Favorite Gibson bass

[Vinny_G]

The late Mr. Woody also designed an Epiphone model, single cut, short scale with humbuckers that are very hot. The Rumblekat.

Absolutely, and I think it sounds great.

 

[40Hz]

Really? Let me disagree with you on this

Be my guest. We can agree to disagree. The first vid does zero for me. Not my thing. The next two aren’t what I’d consider actually digging in for the most part. And I can get the same sound and still use a lighter touch to get it.

But I’m more the “in control“ type of player. Those more into the “let it rip” style and genres will see it differently.

That’s the beauty of bass. It allows for many different but equally valid interpretations and approaches.

Either way, I’ve been playing Gibson basses for 46 years this year. And I still think Gibson basses benefit from a lighter touch.

 

[L-1329]

Geddy had some interesting comments on the Tbird in his BBBofB, would’ve been really cool to hear one on some Rush tracks!

For me the Victory will always be my favorite for all the reasons listed already. It was an unbelievable bit of flat out dumb luck that my first bass guitar was my black Victory. Its something really special, and every time I pick it up I appreciate it just the same as when I was a kid and just bought it.

 

[Willie5String]

Alright, here goes...
I've yet to really hear a Gibson Bass I like. I'm usually a Fender Jazz kinda guy (for hard and heavy stuff). So who all out there is a Gibson fan and which models are generally the favorites?
From YouTube, the only model I've heard a demo of that sounds good for what I like is the Victory model.

I actually started out with a G-3, which was a Ripper (a medium scale bass) with 3 single coils. I have since owned A T-Bird (a neck divey Mess of a bass) and a new EB-5 (the current flavor) which is a fairly nice bass, kind of a EBMM with a set neck.

I’ve sold the T-Bird, the EB-5 is on the block, the G-3 will always be with me due to sentimental value.

All in all I’m really a Fender guy at heart

 

[bobyoung53]

I owned 2 EB3s back in the 70’s. You had a choice of sounds, mud, or no low end. Although I don’t own one, T-Birds have a good voice and play well.

There's a simple mod to get low end in all positions on those, another little mod that makes a big difference, also has something to do with the choke.

 

[rtslinger]

Alright, here goes...
I've yet to really hear a Gibson Bass I like. I'm usually a Fender Jazz kinda guy (for hard and heavy stuff). So who all out there is a Gibson fan and which models are generally the favorites?
From YouTube, the only model I've heard a demo of that sounds good for what I like is the Victory model.

 

[Jason Stock]

I love my 05 LP. Such a powerful sound

 

[NKBassman]

I've spent time with two oddball Gibson basses over the years, a 77ish RD Artist, and very briefly had a Triumph bass on loan from a friend. Both were super cool and had great tone, but ultimately I didn't keep them.
The RD was just WAY too heavy, and the weird onboard preamp never really worked right. The Triumph was super versatile and I really wanted to keep it, but the neck and string spacing was too narrow for my preference, and it was just too expensive.

I'd still like to try an EB0 or EB3 some day.

 

[Mvf]

Yeah, Felix Pappalardi played an EB-1 with Mountain right? So what did Jack Bruce play with Cream, an EBO?

Jack B played mainly an EB-3 with Cream (two pups)

 

[Dynacord]

For me, this one:

I just love those 60's t-bird pickups... You can hear it here:

 

[bradd]

There's a simple mod to get low end in all positions on those, another little mod that makes a big difference, also has something to do with the choke.

The choke is a big part of why Gibson basses are disliked. Both Jack Bruce and Andy Fraser had them disconnected. I've seen tons of comments over the years from people complaining that they can't get the Jack Bruce sound out of their EB3. (Hint, both of them used the bridge pickup and rarely used the neck). If Gibson had put a choke bypass in their basses the story of Gibson would be so very different.

 

[growlypants]

Ripper!

 

[kbakerde]

There's very little similarity between various Gibson basses in general. Old EBs sound nothing like a Ripper which doesn't resemble the RD and the Victory is a whole another ballgame. Let's not even touch the Birds.

To a Fender player, I'd recommend trying out the 2013/14 Gibson EB which is arguably the least conventional Gibson in terms of sound and feel. Excellent and underrated instruments IMO.

I'm not sure that I have a favourite model when it comes to Gibbys. But the bass in my avatar - a modded and molested '69 EB-0 - gets buried with me.

I second this. Excellent Basses, light and tons of tones.

 

[bobyoung53]

For me, this one:

View attachment 3894859
I just love those 60's t-bird pickups... You can hear it here:

Beautiful bass.

 

[bobyoung53]

This is a great thread, thanks OP! This thread should be stickied up above.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Let's see Favorite Gibby... oh yeah, this one

 

[rodv66]

What do you think of the current Epiphone Vintage T-bird? That tobacco burst is just so tempting.

Best sounding bird today. In my opinion

 

[bobyoung53]

For me, this one:

View attachment 3894859
I just love those 60's t-bird pickups... You can hear it here:

Oh I forgot to add that I put some Mike Lull pickups in my LE 2018 T-Bird, they are supposed to be exact copies of the 1964 pickups. Lousy picture as always. You gotta dig that wall paper though.

 

[bobyoung53]

Let's see Favorite Gibby... oh yeah, this one
View attachment 3894875

View attachment 3894879

Is that a short scale or just the way the picture was taken?

 

[Dynacord]

Oh I forgot to add, I out some Mike Lull pickups in my 2018 T-Bird, they are supposed to be exact copies on the 1964 pickups. Lousy picture as always.View attachment 3894878

Yes, I've heard the Lulls - great pickups - as are the Thunderbuckers and the ones in the Vintage Pros are really good, too. It's all quite recent that there are good reproductions available. For a long time it was just the originals and a small run of copies made by Chandler in the late 70's.

Nice bass!