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Ok, I think when this bass arrives it will put selling my Ripper into perspective. I'm excited about this 2013 Midtown!
It does have Curtis Novak pickups and a Babicz bridge. The controls have been converted to Vol/Vol/Tone like an SG Standard. The tone switch replaces the toggle.
Easily brought back to OEM configuration if needed. I think the changes were very tasteful, Pretty Minty .......
I have got to stop buying these things!!!!
It does have Curtis Novak pickups and a Babicz bridge. The controls have been converted to Vol/Vol/Tone like an SG Standard. The tone switch replaces the toggle.
Easily brought back to OEM configuration if needed. I think the changes were very tasteful, Pretty Minty .......
I have got to stop buying these things!!!!
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I'm gonna find out, lol
This was from the description in the ad ...........
"The Curtis Novak pickups definitely raise the bar to a superb sounding instrument, making it more versatile in reality than any other Midtown Bass listed."
This was from the description in the ad ...........
"The Curtis Novak pickups definitely raise the bar to a superb sounding instrument, making it more versatile in reality than any other Midtown Bass listed."
Gibson people educate me: I’ve been perusing Reverb and noticing that Rippers seem to be priced at 1.5 to 2 times the price of Grabbers (not the G3 model). So are they that much better, rarer, or are the owners delusional? I’ve never played either of these basses so I have no idea.
Well, the Grabber had a "bolt on" neck and, for a person that liked/loved the Gibson's from the days of yore, that was kinda unheard of. I am well aware that bolt on necks work and they work fine but ........... the idea of screwing on the neck with 4 wood screws that you could pick up at the hardware store just didn't seem right. It was a "Fender" thing and was/is seen in many circles as a cheap way to manufacture an instrument.
The Grabber had only 1 pickup as compared to two on the Ripper. The Ripper had the classic Gibson head stock versus the "new" Grabber style.
The Ripper had the 4 way switch which gave the ability for a player to have many different sounds of which many of those sounds are popular today. The Grabber did not have the advanced electronics of the Ripper. The Ripper was quite a radical move for Gibson and a big departure from the basses they built in the decades prior.
The Ripper is/was a really nice bass. I had one for 25 years and just recently sold it for 6 times the amount I bought it for.
Many of those basses with silly prices have been listed for many months, a couple venture into years.
Pricing has gone mad as the Ripper has gained a "cult" status. Looking at my Gibson price list from May 1st, 1974, the Ripper sold for 460.00 plus 95.00 for the HSC. The EB-3 (Gibson, NOT Epiphone) sold for 525.00 plus 99.00 for the HSC.
The Grabber had only 1 pickup as compared to two on the Ripper. The Ripper had the classic Gibson head stock versus the "new" Grabber style.
The Ripper had the 4 way switch which gave the ability for a player to have many different sounds of which many of those sounds are popular today. The Grabber did not have the advanced electronics of the Ripper. The Ripper was quite a radical move for Gibson and a big departure from the basses they built in the decades prior.
The Ripper is/was a really nice bass. I had one for 25 years and just recently sold it for 6 times the amount I bought it for.
Many of those basses with silly prices have been listed for many months, a couple venture into years.
Pricing has gone mad as the Ripper has gained a "cult" status. Looking at my Gibson price list from May 1st, 1974, the Ripper sold for 460.00 plus 95.00 for the HSC. The EB-3 (Gibson, NOT Epiphone) sold for 525.00 plus 99.00 for the HSC.
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It sounds muddy, very muddy.
Don't know what the PO was wanting but I'll be selling this "Curtis Novak EBO" pickup as soon as an OEM Gibson SG version arrives next week.
For sale
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It's all good.
Things I've learned, I'll never buy another bass that has been modified without playing/inspecting it first.
With that said, it is a beautiful instrument, the neck is lovely ........ I'll make it right, and rock this puppy!
Things I've learned, I'll never buy another bass that has been modified without playing/inspecting it first.
With that said, it is a beautiful instrument, the neck is lovely ........ I'll make it right, and rock this puppy!
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From what I've read, owners are loving these basses with the OEM humbuckers.
The new SG Standard neck humbuckers have a resistance in the neighborhood of 9/10k, whereas an old EBO is about 40k.
Huge difference IMHO. If this doesn't please me, I'll sell it and buy a new Guild Starfire I.
The new SG Standard neck humbuckers have a resistance in the neighborhood of 9/10k, whereas an old EBO is about 40k.
Huge difference IMHO. If this doesn't please me, I'll sell it and buy a new Guild Starfire I.
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The SG/Midtown pickup is very polite by Gibson standards, and doesn't lack clarity IMO/IME. Old Sidewinders are in the 26-32K range, what's the reading on that Novak of yours ?
Well, if you end up requiring even more clarity and definition, there's Sentell's Unmudbucker. I loved mine. As for replacing Midtown with a Starfire...it's a very different instrument. Whether you'll end up liking it is beyond the abilities of my crystal ball...
Good luck.
If all else fails, it's probably going to be easier to sell a Midtown with the original pickups in it, versus an aftermarket pickup.
I'm hoping it doesn't come down to that.
And I've played a new Guild Starfire I, while it is a very different instrument, it's also pretty dog gone sweet!
I'm hoping it doesn't come down to that.
And I've played a new Guild Starfire I, while it is a very different instrument, it's also pretty dog gone sweet!
The bass you have is beautiful. Shame it’s not working out for you. If you need to change up, the Guild is a very nice bass. I have these and like them very much as well…
Here is my beautiful Gibson Les Paul from 1993. We are the same age lol. Both turn 30 this year.
Im open to trade offers. I would love the same bass but in Cherry sunburst
Im open to trade offers. I would love the same bass but in Cherry sunburst
Personally I love the classic "mudbucker" but not for "normal" stuff, I like to put them through fuzz & overdrive. But I have only had single-pickup versions ('68 EB-2 & '68 Melody Maker) - how does it sound with both pickups on?
The SG/Midtown pickup is very polite by Gibson standards, and doesn't lack clarity IMO/IME. Old Sidewinders are in the 26-32K range, what's the reading on that Novak of yours ?
Sorry, I missed this, the Novak is in the 30k range.
Well, if you end up requiring even more clarity and definition, there's Sentell's Unmudbucker. I loved mine. As for replacing Midtown with a Starfire...it's a very different instrument. Whether you'll end up liking it is beyond the abilities of my crystal ball...
Good luck.
So Anyway, forgot to post my Gibson acquisition from June to this thread.
I didn't need another bass, but this SG was reasonably priced. I'm only playing short scale now, so it fits right in.
Mods were made by the previous owner, so I can't compare it to OEM.
Played several gigs with it. A very nice bass with an even response throughout the neck.
I didn't need another bass, but this SG was reasonably priced. I'm only playing short scale now, so it fits right in.
Mods were made by the previous owner, so I can't compare it to OEM.
Played several gigs with it. A very nice bass with an even response throughout the neck.
