Controversial Opinion: Gibson Basses Questionable Design Choices

[MtManiac]

hen there's this. Stratocaster bass anyone?
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I always thought that looked more like a Jazzmaster, myself.

 

[b3panda]

While the first Precision was designed to take the place of the upright bass in louder situations, I don't think that it's accurate to say that it was meant to be an amplified upright. At best, they seem to be a hybrid of the two, but an original Precision really IS just an enlarged electric guitar with four strings. I think it was meant to appeal to upright bassists AND guitarists. I mean, it is played horizontally, has frets, and the old ones have all kinds of design elements that have to do with playing with a pick (finger rests, pickup covers, pickguards). The only things really taken from the upright bass are the number and tuning of strings (which are coincidentally the same as the low strings of a guitar), flatwound strings, and some foam mutes to get the decay more in line with how the bass was heard at the time. We've all mostly done away with the flats and the mutes (no offense to the folks that still use them!), and lots of basses now have five or six strings unlike the upright bass. It's really its own instrument, but I see it as firmly in the electric guitar family, even if we as bassists tend to double on upright and electric bass as opposed to electric bass and guitar.

Also, I picked up an Epiphone Thunderbird a couple of years ago, and it is a really impressive instrument. One of my favorite sounding basses. Not as comfortable to play as I would like coming from the more traditional designs that I have always used, but it is extremely well built, and just is a great ensemble instrument. And its not boomy or muddy like I thought it would be. Not a bright sound, but a great aggressive midrange. Gibson's design goals were clearly different than Fender, but that's true when comparing their guitars, too. I wonder sometimes if the appearance and sound of the Fender became so common back in the 50' and 60's that there would have been some professional peer pressure to show up at the gig/session with a Fender because everyone knew how it would sound, so everyone just assumed that they needed one. Even today in 2020, I get the feeling that my bandmates are more comfortable seeing me pull out my Precision than my Ken Smith. One guy calls the Smith my "Fusion" bass!

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Not necessary. The T-Bird is an amazing bass. I used to play one and gig with one. I have a Firebird and yes it is like a big Firebird. But not completely. Bridge location for one.

 

[MtManiac]

Time for some edumacation...

Yup.

1951 Precision:

1951 Telecaster (introduced as the Broadcaster in 1946):

Both had slab blonde ash bodies, similar headstock, similar neck profiles, one bridge saddle for two strings, black single ply pickguard, and chrome metal control knob plate.

1954 Stratocaster:

1957 Precision:

By 1957, both had contoured sunburst alder bodies, similar headstock designs, similar neck profiles, one bridge saddle per string, and control knobs placed on the pickguard. The anodized gold pickguard was introduced as an official option for the Strat at that time; it had been available previously as a standard on some models. The Precision contoured body came in 1954, the same year the Strat was introduced, along with 2T Sunburst and white pickguards - same as the Strat.

So yes, the Precision came before the Strat, but was at that time designed similar to the Telecaster, and redesigned in 1957 based on the Strat. So in both cases, it was copying design cues from Fender guitar models.

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[gregmon79]

I'd have to argue that opinion. I think Gibson makes some of the awesome basses there have been. I may not be a huge fan of some of the more popular ones, the Tbird comes to mind as well as the EB/SG looking ones. Not my taste but I've heard some guys get some bad a$$ tones out of them and they look really cool. IMO anyway. I will say this though, I LOVE the EB4, the ones they produced from like 2012 to 2014 or something like that. My buddy has a couple and they are really awesome basses. I want one someday. They play good, super lightweight and they look even cooler. Again, IMO. I wish they'd make more of the ones that actually sold though. I will question that about Gibson though, Idk why they didn't stick with a more consistent bass. Like a flagship bass. I think the Tbird may be the closest they have to one. The EB changes a lot over the years. I just wish they were more accessible like Fenders are.

 

[Ric5]

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?

Have you ever noticed the similarities between the Strat Body and headstock and the p-bass body and headstock?

 

[MtManiac]

I have rarely played a Gibson bass I liked. But your premise simply isn't true. Some of their basses are/were the Grabber, Ripper, Victory (Standard with one pickup and Artist with two), and more recently the two versions of modern EB.

Also, how about the Telecaster bass? Then there's this. Stratocaster bass anyone?
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And then of course, there's this, just announced:

 

[Wesley R]

You quoted me from a different thread.

I have been posting the statement about tubes vs solid state ever since I gave up mu tube bigotry when I made a long time friend and guitar buddy cry. I have to agree, and sorry if I stole something from a different thread.

 

[HertzWhenIPlay]

I have a 1978 Gibson RD Artist bass that can beat up your bass.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

Fender’s production basses are what sells for Fender; Gibson’s basses are what sells for Gibson. Both have done original and derivative designs, but their markets are a bit different.

 

[crabbybassman]

+1 for team Gibson. New and old. Them SG Basses though......holy cow. Less reading and more hands on experience will change most players opinions on Gibson. No worse than any other production basses being made today. Last 6 concerts I've been to the bass player was using a Thunderbird. If they only knew....

 

[LanEvo]

Slab body P-Bass was derived from the Broadcaster/Tele/Esquire

Split-coil P-Bass was derived from the Strat

Jazz Bass was derived from the JazzMaster

Fender's short-scale basses used the bodies from MusicMaster, Bronco, and DuoSonic guitars

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

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?

Fender just did it the opposite way, designed the bass then the guitar?

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

I think even a blind man would see the pumped-up Stratocaster in the Mk2 Precision, or the pumped-up Jazzmaster in the Jazz Bass.

Just to remind people, the Precision released to the public in 1951.

The Strat was 4 years later!

Maybe youur time space continuum is different?

 

[Koshchei]

I would like to know what guitars the EB/Victory/Grabber/Ripper are modeled after.

The Ripper/Grabber is based on the Marauder.

 

[AcridSaint]

I simply don't understand why they haven't tried some actual different bass designs considering their basses don't have a very large portion of the market that they could potentially have. It seems to me that their basses are more collectors' wall hangers than actual instruments that are widely used. Maybe I'm wrong, which is why I attempted to start a discussion on the topic. I have no problem being wrong, as long as I learn something in the process.

I don't play or even like Gibson basses, but I think it's funny that your reply to someone who pointed out models that are actual different bass designs still complains that Gibson hasn't tried any.

 

[SteveCS]

Just to remind people, the Precision released to the public in 1951.

The Strat was 4 years later!

Maybe youur time space continuum is different?

No. I'm talking about the makeover the Precision received later, based on features first implemented with the Stratocaster. That's what I meant by 'Mk.2'.

 

[Rocket Queen]

In the right BAND a Gibson bass can pretty much define the band's sound.

I have no particular opinion, pro or con, about Gibson in general, but I'm genuinely fascinated by this comment. Can you expand a bit on this, and mention any well-known bands that you feel are actually defined by the Gibson bass sound?

 

[Lava]

I think it's just another type of beast designed very well. The SG and Thunderbird, among others, have a classic sound for sure. I've never considered Gibson basses to have a "modern" sound, but if you're playing a Gibson bass you're probably not looking for that modern sound.

 

[zubrycky]

I have no particular opinion, pro or con, about Gibson in general, but I'm genuinely fascinated by this comment. Can you expand a bit on this, and mention any well-known bands that you feel are actually defined by the Gibson bass sound?

Cream.