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Gibson Midtown HollowBody

#64
Loendmaestro,

Any news on shipping regarding the bass? The anticipation is a killer! Anyway let us know and make sure you take pics and post ur thoughts on that sweet bass you will soon have. Maybe yours will have a rosewood fretboard instead of the baked maple. Take care!
 
#66
My bass arrived yesterday. Overall, I'm quite happy with it.

I was most pleasantly surprised with the pickups---the bridge pickup solo still has enough low-end grunt to be useable by itself; with both pickups selected, it keeps the grunty/snarly tone of the bridge pickup but adds a thicker low-end bed under it; and the neck pickup solo, with palm muting playing with my thumb is thump city. Three different but very useable tones.

The neck is a little beefier than I expected, but it's not a problem. If such things are important to you, this is definitely not a thin neck.

The only downsides are that it's somewhat neck-heavy, and if you play it is a sort of upright position the strap slips off the top strap button, but strap locks will alleviate that.

But my overall evaluation is, I'm more than satisfied, and looking forward to playing it more.
 
#68
Chuck King said:
My bass arrived yesterday. Overall, I'm quite happy with it.

I was most pleasantly surprised with the pickups---the bridge pickup solo still has enough low-end grunt to be useable by itself; with both pickups selected, it keeps the grunty/snarly tone of the bridge pickup but adds a thicker low-end bed under it; and the neck pickup solo, with palm muting playing with my thumb is thump city. Three different but very useable tones.

The neck is a little beefier than I expected, but it's not a problem. If such things are important to you, this is definitely not a thin neck.

The only downsides are that it's somewhat neck-heavy, and if you play it is a sort of upright position the strap slips off the top strap button, but strap locks will alleviate that.

But my overall evaluation is, I'm more than satisfied, and looking forward to playing it more.
Click to expand...

Nice! Congrats!
 
#69
Was wondering if any of you guys that have these basses had tried flat wounds on it. I put a set of Sadowsky's, Labella's, & Laklands on it. I have to say this may be the one semi-hollow that sounds better with rounds than it does with flats, for one thing the relief it has on it is for rounds. When I put the flats on I had buzzing on the D&G strings from the 9th to 12th fret, and the buzzing did not go away with more relief or raising the bridge, I admit I am not an expert at setting up basses but I have not had this problem with any of my other basses. So I dropped back the rounds and set the relief to factory spec (more or less) and liked the sound of the rounds on it better. This is not the case with any of my other semi hollows with the exception of my jack casady. Any of you guys try putting flats on yours?

Cheers!
 
#70
Calexia13 said:
Was wondering if any of you guys that have these basses had tried flat wounds on it.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Yep, I put a set of GHS flats on my Midtown and took them of an hour later.
It didn't have any relief issues but just sounded dead.
There wasn't much variation in which pickup I had selected either.
This isn't a big deal because with round's on it the 3way pickup switch provide a wide range of wonderful tones.

Siggy
 
#76
I placed an order for a lefty sunburst Midtown bass this week and am really hoping its not a stupid long wait time. The big Canadian chain I ordered from has none in stock anywhere in the country and no ETA. I am drooling to try this bad boy.
 
#77
I played 2 of these today for a long time... Ebony and SB.

They sound better than a SG RI IMO and I like the neck. Very slim compared to the new G3 I also played (like a baseball bat).

In any case, I liked the sound and feel of these basses, but as a Gibson lover that had been very happy with Gibson quality over the last 25 years.... I gotta say.... The quality on the 2 Midtowns wasn't good. Pretty bad actually. Both has overspray inside the lower "f" hole and the black accent paint around the 2 F holes look like they were painted by 5 year olds. The body paint was OK, but on a $1250 bass, I wouldn't buy either of them.

Still love my Les Pauls though!
 
#78
For anyone who has a Midtown, are the sides completely hollowed out ( chambered ) so that a 3 way toggle could be installed in the lower horn like a Guild Starfire? Or are the chambers limited to just around the around the F hole area?
 
#79
stiles72 said:
For anyone who has a Midtown, are the sides completely hollowed out ( chambered ) so that a 3 way toggle could be installed in the lower horn like a Guild Starfire? Or are the chambers limited to just around the around the F hole area?
Click to expand...

It looks like the chambers have been routed into the horns too. Keep in mind that the sides are about 1/2 to 3/4" thick.

Mind if I ask what's the plan?

Siggy
 
#80
Baird6869 said:
I played 2 of these today for a long time... Ebony and SB.

They sound better than a SG RI IMO and I like the neck. Very slim compared to the new G3 I also played (like a baseball bat).

In any case, I liked the sound and feel of these basses, but as a Gibson lover that had been very happy with Gibson quality over the last 25 years.... I gotta say.... The quality on the 2 Midtowns wasn't good. Pretty bad actually. Both has overspray inside the lower "f" hole and the black accent paint around the 2 F holes look like they were painted by 5 year olds. The body paint was OK, but on a $1250 bass, I wouldn't buy either of them.

Still love my Les Pauls though!
Click to expand...

Where did you find them in stock? I am disappointed to hear that the finish didn't look up to par. Can you tell us a bit more. How was the fretwork and setup? Did the pickups sound good?
 

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