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1

Gibson Basses / Finally...My Other Gibson

« on: October 06, 2020, 05:39:05 PM »

Hello everyone - it's been a while since I stopped in. Hope everyone is staying well.
I still lurk though. I just don't have much to offer in Gibsonland, though I will be upgrading my LP eventually.

But finally, I have new grist for the mill. My last gig was in March, and there's nothing for the foreseeable future, but I've managed to buy 3 basses on my "Gee, I'd like to try one of those" list. So here is the latest:

1987 Gibson IV in closet-queen shape. It was played but barely, no scratches through the finish, totally straight and included OHSC.
It was reasonably priced. It had 17 watchers, 2 offers and one person had it in their cart. I gave it 3 days. If nobody jumped it, I was in.

I had a 2000 TBird for a few years and always loved these pickups. I always wanted them back in this body.

It showed up with some ratty RW strings that kinda spooked me. It was so scooped I though I bought purdy dawg....Not my memory of it. O threw on a set of Chromes and man it just woke right up!!! Fat and full of authority, just like I remembered!!!

I am really enamored with this bass. It's in great+ condition and plays/sounds great. I feel I caught another good one. That's 3 in a row.

Should stop pushing my luck!!! Stay well everybody!!! Do what you must to hold the line.

No buckle rash either!

2

Gibson Basses / 2018 Gibson Parts @ Stratosphere

« on: January 05, 2018, 12:11:14 PM »

FYI for all the guitar players.
I haven't gone through all the pages so I can't say whether there are bass parts as well - please move if somewhere else is more appropriate.

These guys buy up tons of instruments and part them out. As a result they have pieces that are otherwise difficult to come across. Last year I found exactly what I was looking for in a genuine 2015 Fender AVRI 63 Precision body, and it worked out great. Good hunting!

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#trash/160c764c58f68014

3

Gibson Basses / USA TBird Pickups on Reverb

« on: December 18, 2017, 11:49:53 AM »

Just giving a head's up:

https://reverb.com/item/7662660-gibson-usa-thunderbird-bass-2001-black?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIreXi8puU2AIVDJ7ICh2NuwBgEAEYASABEgLvGfD_BwE&pla=1

4

The Outpost Cafe / Massive Stars Guitars Auction Saturday

« on: November 30, 2017, 11:13:17 AM »

https://www.guernseys.com/v2/guitars_musical_treasures.html

Some treasures, some very interesting items like live performances on reels of tape, as well as masters.

A lot of stuff - bring your shekels.

5

The Outpost Cafe / Kissed Off!

« on: November 17, 2017, 06:43:10 AM »

Looks like our favorite knucklehead got the boot from Fox - forever!!!

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/fox-news-bans-kiss-frontman-gene-simmons-for-life/ar-BBF47Tj?li=BBnb4R7

According to a knowledgeable Fox News source, Simmons showed up on the 14th floor to do a book-plugging interview with FoxNews.com’s entertainment section, but instead barged in on a staff meeting uninvited.

“Hey chicks, sue me!” he shouted, and then pulled open his red velvet shirt to reveal his chest and belly, according to the source. Then he starting telling Michael Jackson pedophilia jokes, and then bopped two employees on the head with his book, making derisive comments about their comparative intelligence according to the sound their heads made when struck.

“It was pretty severe,” the source said.

But like they say, there's no such thing as bad press..

6

The Bass Zone / An Unexpected Display of Technique

« on: October 24, 2017, 09:08:19 AM »

So I'm channel surfing and I hit on my local Public Access channel which was listing Latin Jazz Festival.

This amounted to a Latin Jazz band in the TV studio riffing through a bunch of tunes. They weren't kids, clearly accomplished players.
Sax, trap drummer, conga player with an array of congas, keys and bass guitar.

They were pretty good, but here's what really grabbed me. Bass player was a lefty with a lefty 5 string Carvin.

But it was strung as an upside down righty!!!! B string at the bottom and the G on top.

This wasn't like just looking in the mirror - it was like looking in the mirror while standing on your head! He played seamlessly fingerstyle and had even developed a method of slap/pop. He used his middle finger to tap the string over the neck (a la Entwistle's typewriter style) and then pop the G with his thumb. He was pretty darn good at it too, and quick. I don't slap myself so any display that's musical (not just chops heavy) gets my attention. He was working some nice licks.

It's pretty amazing how adaptable one can get with some focus and application. I was thoroughly impressed.

