Opinions/advice requested…

[CoryB]

I have a Fender American Pro II Pbass, a MIM Jbass, a modified S.U.B. Ray4, and a Ray5. At this point I’m still learning and noodling but hope to sometime soon find some folks to jam with.

With all of the recent talk about the Epi Grabber coming out, I was looking at those plus the original Gibson Grabbers. My dear wife likes the looks of the originals better (natural finish only) and offered to buy one of the Gibsons for me.

I have never played a Grabber, nor heard one other than some YouTube videos and honestly, even through headphones, they don’t sound terribly different in the few online comparisons I’ve found. So, will that give me anything sound wise that I can’t already get? Yes, I’d love to add it to my ‘collection’ but it’s a bunch of money for something that I may or may not need sonically. So I’m asking for the TB shared wisdom base for some advice.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Peeved T-40]

Plenty of bassists have gone their entire careers and ONLY played a P or ONLY a J or ONLY a Ray. You have all three. You do not "need" anything else sonically. If you want the bass, get the bass, but don't try to convince yourself you need it for some reason.

You already have Every bass an Engineer or band could want you to have so no, the basses you have are MORE than fine.

 

[5StringBlues]

You might want to check out a g3, the three pickup Grabber if you can find one. It does the Jazz Bass thing fairly well, but with better low mids

 

[Mastiff_5]

There is no purpose in getting that grabber bass. IF you were to get another bass, I would suggest a modern, double soap bar bass. That’s all you don’t have, really. You already have a
Single humbucker, neck
Dual single coil
Single Humbucker, bridge
And a 5.
If you are just dweedling around right now, and DO want to play in a band, take the $ you would drop on the grabber, and “grab” six months worth of lessons.
Seriously. There are differing tiers of musicians out there, separated by knowledge and experience. You don’t have a great deal of experience (any?) so stock up on knowledge and technique, so you can swing above your weight when you start hunting folks to write/perform with!!

 

[FullumMusic]

I'm gonna second what @Peeved T-40 said.

If you want it, get it, and get it because you want it and like it. You don't need it, sonically or otherwise.

I spend a couple decades playing bass professionally with 2 basses: An Ibanez SR400 PJ 4 string and a Carvin LB76 with J pickups & active electroncis 6 string. I played live and did some session work. It's what i had. It's what i could afford. In those decades nobody paying me ever demanded i play a different bass. If i needed to hit the low notes for Hip Hop & R&B i used the 6 string. If i needed a different tone, i adjusted the EQ on my amp and switched up my technique.

You don't need the Gibson, and honestly you don't need all 4 basses you already have, just for playing at home.
You won't even need all 4 of those basses when you finally do start playing with other people. If you're playing at home, or playing out with others as a hobby, a collection of basses are nice expensive toys, not needs. If you're playing professionally, then they're just expensive tools, and even then, you don't need many.

Am i saying don't get it? No. I'm saying you don't need it, and you don't need to sit there making up reasons why you might need it musically. They won't be true. You already have more than you need.

If you have the money for it and you like it, then get it without the pretense of needing it. Just get it and enjoy it.

And if you rrrrrrreally want a pretense to need one, Krist Novosellic played a bunch of Rippers and Gibson basses. Get it and start a Nirvana tribute band.

 

[Brandon Shea]

take the $ you would drop on the grabber, and “grab” six months worth of lessons.

I dropped by to say something like this. I really wish I had spent more money on lessons over the years, but I always talked myself out of it for one reason or another. I'm finally starting lessons again tomorrow though, and I know this is way more likely to make me a better bassist than any of the basses I've been thinking about buying.

 

[bherman]

More advice here from a long time, bass player, stop worrying about the next bass and spend all your time right now learning and practicing. Not saying that to chastise you, but just to point out that that like so many of us, it’s very easy to get distracted with a shiny objects when you really should be focusing on the music and learning the instrument. A proficient player can do just about all they need to do in multiple genres of music with only one or maybe two instruments.

 

[CoryB]

I will freely admit that I like shiny objects. And I know this is a beyond first-world problem/question but I thought I’d ask. Thanks for all of the replies and advice so far.

I played guitar for many years so I’m at home on a fretboard. I have minor nerve damage in my left hand and a botched carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand so my thumb, index, and middle fingers have limited sensation. Bass is easier for me because (at my current level) it’s individual notes rather than chords.

If I take lessons, they pretty much have to be online as there are no decent teachers nearby - I live in the “middle of nowhere®” according to anyone who has come to visit us. FWIW, I’m working through both Hal Leonard and Mel Bay books right now to relearn to read music. My wife is a pianist/accordionist and can help me to some extent on that but she has no guitar or bass experience.

Anyway, again, thank you all for your thoughts.

 

[smurfco]

Nobody needs anything, everybody dies. Do what makes you happy. I say take her up on her offer, it'll make it even more special coming from her.

Disclaimer: I will never tell somebody NOT to get a bass.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

2 questions.
1. Are you interested in having a bass collection? That is fine if you have the $$,
Space, etc.
2. Or you looking for the best bass to eventually jam or gig with other people. If this, you kinda need to narrow it down so you can “learn” to get a good sound from the bass. Not all play the same.

