Gibson 2016 - no basses?

[ctmullins]

The reputation for neck dive is at least partially due to the use of full-size, heavy tuners during the first decades of electric bassdom. Tuners are much lighter these days, but the reputation was established and, once established, is very hard to eradicate. Humans love to generalize and then pontificate from those generalizations. Facts are rarely involved.

 

[rogerbmiller]

This is an unconfirmed rumor, and here is the source:

Quite breaking news - Gibson Bass Line Up 2016

Has anyone heard anything official on this?

If true, is this about selling out inventory, or a big paradigm shift for Gibson USA?

By the way, this seems to be related to Gibson only, NOT Epiphone.

I have heard from reliable sources that they are having trouble moving inventory from 2015 and prior years.

They seem to have lost their way a bit and have alienated a lot of guitarists. Circuitboard pots, robot tuners, new neck dimensions that Henry prefers personally, etc.

 

[Frank77]

Not trying to pull anything. Just wondering why someone would bother to chime in on a thread at all if you so much dislike the brand being discussed.

Well, this is the internet, so people going out of their way just to poop on your favourite thing is to be expected.

Never had the chance of trying a Gibson myself, and honestly never been a big fan of their designs in general, but a few players that I really enjoy listening to use the SG-shaped model: Mike Watt, the guy who plays with Charles Bradley's band, BADBADNOTGOOD's bassist, Darryl Jones uses one on that Black Dub single, etc. It seems to have a cool tone and I wouldn't mind taking one for a test drive.

Any scenario where we have less axes to pick from is bad in my books.

 

[RED J]

Thanks! Ya know I hear a lot of people talk about the dreaded T-Bird neck dive but in all honesty, I have yet to find one that dives. I've tried a few Epi birds that were neck heavy but not any Gibsons. Just lucky I guess.

I have no conscousness of ever having had an issue with neck dive with any instrument I have owned, and have been pretty surprised to hear people complain about that problem on the same type instruments.

In my case, reverse or radical body shapes are ergonomically undoable for me because my arms are so short. When I see a classic picture of Jack Casady wit his long cale short horn hollow body cast back over his right hip, it hurts just to look at it. I guess these kinds of axes are okay for those with lanky flexible bodies or rangy-tang arms, but not for a Fred Flintstone physique !

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Thanks! Ya know I hear a lot of people talk about the dreaded T-Bird neck dive but in all honesty, I have yet to find one that dives. I've tried a few Epi birds that were neck heavy but not any Gibsons. Just lucky I guess.

Maybe over time things changed. I tried one out about 1964 when they were the new thing. My guitar player at the time had bought a Firebird and insisted I get a Tbird so they would look cool together. I didn't care much for it at the time. It was heavy and had serious neck dive and a very dull tone.
I'm not saying they are bad, I just don't care for them myself.

 

[40Hz]

Well, this is the internet, so people going out of their way just to poop on your favourite thing is to be expected.

Never had the chance of trying a Gibson myself, and honestly never been a big fan of their designs in general, but a few players that I really enjoy listening to use the SG-shaped model: Mike Watt, the guy who plays with Charles Bradley's band, BADBADNOTGOOD's bassist, Darryl Jones uses one on that Black Dub single, etc. It seems to have a cool tone and I wouldn't mind taking one for a test drive.

Any scenario where we have less axes to pick from is bad in my books.

Agree that more choices are better to be sure.

For the record, I'm not a big Gibson fan. I don't like their EB# models at all except for their newest EB. I have very mixed feelings about T-Birds. When they're good, they're very good. But when they're bad - they're the worst. The Grabber and G3 I can take or leave. I think the LPs are both interesting and capable, but hardly worth the premium you'll need to pay to get your hands on one. (They also don't sound that great live IMO although they record exceptionally well.) And I didn't care at all for their faux-Ripper half-assed (only 350 made?) reissue. I also think Gibson basses are generally overpriced for what they are. And I can't stand their new owner/CEO.

But I do like my old Ripper. And I did like the two Victorys I tried - but didn't buy when I probably should have. And I think Epiphone "gets" the T-Bird better than Gibson ever did - and Epi's current crop of TBs proves it.

I guess what it comes down to for me is that I have no real brand loyalty. But I do feel loyalty towards individual instruments- and base my overall opinion of their brand on how well on average they hit the bullseye.

And I think that's how most of us here (ignoring the occasional zealot or ubiquitous troll) tend to approach the issue of brands.

 

[Baird6869]

Thanks! Ya know I hear a lot of people talk about the dreaded T-Bird neck dive but in all honesty, I have yet to find one that dives. I've tried a few Epi birds that were neck heavy but not any Gibsons. Just lucky I guess.

I think a wide and/or suede/grippy strap helps too.

I never had an issue with my TBird, SG Bass, Money Bass or Les Paul Oversized. With a cheap 2" strap it is a different story IME.

 

[asahisuperdry]

This is kind of a shame. The thunderbird sounds amazing and is the quintessential rock bass tone. The EB short scale instruments are butter in my hands and the EB14 looks and sounds amazing. However, as other people said here, they're all about guitars. Damn shame too but that's how it goes when folks assume Gibby basses are these clunky, unwieldy basses with muddy pickups and neck dive.

