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GIBSON Club. Part II

#1,022
jpmcbride said:
View attachment 2858396

My new Gibson ES Les Paul bass. Its a "new" 2016 floor model, and I got it at a great deal. It has a couple minor cosmetic flaws, but you'd never notice them unless I showed you. It took some work to get it setup. I'm new to doing my own setups and it took me a few days to get it dialed in. I was struggling with the open E string sounding weak, but got that straightened out by setting it up properly and balancing the volume from all 4 strings.

I've learned something important from this bass . . . I like a deep low tone like a p-bass with flats and to me this Gibson bass sounded somewhat weak, a little "woody?" like something was missing in the tonal response. But today I was playing it with a backing track and the sound was just beautiful. I had everything turned up (both pickups max volume and tone all the way up). Normally this is not what I like to hear. But, I don't know how to put it other way than to say that the bass was singing. It was right in the mix perfectly and I could hear every nuance. What's the lesson I learned? Stop dialing in that solo tone I like, and find a tone that works in the mix! No one cares what your bass sounds like in your bedroom. How does it sound with a band?
Click to expand...
I have this exact bass, also with Chromes, and I'm also having a hard time finding the tone I like with it. I also like a deep tone and was expecting just that with the semi-HB. However, I have the same issue with my Lakland HB30, which is also a semi-HB but with one opening. It's wired like a Jazz, so the Gibson has more sound options. Keeping them both anyway.
 
#1,024
Came across this recently for sale brand new. Was surprised to see it.
Super Nova
Short scale very much like Gibby Midtown but has 2 push pull split coil pots for both pups

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Model -- DSNB-004 ACT
" Super Nova "
Bound arched top and back mahogany semi hollow body.
Bound F holes.
"C" shape bound set Mahogany neck with Ebony fingerboard
and white pearl dot fret markers.
Wilkinson WJB-175 deluxe bass gears.
21 hand polished frets.
2 volume, 2 tone and a 3 way selector switch
Duel Sidewinder alnico bass pickup system
with 2 coil splitters.
D'Addario bass strings ( 45-105 )
30.75 scale length
1 1/2 inch bone nut width
Custom bag

G.A.S. is starting......
 
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#1,025
B-Mac said:
Came across this recently for sale brand new. Was surprised to see it.
Super Nova
Short scale very much like Gibby Midtown but has 2 push pull split coil pots for both pups
Click to expand...

Midtown is 34" scale.

This bass reminds me more of a Hagstrom Viking with a Gibson-style electronics, really, but that's me. I'm not too happy about the bridge on that Dillion, either. I could foresee intonation issues.

Never have I played any of their basses but have recently tried a PRS copy which was very-well made and definitely an appealing proposition given that it could've been had for under $250 for a dead mint, barely used piece...I just had absolutely zero need for it.

My $0.02 only...
 
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#1,026
B-Mac said:
Came across this recently for sale brand new. Was surprised to see it.
Super Nova
Short scale very much like Gibby Midtown but has 2 push pull split coil pots for both pups

View attachment 3130921 View attachment 3130922 View attachment 3130923 View attachment 3130924

Model -- DSNB-004 ACT
" Super Nova "
Bound arched top and back mahogany semi hollow body.
Bound F holes.
"C" shape bound set Mahogany neck with Ebony fingerboard
and white pearl dot fret markers.
Wilkinson WJB-175 deluxe bass gears.
21 hand polished frets.
2 volume, 2 tone and a 3 way selector switch
Duel Sidewinder alnico bass pickup system
with 2 coil splitters.
D'Addario bass strings ( 45-105 )
30.75 scale length
1 1/2 inch bone nut width
Custom bag

G.A.S. is starting......
Click to expand...

Your sig says it all:laugh:
She's a beaut.
 
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#1,027
ajkula66 said:
Midtown is 34" scale.

This bass reminds me more of a Hagstrom Viking with a Gibson-style electronics, really, but that's me. I'm not too happy about the bridge on that Dillion, either. I could foresee intonation issues.

Never have I played any of their basses but have recently tried a PRS copy which was very-well made and definitely an appealing proposition given that it could've been had for under $250 for a dead mint, barely used piece...I just had absolutely zero need for it.

My $0.02 only...
Click to expand...
I see what you mean....going from memory doesn't work too well for either of us.....horns, pup placement, knobs, f-holes....plus the neck on the Midtown comes much further down into the body area.

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Here's Dillions 34" (534-004) that I do own and it is truly awesome. @GretschWretch owns two of these and can attest to how awesome they are.

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#1,028
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#1,031
ajkula66 said:
That model I find really intriguing and would love to lay my old paws on one. It would make for a most interesting modding platform, IMO...
Click to expand...
some specs on the 534-004

Bound Maple semi-hollow body
Bound F holes and a 4 ply pickguard
Bound set neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard
White Pearl dot inlays + side markers
20 Hand polished 2.7 mm Frets
Wilkinson deluxe bass gears
1 ½ inch Graphite nut width
Two volume, two tone, plus a 3 way switch
2 Dillion custom alnico pickups
D’Addario Strings ( 45 – 100 )
34 Scale length
11 inch radius

The mud bucker tone knob is push-pull for coil split and really changes the clarity of the mud bucker pup without noticeable noise

I guess this is based on a cross between the old Gibson EB-2D and the newer Midtown? If you use your imagination maybe?
It is a little on the heavy side but it is really nice fit, finish and sound wise
 
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#1,036
gustophersmob said:
I'm kind of surprised they've stuck with the newer styled EB for three years now. I like it, but know I'm in the minority. Must be selling reasonably well.
Click to expand...

Well, all the usual Gibson-hate notwithstanding, where is anyone going to find a U.S. built bass with set-neck construction for a similar price?

Is that the crickets that I'm hearing? I thought so.

As for them sticking with the '17 EB design, I hope and pray that the new management has learned something from numerous mistakes of the past, one of the major ones being yanking a model a couple of years after it has been introduced...

Judging by the Sweetwater offerings, they've also raised the prices for 2019 models...I don't see that as being a smart move, but I've been wrong before and will most certainly be wrong again if I live to see another day.

My $0.02 only...
 
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