New Gibson ES-LesPaul Bass for 2016

[vates]

And here we go:
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2016/Memphis/ES-Les-Paul-Bass.aspx

I wonder if it's possible to order these pickups separately...

[uwe]

Why would one? They are rank and file TB Plus guitar size humbuckers, no matter what they say. I have one.

[vates]

No.

[uwe]

Yes.

"Pickups: Special design MHS Bass Humbuckers"

"Our Bass Humbuckers are fat, firm and juicy with outstanding clarity."

Alas!, that is how TB Plus guitarsize humbuckers have sounded ever since the long scale LP basses were introduced in 1993/94. There is nothing wrong with these pups, they have always sounded great, probably the best Gibson pup ever (better than their soapbar siblings even), but there is nothing discernibly new about them. The same bla-bla was given with the reissued Flying V and the ES 335 bass. Those pups all look and sound the same to me.

[Dave W]

Wow. It's up $300 over last year. Pricewise, Gibson Memphis is going in the opposite direction of Gibson USA. Then again, Gibson Memphis didn't experience the sales disaster and customer backlash.

[vates]

Their specs look considerably different:

Pickups   Rhythm                                                                                              Lead
Style:   MHS Bass Humbucker                                                                      MHS Bass Humbucker
Winds/Coil: Screw side/Slug side:   4900/5100                                              5200/5400
Material of Wire (gauge):   Enamel (42)                                                              Enamel (42)
Coil Dimensions (per coil):   6.6294 cm x 1.7272 mm / 2.61" x 0.68 "      6.6294 cm x 1.7272 mm / 2.61" x 0.68 "
Coil Material:   ABS                                                                                              ABS
Coil Winding Process:   Scatter Wound                                                              Scatter Wound
Pole Piece Material:   Nickel plated steel                                                              Nickel plated steel
Pole Piece Position from Nut:   57.277 cm / 22.55"                                              71.501 cm / 28.15"
Slug Material:   Nickel plated steel                                                                                      Nickel plated steel
Slug Dimensions (diameter x length):   4.7498 mm x 1.24206 cm / 0.187" x .489"      4.7498 mm x 1.24206 cm / 0.187" x .489"
Magnet Material:   Alnico III                                                                                              Alnico II
Magnet Position from Nut:   58.166 cm / 22.9"                                                              72.39 cm / 28.50"
Magnet Dimensions:   6.35 cm x 1.27 mm / 2.5" x 0.5"                                               6.35 cm x 1.27 mm / 2.5" x 0.5"
Polarities:   Screw side is the south pole of magnet                                                              Screw side is the south pole of magnet
Cover:   Nickel plated                                                                                                      Nickel plated
Qfactor:   3.15                                                                                                                        2.76
ResistanceDC:   7510 ohms                                                                                              8070 ohms
Resonant Frequency:   3233.81 Hz                                                                              3050.44 Hz

Tonal & Resonant Advancements:
New design, custom wound bass humbuckers

[Chris P.]

This not new? Just the same one as last year?

[uwe]

Their specs look considerably different:

Pickups   Rhythm                                                                                              Lead
Style:   MHS Bass Humbucker                                                                      MHS Bass Humbucker
Winds/Coil: Screw side/Slug side:   4900/5100                                              5200/5400
Material of Wire (gauge):   Enamel (42)                                                              Enamel (42)
Coil Dimensions (per coil):   6.6294 cm x 1.7272 mm / 2.61" x 0.68 "      6.6294 cm x 1.7272 mm / 2.61" x 0.68 "
Coil Material:   ABS                                                                                              ABS
Coil Winding Process:   Scatter Wound                                                              Scatter Wound
Pole Piece Material:   Nickel plated steel                                                              Nickel plated steel
Pole Piece Position from Nut:   57.277 cm / 22.55"                                              71.501 cm / 28.15"
Slug Material:   Nickel plated steel                                                                                      Nickel plated steel
Slug Dimensions (diameter x length):   4.7498 mm x 1.24206 cm / 0.187" x .489"      4.7498 mm x 1.24206 cm / 0.187" x .489"
Magnet Material:   Alnico III                                                                                              Alnico II
Magnet Position from Nut:   58.166 cm / 22.9"                                                              72.39 cm / 28.50"
Magnet Dimensions:   6.35 cm x 1.27 mm / 2.5" x 0.5"                                               6.35 cm x 1.27 mm / 2.5" x 0.5"
Polarities:   Screw side is the south pole of magnet                                                              Screw side is the south pole of magnet
Cover:   Nickel plated                                                                                                      Nickel plated
Qfactor:   3.15                                                                                                                        2.76
ResistanceDC:   7510 ohms                                                                                              8070 ohms
Resonant Frequency:   3233.81 Hz                                                                              3050.44 Hz

Tonal & Resonant Advancements:
New design, custom wound bass humbuckers

"Considerable" is a term of sophistic relativity here!



They really don't sound noticably different, but then the TB Plus soapies were changed several times over the years too, yet always retained their core nature.

Anybody that wants a beautiful, well-made shortie with a great sound that not every Joe Blow plays - and has the money to spare - should take a close look at this goodie btw. Esthetically one of the most marvellous Gibson basses ever.

[Granny Gremlin]

Esthetically one of the most marvellous Gibson basses ever.

I dunno about that.  The f holes look so shoehorned in on that tiny LP body.  I have also found it completely silly that "ES" is in the name, but this nomenclature stretch isn't half as odd as some of their others in recent history, and only bothers me , really, because it makes me think, for a second, that they put out a nice full size proper hollow bass every time I see it (this isn't the first time we've had this problem, brain; learn your lesson dammit).

I haven't had the pleasure to try one, but I wonder what useful purpose (other than weight reduction) partially hollowing out an LP bass could have (I get it a bit more with the 6 banger). I actually would be worried that it would detract from the LPB sound.  Usually an f hole gives me instant wood, as it were, but I'm immune to this one's charms.

[uwe]

It doesn't sound that solidbody LPBish at all, looks can be deceiving. More like an exquisite Höfner. If you want a roaring LPB sound, buy the BFG or an LPB Standard, this is an LP in look only.

[Basvarken]

It is definitely not my cup of tea. The F holes don't go well with the small body. I think it looks too crowded for F holes.

[Pilgrim]

It is definitely not my cup of tea. The F holes don't go well with the small body. I think it looks too crowded for F holes.

I agree.  I think they'd more more tolerable if the cutaway wasn't there, but even so there's something a little "off" about that f-hole setup.

[Dave W]

This not new? Just the same one as last year?

Same as last year. 2015 page

Looks like Musicians Friend still has 2015s in stock at $3199.

I agree that either the f-holes are too big or the body is too small. And IIRC from last year's thread, the top barely has an arch.

[Granny Gremlin]

So what Dave is saying is that it is a low budget (as in cheaper to make - routed center slab with back and front caps, barely carved so cheaper to on the labour and materials) semi hollow body instrument, priced at what a boutique proper  hollowbody jazz archtop would cost.  Gibson pulled another Gibson.

[4stringer77]

Sweet! A new Gibson bass for 2016!
What a bargain for 3 grand especially considering how good it sounds in this demo.