GIBSON Club. Part II

[ajkula66]

Perhaps a misprint?

I certainly hope so...but there's some weird stuff - even by Gibson standards - going on with the 2019 lineup. Richlite as the *only* fingerboard option on an otherwise gorgeous (IMO) HP SG and Les Paul models...for $2.5K list price and above, you've got to be kidding me.

And, yes, maple is making its comeback as the neck material, not only on the "absolute bottom of the barrel" offerings, but in some of the low midrange ones...

I'm starting to get a very, very uneasy feeling.

 

[RedVee]

I certainly hope so...but there's some weird stuff - even by Gibson standards - going on with the 2019 lineup. Richlite as the *only* fingerboard option on an otherwise gorgeous (IMO) HP SG and Les Paul models...for $2.5K list price and above, you've got to be kidding me.

And, yes, maple is making its comeback as the neck material, not only on the "absolute bottom of the barrel" offerings, but in some of the low midrange ones...

I'm starting to get a very, very uneasy feeling.

I agree something seems odd.

 

[B-Mac]

Not sure where you're seeing the Maple and Richlite?

I see Mahogany, Maple and Rosewood

Gibson Electric Bass Guitars

Liking that 50th anniversary Thunderbird

 

[B-Mac]

80 different models? Had no idea.
The Gibson Bass Book

 

[ajkula66]

Not sure where you're seeing the Maple and Richlite?

I see Mahogany, Maple and Rosewood

My apologies for not being more precise. These are found on 6-stringers, not on basses.

Richlite on HP versions of LP and SG - last year Rosewood was an option on some of them, not so now - and maple necks on Tribute series, where it was Mahagony in 2018.

What happened with Ebony as a fingerboard material ????? Nowhere to be found as far as I can see...

 

[bassmike2010]

My apologies for not being more precise. These are found on 6-stringers, not on basses.

Richlite on HP versions of LP and SG - last year Rosewood was an option on some of them, not so now - and maple necks on Tribute series, where it was Mahagony in 2018.

What happened with Ebony as a fingerboard material ????? Nowhere to be found as far as I can see...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[ajkula66]

@bassmike2010

I'm aware of the situation when it comes to Ebony in general. Having said that, it doesn't seem to stop other manufacturers - from Kiesel to Fender and pretty much everyone in between - from offering it as an option.

It seems to me - based on a *very* cursory look that I took to some stuff related to Gibson's chapter 11 filings - that they owe a lot of money to wood suppliers...which may very well be one of the reasons for the changes in the wood species that we're seeing in the '19 lineup.

No insider information here, just my $0.02...

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I think the new EB shape, while not something I really dig, is an attempt to appeal to the jazz players and others that like that kinda shape. It’s a lot like the peavey millennium and Carvin/Keisel basses. Guess they want to be more contemporary. Not a bad idea, but I think a maple necked, dare I even say bolt on, budget model (ripper/grabber maybe?) would help build loyalty amongst players in a lower buying range.

 

[aproud1]

I think the new EB shape, while not something I really dig, is an attempt to appeal to the jazz players and others that like that kinda shape. It’s a lot like the peavey millennium and Carvin/Keisel basses. Guess they want to be more contemporary. Not a bad idea, but I think a maple necked, dare I even say bolt on, budget model (ripper/grabber maybe?) would help build loyalty amongst players in a lower buying range.

The newer EB definitely has some old Gibson/Tobias DNA. Nice to have the Gibson pickups in a more ergonomic (to me) package. And yes, they do not look like what people think of as Gibson. I have a 4 and a 5 and like them both. I also have a 2015 SG and like it a lot as well. When they made the Faded SG's they seemed to sell pretty well and they were <$1000. Great basses too.

I always wanted a Grabber G3. I would think Gibson could make one around the new SG price point. They did a few years ago but that was pre Gibson for me.

I wish they could get things sorted out over there. I have three newer Gibson basses I've landed on after several years (never would have guessed that after all the basses I've been through!) and play all of them regularly. The BAEB4 and SG as my main 4 strings and the BAEB5 as my now backup 5 string (my Ibanez Grooveline is #1). It was my #1 for about a year and a half, some sort of record. The build quality on my examples are very good. Lots of horror stories out there but all three of mine were ordered new online and all were fine. Some eventual fret sprout on one but I've seen that on $3000 + basses so.... I'll say that almost every bass I've bought could benefit from some fret touch up. And I've bought a lot of basses.

