I've owned a fair number of Gibsons (vintage) as well as a few of the newer Gibsons and Epiphones. I had the bridge start to pull on a thunderbird that required getting everything redowled and redrilled.
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Gibson SG Bass
- Thread starter Bass_masta16
- Start date
I've owned a fair number of Gibsons (vintage) as well as a few of the newer Gibsons and Epiphones. I had the bridge start to pull on a thunderbird that required getting everything redowled and redrilled.
I have seen two in person and I have heard many more in reviews of other three point bridge basses (T-Bird, Ripper, LP Bass).
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I came across this excellent (duh simple) solution to the loathsome Gibson/Epiphone 3 Point Bridge problem.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Gibson-Epip...ryZ41407QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I love D'addario Chrome flatwounds on my Casady but not the silk on the saddles!
Seller doesn't seem to have any for sale at present but with a little effort you could get him to offer some more or make your own.
Also purports to solve/improve neck dive issues on certain basses.
Hope this proves useful, I'll post pics of the bar on my Casady if anyone desires.
Rob
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Gibson-Epip...ryZ41407QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I love D'addario Chrome flatwounds on my Casady but not the silk on the saddles!
Seller doesn't seem to have any for sale at present but with a little effort you could get him to offer some more or make your own.
Also purports to solve/improve neck dive issues on certain basses.
Hope this proves useful, I'll post pics of the bar on my Casady if anyone desires.
Rob
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
The 'other' Gibson/Epi bridge problem????
Oh yeah, I forgot. It's not just the bridge saddle/string silk intonation thing.
My luthier spotted the bass side bridge post lifting out of my Casady body as soon as I opened the case
He was not particularly impressed and it's now firmly glued in place. Another couple of gigs and it would have started mashing into the Goldtop finish.
I just assumed it was because the DA Chromes were such high tension... didn't know it was endemic to the Gibson/Epi bridges.
Don't get me started on the rare and frequently scratchy 2.5k pots on the Casady.
Nice idea, shame about the build quality, morbidity and absolute scarcity of replacement parts.
I got nowhere with Gibson Australia and rebuffed when I tried Gibson USA direct.
"this is a matter for your local distributor"
Pity the local guys in Melbourne couldn't get the parts or the cases (!) from Gibson USA either....
Best case scenario became two new CTS 5k pots. I'm sure the bass has lost a little top end sheen.
But that Casady-designed Electar pickup beats the pants off the original Gibson spec '72 humbucker!!
IMHO
Oh yeah, I forgot. It's not just the bridge saddle/string silk intonation thing.
My luthier spotted the bass side bridge post lifting out of my Casady body as soon as I opened the case
He was not particularly impressed and it's now firmly glued in place. Another couple of gigs and it would have started mashing into the Goldtop finish.
I just assumed it was because the DA Chromes were such high tension... didn't know it was endemic to the Gibson/Epi bridges.
Don't get me started on the rare and frequently scratchy 2.5k pots on the Casady.
Nice idea, shame about the build quality, morbidity and absolute scarcity of replacement parts.
I got nowhere with Gibson Australia and rebuffed when I tried Gibson USA direct.
"this is a matter for your local distributor"
Pity the local guys in Melbourne couldn't get the parts or the cases (!) from Gibson USA either....
Best case scenario became two new CTS 5k pots. I'm sure the bass has lost a little top end sheen.
But that Casady-designed Electar pickup beats the pants off the original Gibson spec '72 humbucker!!
IMHO
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,895
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- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Lets just say I own alot of Gibson basses....
A Gibson (not Epiphone) 3 point is easy enough to set up, if you don't understand how to, just have the common sense to take to someone that does.... With regard to the SGRI you should go play one several times thru a couple different rigs if you can, it may be just the right bass for you, then again maybe not. The cool thing is: you're shopping for a new bass
A Gibson (not Epiphone) 3 point is easy enough to set up, if you don't understand how to, just have the common sense to take to someone that does.... With regard to the SGRI you should go play one several times thru a couple different rigs if you can, it may be just the right bass for you, then again maybe not. The cool thing is: you're shopping for a new bass
I'm not sure if it has a name, EB-0? Maybe?
Well, I've been trying to decide between that and the Geddy, I know, they're 2 completely different basses, but the only thing stopping me from the mouth watering Gibson is the price.
So..
Can you guys that have the Gibson bass post some pics, and just say some info about them, or just some info I should know.
