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So I played an amazing GIbson today...

C

cigi

Aug 22, 2006
538
16
#1
What's next, paris hilton for president?

I was in a local shop today, checking out the basses. Played a few.

I saw three gibson basses hanging on the wal, but thought, I'm nog guitard, so I'm not gonna play a gibson. Untill the store owner said to me I should really check them out, so I took a Gibson moneymaker of the wal. It was AMAZING. It played really good and sounded incredible thunderous, deep and raw. Unlike anything I've ever heard.

Now I'm looking for a new bass in the 1000-1200€ range and the gibson was 1100. Although it really spoke to me, I would never buy it. The neck shape was a little odd (D-shape), it was short scale and looked a bit funny. Am I being to narrow minded or what?

What do you guys think? Have you ever played gibson basses and liked them?
 
#3
I'm not going to buy it.

It's the first time in my life that I can spend that amount of money on a bass. I made a deal with myself I'm gonna play LOTS of basses untill I find one that I love all the way. And this is not the case. I don't care what anyone thinks, but I just allways thought that a Gibson bass was nothing for me. I even like the fact that it's a bass allmost no one uses.
 
#4
cigi said:
The neck shape was a little odd (D-shape), it was short scale and looked a bit funny.
Click to expand...

Based on your assessment of the bass using the criteria above, your rejection of that particular Gibson is not narrow-minded.... however, your attitude about Gibson is narrow-minded, i.e. the whole "I'd never buy a Gibson bass because they are nothing"-thing. Obviously they are not "nothing", based on your experience today.

I love my Gibson Thunderbird.
 
#5
There have been some good Gibson basses over the years, IMHO. The original Ripper was one of my favorites. The Thunderbirds are certainly unique - not my cup of tea but they do make some groovy sounds. But if you don't like the shape of the neck, that negates how good it sounds, again IMHO. And if you don't want a short-scale bass, that kinda seals it. And if you think it looks "a bit funny", why spend a reasonably large sum of money on it?

You made a good deal with yourself - go play all the basses you can find until you find the one that is best.
 
#6
cool, i can dig playing as many as you can. but don't rule out the gibson because it's a gibson! after you've played a bunch of stuff, make sure you go back and try that thing again. gibson basses aren't for everyone, but two of my all-time favorite bassists play or played them pretty much exclusively. (mike watt and allen woody)

you might be one of the ones that they are right for!
 
#8
You know, I have played those Money basses before and I really liked them too...and have nearly bought one, may still..but I understand that if its your only bass then you might one something a bit more versatile, yet tradiotional at the same time.
But if you dig it then you dig it...you might find a used one and then use the money left over to buy a more "accepted" style of used bass. Anyways, my 3 favorite basses that I own were all under $300 each..and they see the majority of my playing time...one of them is a Fernandes LP copy sytle bass...think I dont get some weird looks? ;)
 
#9
I used to think that I didn't like Gibson basses... then I played one.

Please do not tell my mother about this mature concept... I'm still certain I do not like lima beans (what can I say, 38 year old habits die hard)

I hope that everyone gets a chance to play one and see for themselves.

If you dig a Gibson bass you should buy it and play the hell out of it.

Oh yeah... Ampeg too! :hiding:
 
#14
Baird6869 said:
a Thunderbird is an excellent bass and I would own one of I didn't play so much funk and slap.
Click to expand...

I wish that more people appreciated the uniqueness of its tone and not just dismiss it because they don't take Gibsons seriously. Granted, it's not for all types of music, and it's not the most versatile of basses, but to me it is the best at what it does, and not too many instruments out there can replicate that warm-yet-aggressive neck-thru mahogany tone.
 
#18
Lucas G said:
cool, i can dig playing as many as you can. but don't rule out the gibson because it's a gibson! after you've played a bunch of stuff, make sure you go back and try that thing again. gibson basses aren't for everyone, but two of my all-time favorite bassists play or played them pretty much exclusively. (mike watt and allen woody)

you might be one of the ones that they are right for!
Click to expand...

I also like mike watts tone very much. But it would idd be my only bass, so I want something that can do it all (or that can do most things).

I was planning on buying a lakland skyline. A lot less original, but I'm definately not gonna buy anything without having played a few skylines (they are not that easy to find here).

Thanks for the cool reactions. All in all, my thoughts about gibson basses have changed. I know now they have some really cool ones. :bassist:
 
#20
you're right...

Strange that it felt like a shortscale. Maybe it was an optical illusion because of the small body.

That was another thing that bothered me, the upper horn only went to the 14 or 15 fret I believe. I prefer my basses with horns up to the 12th fret.
 

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