 

[B-Mac]

Eastwood's take on the EB-1 in 32" scale...just thought I'd share this since the inspiration is from a Gibby

Picked this up at the UPS hub 5 minutes from work on Friday. First opportunity I had to check it out and plug it in.
View attachment 3144676 View attachment 3144678 View attachment 3144679 View attachment 3144680 View attachment 3144681 View attachment 3144682 View attachment 3144684 View attachment 3144686 View attachment 3144689
Very light. Website says it's chambered, but it is hollow from the bottom of the 'F' holes to the top of the body. It is routed for the controls. Has a nice tone to it and not too muddy sounding considering it only has a mud bucker pup. I didn't check it out for neck dive yet. Double black pinstripe 'Binding' is paint under the gloss finish. Finish on body is beautiful and consistent through-out. Seems to have great sustain.
Not too crazy about the gig bag but they don't have a HSC for this and don't plan on making one. More later.​

 

[aproud1]

Eastwood's take on the EB-1 in 32" scale...just thought I'd share this since the inspiration is from a Gibby

Picked this up at the UPS hub 5 minutes from work on Friday. First opportunity I had to check it out and plug it in.
View attachment 3144676 View attachment 3144678 View attachment 3144679 View attachment 3144680 View attachment 3144681 View attachment 3144682 View attachment 3144684 View attachment 3144686 View attachment 3144689
Very light. Website says it's chambered, but it is hollow from the bottom of the 'F' holes to the top of the body. It is routed for the controls. Has a nice tone to it and not too muddy sounding considering it only has a mud bucker pup. I didn't check it out for neck dive yet. Double black pinstripe 'Binding' is paint under the gloss finish. Finish on body is beautiful and consistent through-out. Seems to have great sustain.
Not too crazy about the gig bag but they don't have a HSC for this and don't plan on making one. More later.​

Cool! Was actually checking one of those out Thursday while I was... er ... working...

Curious to hear how it works on a strap.

 

[bassmike2010]

@B-Mac Nice one there. Heard good things on the Eastwood line.
Friend just got an EUB-1 loves it.

 

[bassmike2010]

Speaking of Three Point and/ or Tune-O-Matic bridges, just strung up
and set up my '67 Gibson Melody Maker (D'Addario Half Round ENR71S's )
after something like 20 years w/o strings lying dormant in it's OHSC.
I was floored at the fact that at full tension the neck has super low
action, almost no bow, and perfect intonation with no truss adjustment
(considering the low adjustability/ age of the bridge).
Special shout out to TB member @Bruce Johnson for his Ubervaluable
expertise in fabricating 4 replacements of hereto for unable-to-locate
single missing bridge saddle screw. Original was chrome as these are Nickel;
but are faithful reproductions down to the most thousandths of a meter.
Much thanks and highly recommended for all your instrument fabrication needs.

This little one has been missing that saddle screw since my Dad originally
purchased it for me in jr high school decades ago and I'm proud to have
been able to finally plug her into an amp and hear that beautiful Mudbucker
with the added zing of Nickel. She will never see another stage but will
get equal noodle time "privilege" along with the rest of the pride.


PS the chrome on the body isn't peeling, it's reflection of the textured ceiling.
Next project, the H8.

 

[B-Mac]

Speaking of Three Point and/ or Tune-O-Matic bridges, just strung up
and set up my '67 Gibson Melody Maker (D'Addario Half Round ENR71S's )
after something like 20 years w/o strings lying dormant in it's OHSC.
I was floored at the fact that at full tension the neck has super low
action, almost no bow, and perfect intonation with no truss adjustment
(considering the low adjustability/ age of the bridge).
Special shout out to TB member @Bruce Johnson for his Ubervaluable
expertise in fabricating 4 replacements of hereto for unable-to-locate
single missing bridge saddle screw. Original was chrome as these are Nickel;
but are faithful reproductions down to the most thousandths of a meter.
Much thanks and highly recommended for all your instrument fabrication needs.

This little one has been missing that saddle screw since my Dad originally
purchased it for me in jr high school decades ago and I'm proud to have
been able to finally plug her into an amp and hear that beautiful Mudbucker
with the added zing of Nickel. She will never see another stage but will
get equal noodle time "privilege" along with the rest of the pride.

View attachment 3145060 View attachment 3145061 View attachment 3145062 View attachment 3145064 View attachment 3145065
PS the chrome on the body isn't peeling, it's reflection of the textured ceiling.
Next project, the H8.

Two point bridge?

 

[bassmike2010]

Two point bridge?

Yes, it is a Gibson tune-o-matic (two-point) bass bridge.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Nocturnal]

Yes, it is a Gibson tune-o-matic (two-point) bass bridge.

In some circles that bridge is affectionately referred to as the "Ever-Tilt".

 

[B-Mac]

Yes, it is a Gibson tune-o-matic (two-point) bass bridge.

No offense, but was the Melody Maker a low cost entry level EB-0 or EB-3 variant? Don't know anything about them.

 

[bassmike2010]

In some circles that bridge is affectionately referred to as the "Ever-Tilt".

Never heard that but refers to the slight tilt towards the neck angle
some have.

 

[Nocturnal]

At the Last Bass Outpost it has kind of become the new name for it.

 

[bassmike2010]

No offense, but was the Melody Maker a low cost entry level EB-0 or EB-3 variant? Don't know anything about them.

None taken. It was a transition model. Fewer made. Same quality, set neck and pickup. Like saying the 60's Gibson Melody Maker or Jr. was
low cost entry level into Gibson Les Paul's. EB-0's and EB-3's can be
found in 80% of the pawn shops, Craigslist's and GC's in the country.
Let alone Epiphone "entry level" models. Locate and price a mint '60's
Melody Maker.