Gibson G3 Question

[Sawido]

Hi guys,

Just a simple question, I'm a young bass player who owns a Mike Dirnt P-Bass, but I've been in love with the G3 bass since I saw it in a show of Green Day back in the 90's...

I find pretty hard to buy this bass because the production stopped in the middle 80's, and I've only seen a few ads on eBay starting at 700$... Is the bass really worth its price considering that it had another owner? Or else, where can I purchase it?

Greetings!

 

[MobileHolmes]

You might also look at Grabbers and Rippers, which were similar, but with different electronics. A friend of mine had a ripper, and it was a really nice, bass, but heavy as all get out (it was one of the maple bodied ones). Apart from the weight, I don't think there were any real problems with them. At this point, you are only going to find used ones (I think there may have been a reissue a couple years back), but if they aren't abused, there is nothing wrong with that. All kinds of people play pre-loved basses. Now that the 70s have some "vintage" cachet attached to them, prices have gone up somewhat. My buddy had his back in the early 90s, when nobody cared about 70s instruments, and I think he paid about 300 bucks for it. These days, it looks like the asking price on rippers and grabbers is around 1000. Personally, while I think they are nice basses, a grand will buy you all kinds of stuff I'd rather have, but if it's worth it to you...

 

[Sawido]

You might also look at Grabbers and Rippers, which were similar, but with different electronics. A friend of mine had a ripper, and it was a really nice, bass, but heavy as all get out (it was one of the maple bodied ones). Apart from the weight, I don't think there were any real problems with them. At this point, you are only going to find used ones (I think there may have been a reissue a couple years back), but if they aren't abused, there is nothing wrong with that. All kinds of people play pre-loved basses. Now that the 70s have some "vintage" cachet attached to them, prices have gone up somewhat. My buddy had his back in the early 90s, when nobody cared about 70s instruments, and I think he paid about 300 bucks for it. These days, it looks like the asking price on rippers and grabbers is around 1000. Personally, while I think they are nice basses, a grand will buy you all kinds of stuff I'd rather have, but if it's worth it to you...

Thanks for the reply!

I agree with you that time cover in gold such instruments. It would be worth to me if I knew if the bass is abused or not, but I'm afraid that that's a luck story... I would be happy with a Ripper, but I think that the situation of this model is the same as Grabber's so, between them I prefer the Grabber (no matter if it's a G3 or normal model). About the reissue, I've read that they are just a fast-money way because of their historical value, and that the tone it's not as "groovy" as the vintage model (suming up that they cost nearly 900$)

 

[ThaCoast]

Thanks for the reply!

I agree with you that time cover in gold such instruments. It would be worth to me if I knew if the bass is abused or not, but I'm afraid that that's a luck story... I would be happy with a Ripper, but I think that the situation of this model is the same as Grabber's so, between them I prefer the Grabber (no matter if it's a G3 or normal model). About the reissue, I've read that they are just a fast-money way because of their historical value, and that the tone it's not as "groovy" as the vintage model (suming up that they cost nearly 900$)

IF you can get your hands on a grabber (the g-1) for "cheap" get it. TBH, & it's just my personal preference really, the g3 doesn't have that ballzy tone the g1 has. The ripper is awesome too, but i think you'd be happier with a g1. Vintage or reissue actually. The g3 reissue is good too, played one, although it doesn't sound anything like the originals. But yeh, a grand can get you more elsewhere.

 

[Dave W]

$700 is dirt cheap.

You're not going to find any "new" original G3. They're all going to be used and more than likely owned by multiple people.

 

[Sawido]

IF you can get your hands on a grabber (the g-1) for "cheap" get it. TBH, & it's just my personal preference really, the g3 doesn't have that ballzy tone the g1 has. The ripper is awesome too, but i think you'd be happier with a g1. Vintage or reissue actually. The g3 reissue is good too, played one, although it doesn't sound anything like the originals. But yeh, a grand can get you more elsewhere.

Thanks for your opinion!

 

[Sawido]

$700 is dirt cheap.

You're not going to find any "new" original G3. They're all going to be used and more than likely owned by multiple people.

That's true, but I'm still a student so it's too expensive for me XD, but despite my economical situation, it's true that 700 it's pretty cheap in the vintage world. I really don't care if they're used, but I'm so afraid of buying a useless piece of wood (If you know what I mean) because I actually live in Spain, so I don't have the chance to try it before purchasing it...

Greetings!

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

What colour are the pickups? RSPV

 

[mikedirnt97]

Hi guys,

Just a simple question, I'm a young bass player who owns a Mike Dirnt P-Bass, but I've been in love with the G3 bass since I saw it in a show of Green Day back in the 90's...

I find pretty hard to buy this bass because the production stopped in the middle 80's, and I've only seen a few ads on eBay starting at 700$... Is the bass really worth its price considering that it had another owner? Or else, where can I purchase it?

Greetings!

dood if you love that punchy mid rangy sound in the early albums of greenday. go for music man bass that bass sounds very similar to a g3

 

[jaco944]

Just keep looking and be patient.. As mentioned above you couldn't give a G3 away until Green Day showed up, then they went through the roof, but they are coming back down a little now. It would take some severe abuse to hurt one, I've had mine for 37 years and it's a tank and still sounds great.

 

[s_wood]

I love those old Gibsons, and I currently own a couple of Rippers and a G3. They really aren't substitutes for each other, tonally. The G3 is much brighter sounding, and if you play one with a pick (like Dirnt did) it just kills. The Ripper is fatter sounding...less aggressive. I'm not saying that one is better than the other, just that they are different. The recent Gibson reissues sound NOTHING like the originals, so if its an original G3 you want don't settle for anything else.

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

I love those old Gibsons, and I currently own a couple of Rippers and a G3. They really aren't substitutes for each other, tonally. The G3 is much brighter sounding, and if you play one with a pick (like Dirnt did) it just kills. The Ripper is fatter sounding...less aggressive. I'm not saying that one is better than the other, just that they are different. The recent Gibson reissues sound NOTHING like the originals, so if its an original G3 you want don't settle for anything else.

What years do your Rippers come from? Quote isn't working for some reason.

 

[s_wood]

Mine are all from either 1973 or 1974. Gibsons from the early to mid 70's are hard to date because their serial number system in those years covered a 3-4 year range. One easy way to guesstimate the date of a Ripper is by looking at the body shape. Some time in late 1975 the body was slightly redesigned and the upper and lower horns became thinner, less rounded and more pointy. They also started using metal strong ferrules in the rear of the bass (before that the string anchor was just a hole drilled into the body. It was also around that time that Gibson switched from maple to alder for the body wood. I prefer the maple ones, but that's totally a subjective thing. There is noticeable difference in tone and weight between maple and alder Rippers. Look here for lots of info about Rippers and all Gibson basses. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

Mine are all from either 1973 or 1974. Gibsons from the early to mid 70's are hard to date because their serial number system in those years covered a 3-4 year range. One easy way to guesstimate the date of a Ripper is by looking at the body shape. Some time in late 1975 the body was slightly redesigned and the upper and lower horns became thinner, less rounded and more pointy. They also started using metal strong ferrules in the rear of the bass (before that the string anchor was just a hole drilled into the body. It was also around that time that Gibson switched from maple to alder for the body wood. I prefer the maple ones, but that's totally a subjective thing. There is noticeable difference in tone and weight between maple and alder Rippers. Look here for lots of info about Rippers and all Gibson basses. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I prefer the fatter ones. Reason? I have two words: Krist Novoselic.