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New Gibson EB bass
- Thread starter Primakurtz
- Start date
I'm sure that's because it's not one of Gibson's designs that have been around for 40-60 years. Introducing a new body shape with new pickups (albeit based on T-bird pups) means they have to come in at a good price.
"Gibson gave up even trying to innovate 25 years ago."
I'm mostly a Fender/Gretsch kinda guy, but just to play Devil's advocate...
To be fair to Gibson, we should concede that at least a certain segment of their market is a bit less open to even cosmetic changes than it may like to admit. As a company trying to survive in a competitive arena, this type of mindset is something that Gibson has to take into account.
A prime example of this is the uproar that arose from "purists" when Gibson widened the body binding in Les Paul cutaways in order to hide the seam where the carved, maple body cap meets the mahogany body in the cutaway. From a woodworking standpoint, the original construction method looked sloppy, as though the designer hadn't thought ahead and considered that the seam was going to show if the binding width didn't change as it followed the carved cap into the cutaway, but enough people screamed about that change that they went back to the narrow binding / visible seam.
Consider, if you will, the fact that the guitarist can't even SEE this part of the instrument while he is playing. Yet to a significant number of people, even this minor, cosmetic change apparently bordered on sacrilege.
At least, that's the way the story was told to me...
I'm mostly a Fender/Gretsch kinda guy, but just to play Devil's advocate...
To be fair to Gibson, we should concede that at least a certain segment of their market is a bit less open to even cosmetic changes than it may like to admit. As a company trying to survive in a competitive arena, this type of mindset is something that Gibson has to take into account.
A prime example of this is the uproar that arose from "purists" when Gibson widened the body binding in Les Paul cutaways in order to hide the seam where the carved, maple body cap meets the mahogany body in the cutaway. From a woodworking standpoint, the original construction method looked sloppy, as though the designer hadn't thought ahead and considered that the seam was going to show if the binding width didn't change as it followed the carved cap into the cutaway, but enough people screamed about that change that they went back to the narrow binding / visible seam.
Consider, if you will, the fact that the guitarist can't even SEE this part of the instrument while he is playing. Yet to a significant number of people, even this minor, cosmetic change apparently bordered on sacrilege.
At least, that's the way the story was told to me...
Gibson has had several new versions of old designs come in under $1000 in the last couple of years. I bought a Short Scale Thunderbird for $999.
This Flying V is $899:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/gibson-limited-run-flying-v-electric-bass-guitar
This SG bass is $899:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/gibson-sg-faded-limited-edition-bass-guitar
This Grabber is $999 (I played one at a store in Las Vegas last week and it was nice):
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/gibson-grabber-3-70s-tribute-electric-bass
At the very least, they appear to have the same form factor and they are humbuckers. (Yes, yes, they have exposed pole pieces and they are Alnico, not ceramic, but you know what I mean.)
Im buying one in three weeks. I cant wait. I played it locally many times and it just feels great in the hands.
I worry about potential warping, especially without support graphite rods. Just a truss rod
IMO if designed properly, not an issue.
There are literally thousands of instruments out there some pushing 50 + years old with just wood and a single truss rod that have no issues.
One of my basses is 53 years old has been played darn near continously, in different climates (-50 degrees in Canada to over 110 degrees in Arizona) with all types of strings and the neck is perfect. Rarely have I had to adjust that neck.
My 08 P bass has graphite rods and needs more frequent tweaking than my 53 year old P does. So who knows?
Gibson has been making basses (and guitars) with set necks without graphite rods and only a truss rod for 60 years. It is a proven system. I have three vintage Gibsons and none of them have neck issues - all of them with mahogany necks.
looking at your profile, you've got a musicman sterling HS, which is just a truss rod and no graphite support rods, and it's got an oil finish on the neck making it more susceptible of climate changes. if you have no worries about that bass, you shouldn't have any worries about the gibson.
gregbackstrom
These aren't stock curves--things move around!
I received two of these last week, due to a Sweetwater shipping error. One of them was poorly sanded and finished around the upper bout cutaways -- it's going back to SW. The other one is fine. On both, the action and B-string response is excellent. The Babicz bridge seems to be a great fit with the light-weight, resonant swamp-ash body. The set-neck on both basses appears flawless.
The neck profile is very similar to the MTD basses - chunkier under the B than under the G. It plays just like my travel-bass -- an MTD Saratoga.
Lots of sounds, due to the dual pickup taps. I like the SC for the bridge pickup and both SC and HB for the neck pickup.
There's a ton of value here for the price! I like it.
When I think of a volute on a Gibson, I think of increased "strength". Right at a spot where various Gibby's have been known to snap off over the years, but probably the added mass on the neck "might" give you a bit more sustain.
