I had a Kramer with a Koa wood body and an aluminum neck which I loved when I was younger but it weighed a ton. I just recently had to get rid of it and I got an Ibanez Road Series 1900 and I can say It's the finest bass I've ever owned.

 

[Gary Stevens]

I've got a custom 30.5" scale bass that weighs in at 5 pounds 9 ounces. My back loves it and * no neck dive!

 

[Bassist59]

View attachment 3754234 Gibson did do a run of these , but it was a small run , they're hard to find .

Yes, I’ve seen them. It’s almost funny at this point - everything is close But not quite there. The “phelam blue” paint is nice, it’s just not what I want. I love the big chrome peck pickup. I think I’m going to have to buy one of the new ones and heavily modify it.

If I do that to it, will I still be playing “authentic”, lol?

 

[Gary Stevens]

Yes, I’ve seen them. It’s almost funny at this point - everything is close But not quite there. The “phelam blue” paint is nice, it’s just not what I want. I love the big chrome peck pickup. I think I’m going to have to buy one of the new ones and heavily modify it.

If I do that to it, will I still be playing “authentic”, lol?

 

[Gary Stevens]

It's not a Gibson