7

Gibson Basses / Mint '66 Embassy

« on: August 22, 2017, 09:43:38 AM »

With hang tag no less! Never seen one so clean.

https://reverb.com/item/6365809-epiphone-embassy-deluxe-1966-cherry

8

Gibson Basses / Gibson Price Drops at MF

« on: August 03, 2017, 04:04:51 AM »

I see only 2 EB's affected, but for those of you looking for a guitar this might work..

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/gibson-price-drops?src=3TP7H2D&mscr=2083342_575040#pageName=collection-page&N=3008653&Nao=0&recsPerPage=30&profileCountryCode=US&profileCurrencyCode=USD

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Guitars Etc. / 63 Korina Explorer

« on: July 28, 2017, 04:03:05 AM »

I came across this in an email from Elderly Music. I didn't know they had one.
Time to go through the sofa cushions for booty....

https://www.elderly.com/instruments/web-vault/gibson-explorer-1963.htm

10

Gibson Basses / Epiphone Delight

« on: July 09, 2017, 09:52:04 AM »

I have an Epi JC that I bought a couple of years ago and I really like it, especially since I updated the hardware. I have tried various strings on it - Dean Markley Nickel Rounds, Chromes, DR Blues, Dunlop Nickels. All sound pretty good (different, but good), but I had a chance to try something that for me was completely different.

Last December Jason at bassstringonline.com (I get almost all of my strings from him - highly recommended) offered these:
LB_750GAME La Bella Limited Edition "Game of Death" Gold White Nylon Tapewounds 4-String Set 50-105.

The only tapewounds I ever tried/used was Fender's back in the 70's. I figured I would give it a shot.
(Aside - due to a snafu at bsol they were marked shipped but never sent. By the time this was discovered he had no more in stock so he had LaBella make a set just for me and send them direct. That was very cool!

)

What I like is that this set is in a standard gauge vs the current 060, .070, .094, .115.
http://www.labella.com/products/760g-gold-white-nylon-tape-standard-60-115/

I finally put them on the JC and gigged it this past Friday.

In a word, Wow! They really sounded great. Excellent fundamental (the E string roared), super easy to play. They are by nature a softer feel so some concientious attack control on my part was in order (I have a pretty heavy hand), but I am lovin' 'em. I only hope that at some point LaBella offers them in these gauges again. I'll have to look into that some more with Jason.
I'm not crazy about playing rope.

Anyway, thought I'd share an excellent discovery. Well worth a try.

11

The Outpost Cafe / How do I Insert a Youtube Video into my post?

« on: June 26, 2017, 06:39:36 AM »

I'm afraid my lack of techno is now apparent....

Thanks.

12

Gibson Basses / Two TBird II's

« on: June 06, 2017, 11:08:28 AM »

From the same seller (no affiliation).

Refin - looks really good in that color:

https://reverb.com/item/5522375-gibson-thunderbird-ii-bass-1965-pelham-blue-unbroken-nitro-refin-by-lay-s

Original - seems a bit steep, but what do I know:

https://reverb.com/item/5521966-vintage-gibson-thunderbird-ii-bass-1965-2-color-sunburst-nice-shape-rare-unbroken-headstock

Are these valued at the going rate(s)?

13

Other Bass Brands / My "Phoenix" G&L L2000

« on: May 25, 2017, 04:53:14 AM »

This has been an ongoing resurrection, many weeks in the making, that is finally complete. Road tests have finally been performed.

I saved my squirrely necked '81 G&L L2K by installing a Moses Graphite composite replacement neck. There was a touch of trickiness in the installation.
These necks require inserts for machine screws to be installed in them for assembly. Because these are 3* bolt necks I specifically asked Moses about the bottom insert possibly hitting the truss rod since it's on center. They assured my it was a clear shot. Right....more like a direct hit.
Thanks to the skill of my tech of many years he was able to overcome this minor setback and make it work successfully.
*This is only an issue with the 3 bolt layout - newer G&L's with more bolts have no issues.

I also had a brand new G&L preamp harness installed to replace the original pre which was fried.

I have it strung with GHS Precision Flats (my current flat of choice) and it sounds wonderful. The notes are tight and focused, very rich in the lows and low mids, a bit of snap up top. There is a touch of compression but it is not sterile sounding at all. I find this to be a highly successful mod/upgrade over the original neck. I am very glad (and relieved) to have this work out!

(It's not a Gibson but I feel I should at least get partial credit for the beautiful hunk of mahogany that is the body of this beast.)