today's gibson basses

[Chuck King]

I picked up a Money bass last year when the usual suspects were blowing them out, and it turned out to be one of the nicer basses I've played. I think they fall into a hole because they are neither exactly like what has come before (to appeal to the very large conservative part of the market) nor obviously radical. Just a good, solid bass. Before that I used a Ripper for years as my main bass, and I still like to pull it out now and then.

Gibson's bass strategy seems to be one of continually throwing things at the wall in hope of something sticking, punctuated by periods during which they retreat into only proven sellers---I think we are in that phase right now.

I really wonder how a reissue Ripper or Grabber would sell nowadays---lots of people seem to want them, but you can get a nice original with little trouble for less than a new one would cost, so I wonder how much of a market there really is. Anybody who wants a Ripper and is willing to pay $800 bucks give or take a little can get one, and I suspect a reissue would cost rather more than that. And to me, the pickups are a big part of the Ripper appeal, and I doubt they would tool up to make that kind of pickup again; they would probably use some standard soapbar style, and the varitone is even more unlikely.

 

[steveinohio]

I agree with the above statement. I think the only reason Gibson hasnt done a proper re-issue of the Ripper/Grabber is that their pricepoint would be too high. The Epiphone versions seemed to be an attempt to satisfy the demand for a re-issue and still maintain the price of their product. To introduce a Gibson bass for less than the average of their current lineup would look bad.

 

[swamp2]

well...

I have 2 black birds (including a sixx), several LP basses (including a couple 5ers, active w/barts, etc), an old G3, a couple of money basses (yeah, I replaced the truss rod covers also), a red explorer, a ri sg flame burst, etc.

...

the money LPs are nice; they finally contoured the body, full 2 octave neck, sounds good thru and thru.

I've got one of the blue Money basses - and I haven't changed/covered the truss rod cover. I find it to be a little amusing, so what the heck. It was probably a couple years ago I first heard my eldest son refer to something really good as "yeah, that ___ is money". I think it applies to the bass - it plays well, has decent tonal variety, very good build quality and components, is beautiful, and came with a great case. For the price you could get these for last year (think I paid $535 plus shipping) they were a bargain, period. My only gripe is they should have contoured the back a little since they did the front...

 

[PauliePower]

given the quality of Epiphone T-Birds, maybe Epi ought to re-release the G-3, Grabber, Ripper (i know they've done variations on this), etc. i think their build quality in general has come around to justify a release of fairly accurate reissues.

frankly, i think Gibson lost the bass plot for good in the 90's, when Mike Dirnt of Green Day brought the G-3 back from the dead. Green Day, and that bass, were EVERYWHERE. they could have done something cool with that, had they chosen to. instead, they slept through that one. same w/ Krist Novoselic and his army of Gibson basses.

+ lots

I highly suspect an Epiphone reissue of a G-3 would be well received, especially among the army of younger Green Day fans. That variation Grabber/Ripper mix reissue thing from a few years back doesn't count, that doesn't even look like one. Seriously. I'm not sure where people are finding Grabber/Rippers/G-3s for $800. They seem to be very thin on the ground, especially in the UK. eBay searching for any of the three returns 0 results on the UK site, and two on the US one, and I'm not sure how many 23 year olds like myself can find $1200 to buy and import a G-3.

It may be an ugly thing, but I check ebay almost daily for one

 

[Basstovsky]

I believe that Epiphone has come out with a Grabber or Ripper reissue. Or, of not a strict reissue, a new model lookalike.

Found it: Invalid Link Removed

How can they call it a Grabber?!?!?! You can't GRAB the pickup!!!!

Travesty!

....and now my G-3/grabber/ripper GAS is back!!!!

 

[Arpeggiator]

my mate has a grabber from the 70's he got it for £400 ship from the US. sounds great but i really dont like the current gibson basses

 

[Barkless Dog]

They still and did make some great basses recently and definitely put out some poor quality basses.

They did try to revitalize the bass business the last couple of years with many new models

Studio T bird 4 & 5 string
Les Paul
Money bass
SG Reissue
GOW including Zebra Bird
Continental bass, which never saw the light of day

Epi JC
Epi Rumble Cat

The problem with Gibson has always been their refusal to follow the Fender mold, which is the industry standard. They tried to re-invent the wheel with every new model. It turns out to be a good thing for the open minded as we get so many different tones & colors that Fenders can't do, not for everyone, but those who do like them nothing else is the same.


Then you have Fender players who try a Gibson bass, but to Fender settings on their amp (bass boosted) and you get farting muddy sound (Mudbucker). With the proper rig and your amp adjusted for the bass they sound amazing, not for everytype of music, but were certainly very common in a lot of 60's-70's music.

The Maple series and Tbirds were never muddy. People do not understand that every model line is different than the other in tone.

 

[Rocker949]

I've never understood the negative comments through the years about the looks of the Les Paul bass. I've always felt it was a great looking bass.

 

[sturmvogel]

I've never understood the negative comments through the years about the looks of the Les Paul bass. I've always felt it was a great looking bass.

The Triumph was king of the LP basses--IMHO. The RD Artist is king of all basses put out by Gibson, past and present, and worthy of top 10 basses ever made by anybody---again, IMHO.

