The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Hörnisse on October 19, 2016, 07:29:37 PM

Title: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: Hörnisse on October 19, 2016, 07:29:37 PM
Definitely a one piece neck Grabber. 

(http://i66.tinypic.com/kesnzm.jpg)
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: OldManC on October 19, 2016, 07:47:42 PM
Is that Tim Finn? (on vocals) :mrgreen: 

(And nice Grabber!)
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: pjm on October 19, 2016, 08:09:13 PM
Scary clown
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: clankenstein on October 19, 2016, 08:57:49 PM
Thats mike chunn. it think thats wally wilkerson? next to him with what looks like a madill double neck.Although it looks a lot like eddie rayner(keys). mike chunn went on to a madill bass which he still plays.
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: Hörnisse on October 20, 2016, 10:51:48 AM
Very cool info Clankenstein.  I've been on a Split Enz tear as of late.  Here is another photo I found of the Grabber.  It seems like many of these one piece neck Grabber basses were imported.  2 of the ones I've owned I found in Canada. 

(http://i63.tinypic.com/35mi1dz.jpg)

Mike Chunn and Eddie Rayner, 1976

Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: uwe on October 20, 2016, 12:02:06 PM
I knew the day would come where someone - anyone! - here mentions Split Enz. Danke, danke, danke! Vastly underrated band. Kind of a glam/prog DEVO, they both had that surrealist/deconstructive approach to music without taking it too far (think of Captain Beefheart in Trout Replica Mask era, I'm still working hard at trying to understand that album).

Can we now have a Skyhooks thread too? They came from that other Oceanic island. Don't be fooled by the monitor box, Split Enz were Kiwis.
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: clankenstein on October 20, 2016, 12:17:24 PM
The bass mike chunn used before the grabber was a les paul truimph!  I thought Split enz were really good and always great live - i first saw them in 1974 and the last time was 2008.The bass player they got after mike chunn left,nigel griggs,was no slouch even if he prefered bc rich basses to gibson.Cool photos !
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: ilan on October 20, 2016, 12:36:33 PM
I need a little education.  What is a one piece neck Grabber and how can you tell. Thx
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: Hörnisse on October 20, 2016, 12:55:31 PM
The straight headstock and skunk stripe on back of the neck are the giveaway.  Including Uwe's and mine I know of at least 7 that exist. 

(http://i68.tinypic.com/10gws9h.jpg)
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: ilan on October 20, 2016, 01:11:53 PM
Thanks.
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: amptech on October 21, 2016, 12:29:12 AM
I notice the nut is slim too; on my 'regular' grabber the nut is full size.
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: 4stringer77 on October 21, 2016, 07:33:55 AM
Is the one piece neck more desirable for any reason other than rarity?
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: uwe on October 21, 2016, 10:21:37 AM
I beg you, Hörnisse and I need to have something that makes us stand out!  ;D

Perhaps in the realm of voodoo acoustics where there are things such as "uneven evening electricity" that needs to be "cleansed" before you feed it in your hi-end contraptions. My ears don't hear a difference between two- or three-ply necks (if the same type of wood is used) on one hand and a one piece neck on the other. Nor do I hear a multi-ply neck with a scarfed headstock (also a feature of later Grabber necks so they could get the angle right) sound any worse than a one piece neck with integrated headstock.

I guess there is an argument that a multi-ply neck isn't as potentially warp-prone as a one piece neck, but I have seen warped multi-ply necks and unwarped one piece necks. The number of warped one piece necks to warped multi-ply necks is probably higher though from what I have personally witnessed, but - Is Dave around?  :-X - I claim no scientific relevance whatsoever for my strictly anecdotal evidence.

The very early Grabbers sound airier and more responsive than the bassier and more compressed- and focused-sounding later models, but I always attributed that to the alder bodies the early ones employed (as opposed to the heavy maple bodies of the later ones).
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: Hörnisse on October 21, 2016, 04:23:43 PM
(http://i67.tinypic.com/oivt5z.jpg)
(http://i66.tinypic.com/9sw7xf.jpg)
(http://i65.tinypic.com/282l2du.jpg)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/20uveb8.jpg)
(http://i67.tinypic.com/2hofx5c.jpg)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/2wd282d.jpg)
(http://i63.tinypic.com/107ucn5.jpg)
(http://i68.tinypic.com/2m4wpb4.jpg)
(http://i66.tinypic.com/1z5uogn.jpg)
(http://i67.tinypic.com/24ci1si.jpg)
(http://i65.tinypic.com/ivd9mv.jpg)
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: Highlander on October 21, 2016, 04:38:40 PM
Used to cover I Got You... I have a nasty recording I taped at a rehearsal somewhere... :vader:
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: RedVee on October 22, 2016, 01:07:19 AM
I knew the day would come where someone - anyone! - here mentions Split Enz. Danke, danke, danke! Vastly underrated band. Kind of a glam/prog DEVO, they both had that surrealist/deconstructive approach to music without taking it too far (think of Captain Beefheart in Trout Replica Mask era, I'm still working hard at trying to understand that album).

Can we now have a Skyhooks thread too? They came from that other Oceanic island. Don't be fooled by the monitor box, Split Enz were Kiwis.

Skyhooks fan here; but I don't remember Greg Macainsh ever using a Gibson bass tho
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: SpankyAndy on October 26, 2016, 07:00:36 PM
Nigel Griggs uses a Gibson G3 in the video for Split Enz's very last single release "I walk away" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cvZOGzfqWU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cvZOGzfqWU)

Cheers

Andy
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: clankenstein on October 26, 2016, 11:46:57 PM
You may enjoy this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggfghkJLm2U
Title: Re: Split Enz circa 1975
Post by: RedVee on November 11, 2016, 10:22:13 PM
Skyhooks fan here; but I don't remember Greg Macainsh ever using a Gibson bass tho
Correction: just saw a clip from 'the Willesee interview' and he looks like he has a Ripper (?). It is an obviously mimed appearance though.