The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Basvarken on March 31, 2008, 04:03:43 AM

Title: G4 prototype
Post by: Basvarken on March 31, 2008, 04:03:43 AM

At a gig I did last week a guy in the audience spotted my Gibson Les Paul Bass. After the gig he came to me and said he had a Gibson bass too, but he had not used it in twenty years. When I asked him what model it is he said it's a G4. I told him he must mistaken. Gibson only made the G3. He said oh well maybe you're right.
But since the G3 has been on my wish list for quite a while I asked him if he'd consider selling it. He wasn't sure, but he asked me for my email address, so he could send pictures.

Here's what he sent me today.... :o


(http://www.superfloor.net/G4BODY.jpg)

(http://www.superfloor.net/HEADSTOCKG4.jpg)


He's asking 450 euro for it.
I'm going to pick it up tomorrow!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: godofthunder on March 31, 2008, 04:07:54 AM

WOW ! Thats a deal ! Gibson in the 70's gotta love 'em. Sliding pickups, bolt on maple necks, alder or maple bodies and now  a G4 ! What ever they were smok'n must have been real good.

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: ramone57 on March 31, 2008, 04:16:57 AM

nice!  looks to be in great shape, too.   congrats!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: exiledarchangel on March 31, 2008, 04:19:27 AM

WOW! That's something special!!! Nice score!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: uwe on March 31, 2008, 04:19:49 AM

Jealousy is eating me up inside!!!  :'( I sure hope you hate it and then sell it to me!!!!  ;D :D ;D

Great catch, gratuliere!

Uwe

PS: This has to go on Jules' site once you have it.

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: drbassman on March 31, 2008, 04:55:12 AM

A great deal for sure!  A very unusual piece that I'd grad in a minute!  Although the thing looks like it was designed by Teisco!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Chris P. on March 31, 2008, 04:57:11 AM

Wow Rob! Nice! Congrats!! Really nice! It's great such things still happen:)

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Chris P. on March 31, 2008, 05:12:05 AM

BTW: I'm curious about the controls (and sound of course) of this four pick up beast.

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Bart! on March 31, 2008, 05:25:25 AM

Wow Rob, great story and a great score! It`s in good hands for sure.  :)

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: SKATE RAT on March 31, 2008, 05:37:14 AM

WOW,that freakin' cool !

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Nocturnal on March 31, 2008, 05:59:19 AM

That looks pretty cool!! And a great price at that!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Dave W on March 31, 2008, 07:21:54 AM

That's quite a discovery, undetected all these years.

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: shadowcastaz on March 31, 2008, 08:01:43 AM

That is a great score. Congrats!! Should be interesting how it is wired through the switch.Good things come to good people.

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Chris P. on March 31, 2008, 08:11:50 AM

Quote from: shadowcastaz on March 31, 2008, 08:01:43 AM

Good things come to good people.

Rob's a moody and slick graphic designer. I won't call him good....


;)

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Granny Gremlin on March 31, 2008, 09:32:53 AM

Holy shit - great score - look at the shape it's in!  Congrats (more so for being able to make Uwe jealous - first time ever I think).

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: EvilLordJuju on March 31, 2008, 09:54:10 AM

Wow is the word.

Any idea what the 4 positions are?

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: chromium on March 31, 2008, 10:05:16 AM

 :o  Very cool!

You know you have to buy this bass now, right?  :)

I'm curious about the wiring too.  I mean really, aside from rock'n'roll excess, why four pickups?  Maybe they're RW/RP or something - to act as a pair of humbuckers in certain varitone settings?

If he's close by, and you go over to audtion it - bring a screwdriver, compass, and a camera!   ;D   Curious minds want to know...

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: doombass on March 31, 2008, 01:11:28 PM

Some discovery indeed! Wow, congratulations Rob.

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: uwe on March 31, 2008, 02:13:50 PM

My jealeousy is mounting. I wish it was 1940 again and I had my parachute ...

; - )

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: n!k on March 31, 2008, 02:41:19 PM

Gibson should now create the G5 with an added piezo pickup in the bridge  :D

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: exiledarchangel on March 31, 2008, 02:48:47 PM

Quote from: n!k on March 31, 2008, 02:41:19 PM

Gibson should now create the G5 with an added piezo pickup in the bridge  :D

Or make some space and stuff a mudbucker ... ... ...