Thanks
I've recently just purchased the Geddy (Havent gotten it yet:[, saturday) I immediatly fell in love with the Geddy, if you haven't played it the neck is paper thin and it has great response, its got a great tone and is just a great bass all around I don't know too much about the Gibson but the Geddy in my oppinion at least would be more flexible with the music you play, not the best but hope it helps.
If you're just looking for a bass with that edgy sg-ish vibe and rumble, check out the washburn idol series: Invalid Link Removed
They seem to be pretty versatile and smooth and they don't cost anywhere near as much as a new gibson. I've read a lot of good reviews and personally think they're dead sexy... this coming from a guy who has always wanted a vintage eb-3...
They seem to be pretty versatile and smooth and they don't cost anywhere near as much as a new gibson. I've read a lot of good reviews and personally think they're dead sexy... this coming from a guy who has always wanted a vintage eb-3...
I played a circa 1967 EB0 bass for many years until I had a custom fretless built. I always wished it had been an EB3 with a bridge pickup. The SG bass Re Issue is an attempt of making an EB3 again.
The problem with a USED BASS is all of the Gibson's finishes CRACKED BADLY. Also the basses risk the heads busting in half. They had a reissue at the local GC here a couple months ago but it was in a bad location above everything in the bass department so I didnt ask to have it taken down. Somebody bought it before I played it.
The only thing I could see them screwing up on this guitar is EVERYTHING.
After having a custom built previously, I will never have another bass that doesnt at least come out of a guitar companies' CUSTOM SHOP. The frets were so bad on my new JAZZ, I hadn't caught it until I lowered the action and I saw, OH MY. I had the frets jewelled and now it plays a whole bunch better.
If you are serious about an SG Bass call The custom shop and see what they can cook up. Anything else is just an Epiphone with Gibson's name on it. A Gibson is supposed to be hand built by Henry Gibson himself.
I hate Il***** N****... 
My favorite movie... BOB
The problem with a USED BASS is all of the Gibson's finishes CRACKED BADLY. Also the basses risk the heads busting in half. They had a reissue at the local GC here a couple months ago but it was in a bad location above everything in the bass department so I didnt ask to have it taken down. Somebody bought it before I played it.
The only thing I could see them screwing up on this guitar is EVERYTHING.
After having a custom built previously, I will never have another bass that doesnt at least come out of a guitar companies' CUSTOM SHOP. The frets were so bad on my new JAZZ, I hadn't caught it until I lowered the action and I saw, OH MY. I had the frets jewelled and now it plays a whole bunch better.
If you are serious about an SG Bass call The custom shop and see what they can cook up. Anything else is just an Epiphone with Gibson's name on it. A Gibson is supposed to be hand built by Henry Gibson himself.
I hate Il***** N****... My favorite movie... BOB
This has definitely not been my experience. My SG Supreme is the complete opposite of what you described.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
This has definitely not been my experience. My SG Supreme is the complete opposite of what you described.
That is a beautiful bass!
I've had both the cheap Epiphone EB0 and the Gibson SG Reissue. Forget about the Epiphone, it's a piece of rubbish, heavy, poorly routed and painted. The SG was nicely made for the most part, the neck to body join didn't look too well done though. The bridge is a piece of rubbish, impossible to intone unless you can find strings that don't have a lot of windings at the ball end. I put a Hipshot Supertone on as many others have, and it improved things drastically. I don't know why Gibson don't update the 3 point, considering that some of their other basses have better bridges. I ended up selling it recently, because the low E was low in output, the short scale makes strings very floppy and the tone wasn't very clearly defined. It did however look really good.
I had the exact same feelings about the reissues. I got to play one side-by-side with a real '60s EB3 and the vintage one was a monster, the deepest most earthshaking bass tone I've ever heard, 808-ish really. It was a bit muddy but it would sound good in a lot of different types of music. The reissue just sort of sounded ... bad. It had none of the balls of the original, just some really mediocre average tone. For over 1000$, these things are a joke. It may well have been a mislabeled Epiphone.
I have owned both a Geddy and and SG reissue in the last year. The Geddy is now gone. The SG remains.
They are two totally different animals. The Geddy is a decent Jazz Bass with a really thin neck and a good replacement bridge. Truly, there are many other Jazz basses in that price range that are as good or better. I even had an SX bass with Dimarzio pickups and Audere pre that CRUSHED the Geddy for tone and playability -- and I had less money invested in that bass even with the mods.
