THE GIBSON GRABER

I gotta be honest. I thought those were the ugliest, worst sounding basses at one time. Then, I went to see Hall and Oates live and bassist T-Bone Wolk used one for most of the show. He sounded like a million bucks with it playing through an Ampeg rig. I'm among the converted now.

I haven't seen one around used, but I don't look too hard. I'd buy one if the price is right.

 

Kind of a shameless plug, but: http://www.basstabarchive.com/cgi-bin/classified.cgi?type=fs-&category=bass

Second one down, still available.

 

I used to have a G-3, which was a Grabber with three pickups, in place of the sliding pickup. It was OK. Nothing distinctive about it, as I recall, but it played fine. Or maybe that was me.



I sold it in around '78, so it's been gone a while.

 

sounds like i'm your man.

I have a '76 Grabber, maple. Very good condition indeed!

I love my bass. She's beautyful! What do you mean by 'beefy'? imo, it's small...

It also seems like a cross between a jazz and a P-bass, I duno why I get this feeling...
I've posted a longer review on my bassy before.. so have a look!

If ya' want any pix, just holla!

(pic is from the shop I bought it from)

 

that thing rules

how much was it,if I may ask?

-Jon

 

Emm...
shipped from Germany to Scotland, £440 - which is roughly... $726.26

Back when I bought it, that was only around 600'ish?!

Ah well. She's worth every penny.

 

damn dude...I didn't know it was that much


Well,keep her in good shape...that thing is awsome

-Jon

 

OS, my bass was in incredibly good condition, considering what I have seen. The grabbers & rippers usually start at 300 (bad condition) up 700, that being almost prestine...

LIke I said tho, when I converted the money back when I bought it, it was around $600

 

The first "New" bass is ever bought was a natural Grabber in late 1974 when they first came out. I forget now but I think I paid something like $350 for it back then. I played it for a few years when this new bass came on the market called a Musicman Stingray. I traded in the Grabber for the Ray...wish I still had both!

Cool basses but I much prefer the set neck Ripper.

 

Grabber=Ripper right?

either way look at these beauts I found @Rudy's Music, NYC

Mint Gibson G-3 Natural
Mint Gibson G-3 Sunburst

 

Ed Friedland saw those at Rudy's a few years back. I think he said they wanted $2,200 for them each!!

LOL...ummmm not in this century!

No, Grabber does not = Ripper other than body shape.


Be right back.

 

Here's a scan of the Ripper specs out of the 1976 Gibson Catalog.

 

Grabber Specs:

 

Grabber III (G-3) Specs.

If anyone would like me to email you these scans then send me a note to [email protected] (no letter "A" in "Vintage")

 

I want one of these realy bad.........

 

There's generally any number of them on eBay at any given point in time.

 

Gbase too -- Grabber, Ripper

George Gruhn always seems to have one or the other as well

 

Cool post, Dude!

And notduane, show us yer' fretless!!!

BTW - Oates(was he even the bassist?) played a Ripper...

I'm going to go ona hunt for a new 'Gibson' sticker for the headstock (mine was removed) and a trussrod cover, I didn't get one of those, either...

still love my baby, yes i do!