 

[KyleSerlington]

they should just license more of their designs to epiphone. the new EB they came out with a few years ago was a pretty cool bass. would i ever play one? i don't know, but i'd be more willing to try one if it was less of a gamble with epiphone pricing. Epiphone did a Grabber/Ripper reissue a couple times, and they're pretty hard to come by used, so people must like them and want to hang onto em, right? maybe they should make more of those too

 

[rockscott]

I would hate to see gibson pull the plug on basses altogether! However' that would make my 2014 sg' 120 years anniversary edition more valuable down the road? For the record, i love my sg, i think its the highest quality mass produced shortscale on the market today!

 

[BearCave]

What I like about the Gibson Bass line and hope to get my hands on before they stop making them...
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That one plus the two other Gibbys I already have...

And...

Would pretty much end my Gibson GAS.
Well.... maybe add a cream color EB to the mix. Oh and an RD Artist and maybe a Ripper or Money bass. Guess I'm hopelessly hooked!

I just traded in my 2015 Gibson ES-Les Paul Gold Top bass as part of a deal to obtain an all-original '59 Fender P. I was a bit disappointed with it....didn't care for the sound too much.....sounded almost like a Hofner (probably because of the flatwounds it came with and the fact that it's a semi-hollowbody). It played well, looked stunning, just didn't care for the sound. Not having any demo videos of someone playing one didn't help when I bought it because I had no idea what it would sound like.

I still have my 2013 ES-335 bass though. That thing kicks total a$$.

 

[GBassNorth]

I just traded in my 2015 Gibson ES-Les Paul Gold Top bass as part of a deal to obtain an all-original '59 Fender P. I was a bit disappointed with it....didn't care for the sound too much.....sounded almost like a Hofner (probably because of the flatwounds it came with and the fact that it's a semi-hollowbody). It played well, looked stunning, just didn't care for the sound. Not having any demo videos of someone playing one didn't help when I bought it because I had no idea what it would sound like.

I still have my 2013 ES-335 bass though. That thing kicks total a$$.

Interesting. You paid over $3000 for a Memphis ES Les Paul Goldtop bass and it played well and looked stunning but you got rid of it because you didn't like the sound of the flat wound strings? I'll be the first to admit that the Hofner sound isn't my cup of tea but I would have thought with that much invested you would have at least tried some round wound or tape wound strings before offing it at what I assume was a significant loss. Sure wish I had seen the for sale ad on yours, I might have taken the plunge.

 

[BearCave]

Interesting. You paid over $3000 for a Memphis ES Les Paul Goldtop bass and it played well and looked stunning but you got rid of it because you didn't like the sound of the flat wound strings? I'll be the first to admit that the Hofner sound isn't my cup of tea but I would have thought with that much invested you would have at least tried some round wound or tape wound strings before offing it at what I assume was a significant loss. Sure wish I had seen the for sale ad on yours, I might have taken the plunge.

First, I paid nowhere near $3,000 (MSRP is $3,200 I believe) for it. Second, I already have a Hofner, so that "tonal sound" that the ES-Les Paul has wasn't very unique and I already have it covered in my stable. And third, an opportunity to own something that is far more collectible and worth way more came up and I had to act quick on, so I never offered it up/listed it for sale. I had the bass since April and used it on two gigs. It just didn't cut it for me. All's well that ends well and everyone is happy.

 

[BearCave]

If you're interested in it, here's the listing on where it's for sale.

It's a killer deal IMO. I only played it on two gigs and then a little in my studio at home.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[GBassNorth]

First, I paid nowhere near $3,000 (MSRP is $3,200 I believe) for it. Second, I already have a Hofner, so that "tonal sound" that the ES-Les Paul has wasn't very unique and I already have it covered in my stable. And third, an opportunity to own something that is far more collectible and worth way more came up and I had to act quick on, so I never offered it up/listed it for sale. I had the bass since April and used it on two gigs. It just didn't cut it for me. All's well that ends well and everyone is happy.

Well if you already had the Hofner sound covered and something else even better came up that required quick action it all makes perfect sense. I probably would have done the same thing.
As for the Goldtop, for those of us that might still be interested, where did you buy it? All the ones I've seen are selling for around $3200.
Gibson Memphis ES Les Paul Bass - Gold Top | Sweetwater.com
Invalid Link Removed

 

[BearCave]

I did purchase mine from Sweetwater. Got a great deal on it because I pre-ordered it long before Gibson solidified the $3,200 MSRP. And for those that are interested in a Gold Top, the one I had is for sale and is practically brand new for almost half the price as pointed out in the link in my earlier post.

 

[map34157]

I also purchased this one from Sweetwater as well. Very happy with the quality and construction of this bass. I didn't pay close to MSRP either. IMO that Gold Top is a STEAL at that price. Whoever buys that will be very happy with their purchase.

 

[Handyman]

I'm still not sure I understand the original claim.

Is the claim that Gibson is not updating any of their bass models for 2016, or that they're entirely discontinuing the Gibson bass line?

 

[CrUiSeR]

WoW that is a deal on that goldtop ES.
I'm sure that some would disagree though LOL

 

[scourgeofgod]

I'm still not sure I understand the original claim.

Is the claim that Gibson is not updating any of their bass models for 2016, or that they're entirely discontinuing the Gibson bass line?

Hmmm, good point, it's kinda ambiguous. If we're believing Mr. Chris P. it sounds like they won't be making any new ones in 2016 and instead they will just burn off their current inventory. It's hard for me to believe that they would discontinue basses entirely, but at the same time it wouldn't really surprise me coming from the current Gibson management, which is all about $$$$.