As for the SG reissue - true, they are not as deep or muddy as the vintage Gibsons. But that is by design. The new SG reissue has Gibson Thunderbird pickups housed under covers to look like the vintage EB basses. The tone is brighter, with a lot more mids. I also really love the playability of the short scale Gibson as opposed to the Geddy. I can play this one for hours and never get tired.
Someone above said they returned their SG after a week. That is certainly possible. I have compared my SG with a couple I have found on the wall at Guitar Center and there is a big difference in quality. I chose a heavy SG, because I prefer the tone of dense mahogany. I have not liked the lighter SG's that I have played. So weight definitely effects the tone IMO. I did a complete set-up on mine when I bought it, including a re-string with Ken Smith short scale rounds, which seem to be made for this bass. As for set up issues, I found the fretwork to be very good. Frets were well-seated, level and nicely crowned. I also had no problem getting really good intonation with the stock Gibson 3-point bridge. Mine is solidly screwed into the body. I cannot imaging one of these "lifting." It certainly has not been a problem on mine. In fact, the only thing that I did not like about the stock set up on the SG was the nut. Gibson designed this as a sort of compensated nut. This is supposed to allow for better intonation. Anyway, I hated it as it did not allow my strings to seat properly. So, when I did my first re-string, I got out my files and feeler gauges and cut the nut slots to the proper depth all the way across the face of the nut. WOW. Now, I am completely satisfied with it. I don't even own a Fender bass at the moment -- maybe for only the second time in the last 30 years.
Overally, the SG bass is a winner if you like the look and the short scale. But, play a few first before you buy. Like any bass, there are good and bad out there. Make sure the one you pick "has good bones" as they say.
If you want a good Jazz bass, you do not need to pay for the Geddy signature on the headstock. There are many choices out there in the Jazz clone market (Fender/Squire/SX) that can compete favorably with the Geddy at a lower price point.
Good luck.
They are two totally different animals. The Geddy is a decent Jazz Bass with a really thin neck and a good replacement bridge. Truly, there are many other Jazz basses in that price range that are as good or better. I even had an SX bass with Dimarzio pickups and Audere pre that CRUSHED the Geddy for tone and playability -- and I had less money invested in that bass even with the mods.
As for the SG reissue - true, they are not as deep or muddy as the vintage Gibsons. But that is by design. The new SG reissue has Gibson Thunderbird pickups housed under covers to look like the vintage EB basses. The tone is brighter, with a lot more mids. I also really love the playability of the short scale Gibson as opposed to the Geddy. I can play this one for hours and never get tired.
Someone above said they returned their SG after a week. That is certainly possible. I have compared my SG with a couple I have found on the wall at Guitar Center and there is a big difference in quality. I chose a heavy SG, because I prefer the tone of dense mahogany. I have not liked the lighter SG's that I have played. So weight definitely effects the tone IMO. I did a complete set-up on mine when I bought it, including a re-string with Ken Smith short scale rounds, which seem to be made for this bass. As for set up issues, I found the fretwork to be very good. Frets were well-seated, level and nicely crowned. I also had no problem getting really good intonation with the stock Gibson 3-point bridge. Mine is solidly screwed into the body. I cannot imaging one of these "lifting." It certainly has not been a problem on mine. In fact, the only thing that I did not like about the stock set up on the SG was the nut. Gibson designed this as a sort of compensated nut. This is supposed to allow for better intonation. Anyway, I hated it as it did not allow my strings to seat properly. So, when I did my first re-string, I got out my files and feeler gauges and cut the nut slots to the proper depth all the way across the face of the nut. WOW. Now, I am completely satisfied with it. I don't even own a Fender bass at the moment -- maybe for only the second time in the last 30 years.
Overally, the SG bass is a winner if you like the look and the short scale. But, play a few first before you buy. Like any bass, there are good and bad out there. Make sure the one you pick "has good bones" as they say.
If you want a good Jazz bass, you do not need to pay for the Geddy signature on the headstock. There are many choices out there in the Jazz clone market (Fender/Squire/SX) that can compete favorably with the Geddy at a lower price point.
Good luck.
Finally! A decent review.
Well, when I get a chance, I'm going to go try one, and does anyone have pics of THEIR SG bass? Not just ones from Google or whatever
Well, when I get a chance, I'm going to go try one, and does anyone have pics of THEIR SG bass? Not just ones from Google or whatever
I had an actual early 70's EB-0 and I'm telling you it to this day it was the worst sounding bass I've ever played. It's tone sounded like a fart, unarticulate and muddy, neck dive beyond belief. Stay away from the Gibson EB-0, you'll be sorry if you don't.
