Gibson Grabber 76, or fake ?!

[Bernardo Wilken]

Hi guys, I found this bass on internet and the seller says its from 1976, but the serial number dont match, it had to start with "00" right? The tensor cover have 3 screws and dont have any inscriptions.. Is this bass a fake ?

baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 679069 MLB25574154336 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 798774 MLB25574155186 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 829525 MLB25574147988 052017 F jpg
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 869182 MLB25574157637 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 876003 MLB25574153407 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 990880 MLB25574157536 052017 F

 

[bholder]

pics didn't work

 

[Bernardo Wilken]

thnx, I edited the post, are they opening now ?

 

[bholder]

Still no luck, the links don't work.

 

[Reverend179]

Some real hinky things going on there. Hard to tell with the quality of the pictures but it seems like it's got a 6 digit serial number, which wouldn't match up with mid 70's instruments- should have an 8 digit number. That being said, my 78 Grabber's last two digits are faded to such a point you have to look very close to see them. In addition, the TRC should have G-3 or "The Grabber" on it. That doesn't mean they didn't get a secondhand TRC. That being said, I also don't see a 'Made in USA' stamp on the back of the headstock either. I'd be wary.

Here's my (1 pickup) Grabber's headstock for comparison.

 

[Bernardo Wilken]

thnx for the answer ! I used this site http://www.guitardaterproject.org to check the serial number, it gave some results, and one of them was:

Guitar Info
This result is a match only if the serial number is impressed on headstockMade In USA on headstock
Your guitar was made at the
Kalamazoo Or Nashville Plant, USA
in 1974 Or 1975
Production Number: 585746

does this includes bass guitar or only guitars?
I know that this does not guarantee the authenticity of the bass, but the serial at least would exist ..

 

[ajkula66]

does this includes bass guitar or only guitars?

Both the guitars (of all kinds) and basses.

 

[Bernardo Wilken]

another question, the headstock is natural and the pickups are black, have you already see this combination ?

 

[mpdd]

 

[Bernardo Wilken]

the headstock seens to be black painted

 

[mpdd]

Mine was the only dark brown one ive ever seen with a painted headstock, mine had open gear Grover tuners too

 

[Tim de Martino]

I reckon fake.

I don't know these basses well, but the logo is way off centre (although could be the front of the headstock was sanded and a new logo applied?). The serial doesn't look neat compared to the following photo and no made in USA.

Could be a 70s Japanese copy, it looks like quite nice quality.

I understand that I could be very wrong on all points!

 

[cactus1]

That looks like a scarf joint at the headstock. I never knew Gibson to use those.

 

[GrantR]

Hi. I have an original 1975 G3. Owned since 1977. Mine is natural as this one, although headstock face is painted black with gold Gibson logo. The machine heads are the same as the one in the pictures. The pickups are not black, but clear with the magnet and windings visible. The serial number on mine is also 6 digits, 559xxx. Mine has the Made in u.s.a also stamped under the serial #. There is a scarf joint, however it is more prominent on your pics as there is more color variation between the neck and headstock compared to mine. The body construction (wing joints) appear correct. Also trc should say G-3.

 

[Spidey2112]

Hi guys, I found this bass on internet and the seller says its from 1976, but the serial number dont match, it had to start with "00" right? The tensor cover have 3 screws and dont have any inscriptions.. Is this bass a fake ?

baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 679069 MLB25574154336 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 798774 MLB25574155186 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 829525 MLB25574147988 052017 F jpg
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 869182 MLB25574157637 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 876003 MLB25574153407 052017 F
baixo gibson grabber g3 1976 D NQ NP 990880 MLB25574157536 052017 F

Have you tried contacting Gibson, yet? And, welcome to TalkBass...

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Looks like a legit Gibson to me, but possibly a factory 2nd, which is also not that unusual.

I've seen other 70's Gibson basses with;

natural headstocks,
scarf jointed headstock,
weird serial numbers.

Welcome to TalkBass!

Drop in on these folks too... lots of Gibson expertise there.

GIBSON Club. Part II

 

[tattooSAM]

That looks like a scarf joint at the headstock. I never knew Gibson to use those.

I have a real-deal 1978 Grabber with a scarf-joint headstock. These were cheap basses at the time, the production quality represents the price point.

 

[cactus1]

I have a real-deal 1978 Grabber with a scarf-joint headstock. These were cheap basses at the time, the production quality represents the price point.

I obviously, stand corrected on the scarf joint. Live and learn!

 

[40Hz]

If it was a factory second there's going to be a "2" stamped very prominently under the serial number into the wood on the back of the headstock.

FWIW, Gibson stopped selling factory seconds and started chopping them into scrap starting in 1985. So if a Gibson instrument was built after that, it's not going to be a second.

 

[40Hz]

I'm thinking if it's anything it's a rescued G-3 body with a new neck. Otherwise I'm guess a better and more careful than average copy using some original Gibson hardware.

Possibly somebody snapped the top off the original and had the neck re-scarfed and fitted with a new head.

I'm also not sure when Gibson switched from using clear to black pickup covers on the G-3, but the 1976 models all had clear covers as @GrantR mentioned earlier.

Too many details not quite right on that one. I'd pass on it.