 

[MCF]

The original G1 Gibson Grabbers are cool. A good idea that sounded better on paper than worked out in practice. Some find them to be great. Some find them to be uncomfortable. The bodies are big. You really need to play one before buying.

I’d love to have one. If my wife were to buy one for me, I’d be ecstatic. But I certainly don’t need one. Owning one would be more about having a piece of Gibson history than anything else.

I’m also an Epi fanboy. But I have no desire to get an Epi Grabber. Although the split coil humbucker is a nice touch. I’ll stick with my Thunderbirds.

 

[Mastiff_5]

I will freely admit that I like shiny objects. And I know this is a beyond first-world problem/question but I thought I’d ask. Thanks for all of the replies and advice so far.

I played guitar for many years so I’m at home on a fretboard. I have minor nerve damage in my left hand and a botched carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand so my thumb, index, and middle fingers have limited sensation. Bass is easier for me because (at my current level) it’s individual notes rather than chords.

If I take lessons, they pretty much have to be online as there are no decent teachers nearby - I live in the “middle of nowhere®” according to anyone who has come to visit us. FWIW, I’m working through both Hal Leonard and Mel Bay books right now to relearn to read music. My wife is a pianist/accordionist and can help me to some extent on that but she has no guitar or bass experience.

Anyway, again, thank you all for your thoughts.

Ah - okay then. In that case, don’t buy it because there are a ton of “better” basses out there. The “better” bass is the one you can put your hands on and play. If you can’t because you live in the sticks, then plan a one day or overnight trip somewhere with (preferably) multiple music stores that you can get into and feel the neck/play/hear. If you get your hands on a grabber and you love it, awesome! But I’ll bet there are many, MANY basses you’ll prefer to a grabber.
Even among single humbucker basses.
(Again, I’ll suggest you look at modern double soap bar active basses, given your collection so far.)

 

[MtManiac]

The best argument for me as to why buy a new bass isn’t because it’s gonna give you a new sound. I mean, they all sound like bass guitars, and they can all sound great, ok, or bad in the right/wrong hands.

The best argument is “does it look bada$$?” The most important person and most important member of the opposite sex in your life thinks a Gibson Grabber looks bada$$. That’s extremely powerful. Who are you to argue with her??

 

[buldog5151bass]

Advice - you don't need another bass. You aren't "sure you need it". Why not wait until you've played one, at the very least?

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I have a Fender American Pro II Pbass, a MIM Jbass, a modified S.U.B. Ray4, and a Ray5. At this point I’m still learning and noodling but hope to sometime soon find some folks to jam with.

With all of the recent talk about the Epi Grabber coming out, I was looking at those plus the original Gibson Grabbers. My dear wife likes the looks of the originals better (natural finish only) and offered to buy one of the Gibsons for me.

I have never played a Grabber, nor heard one other than some YouTube videos and honestly, even through headphones, they don’t sound terribly different in the few online comparisons I’ve found. So, will that give me anything sound wise that I can’t already get? Yes, I’d love to add it to my ‘collection’ but it’s a bunch of money for something that I may or may not need sonically. So I’m asking for the TB shared wisdom base for some advice.

Thank you in advance.

I'm not opposed to Epiphone basses just because they're Epiphones. I have three Epiphone guitars and they are excellent. Instead of spending money on a Grabber, I would probably hold off, and explore the sounds in what you have, and perhaps even explore amp upgrades instead, or simply save your money. or ultimately sell a few things to buy a better version of something. For instance, sale of the modified S.U.B and Ray5 could go into buying a Sterling Ray 35 (singe H or HH), and unless that S.U.B. is crazy modified, it seems you'd loose nothing of sonic flexibility and variety of both those instruments, while also upgrading to a single instrument that has all of those sounds. Those Sterling Ray 35s are great. I have four of them.

If you really want to go different to find something different, there are possibilities, such as fretless, acoustic bass guitar, and so on, that will sound much different than a Grabber. Each of those instruments will also force you to grow as a player and they will prompt you to play and approach them differently. A Grabber, not so much, with all due respect.

 

[aprod]

Grabbers are boat anchors and would be a downgrade from the basses you currently own. You may want to invest your time and money on becoming a better musician, noodling won't get you far.

 

[Sharko]

I think grabbers are rad, so I would sell all the basses and buy the grabber and spend all the extra money on lessons.

 

[SteveC]

I have a Fender American Pro II Pbass, a MIM Jbass, a modified S.U.B. Ray4, and a Ray5.

You have all the basses you need. Get off TB before it's too late. You can play almost anything with that P bass. The J and Ray give you some variety, and the 5 if you need the range.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

You have all the basses you need. Get off TB before it's too late. You can play almost anything with that P bass. The J and Ray give you some variety, and the 5 if you need the range.

TB stokes aquisition for aquisition sake. Imho
Highly addictive

 

[CallMeAl]

Another vote to not worry and practice! Maybe spend money on lessons. If you really got the itch, get something that will expand your musicianship. 5 or 6 string, bass VI, fretless, heck get a keyboard!