Just Some Thoughts/My Experience With Gibson Basses - Not a Gibson Bashing Thread!

[bobyoung53]

My favorite bass is a Gibson (another EB13 fan ). They just have THAT tone. I do wish they still made these...

View attachment 4194620

Beautiful bass, did you add the chrome pickup covers or did it come with those?

 

[bobyoung53]

I am getting so much Gibson GAS from this thread, lucky I'm out of wine or I'd be hitting the buy button on that RD fretless...

Go ahead, you know you deserve it.

 

[ajkula66]

First of all, 33 posts in and I still don't know what "FSO" means.

FSO = Fender Shaped Object.

I wound up getting a Music Man Sabre in 1979. Even then I had to be different. Everybody was getting Stingrays. I got a Sabre.

LOL. I bought a late '70s Stingray, hated the neck, sold it after a month and bought a Sabre that stayed with me for several years and is still owned by a good friend of mine, 30+ years later.

 

[blacktocomm]

Gibson doesn't care about basses . There isn't one bass in their line that is timeless because of it's tone . People don't say....'' I want that awesome Gibson bass sound"

People do say that. Just not as many as want that awesome Fender sound. If you don't get the awesomeness that is an overdriven mudbucker through a 4X12 cab, that's on you.

 

[rockscott]

Im not a fender hater. I have owned 3 jazz, 2 jaguars and a mustang. I dont own a fender now, when i need that precesion sound i reach for my birdsong.

 

[sleddogn]

My EB-11 is by far my most favorite to play. Its just super fun, very fast feeling neck, great thick mudbucker sound. Dang awesome looking too. I generally only play my gibby's with a pick. I'm prob half and half in that regard.

 

[bobyoung53]

I likes 'em, got a '65 EB-3, a '66 EB-2 and a 2018 SE T-bird with Lollar pickups and Babicz stock bridge, all three are very well made and sound great. I bought the T-Bird new and I was amazed at how nice it was when it came in.

 

[ajkula66]

I'm really wanting one of the 2011 short scale thunderbird's, dang hard to find these days

You and me both. I missed out on two in the past couple of years.

 

[40Hz]

I guess you could say my feelings about Gibson basses are very positive.

Currently have a:

• 74 Ripper
• 83 Ripper
• 72 SB-300
• 2017 EB

They're all unmodded factory originals.

Still would like to get an unmodded:

• Victory Custom (not the Artist or Standard model - the Custom )
• G-3
• maybe another TBird someday

 

[rockscott]

I so wish they would do another run of short tbirds, but thats highly unlikely with the new simmonds tbirds on the way.

 

[BassDaddy77]

Gibson doesn't care about basses . There isn't one bass in their line that is timeless because of it's tone . People don't say....'' I want that awesome Gibson bass sound"

Really? Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser, Bob Daisley (on the early Ozzy solo stuff), Felix Pappalardi, Dennis Dunaway, Dee Murray (on Elton John's live 17-11-70 album)??? Killer tones, IMO. Don't get me started on the T-bird and Ripper/Grabber stuff from the 70s...

But, I get it: To each their own.

 

[BassDaddy77]

I disagree, thunderbird tone is unique and timeless. Gibson is getting back in the bass game. The new les paul bass is killer and there are several new gibby basses on the way! Not every bassist thinks hey i gotta play a fender so i sound like everyone else!

Man, you ain't kidding. That new LP Tribute DC bass kicks like a MULE! Pure thunder, IMO.

 

[BassDaddy77]

Im not a fender hater. I have owned 3 jazz, 2 jaguars and a mustang. I dont own a fender now, when i need that precesion sound i reach for my birdsong.

Me neither, I love Fenders. LOVE Fenders. And Stingrays, and Thunderbirds, EB/SG basses, and .....lol. I love me some basses.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Why do so many assume Gibson doesn't take bass manufacturing seriously? They have designs unique to them, several of which have been in and out of production for nearly 70 years.

I believe the primary reason for their unappealing reputation (generally speaking) comes from what differentiates them from Fenders (or FSOs). Some observations off the top of my head:

- They are usually ergonomically quite different than a typical FSO (shape, balance points, where they "hang" etc)
- They have a distinctive tonal pallette very different from the typical FSO
- Most models (a couple exceptions) historically are through-neck or set neck which means replacement or swapping is very difficult or impossible limiting repairs/customization
- Model pricing has been all over the map from year to year without perceived justification in the eyes of the consumer

However, the following qualities are generally favored by the average FSO style player, and Gibson has been offering these features for a long time:

-Most of their bass models are nitro lacquered (a big deal for many FSO lovers)
- They use high end hardware (Grover, Hipshot, Babicz, etc)
- They typically use "perceived as premium" woods (mahogany, ash, maple)
- Most bass models come with a very nice plush lined hardcase with vintage styling (again, another big deal for some folks)
- All Gibsons are made in the USA (yet again a big deal for some)

So, it's strange to me that Gibsons have garnered such unfavorable reviews with so many bassists over the years. They seem to have been everywhere in the '60s and '70s (perhaps due to the lack of available options?), but are admittedly less commonly seen nowadays. But with a list of perceived favorable qualities at least as long as perceived unfavorable ones, it just doesn't add up IMHO. And to be fair, there are lots of players who enjoy and seek out some of the qualities mentioned in the first group. Sound, ergonomics, uniqueness, and nostalgia are actually reasons that some folks want a Gibson bass in the first place. I guess you could say they march to the beat of their own drum.

