Most of the time I've seen pro's using gibson style basses they've been mainly epiphones, generally the rivoli and eb-2 (think thats epi). Only seen two basses use Gibsons and both times they where thunderbirds. Ideally I'd choose Fender every time, but why not look into other areas Sadowsky, Lakland, Rickenbacker.
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I NEED HELP... GIBSON vs FENDER
- Thread starter stones18
- Start date
- Mar 11, 2005
- 2,541
- 7
- 41
- Disclosures
- Employee - Basscentre Melbourne
From Janek (TBs pro) regarding the studio
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"You can't go wrong with fender bass in the studio. that's been my experience over the years of going to do contemporary studio dates.
I'm flying to London in a few weeks for a record date with Billy Cobham, Gary Husband and a bunch of other cats, and I'll take my fodera and Fender bass. Both instruments I'll play straight into the board as I know the studio we're tracking at doesn't have a whole lot of space to be micing amps.
"
All i ask is you find me a pro that says that about Gibson. Not just he'll use one, but you can't go wrong with one.
From Justin Meldal Johnson interview at Gibsonbass.com-
Funny as much as people like to knock Gibson basses. It's more modern active basses that many people favor today & here that he ccan't take to a studio gig!
I agree though that the P bass is the recording industry standard, but I would not discount Gibson out of that picture. Certainly Justin has to be one of the top session bassists today. I think he might have a good opinion of the recording scene, at least the LA scene.
Funny as much as people like to knock Gibson basses. It's more modern active basses that many people favor today & here that he ccan't take to a studio gig!
I agree though that the P bass is the recording industry standard, but I would not discount Gibson out of that picture. Certainly Justin has to be one of the top session bassists today. I think he might have a good opinion of the recording scene, at least the LA scene.
Fender, Chevy, Mac, Apples, and Brunettes!
I wouldn't drop a dime on a Gibson bass. That being said, I'll take a Fender.
They can. It's not simply a question about putting some pieces of wood together and affixing some electronics. This is as personal a decision as someone can make. I don't think any of us are discounting Gibson as a manufacturer of fine instruments. I've played early 20th C Gibby Mandolins that sound like heaven, but although they make fine fine acoustic guitars (and of course electric) I've played mid century CF Martins that blow them away in tone and playability. Even among makes of one brand there are going to be differences.
to the OP, play before you buy no matter what. And play as many as you can. Play three jazzes, four p's, any Gibsons in the shop (if there are any) and then decide which one you can't walk out of the store without.
oh, and Fenders, fords, macs, oranges and blondes
Try out as many basses in that price range as you can. Don't limit your choices to just two companies. Try Ernie Ball,G&L as well as the higher end Fenders if your looking for a decent USA made bass. Gibsons are fine but I really think when its all said and done you probebly will like the Fender or Leo Fender designed basses better.(EBMM/G&L). Good luck with your search.
Fenders are more versatile. New MusicMan is better yet. A used G&L L-2000 is cheaper, better and more versatile; buy one and have money leftover for a great amp.
D
Like many of the others have said-with that kind of money, try as many basses as you can get your hands on. I've got 3 Fenders [Jazz, Jazz V, Precision], a Squier [VM Fretless], and a StingRay5. I've got a definite Fender bias. For the bulk of the electric recording sessions i do-i take my Ray5 + a Jazz [strung with flats]. The only bass that gets asked for more than those is my double bass.
$1500-2000 can buy you a lot of bass. Take your time, try out a variety, and you'll eventually find one that speaks to you.
It sounds to me like you aren't sure really where to start. We know that you like the sound of a Fender [which one? J, P, active, passive?] and that you like the look of the Gibson basses-primarily the SG. Use the sound as your guide-once you find a bass that feels good & sounds good, the looks will end up working.
good luck
$1500-2000 can buy you a lot of bass. Take your time, try out a variety, and you'll eventually find one that speaks to you.
