The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Dave W on August 06, 2013, 02:18:46 PM
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I played a very nice one in a shop today, didn't look at the s/n but had to be early 70s as it has a nylon saddle bridge. Asking price is $2300. That's high, isn't it?
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I'd say yeah probably a bit high yes.
I think we discussed prices a while ago and the consensus was somewhere between 1500 and 1800 USD?
Was the one you saw a Les Paul Bass with large control plate (aka Triumph) or with the smaller oval control plate?
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It had the larger control plate.
I do remember the thread where we talked price, couldn't remember what the conclusion was. Thanks. Considering the good condition and that it's in a retail shop with overhead, maybe closer to $1800 is reasonable.
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I haven't seen a nice one locally for a long time. That "Tilt-O-Matic" bridge must come at a premium cost!
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Call me crazy, but I actually prefer the Evertilt over the three point bridge.
Must be the unnotched nylon saddles.
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I haven't seen a nice one locally for a long time. That "Tilt-O-Matic" bridge must come at a premium cost!
It's at Lavonne's down in Savage.
Looked up the last two actually sold on eBay. One in a little rougher shape than this one went for $1525; the other was listed at $1700 by a dealer and a best offer was accepted. Even the three Triumphs currently on gBase are $2000 or less.
Call me crazy, but I actually prefer the Evertilt over the three point bridge.
Must be the unnotched nylon saddles.
You're not crazy. I like the unnotched nylon saddles.
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I agree on the bridge.....
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Can I ask an obvious question here...?
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because they're short scale (vs, more modern Gibson LP basses which are long/regular scale).
Uwe logic.
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It's at Lavonne's down in Savage.
Looked up the last two actually sold on eBay. One in a little rougher shape than this one went for $1525; the other was listed at $1700 by a dealer and a best offer was accepted. Even the three Triumphs currently on gBase are $2000 or less.
Lavonne's use to come down a reasonable amount from the asking price, it's been a while since I've been there though. Some years back, they had one of the heaviest original Les Paul Basses I'd ever picked up. The logo decal was scraped off exposing a square MOP inlay.
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because they're short scale (vs, more modern Gibson LP basses which are long/regular scale).
Uwe logic.
Small but fearless. With hairy feet.
BTW: I like the nylon saddles too - but they can easily be combined with a three point so all is well then! ;D
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You'd have to find someone who can tool these saddles then. Because the Evertilt saddles and three point saddles are not interchangable...
I've tried that 8)
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Uwe, only vintage nylon 2-point saddles give you that vintage tone! :P
I'm still thinking this over. They would have to come down a lot before I'd buy.
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I might have mistaken this then with the very earliest three-points which still had nylon saddles, eg the famed SB 350ies/450ies!
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Excuse my ignorance (again)...what model?
???
P
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Excuse my ignorance (again)...what model?
???
P
The solidbody Les Paul basses of 1969 to 1979.
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the original Gibson Les Paul Bass (http://"http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/LesPaulBass.php") (low Z pickups) and the successor model The LP Triumph (http://"http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/LesPaulTriumph.php").
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No model I'm allowed to say something about here without the Minnesotan's disparaging comments.
But I'll give it a try: To combat the deluge of Far-Eastern cheapo guitars, Gibson set about in the early seventies to come up with some more budgety non-maho SG body shape models called SB-300 (short scale), SB-400 (long sclae) as well as their successors SB-350 (short scale) and SB-450 (long scale).
(http://www.flyguitars.com/graphics/1973-SB450-natural-1.jpg)
More info here, thanks to Jules' painstaking archivist's work:
http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/SB.php
http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/1973gibsonSB450.php
As with my SPCB
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00309-20100916-1229.jpg)
and SRCB 5-stringer
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00311-20100916-1231.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00312-20100916-1232.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00313-20100916-1232.jpg)
my humble ownership of all four specimen of the SB series is generally met with derision here, but I have long gotten over the pain and general feeling of neglect.
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I don't think you get any derision for the SBs - no shame there (or very little; respectable enough). It's more the SPCBs and 2020 which make us laugh (I remember when you got the blue one.... I was apparently AWOL when the 5er came in). It's actually uglier than I remember.
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The SB basses aren't the worst sounding basses I've ever heard, nor the ugliest I've ever seen. How's that for a compliment? ;D
Seriously, the ones I've heard just didn't sound good to me. Nothing terrible, yet nothing I would buy.
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I checked out a walnut SB bass once, shortscale with two small singlecoils.
I think it's one of the worst sounding and playing bass I've laid my hands on, but it did need a setup.
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Lavonne's use to come down a reasonable amount from the asking price, it's been a while since I've been there though. Some years back, they had one of the heaviest original Les Paul Basses I'd ever picked up. The logo decal was scraped off exposing a square MOP inlay.
I called back and talked to Pete, he says the tag reads $2500, not $2300. Problem is, turns out it's a consignment. He called the owner who said he could come down to $2250. I told Pete thanks but way too high in light of what the last two sold on eBay went for.