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Nocturnal on March 31, 2008, 04:29:48 PM

Quote from: uwe on March 31, 2008, 02:13:50 PM

My jealeousy is mounting. I wish it was 1940 again and I had my parachute ...

; - )

I was wondering if this bass would cause another German invasion!!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: chromium on March 31, 2008, 04:52:23 PM

Quote from: n!k on March 31, 2008, 02:41:19 PM

Gibson should now create the G5 with an added piezo pickup in the bridge  :D

Why stop at 5?  There's still room!   ;D

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/07/07/books/pc-tap190.jpg)

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Bass VI on March 31, 2008, 11:07:09 PM

Crap!!
Just when I reinvent the G3 with a six way switch, Gibson gets in their time machine goes back and invents one with four pickups and a four way switch! Well, mine has a set neck......................................

Title: Okay guys...
Post by: Basvarken on March 31, 2008, 11:37:32 PM

Drumroll....











you









have









been










(http://www.superfloor.net/BACKPLATEG4.jpg)





 ;D


Have a nice day,
Rob


pssst... your shoelaces are undone

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: exiledarchangel on April 01, 2008, 12:56:46 AM

That was a good one!!! But you never know with Gibson...

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Dave W on April 01, 2008, 12:57:46 AM

BWAHAHAHAHA! Good one, Rob.  ;D

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Chris P. on April 01, 2008, 01:21:53 AM

GREAT!

I already mailed Rob: Almost too good to be true: A prototype with 'prototype' on it, while all the other real prototypes are discussed for home made or not;)

But you had me Rob!!!!!!!

Poor Uwe... I guess he hasn't slept last night... I don't think this is good for the relationship between Germany and Holland;)

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Bart! on April 01, 2008, 02:25:52 AM

Cool!
Uwe, will you be so kind to ask if if they will retreat the Hanomags from my bike?

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: uwe on April 01, 2008, 03:30:36 AM

Rob, you  brilliant bastard!

Love it, great one!

Unfortunately, I can't call the bombers back anymore, they've shut their radios off ...  ;)

Uwe 

PS: Now we're stung. Who will build the first G-4 with a varitone?

PPS: Of course, all Dutch board members knew of this scheme beforehand - they always conspire. As I'm typing, the arrest warrants are going out ...

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: shadowcastaz on April 01, 2008, 07:00:11 AM

Hook ,line & sinkah!!!! Good one .

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: EvilLordJuju on April 01, 2008, 07:09:14 AM

Very well done indeed!

I did think it a bit fishy (with the word prototype on the TRC), but you did a very good job with those images.

I wonder how much you could have sold it to Uwe for, before coming clean.

But, yeah great idea. Someone build one!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Chris P. on April 01, 2008, 07:18:13 AM

Yeah, having it sold it to Uwe would have been great too ;D

Of course we all knew about it Uwe. Just getting even with you!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: chromium on April 01, 2008, 08:28:36 AM

 ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

Good one - nicely done!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: TBird1958 on April 01, 2008, 08:42:56 AM

 Very nice Rob!.........

Remember to duck for bombs falling out of Heinkels   ;)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/he111-3.jpg)

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Dave W on April 01, 2008, 01:16:46 PM

We interrupt this thread for an important April 1st report from the Netherlands: http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/europe/080401-eu-sexy-politicians  ;D

Right now there are two reader comments up and they both think it's a real story.  ;)

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Chris P. on April 01, 2008, 01:29:07 PM

Hadn't seen that one yet! :) Until now the G4 was te only one which got me!

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: Dave W on April 01, 2008, 04:51:39 PM

Chris, just so you know, I don't ordinarily read Radio Netherlands' website.  :)  One of the blogs I subscribe to is written by a Dutch-born American, that's where I got the link.

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: gweimer on April 01, 2008, 05:28:06 PM

Nicely played!   :D

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: godofthunder on April 01, 2008, 05:33:31 PM

I bought it hook line and sinker.  Best April fool ever !

Title: Re: G4 prototype
Post by: SKATE RAT on April 01, 2008, 06:23:55 PM

boo yaa