This is why Gibson sucks at making basses...

[TBird1958]

Love my Thunderbirds and Les Paul Oversize, at my house we don't use terms like "P"or "J" to describe basses or their tone, and fenders belong on the Subaru.

 

[GretschWretch]

I purely loved the Gibson EB-2. At a point in time the bass had no market, so they stopped making it period.

My EB-2 was the one bass I had to sell, and I still miss it. Had I been able to hang onto it I might never have moved to long-scale (i.e., Fender). When I finally found the equivalent to a long-scale EB-2, the Dillion 004-335 (an extremely well-made bass), I found I could not endure it playing standing: too heavy and too poorly balanced. No neck dive, but a lot of butt plummet.

 

[GretschWretch]

I wonder what percentage of guitar sales basses even are. So we're already a minority, and a biased minority, I might add. There's plenty of bassists on here who wouldn't touch a non-Fender type instrument. Some would reject a Pbass for having the wrong kind of tort. On the other hand, a vast majority of guitarists own or lust after a les Paul. Companies mostly go after the low hanging fruit.

A buddy of mine played a Paul for nine years. His left shoulder now defaults two inches lower than his right one.

 

[GretschWretch]

Love my Thunderbirds and Les Paul Oversize, at my house we don't use terms like "P"or "J" to describe basses or their tone, and fenders belong on the Subaru.

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Why is there no LSU decal on the Thunderbird? National champs, y'know. Just sayin'.

 

[CarpeBasso]

I'm an avowed capitalist, I don't feel guilty for not buying one. I really never wanted one.

 

[Guild B301]

Love my Thunderbirds and Les Paul Oversize, at my house we don't use terms like "P"or "J" to describe basses or their tone, and fenders belong on the Subaru.

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Beautiful basses, but (Subaru?) you need some USA made car “fenders” to go along with your Gibson’s!

 

[GretschWretch]

Personally, I cant stand the LP shabe for a bass guitar, but hey, that's an opinion.

These guys just didn't appear to take bass makin seriously. Just took their guitars and made em.. "bassier"..

"Hey guys, this guitar doesn't sound bassy enough.. waay too trebly ..(thru this open back guitar amp).. . Leos P bass has a pickup in that so called sweet spot. How bout we move the pickup even further away from the bridge?, and just to make sure people play it this way, only give em the 1 pickup..at the neck..

DONE!!

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Hmm.. sounds GRREAT.. but is there a way to mount the pickup ON the neck..just to be sure?..






JMO, of course..
and yes, I have played the silly things too. would NEVER own one personally.
We all get our opinions.

And spotty histories. The pickup started at the neck on EB series basses and then got moved toward the bridge in a more or less centered detente.

 

[TBird1958]

Why is there no LSU decal on the Thunderbird? National champs, y'know. Just sayin'.

Sorry...…..LSU don't fly here, Huskies are Purple.

Beautiful basses, but (Subaru?) you need some USA made car “fenders” to go along with your Gibson’s!

Not to go down the car rathole, but that car is made in Indiana, last time I checked it's part of the USA, and a way better gear hauler than you might suspect, holds my SWR 6x10 and a couple Birds easily, AWD is good for wet hilly roads too.

Nice Guilds in your avatar!

 

[Mvilmany]

They suck at making basses because they sell a ton of Les Pauls and don’t need to sell basses.

They suck at making basses because they suck at making basses.

 

[Mastermold]

My EB-2 was the one bass I had to sell, and I still miss it. Had I been able to hang onto it I might never have moved to long-scale (i.e., Fender). When I finally found the equivalent to a long-scale EB-2, the Dillion 004-335 (an extremely well-made bass), I found I could not endure it playing standing: too heavy and too poorly balanced. No neck dive, but a lot of butt plummet.

I’m with you on the EB-2. Been my favorite Gibson bass for a long time, use it regularly for both recordings and gigs (back before Covid when we used to go out and play!)