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Did'nt we call the SB basses banana basses ?
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Why did you have to bring that up, John?!
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I called back and talked to Pete, he says the tag reads $2500, not $2300. Problem is, turns out it's a consignment. He called the owner who said he could come down to $2250. I told Pete thanks but way too high in light of what the last two sold on eBay went for.
The guitar would have to be in unplayed condition to justify that kind of money. If it sits there long enough, he might come to his senses....................
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The guitar would have to be in unplayed condition to justify that kind of money. If it sits there long enough, he might come to his senses....................
Maybe. I won't hold my breath.
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The guitar would have to be in unplayed condition to justify that kind of money. If it sits there long enough, he might come to his senses....................
Or be the rarer white finish (or the ever elusive single black one they ever made) in decent shape.
Mint white ones can go for up to 4K, usually 2.5 to 3. Nobody's seen the black one for years as far as I know.
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Or be the rarer white finish (or the ever elusive single black one they ever made) in decent shape.
Mint white ones can go for up to 4K, usually 2.5 to 3. Nobody's seen the black one for years as far as I know.
Olivia's has a 1979 in Silverburs (http://oliviasvintageguitars.com/bass/guitars/228/)t for a mere $5,995.
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Thinking about checking out this one (http://www.solidbodyguitar.com/lespaulbass.htm). It's a '77 for $1700. Knowing the store, that price won't be negotiable.
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I played the Hobbit at Lavonne's last week. It played very nice, but nowhere near their asking price. I also liked the 75 fretless Ripper, and considered buying it, but I picked up two more fretted Rippers a few days before and couldn't justify it at the time.
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Oh, and Pete did say that they had another one in the back with a broken control plate that was much heavier. I'm not sure if it was going to be put out for sale or if it was in for repair.
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Thinking about checking out this one (http://www.solidbodyguitar.com/lespaulbass.htm). It's a '77 for $1700. Knowing the store, that price won't be negotiable.
I'd say that's a normal / good price for a great looking Les Paul Bass with original case.
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I played the Hobbit at Lavonne's last week. It played very nice, but nowhere near their asking price. I also liked the 75 fretless Ripper, and considered buying it, but I picked up two more fretted Rippers a few days before and couldn't justify it at the time.
Two more Rippers? Nice! Rippers seem to making a comeback around here!
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I'd say that's a normal / good price for a great looking Les Paul Bass with original case.
If it's in as good condition as it looks, without neck set issues, then it is a good price. I'm going to try to get over there on Monday.
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That appears to be a nice one (I like the natural ones much more when they're darker like this one). Looks all original with the knobs and control plate (those are always the first things to go, and finding a "bass" knob if it's broken or missing is a bear let me tell you - the repro ones don't fit rightas they're Japenese/metric vs Imperial... I ended up using Ric knobs for the tone controls, since mine is pretty heavily modified already and will never be sold if I can help it).
Anyway, it's a fair price, but not a particular deal or anything (not that anything ever is in a guitar shop/dealer).
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Yeah, it's no steal but it's a realistic price.
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I've been calling since yesterday morning to make sure the bass is still there and that they're open, since the website has a question mark after the closing time. No answer and voice mailbox is full. They're no longer at the location shown in the photo on the website, and the map is old too. Now they're across town from me in a warehouse complex. Maybe they're only open by appointment any more. Whatever. If they can't be bothered, I'm not interested.
Edit: I know the owner's eBay handle, he has 85 items listed including a number of the high dollar guitars on the website -- but not the Hobbit. It could be long gone.
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GC Hollywood has a rare white one for $1,299!
SOLID BODY ELECTRIC
VINTAGE GIBSON LES PAUL BASS WHT WC (083013)
Details »
Bass
Guitar Center Hollywood
Hollywood, California 90046
323-874-1060
View Store's Used Inventory
Contact Store
Now Only
$1,299.99
(http://i41.tinypic.com/23iwevm.jpg)
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Thanks, I'll contact them. Odd that GC would have something priced so low unless there's a reason, but it's worth asking about.
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Thanks, I'll contact them. Odd that GC would have something priced so low unless there's a reason, but it's worth asking about.
They rarely know what anything is really worth. They paid around $400 for that bass.
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Nice - not even very yellowed!
They rarely know what anything is really worth. They paid around $400 for that bass.
And I thought I got a deal on mine.
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One of the few times I really miss living in LA. That's a beautiful bass!
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It was gone by the time I called. It might have been worthwhile but I'd rather have an earlier one in natural anyway. I can wait.
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Does it have to be a Triumph? Or would you also consider the earlier Les Paul bass, the one without the built in impedance transformer?
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I really prefer a Triumph, hopefully with a two-point.
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I think the Les Paul Bass (with smaller control plate) sounds a little better. More tone. The body is a bit thicker.
Plus it doesn't have the jackinput at the top side in the vulnerable plastic plate, but it has the jack input at the side. Which makes it less prone to break.