It sounds to me like you aren't sure really where to start. We know that you like the sound of a Fender [which one? J, P, active, passive?] and that you like the look of the Gibson basses-primarily the SG. Use the sound as your guide-once you find a bass that feels good & sounds good, the looks will end up working.
good luck
Just buy used and get WAY more for your money.
Do not buy a new
Carvin
Peavy
Yamaha
Schecter
G&L
Lakland
Gibson
Warwick
Washburn
Do not buy a new
Carvin
Peavy
Yamaha
Schecter
G&L
Lakland
Gibson
Warwick
Washburn
The reason for this is simple, at least to me. Fender got off first with the P-Bass. They went corporate first with budget lines being made overseas. All the time Gibson was and continues to manufacture in USA.
So when most people started playing they had access monetary wise to Fender not Gibson. This is beginning to change with advancement of the Epiphone line.
Also, since the early 60's as the P-Bass made its way into the studio and engineers learned to EQ it a form of genetic laziness has been passed down from one sound guy to the other.
And on the issue of famous player playing Gibson basses you need only to look the Thunderbird and SG are as much iconic instruments as Jazz and P-bass with a wider tonal range than either.
Fender, Ford, Mac, Oranges, Brunettes
Don't forget Crest-Colgate & Pepsi-Coke!
Fender, Chev (I drive a Ford though), Mac (I use a PC though), Brunettes (but you can't go wrong with blondes or redheads either!), Crest (but my wife buys Colgate) and Coke FTW!
If I knew about G&L at the time I bought my P Bass, I probably would have. Otherwise, get a Fender.
When I finally was able to get a Gibson T-bird in my hands to try out, I was significantly underwhelmed. That talk about super hot pickups seemed like hot air.
When I finally was able to get a Gibson T-bird in my hands to try out, I was significantly underwhelmed. That talk about super hot pickups seemed like hot air.
Anti everything
I tend to always pick the losers-Alpha, Gibson, Mac, Zappa, Beefheart
I just can't bring myself to go mainstream.
My Alpha was probably the most fun car I ever owned, also one of the most reliable (the worst was a Volkswagen Rabbit).
Yes, everyone drives a Honda or plays a Fender or Fender derivitive.
I tend to always pick the losers-Alpha, Gibson, Mac, Zappa, Beefheart
I just can't bring myself to go mainstream.
My Alpha was probably the most fun car I ever owned, also one of the most reliable (the worst was a Volkswagen Rabbit).
Yes, everyone drives a Honda or plays a Fender or Fender derivitive.
Sorry, can't agree. Almost everyone plays a Fender or a copy of a Fender. Not saying Gibson basses haven't been good, but it's clearly never been their focus market, and they don't seem to have a market share that even approaches that of Fender. Fender basses are ubiquitous. Thunderbirds, Explorers and SG's stand out more because hardly anyone plays them. I wouldn't call them iconic at all. Fender is one of the first choices every bass player makes - either for or against, they still make the choice. Gibson honestly never occurred to me, 25 years ago or since, while Peavey, Yamaha, ESP, Schector, etc. have all been contenders at some point, and none of them are iconic in any way either.
When I think Gibson, I think guitars only: Les Paul, Firebird, SG, Explorer. I don't consider them a strong bass *brand* despite the fact that many greats have played them, (well, I can think of one, Entwistle, and he used a Fender neck) and despite the possibility that they may be fine instruments, they just don't have the brand awareness that Fender has for bass players.
Gibson is very mainstream. And whether something is mainstream or not should hardly be an issue. People have Hondas and Fenders because, frankly, Hondas and Fenders work well.
I also thought the iconic statement was a serious stretch. I think Niche is more like it. As for wider tonal pallette........maybe its just me again but....
Easy choice. Fender. I am a Fender owner BUT for that amount of cash I would definitely check out the Lakland basses. Bass is a different monster than regular guitars and there are quality producers (Lakland, Sadowsky, MusicMan, G&L) who are relatively unknown in the guitar-world.
