No Gibson's??

[Joeynone]

I love my 1991 Thunderbird! Not getting much play since my transition to 5 string but damn it looks cool on stage! This was at the Rockstar Uproar festival

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Never met a Gibson bass I liked. The 335 is my favorite guitar, but Gibson never got it with basses.
Always sounded to me like slapping a mud bank. Good build quality, but not much on tone or versatility.

 

[jd56hawk]

I m

I meant in South Africa.

I missed where you said that.

 

[ctmullins]

I'm not tall enough to rock a T-Bird, either, bummer.

Huh?!?!?

Play a Gibson and you will find out why there aren't many posts. There is the bruised kneecap neck diving Thunderbird club and the severe shoulder problem RD Artist club which you will find if, you look hard enough.

Where's the "unlike" button when you need it?

 

[RED J]

I think this is the 4 string V-bass that is due out soon. I like it very much.

View attachment 610915

Well glory be. A long scale Gibson that will balance that doesn't need rangy-tang arms to reach the first position.. ( I don't hate Gibsons. )

 

[gnarlyWarlock]

The EB-4 is the cleanest mud. Pure sex. But I agree with OP, I feel Gibsons just don't get as much love as PJs, etc.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

Woah this thread exploded

 

[static0verdrive]

I LOVE the 2014 EB. (Not EB-0 or EB-3, their new one for 2014 just called "EB"). Looks, feels, and sounds great. If I can come up with the cash, she will be mine. Oh yes, she will be mine.

 

[godofthunder59]

Pretty much all I play are Gibsons! Though I do have just about one of everything else

 

[AltGrendel]

Had a Ripper, no "oomph" to the electronics. Sold it, don't regret it one bit. This was all pre-internet.

 

[Heisenbass]

Been to a Charlie Winston concert last week. Bass player did most of the gig with an RD Artist w/ natural finish. Treated her more like a rhythm guitar. Looked great, sounded great. Made me immediately wanting one of these...

 

[rtslinger]

Not sure why Gibson aren't popular? as for the muddy sound that is BS the only Gibson that I have come across that even takes the prize is the EB-0 short scale to say the Gibson basses can't produce anything but mud in the mix is a horse "S"

 

[buldog5151bass]

1. Fender was first on the scene, and the industry standard for decades, not to mention that because they did not protect their designs, many of the other other basses out there were Fender copies (remember it was called a "Fender bass" by many for years).

2. For years, Gibson basses were not great at the begining.

3. Even the more well known Gibsons had their issues (T birds are odd shaped and have neck dive issues despite being great sounding basses, other basses were muddy).

4. Gibson never really marketed their basses for a LONG time like they did their guitars.

 

[RiZzBot]

I love my '08 Gibson SG bass. Completely different than my Jazz, but just as important to me! Gives my shoulder a good break after playing that 14lbs beast. No mud here!

 

[buldog5151bass]

For the price of a new one, I'd rather drop a few more bucks and get a Lull version.

 

[GBassNorth]

Not sure why Gibson aren't popular? as for the muddy sound that is BS the only Gibson that I have come across that even takes the prize is the EB-0 short scale to say the Gibson basses can't produce anything but mud in the mix is a horse "S"

I completely agree! The "Gibsons sound like mud" statement is rooted in complete ignorance of the brand and all of its different models and options which leads me to believe that the myth is continuing to be perpetuated by totally incompetent self proclaimed "bass players" that play with their computer keyboards more than their basses.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Sounds a little bit like Fender to me

Fender did not do much in newer basses because so many people wanted/wants their two flagships. As many working bassists know, if you show up with a P or J, you know the producer will be happy, as will the soundman.

 

[LoTone]

Plenty of Thunderbird LOVE here..........RD's and any other Gibson's are welcome too, they're the path less taken - c'mon on over!


At my house fenders are car parts

Thunderbirds are quite popular. I love the sound.

 

[Gaolee]

There are some misconceptions about Gibson bass guitars that come from people expecting them to be like Fender bass guitars. My EB, picked up recently, hangs very much like my P-Bass. The neck likes to be just a little more tilted up than the P. It's as close to Fender behavior as I have ever had out of a Gibson bass guitar. I happen to like the neck more vertical than horizontal, and as a result, I far prefer the shapes of Gibson bass guitars, especially Thunderbirds, over Fender shaped guitars. I still play a P-Bass and a Ric, which is more Fender than Gibson shaped, but in a perfect world, every one of my bass guitars would be shaped and hang like either my T-Bird or EB-2. As far as sound, they all have their uses. I think the best sounding bass guitar I have is the EB-2, which is a dual pickup version that was modified before I got it with a DiMarzio One in place of the neck pickup. The new (to me) EB is probably the most versatile BG I own. The ends of the frets are awful from the factory, and I haven't addressed that problem yet, but if I got all the frets replaced, it would still cost me less than a used American Fender. Point being, Gibson bass guitars are NOT Fender bass guitars, and if you prefer Fenders, you won't like Gibsons as much. That's fine with me, and it doesn't make one better or worse than the other. Just different.

One final point: I think the P-Bass I own (and love) has worse balance and neck dive than any of the Gibsons I own. It's all perspective and how you play it.

 

[mcarp555]

And if you're left-handed (as the OP appears to be), you can pretty much forget Gibson.