Gibson SB-450

[Az_Rocker76]

I saw one of these on reverb for $800 it's an sg style bass in a natural finish. By the pictures it looks to be in good shape especially considering the age. My question is who has played one or owned one before? Was/ is it a good bass and what do you think a good price is for one? Thanks in advance!

 

[godofthunder59]

I saw one of these on reverb for $800 it's an sg style bass in a natural finish. By the pictures it looks to be in good shape especially considering the age. My question is who has played one or owned one before? Was/ is it a good bass and what do you think a good price is for one? Thanks in advance!

Sold these back in the day. Nice build quality for the time. A bit unique alder body, maple neck. The two plastic covered humbuckers have decent output. There was a time when you could not give them away. $800 for nice example seems about right these days, I'd pay less but that's just me.

 

[GretschWretch]

Based on a sample of four at most, all used, I do not have a high opinion of the SB series basses. A most un-Gibsonlike tone, neck bow issues and BAD dead spots on all. These all were store wall-hangers, so I had little playing time with them.

 

[Az_Rocker76]

Sold these back in the day. Nice build quality for the time. A bit unique alder body, maple neck. The two plastic covered humbuckers have decent output. There was a time when you could not give them away. $800 for nice example seems about right these days, I'd pay less but that's just me.[/QUO

Sold these back in the day. Nice build quality for the time. A bit unique alder body, maple neck. The two plastic covered humbuckers have decent output. There was a time when you could not give them away. $800 for nice example seems about right these days, I'd pay less but that's just me.

Thanks!

 

[Pim Lindahl]

Just for the sake of it: I don't agree these being less of an instrument.
In my opinion the neck is fantastic! No dead spots and extremely playable. It's really light, yet very resonant. I can play this a lot at home without plugging in. It's snappy and growly deep voiced. The two humbuckers do the job. On mine it lacks som treble but that could be the electronics. (hasn't been touched since 1972) I'll look it over one day.
I did put a Hipshot bridge on it because that 2-point bridge is just terrible.
Moreover I think this bass is my most inspiring bass. I tend to groove and improvise more with this bass.

 

[Kawika007]

Agreed!

 

[No More Doggin]

Zombified, but still...
I learned to play on an SB 450, 45 years ago. Tone with the 2 mini humbucker tarbacks is far superior to my EB3L, so much so the EB is up for sale following my recent acquisition of an old SB450. Gibson should have abandoned the mudbucker much earlier than they did, with the price of fender basses of similar vintage reflecting this opinion. I find the SB line far superior to the EB line by just about any measure.

 

[ajkula66]

I find the SB line far superior to the EB line by just about any measure.

Well, you are one of the very few people that I've come across who feel that way. It 's likely one of the reasons why the SB series basses - with unique merits of their own - never sold well and still change hands for way less money than their EB cousins.

May you get to enjoy the star bass of your younger years for decades to come.

 

[No More Doggin]

Yes. SB's are one of those rare breeds that, despite being of an age where collectors have driven most other instruments built at the same time to unaffordable astronomical prices, remain affordable and punch way above their weight. Kinda like Pages Dano. El Cheapo compared to the SBLP, but still manages to push that $250,000 hunk of wood off stage for a couple tunes.