That G3 in black is sexy! It looks like it's got an ebony fingerboard. I didn't think they put those on Grabbers.
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Not sure about the G-3, but I slapped together this comparison quick for the Ripper:
Either it’s a refinish or a rare ebony wide-body, I’d be interested to know…
I lean towards a refin perhaps. But who knows if Gibson made these one offs in very very limited batches but never really "counted" them. The G3 on the other hand is all original, rare, but definitely original, including the old style neck (since the tributes Gibson did a few years back were all set neck & a wider arrow headstock that was also sharper - unlike the originals which were "narrow" & rounder.)
Got to play one of the new Epi grabbers yesterday. WOW! The bass felt really at home with me. I loved the body and the neck. I’m tempted to go buy it, but curious if the old Gibsons grabbers are the same body dimensions? What about the neck profile?
Anyone played both?
Anyone played both?
definitely not the same body. Epiphone looks a little oversized cause the guard doesn't follow like old grabbers/rippers.
Pic dump! The Ventura has been refretted with playwear preserved, gone back to muddies, and now has an OBP-3 with bypass for passive. It was invasive af but now it’s all back together and a lot more versatile. I can’t wait to make thundermud fuzzy filth at rehearsal tomorrow!
Nice! Was that red paint on the side of the fingerboard?
It’s red reflector tape from the auto parts store. It’s thin, super tough, and catches the light enough on stage for me to look down real quick. Singing and playing bass sometimes leads to losing my place on the board.
Hey!
I'm the (very) proud owner of a '74 natural Ripper, it's the go-to bass for my stoner doom band (along with a '79 SVT and an Ampeg Heritage 810). There's two local sellers, one with a G3 ($1800), and another with a fretless G3 ($1600), but they're just far enough away where it's prohibitive to go and physically check them out.
I've played a Grabber and really liked it, and I've played two G3's before, which didn't quite do it for me. Does anyone have a quick run down of the differences? I've heard the G3 has a thinner sound, will it be able to doom like the Ripper?
Thanks!
I'm the (very) proud owner of a '74 natural Ripper, it's the go-to bass for my stoner doom band (along with a '79 SVT and an Ampeg Heritage 810). There's two local sellers, one with a G3 ($1800), and another with a fretless G3 ($1600), but they're just far enough away where it's prohibitive to go and physically check them out.
I've played a Grabber and really liked it, and I've played two G3's before, which didn't quite do it for me. Does anyone have a quick run down of the differences? I've heard the G3 has a thinner sound, will it be able to doom like the Ripper?
Thanks!
While i've never had a chance to play an original G3, i own 3 grabbers (an original 75 G1, a japanese copy, & my own home build). I have built a G3 & ripper basses, so my opinion on the matter should be taken as potential truth to it, but not full due to not being full original factory basses.
Ripper: Powerful sound, articulate & big.
Grabber G1: Thicker low mid pbass type kick to the chest. Growls like no other.
G3: Snappier, can sound thick/full using neck & middle pickups mainly. Buck N half setting (middle switch, all 3), can be full with a little cut through in the fold.
It's very different from the other two, worth having in the collection. At some point in the future, i'll build myself one with different custom pickups closer to original G3 spec. Through your 79 SVT, a g3 can sound like a menace no doubt
Ripper: Powerful sound, articulate & big.
Grabber G1: Thicker low mid pbass type kick to the chest. Growls like no other.
G3: Snappier, can sound thick/full using neck & middle pickups mainly. Buck N half setting (middle switch, all 3), can be full with a little cut through in the fold.
It's very different from the other two, worth having in the collection. At some point in the future, i'll build myself one with different custom pickups closer to original G3 spec. Through your 79 SVT, a g3 can sound like a menace no doubt
I had a Ripper and two G3’s. The G3 is my favorite Gibson model. But the two I owned both had weak E strings. Maybe that’s typical for a G3? That was the reason I sold them.
If that's the case, it definitely won't work as we play in B standard.
Either due to nut issues, or maybe the pickups weren't up to the task anymore (possibility). Had the same issue on my built Ripper bass - the bone nut would "choke" the E string, even though it was properly cut. Swapped & cut a new Graph Tech nut & it's perfect now! I did swap the hotter wilde L90 pickups for some lower output ones & that also cleared up overall congestion this bass of mine had. Now if i could deal with the stupid rotary switch, i'd be fine
If you play in B standard, i assume your gauge is 125-130? You might benefit from the clarity the G3 could give. & though it's 200$ more, i'd get the fretted one (it'd also be the one i'd play first over the fretless).
I've got a bunch of Rippers and a G-3. The Ripper has noticeably more low end than the G3, especially in position 1 (both pickups in series). I wouldn't call the G-3 "thin," though. It's brighter, and has a high end that will rip your face off, especially if you play with a pick. I love my G-3. Whether that will work for you is something only you can decide.
I actually use the D'addario XL pro steels, 55-110 in the long scale!
I would also almost certainly go with the fretted one, and it's good to know the G3 gives a bit more clarity, our guitarist also plays in B standard, an SG through an Orange amp, so there's a lot of fighting for low end.
Looks legit to me. Although the neck backplate doesn’t have the Gibson logo. But maybe they stopped doing that after a certain year? Also it is missing the screw holes for the bridge cover. It’s in great shape.
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With my two G3 basses the E string was not choked but was noticeably softer in volume and had less punch than the other strings. I have tried to raise the pickup at the E string side but that didn’t help much. I have tried everything but nothing helped. Either I had two lemons or maybe it’s typical for the G3? It’s a pity because I really liked the sound of the G3, but the weaker volume of the E string annoyed me so much that I had to sell both.
