Help, Gibson G3 with no serial number

[PatriceCarmouze]

Hi,

I recently aquired this Gibson G3 but i can't find any serial number. Can someone help me identify it ? Is it a fake ?

 

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

The serial number should be on the back of the headstock. It could be stamped into the wood, or - during the mid 70s - a sticker that then had lacquer sprayed over it.

I'm not an expert on G3s but the bass looks legit - albeit heavily modified - to me.

For me personally, lack of a serial is a huge "no-no" but it's your bass.

Good luck.

 

[Microbass]

Looks legit to me - the handwriting on the neck heel is consistent with what I've seen on my Grabber/G3.
IMO, the headstock looks refinished and the logo looks aftermarket IMO. I've never seen a headstock with a flat black colour - normally this would be satin or somewhat glossy on a really mint neck.

The above would all be consistent with the back of the headstock - see pic - this is where the serial number should be, this section looks like it's been broken off and repaired (looks like a good job). Seems like a strange place to break.

The body has been refinished (nice colour) and obviously you're missing a pickup and the two originals have been moved. I wonder if the 2 originals have been rewired into a humbucker.

Aside from the pickguard, missing a pickup and likely a pot change, everything else looks original.

As for age, the only thing I can say is that it shouldn't be any older than early '79 which is roughly when they switched to black pick up covers and the style of tuners. If it's the original pot, this should be 100K or 300K and have a serial number.

 

[mongo2]

Looks like there was a repair to the headstock. That may have eliminated the serial number.

Oops, Microbass beat me to it.

 

[PatriceCarmouze]

Thanks ! That's what i guessed ^^

I will check the pot

 

[godofthunder59]

Serial number would have been a decal on the back of the headstock. Definitely modded, all there pickups are present just in a different configuration with the center pickup moved up next to the neck pickup. Cool bass never the less. If you want to put it back stock it shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Microbass]

Serial number would have been a decal on the back of the headstock. Definitely modded, all there pickups are present just in a different configuration with the center pickup moved up next to the neck pickup. Cool bass never the less. If you want to put it back stock it shouldn't be too difficult.

Unfortunately one of the pups is missing and area extremely hard to get a hold of, especially outside of the US where even there it's tough and might set you back a fair few bills!

 

[godofthunder59]

Unfortunately one of the pups is missing and area extremely hard to get a hold of, especially outside of the US where even there it's tough and might set you back a fair few bills!

Ah yes I see it now the bridge pickup is replaced, bummer. Definitely a tough part to find.

 

[JMarkD]

The addition of an older style Warwick "just-a-nut" is kind of interesting.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Looks legit to me - the handwriting on the neck heel is consistent with what I've seen on my Grabber/G3.
IMO, the headstock looks refinished and the logo looks aftermarket IMO. I've never seen a headstock with a flat black colour - normally this would be satin or somewhat glossy on a really mint neck.

The above would all be consistent with the back of the headstock - see pic - this is where the serial number should be, this section looks like it's been broken off and repaired (looks like a good job). Seems like a strange place to break.
View attachment 4398680

The body has been refinished (nice colour) and obviously you're missing a pickup and the two originals have been moved. I wonder if the 2 originals have been rewired into a humbucker.

Aside from the pickguard, missing a pickup and likely a pot change, everything else looks original.

As for age, the only thing I can say is that it shouldn't be any older than early '79 which is roughly when they switched to black pick up covers and the style of tuners. If it's the original pot, this should be 100K or 300K and have a serial number.

Looks like somebody might have tried end neck dive once and for all.

 

[40Hz]

Hi,

I recently aquired this Gibson G3 but i can't find any serial number. Can someone help me identify it ? Is it a fake ?

Hi! Welcome to TalkBass.

Ok. As to the bass in the pictures it’s no so much fake as it is reclaimed and reworked.

From the looks of it you have either a refinished G3 or Grabber body. You’d need to pull the pickguard off and examine how it was routed to know for certain.

Looks like you also have two of the three original Lawrence designed pickups. Which two is another issue since each of the pickups in a G3 is slightly different, so you'd need to check the part# on each to know which two you have.

The bridge looks correct although it’s missing its cover.

The neckplate and tuning machines are correct for a G3.

The neck was obviously repaired and I suspect it either isn’t an original Gibson neck, or it was heavily sanded before refinishing and the serial number was buffed out. The Gibson logo in the headstock was not done by Gibson. But it is a pretty skillfully executed attempt at a copy.

The pickguard and wiring are definitely not original, nor is the wiring likely to be in any way similar to the unique “buck and a half” configuration found in a Gibson G3. But you never know.

So, bottom line is you have a parts bass with some Gibson components. However, it may play well and sound really good. And that’s the most important thing, unless you paid a high price for it because you were told it was an original Gibson G3.

If you’re interested learning more about the G3 bass, you can find a good deal of historic and technical information about the G3 (and other Gibson basses) at the Flyguitar website. Link for the G3 page here.

 

[ultra60]

Maybe it's this bass, post repairs ?

 

[Microbass]

Maybe it's this bass, post repairs ?

There would be more blood!

@40Hz - my G3 and Grabber bodies were identical...!

 

[PatriceCarmouze]

Thank you for all your answers. I haven't bought it yet. I was first looking for more information to determine the price. in your opinion what could be its price since it has been modified a lot ?

 

[PatriceCarmouze]

No idea ?