 

[Mastermold]

Personally I'd love a '64 reissue T-bird with the vintage chrome hardware and pickups. The black plastic humbuckers don't do it for me, I've got old-school tastes.

I've noticed MF has dropped their prices on the T-birds. Hopefully that means Gibson is thinking about a 64 reissue -- I'd be all over it!

 

[ctmullins]

It may only be tangentially relevant, but I am the proud owner of a sort-of Gibson bass.

The story begins in the early part of this decade, when I wandered into my local music emporium to try out five-strings. I played everything they had, but really liked a certain Tobias that was on the wall. After noodling on it for a while, the sleazy owner of the store (think plaid-sportcoat-used-car-salesman vibe) starts telling me how interesting and unique this particular instrument is. "This model was intended for Europe only," he says, "but they decided to drop the project after only making 36 of them. It's a Tobias body and neck, but with Gibson Thunderbird electronics." And so it appears to be - the wonderfully solid and ergonomic Tobias construction, with the asymmetrical neck profile and the sensuously curved body, combined with two black plastic pickups with passive V-V-T knobs.

Best of both worlds, says I. The pickups are both powerful and versatile, and the bass is just oh-so-comfortable to play. I took it home immediately, and I've been in love with it ever since. It's a rock-n-roll machine.

 

[RickenBoogie]

I think it was a big mistake dropping the Studio line, but maybe they weren't selling. Well, I bought one, and it's a great bass. It's true though, Gibson always seemed to be behind the trends, and continue to be. Too bad.

 

[overdrivethree]

Personally I'd love a '64 reissue T-bird with the vintage chrome hardware and pickups. The black plastic humbuckers don't do it for me, I've got old-school tastes.

I've noticed MF has dropped their prices on the T-birds. Hopefully that means Gibson is thinking about a 64 reissue -- I'd be all over it!

hell, i'd be at the music store with my skeleton suit, dyed black hair, and evil looking mustache/beard, waiting and on the ready for a real T-Bird

 

[Mastermold]

hell, i'd be at the music store with my skeleton suit, dyed black hair, and evil looking mustache/beard, waiting and on the ready for a real T-Bird

Let's hope someone at Gibson gets this message! And soon!

 

[smem]

I have owned

64 eb3l
74 g-3 tobacco
76 g-3 black
76 bicentennial tbird, black
94 tbird
96 les paul deluxe bass

I love gibson basses, however I would NOT spend the kind of money they are asking for them. Of all my gibbies I paid the most for the 94 tbird, the pickups were microphonic, there was silver overspray on the back of the headstock under the clearcoat, sharp frets and a chunk of wood taped back into place in the back cavity. UGH. I was told the pickups were perfectly fine BY GIBSON and the reason for the noise was because they are a very hot pickup. This is on a 2400$ bass? They are also a sealed humbucker so I call BS on that. Ended up having to put EMG's in it. That sucked as well. All of my older gibsons were quality instruments. My 76 was a phenomenal instrument, and dead qiet to boot.

 

[overdrivethree]

i think as close as we're gonna get is those Epiphone Elitist re-vamps from a couple years back, unfortunately.

 

[millsbass5]

Gibson is focusing too much on their guitar line and ripping people off with their sky-high prices.Besides,they have their line of Tobias basses.Why spend money on research&development when you can just buy somebody out?

 

[Tom Howland]

I'm old enough to have grown up when Gibson basses were big.(1968-1980)
Todays Gibson basses are no where near the quality of there hay-day.
Plus Gibson stopped making all there great basses.
EB-1.
EB-O.
EB-3.
EB-2.
Les Paul Signature Bass.
Original T-Birds.
While fender makes Reissues of all there great basses.
Gibson does not make any like they did from late 1950's-1970's.
I feel many bassplayer would love to get there hands on a Reissue
EB-1, or a Les Paul Signature bass.
Come on Gibson get off your butt?

 

[millsbass5]

It may only be tangentially relevant, but I am the proud owner of a sort-of Gibson bass.

The story begins in the early part of this decade, when I wandered into my local music emporium to try out five-strings. I played everything they had, but really liked a certain Tobias that was on the wall. After noodling on it for a while, the sleazy owner of the store (think plaid-sportcoat-used-car-salesman vibe) starts telling me how interesting and unique this particular instrument is. "This model was intended for Europe only," he says, "but they decided to drop the project after only making 36 of them. It's a Tobias body and neck, but with Gibson Thunderbird electronics." And so it appears to be - the wonderfully solid and ergonomic Tobias construction, with the asymmetrical neck profile and the sensuously curved body, combined with two black plastic pickups with passive V-V-T knobs.

Best of both worlds, says I. The pickups are both powerful and versatile, and the bass is just oh-so-comfortable to play. I took it home immediately, and I've been in love with it ever since. It's a rock-n-roll machine.

Wouldn't let it leave my dirty paws.

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

IMO Gibson Basses have always been on the Dull side, especially when compared to Fender/G&L/EBMM/Rickenbacker/etc...I've always liked them better than the others. But I like Quirky Cars too. (I drive a Chrysler TC by Maserati) But pure business seems to be driving the markets today. Not artistic designers or cutting edge technology. I gues you have to stop and ask yourself, are any of the Instruments built today destined to become Classics? Have we reached a Post-Modern Era?