 

[GIBrat51]

Love my Thunderbirds and Les Paul Oversize, at my house we don't use terms like "P"or "J" to describe basses or their tone, and fenders belong on the Subaru.

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Well, no Subaru in my garage (very nice vehicle, but... not much towing capacity), but there are several fenders...

 

[spade2you]

I remember MusicYo as a bright innovative company. Great ads, nice colorful interesting guitars and basses, and affordable accessories. I didn't know Gibson killed that one too. Seems like Gibson has the finger of death on its acquisitions...

Very much so. They can't claim there wasn't enough demand. The Steinberger stuff sold out faster than they could manufacture them.

 

[spade2you]

Back to Valley Arts, good stuff and reasonably priced. I feel bad that I forgot about them completely. I'm mostly on guitar these days and they make amazing updated Fender styles and Super Strats. I don't recall Gibson doing any advertising or recruiting any modern bands.

 

[T-34]

Very much so. They can't claim there wasn't enough demand. The Steinberger stuff sold out faster than they could manufacture them.

This.
They were all the time out of stock!

 

[Yellow Bang66]

They suck at making basses because they suck at making basses.

Yes, it seems they have NO R&D dept. and very little interest in the low end market! what I was trying to express in my past comment was; because Leo was the innovator in developing one of the first electric basses. Gibson has no interest in manufacturing or improving on one. they continue not have a horse in the race. some have pointed out that a few known musicians play T-Birds, you'd think gibson could build off of that platform, improving the inheirant problems(neck dive, awkward ergonomics) that model has! I was even interested in getting 1 at one point, but was talked out of it. I recently stumbled upon the Improved Dingwall, D-Roc model! that im now gassing hard for!
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I feel its a shame another Makerr had to come up with it! probably a good thing though! Id hate to buy one & be scared that the Qc missed something like gluing the fret board on properly!or the head stock snapping off!! I cant get behind a company that I cant Trust or doesnt support their own products! What a Shame! I just hope I can get one before they get sued & told to stop!

 

[Yellow Bang66]

They suck at making basses because they suck at making basses.

Yes, it seems they have NO R&D dept. and very little interest in the low end market! what I was trying to express in my past comment was; because Leo was the innovator in developing one of the first electric basses. Gibson has no interest in manufacturing or improving on one. they continue not have a horse in the race. some have pointed out that a few known musicians play T-Birds, you'd think gibson could build off of that platform, improving the inheirant problems(neck dive, awkward ergonomics) that model has! I was even interested in getting 1 at one point, but was talked out of it. I recently stumbled upon the Improved Dingwall, D-Roc model! that im now gassing hard for!
D-ROC Standard
I hope ican get one before they grt sued!

 

[T-34]

They don't have a Quality Assurance dept either.

 

[4andnomore]

The way I see it, Gibsons are primarily rock basses. They're a bit rough-and-tumble: an acquired taste not intended for those seeking the refined execution of a boutique instrument, or the comfortable familiarity of a Fender bass. People who love Gibson basses do so despite/because of their myriad idiosyncrasies. Those that don't jive with the Gibson aesthetic tend to exaggerate these same qualities: namely neck dive, ergonomics and the notorious 3 point bridge. Gibson basses certainly aren't for everyone, but I sure do like 'em for the unique beasts that they are.

 

[Jaycat]

I always wondered, over about the last 45 years, why Gibson did not tune into the bass players world and really give Fender a run for the bass market. They could of...
What might of been never was.

You might as well wonder (as noted above) why Fender didn't 'tune in' to the mandolin players' world and give Gibson 'a run for their money.' Everybody can't do everything.

 

[Jaycat]

I did give Gibson a chance and bought a new Jr DC but had to send it back.
The "famous" Gibson quality control here:

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Have got a used Squier Bronco shortscale instead for 10% of the price. No, the Bronco doesn't sound as good but not 1/10th of the Gibson either.

I sent back my DC too and picked up an Ibanez TMB-30 short scale. And it sounds better than the Gibby, for 1/5 the bread.