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Might be getting a Gibson Grabber.

Busker

Busker

Jan 22, 2007
1,645
22
#1
Never played one.

I haven't seen it yet. The guy said it has been repainted and has no case. I told him based on that, I'd give him probably $200 tops and maybe less. Seems like he'll let it go for that. I don't think I could go wrong, if the neck is good and it plays. The parts are probably worth at least that much, right?
 
#2
Grabbers generally sell for about $600 - $900, depending on the condition.

The only part worth money on a grabber is the Pickup & bridge cover. The body has been refined, hopefully not a Krylon job.

It's good deal if it's in decent shape and has all it's original parts.
 
#3
Barkless Dog said:
Grabbers generally sell for about $600 - $900, depending on the condition.

The only part worth money on a grabber is the Pickup & bridge cover. The body has been refined, hopefully not a Krylon job.

It's good deal if it's in decent shape and has all it's original parts.
Click to expand...

Really.... I thought the neck would be worth something, if it's a good neck. Most Grabbers I have seen pictures of have 3 pickups.

Oh wait... being a Gibson, it might have a set neck, rather than a bolt-on.
 
#5
Andy_colassal said:
Differences my friend,
Grabber:
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G-3 (Grabber 3)
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and similar to these, the Ripper
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Click to expand...

Thank you. Yeah, it's all coming back to me now. Some of those Grabbers had that funky sliding pickup. I remember seeing those brand new in music stores when I was a kid. And Pete Cetera had an endorsement deal for a time with Gibson for the Ripper, I think. I distinctly remember seeing a big Gibson ad in Rolling Stone magazine, picturing Cetera and his Gibson. This would have been circa 1976 or so.
 
#7
I am seeing a resurgance in these basses popularity for rock. I think Joe Dirnt played one on the second Green Day album but more recently the bassist in The Receiving End of Sirens plays one and the bassist (Salvatore) from the Sleeping plays one live (I used to see him with a Rock).

If you haven't checked out the Sleeping, their bassist is a monster - makes me excited about rock bass in a major way.

Anyway, both of those two guys have an amazing tone live - I wouldn't mind catching one. I passed on one like 10 years ago and now I am kicking myself. I do remember it being heavy as #&*@ though.
 
#9
Which bass are you talking about?

My first bass was an alder bodied Grabber

greenday.gif
 
#10
I don't know what model Grabber the guy has. He just said it was a Grabber. I had forgotten they made more than one model. It's probably the one with the sliding pickup, but I don't know.

I put out feelers all the time, trying to buy instruments. Once in a great while it pans out. But I also get a lot of calls on junk I don't want. And I can't tell you how many times I've driven 50 miles or more to look at something that was supposed to be in great condition and it turned out to be thrashed, modified, repainted, whatever. I do try to ask the appropriate questions before I go look at anything, but sometimes they don't know how to answer the questions. Went to look at an old amp a while back I asked the guy specifically if it had been spray painted (when an amp started looking a little rough, the spray paint went on the tolex - seen it several times). He said no, but when I got there, sure enough it had been spray painted. Oh well, got it cheap anyway.

Believe it or not, I got a call from an old guy a few days ago, who had several old guitars and amps (no basses though). He had old Gretsches, and even a 1952 Les Paul and matching amp (drool). Yes, it had the original Les Paul trapeze tailpiece, that wasn't too popular. The really good stuff wasn't for sale though. I went to look at a 1989 Martin D-28, an old Fender tube PA head, and some old Japanese Epiphone flattop, and a POS old Gretsch Synchromatic acoustic archtop that needed a complete restoration job (the plastic bindings and pickguard had "melted" and partially ruined the finish. The type of plastic Gretsch used in those days was very unstable). I couldn't buy anything from him though. He wanted absolute top buck and more. Dude couldn't hardly play the guitar. He just loves guitars and had the money to collect, I guess.

I didn't realize that ol' Gene played a Grabber.:)
 
#11
I go to look at the Grabber tomorrow morning. I found out some details. It's the sliding pickup model. Are they any good, for real? I guess if Gene plays one... he can play any bass he wants, and chooses a Grabber? Not bad i guess.

Are these 30 1/2 scale or 34?

He said the body has been resprayed and the bridge cover is missing. Oh well, that means it's going for cheap, right?

Wish me luck.

Those Green Day boys... they aren't pretty, are they? :p
 
#12
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Listen to Stare At the Sun. He recorded it with a Grabber. Up until recently, he has recorded and played live with solely. I have a G-3. It's not heavy, but the body shape isn't the most desirable. It has nice tone though. The neck is really comfortable.
 
#14
I am P.O'd.

Drove 55 miles one way to look at a totally funked up POS.

Where do I begin? I knew the body had been repainted, because he told me so. But I asked if the neck had been refinished as well. He said no. Told him I might go as much as $200 unless it looked really bad, he said OK.

So I went to look at it. It was a Gibson Grabber alright. Empahsis on "was".

Body repainted with some kind of spray-can "chameleon" color that flashed purplish and greenish tones when the bass was turned in the light. That might have been OK if it were applied better.

But that's not all. The pickguard was sprayed bright green and had "artwork" hand applied in different colors of paint A skull with flames around it, and little bones painted all around the edge.:rolleyes: The knobs were black Strat type knobs, but they might have been original i guess, judging by the photos above.

The neck had been either sanded or stripped with paint stripper (maybe both) and then some kind of brown oil-based stain rubbed into the maple, but no finish on top of it. Even the fretboard and front of the headstock. No Gibson logo left. It was ugly as sin. No, uglier. Plus, the neck had a back bow and the bass wouldn't even play.

I offered him $35 bucks, he said no can do, so I said $50 or I'm walking away from it. It would have been worth $50 for the pickup and tuners. Alas, only wasted gas and time to show for my efforts.

:spit: :spit: :spit:
 
#17
shamrock&roll said:
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Listen to Stare At the Sun. He recorded it with a Grabber. Up until recently, he has recorded and played live with solely. I have a G-3. It's not heavy, but the body shape isn't the most desirable. It has nice tone though. The neck is really comfortable.
Click to expand...

love that tone and some other thrice songs like eclipse, cold cash colder hearts, (but im not sure if he used the grabber their but i think he did)
 
#19
The G-3 has three single coil Ken Lawrence pickups and is the most Fender sounding of the G series. The Grabber pickup is a great raunchy rock pickup, but only has one sound. The Ripper is the tamest & most polite of the three and most versitile.

All three are nice basses on their own rights. Depends on the sound or if versitility you favor.

The most sought after are the black on black Rippers & black body G-3 & Grabbers.

Early ones had softer Alder Bodies & rounded horns, which made their sound a bit softer & bodies lighter than the later maple bodied ones.

The rarest of the Grabbers is the Skunk stripe necked ones

For the sound of a G-3 listen to Green Day's Dookie, which I believe he used the G-3 on.
 
#20
I've got a grabber. It sits behind a chair, against the wall.. and I dont really consider it one if my basses.

Whats with people painting these basses? Mine was painted rattle can black with a white diamond on the back. DOH. One of these days I will replace the stock (broken) pickup with something huge and fat.. Maybe strip the **** paint off it too.
 

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