I enjoy the Gibsons in my current stable, and can honestly say that I've never owned one that wasn't well built in my eyes. I currently own or have owned:
1979 Thunderbird
2013 Thunderbird
2015 Thunderbird
2013 Midtown Std
2013 EB4 (sometimes called an EB13)
Two 2014 SG Anniversary Specials
2019 Les Paul Tribute DC

How does that 2109 LP Tribute DC rank among your Gibby stable?

 

[rockscott]

I got my les paul a month ago, i love everything about the bass, the pick up is insane. If you would like to see it , search here for the thread (new bass for yours truly)

 

[Hounddog409]

Why do so many assume Gibson doesn't take bass manufacturing seriously? They have designs unique to them, several of which have been in and out of production for nearly 70 years.

I believe the primary reason for their unappealing reputation (generally speaking) comes from what differentiates them from Fenders (or FSOs). Some observations off the top of my head:

- They are usually ergonomically quite different than a typical FSO (shape, balance points, where they "hang" etc)
- They have a distinctive tonal pallette very different from the typical FSO
- Most models (a couple exceptions) historically are through-neck or set neck which means replacement or swapping is very difficult or impossible limiting repairs/customization
- Model pricing has been all over the map from year to year without perceived justification in the eyes of the consumer

However, the following qualities are generally favored by the average FSO style player, and Gibson has been offering these features for a long time:

-Most of their bass models are nitro lacquered (a big deal for many FSO lovers)
- They use high end hardware (Grover, Hipshot, Babicz, etc)
- They typically use "perceived as premium" woods (mahogany, ash, maple)
- Most bass models come with a very nice plush lined hardcase with vintage styling (again, another big deal for some folks)
- All Gibsons are made in the USA (yet again a big deal for some)

So, it's strange to me that Gibsons have garnered such unfavorable reviews with so many bassists over the years. They seem to have been everywhere in the '60s and '70s (perhaps due to the lack of available options?), but are admittedly less commonly seen nowadays. But with a list of perceived favorable qualities at least as long as perceived unfavorable ones, it just doesn't add up IMHO. And to be fair, there are lots of players who enjoy and seek out some of the qualities mentioned in the first group. Sound, ergonomics, uniqueness, and nostalgia are actually reasons that some folks want a Gibson bass in the first place. I guess you could say they march to the beat of their own drum.

I enjoy the Gibsons in my current stable, and can honestly say that I've never owned one that wasn't well built in my eyes. I currently own or have owned:
1979 Thunderbird
2013 Thunderbird
2015 Thunderbird
2013 Midtown Std
2013 EB4 (sometimes called an EB13)
Two 2014 SG Anniversary Specials
2019 Les Paul Tribute DC

-So, a decent sampling of their basses, albeit missing out on those '60s, '70s and '80s icons like the original EB series, Ripper, Grabber, RDs, Victory, etc.

Have I absolutely LOVED every one I've owned? No. But to be honest, they've all been well made, solid offerings even if I wasn't completely enamored by a couple. I could say the same thing for every brand of bass I've owned multiples of in terms of likeability, but not for consistency in quality. In my experience, Gibson has probably been the best in terms of "quality across the board." I realize this may not be the same experience for everyone. And perhaps I've just been lucky, lol.

Having said that, I'm definitely no Gibson fanboy. I simply enjoy them as one of many brands that I've appreciated and been blessed to play over my relatively short tenure in the electric bass world.

So, if I'm missing some huge sticking points/observations on Gibson basses, I'd love to hear from anyone who would be willing to share. I only ask that we try and keep it civil, lol. I know I may be "flirting with disaster" with my title. I certainly mean no harm, and am well aware that there have been many similar threads over the years (most of which I've read through). But, hey....if ya don't ask, ya won't know, right?!

In 50 years, I have never had A single issue with a neck through or set neck. Never.

I actually prefer neck trough basses. Seem to sound better and stay in tune forever.

People worry about nonexistent issues.

 

[Hounddog409]

A couple of tidbits on getting the most out of your Gibby:

a) Do not play it like a Fender. A light right hand will take you a long way, unless you're dealing with a Bird or an RD and want the actual growl.

b) Do not EQ it like a Fender.

c) On the older ones - mostly EB models - the volume pot for the neck pickup is there for a reason. Use it wisely. Unless you're after Bruce/Pappalardi sound and enjoy frying your preamp with no cooking oil involved...

My $0.02 only...

Truth.

I have a Mesa D-800 amp. When I plug in the T-Bird, first thing I do is move the Voice nob almost all the why counter clockwise to round the 6-7:00 position. Most other basses are set around 11:00.

Too many are afraid to turn nobs.

 

[rockscott]

I love both the sg and the paul, im in heaven with them because the have the same neck and it happens to be my all time favorite!

 

[BassDaddy77]

How does that 2109 LP Tribute DC rank among your Gibby stable?

It kills. It punches hard, and that pickup is a monster: Thick, clear, and full like a Precision with bigger b**ls. The coil tap is a nice sound too, very straight up P sounding, with a bit of an added "click" on the upper mids and top end.

 

[Son of Wobble]

It kills. It punches hard, and that pickup is a monster: Thick, clear, and full like a Precision with bigger b**ls. The coil tap is a nice sound too, very straight up P sounding, with a bit of an added "click" on the upper mids and top end.

Cool, thank you!