Why does everyone hate Gibsons ?

[havik180]

I was at my local GC yesterday and the only bass that caught my eye was an Gibson SG . I figured what the hell and plugged it into an Ampeg SVT and 4x10. I was pretty impressed i thought it had nice growl from the rear p/u (which was really comfortable too) and the neck p/u was pretty clear as well .

I have 0 experience with Gibson or short scale basses so when I got home I searched on here and was disappointed with people's opinions on them. I did notice most people talked about the old EB's not much about newer stuff .

So has anyone else tryed them and been PLEASANTLY surprised by the SG ? I was really diggin' it until I saw the price ($1300) which is way too much.

What do you think of 'em ?

 

[cheezewiz]

Everyone doesn't hate Gibsons. The Tbird is one of the classic rock and roll basses.

 

[amistybleu]

I like Gibsons, great craftsmanship.

 

[nubs]

i'd gladly take a thunderbird, just for my collection other than that, if the Gibson necks didn't feel like a baseball bat i would like them allot more

 

[homercaholic]

Dont a lot of Gibsons have some neck dive issues? I seem to remember this being a problem with a lot of them.

 

[SuperSnake2012]

I saw a used Thunderbird at Sam Ash and I played one into their Ampeg SVTCL and the 8x10 and it sounded awful. The bass was probably messed up because it had a broken headstock that was reglued.

 

[havik180]

OK let me be more specific

Why don't people like the SG reissue ? Do they just associate them with the EB's and muddy pickups or is it something else ?

 

[Earwigger]

The underlying premise is that Gibson basses are severely overpriced. An SG is NOT worth 1300$ no matter how you spin it.

 

[AlphaMale]

I like Gibson guitars, I don't like the basses the only one worth playing is the TB. And the EB looks like it was a good bass but then someone decided to stop making it.

 

[Nappa]

Over-priced to the extreme.

 

[vtwo]

Dont a lot of Gibsons have some neck dive issues? I seem to remember this being a problem with a lot of them.

I played a Tbird... the neck dive was so severe that it was distracting me from the tone of it. Gibsons are also overpriced, but if you like it then who's someone else to tell you otherwise? What makes you happy makes you happy.

 

[AxtoOx]

Love the Guitars, like other basses better. Don't dislike them, I just like others better. The T-Bird is a classic though.
Are the necks on the basses like the guitars? For instance, a 50's Les Paul neck is much thicker than a 60's. I have a 60 reissue VOS LP, it has a smaller neck, and that's one of the best guitars I've ever played. Including my PRS's.

 

[Indiana Mike]

Over-priced to the extreme.

+1​

 

[grygrx]

I love my SG reissue, granted I got it used and didn't pay full retail.

 

[corinpills]

Old Gibson basses are fantastic instruments, and a lot of great classic records were made with them, but the tone they produce has really fallen out of fashion. Personally, I'll take that "mud" any day over a lot of modern bass tones I hear.

 

[kevs]

I have a early 80's Gibson Victory bass and I love the quality and craftsmanship. I have heard that the newer Gibsons are slightly overpriced, but if you can afford it...go for it.

I'm more a Fender guy myself...

 

[spade2you]

Dont a lot of Gibsons have some neck dive issues? I seem to remember this being a problem with a lot of them.

Some neck dive? I like the tone, but I'm not dropping coin on something as poorly balanced as those basses. It's not an issue on their guitars, though. I still dig those.

 

[Unknowndude]

I saw a used Thunderbird at Sam Ash and I played one into their Ampeg SVTCL and the 8x10 and it sounded awful. The bass was probably messed up because it had a broken headstock that was reglued.

I've played that one too, haha. Yeah. Didn't sound very good and had really high action.

 

[bassman10096]

Originally Posted by homercaholic
Dont a lot of Gibsons have some neck dive issues? I seem to remember this being a problem with a lot of them.

Some neck dive? I like the tone, but I'm not dropping coin on something as poorly balanced as those basses. It's not an issue on their guitars, though. I still dig those.

Depends which Gibby you're talking about. SG's, EBO's, 3's etc are mostly short scale and generally don't have neck dive issues (or if they do, the short, light neck is not a problem). Tbirds and other long scale Gibsons, like the Rippers, G-3's, Victories, etc. are as different from each other as they are from the SG styles.

Originally Posted by Nappa
Over-priced to the extreme.

Everybody seems pretty certain about this. Why? An American made Fender costs a similar amount. If you don't like Gibsons, don't buy one - but don't blame it on the price.

 

[SherpaKahn]

I saw a used Thunderbird at Sam Ash and I played one into their Ampeg SVTCL and the 8x10 and it sounded awful. The bass was probably messed up because it had a broken headstock that was reglued.

I've played that exact bass. I didn't think it sounded so awful. I did think that you could have shot an arrow off the strings, the neck was so bowed, but I didn't think it sounded awful. Also, a well-done headstock repair (even though that repair looked a little messy, it seemed sound) should have almost no, if any impact on the sound.

Mind you, what did you exactly think it sounded like? I wasn't crazy about the strings on it, but I've played a T-bird at the 14th st. GC, and I actually dig the sound. It sounds MUCH better than the Epi Les Paul special bass, IMHO.