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Finding a bass similar to Gibson grabber/ripper

#23
i used a grabber for 7 years in hardcore and post punk bands, the only thing that i have been able to go as deep and as aggressive with is my g&l sb-2, the grabber was light, durable, and the d and the g strings could get me a nice piano type tone to counter the rumble fuzz of the e and a through my sunn 2000s and my marshall ibs 115
 
#24
Owning a Grabber and a bunch of other basses, here are what most easily (in terms of availability) approximates the tone at different positions:

All the way towards the bridge: A Rickenbacker with the bridge pickup soloed
In the middle: A Precision Bass
All the way towards the neck: A G&L L1000 in series mode (or L2000 neck pickup only in series)

The only issue is, aside from a cheap P Bass or a Tribute series L2000, getting an original Grabber is cheaper than or maybe about the same price as the other options.
 
#25
96tbird said:
Holy moly, coreyfyfe, not my experience at all: my G-3 is way loud! Have to dial out gain when switching basses. Some of the hottest passives I have seen. And I don't want to lower the pups because the snarl I get is awesome.

Cool thing about the G-3 is those pups can come right up close, 2mm on the bridge, and really drive the signal: no worries about strings contacting mags. Since they are all wound to different specs you can get good output balance from the lower 3-4mm neck pup to the bridge with a little time put into it.
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I used to use a boost with mine to equalize the volume with my jazz/p-bass so I didn't have to change the gain on my amp/settings on my pedals. Lately, I haven't really been playing it except at home, so it hasn't mattered.
 
#26
I have both of mine for sale in the classifieds and I am in no hurry to sell either one...They kill....The Grabber is the Gene bass for sure! I can use it in all kinds of settings and it works! Buy a real one....My pickup in the Grabber is HOT....snarly too...my FS thread has a video and you can hear what it sounds like..
 
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#27
I play an Epiphone Thunderbird. Very thick and punchy tone, and my amp sets it up like a grabber sound. I would like a grabber itself though. I never played a grabber or ripper before... Heard them though and I love the tone! I totally suggest getting one! I'm definitely going to when I have enough money... Look for a second hand one though. They tend to be cheaper, and if you find one, jump on the chance. They don't last long!
 
#28
Matt Hennessy said:
I play an Epiphone Thunderbird. Very thick and punchy tone, and my amp sets it up like a grabber sound. I would like a grabber itself though. I never played a grabber or ripper before... Heard them though and I love the tone! I totally suggest getting one! I'm definitely going to when I have enough money... Look for a second hand one though. They tend to be cheaper, and if you find one, jump on the chance. They don't last long!
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Yes, well at this point in time, theyre all used. For 40 years or so. :roflmao:
 
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#29
I would highly recommend getting a 2 or 3 year old Gibson EB. I found on at the Bass Shop in Seattle a few months ago. It was only $600 used. It has an newer but vintage looking body, and a vintage looking head-stock. The thing about this bass is that the neck feels amazing and it has a tone that is incredible. This is coming from a man with a big collections of nice basses. The current models have a very modern shape that I am not sure if that is what your looking for. I going to get on the second a reasonable deal pops up on a used one.

The neck feels like it came off my Tobias bass. It is incredibly light. To me is is by far superior to the older offerings from Gibson, and I have had a bunch of em. Defiantly try one out before dropping big cash on a vintage Gibson.
 

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