Oh, and they all have the Evertilt. ;)
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Despite acknowledging the added convenience of having the transformer built-in and the fact that added bass response of the original LPB's thicker body is definately not missed in the Triumph (there's a reason there's a bass cut knob in addition to the standard treble cut), I still wonder why the preference for the Triumph over the LPB Dave? Especially when it's so much easier to find an LPB with a 2 pnt vs a Triumph.
I guess the other difference is the body shape - more typical LP with the Triumph and more fattened Jazz guitar version with the LPB - also darker walnut finish vs lighter stain/trans on the Triumph.
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Both of you have valid points. I'd still rather have an early Triumph.
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Despite acknowledging the added convenience of having the transformer built-in and the fact that added bass response of the original LPB's thicker body is definately not missed in the Triumph (there's a reason there's a bass cut knob in addition to the standard treble cut),
No it doesn't have more bass. It has better tone. The difference isn't night and day. They're very much in the same ball park. But I think the early Les Paul Bass is slightly better tonewise.
I guess the other difference is the body shape - more typical LP with the Triumph and more fattened Jazz guitar version with the LPB - also darker walnut finish vs lighter stain/trans on the Triumph.
Outline shape is the same. The only difference is the thickness (±5 mm) and the lack of a belly cut at the early Les Paul Bass.
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Looks a bit chubbier in pics.
Alright Dave, but is there a reason (honestly curious).
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There's no specific reason, I don't know what else to tell you.
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Fair enough.
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That Hobbit at Solidbody has been there for a long time, possibly years. When did they move to Hopkins??
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That Hobbit at Solidbody has been there for a long time, possibly years. When did they move to Hopkins??
I'm not sure, probably within the past year. I haven't actually been in the store for over ten years, when they were in their original Mounds View store (not the one in the photo on the website). They don't seem to be in business as a retail store any more. That bass has probably been gone for years. I'm not wasting another minute trying to call.
Owner is barney-barnes on eBay. Some of the gear on the website is currently listed by him, I suspect the rest is gone.
Anyway, guys, I appreciate the suggestions but now I'm cool on the idea of buying one. Yes, I really did like the tone and feel of the one I played, but there are other priorities in my life and not enough money to fulfill all of them. Thanks.
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Looks like Dave's Guitar Shop has Dave's Hobbit, (even though the GAS has cooled to a liquid!). It even has an "Evertilt Tune-O-Matic bridge!
http://davesguitar.com/products/gibson/les-paul-bass-early-70s/
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Dave's is a treat to visit. Too much tempting gear though. You have to be strong-willed to resist.
EDIT: I see they have eight new Gibson basses in stock. That's a lot more than you'll find anywhere else in this part of the country.
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I'll hopefully be driving down there in a week or two to pick up the EB-0F when it's done with it's refin.......... He has much of the entire Gibson Bass line in several color options, I don't know where else you would see them all on one wall. Here is a photo I took when I dropped the bass off.
(http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Grog_03/DSC08402_zps7cd7bf4f.jpg) (http://s999.photobucket.com/user/Grog_03/media/DSC08402_zps7cd7bf4f.jpg.html)
Also, a few from his personal collection.......... I bought my 1959 EB-2 from him a while back.
(http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Grog_03/DSC08401_zpsc5fb5723.jpg) (http://s999.photobucket.com/user/Grog_03/media/DSC08401_zpsc5fb5723.jpg.html)(http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Grog_03/DSC08397_zps1209f379.jpg) (http://s999.photobucket.com/user/Grog_03/media/DSC08397_zps1209f379.jpg.html)
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Hey, that´s quite a museum you got there!
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Those photos were taken at Dave's Guitar Shop in Lacrosse Wisconsin.............. Wish they were mine!! :sad:
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the guitar center that i sometimes fall into never has more than one but mostly none new gibson products. the small local chain up the road usually has a much better gibson collection. question; i haven't seen a new ric in any store for more years than i can recall. why is that?
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Last time I was in Dave's the only new Gibson basses he had were T-birds but that was before Gibson did all these reissues and new models.
He used to sell Gibsons at well below MAP. Then when Gibson changed their internet sales policy he kicked them out. Then they mended their differences but he wasn't selling at below MAP any more. I wonder if that's changed.
He's always managed to have more Ricks in stock than anyone else too. Even when the guitars were in even shorter supply than the basses, he had a selection.
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I know he was one of Gibson's top sales people when he was still in his original store. Gibson would sell him their prototypes & guitars that didn't meet specs. He would repair them & sell them as used. I see he has at least one of the prototypes in his collection now. He also has quite a few Ric's & PRS guitars in his collection now. I only recalled Fenders & Gibsons before.
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He has a used Giffin Paxton (guitar) for sale. That was a special run built for an Oregon shop by Roger Giffin, the former Gibson west coast custom shop chief. A lot less money than Giffin's fancier models. Tempting.
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Those photos were taken at Dave's Guitar Shop in Lacrosse Wisconsin.............. Wish they were mine!! :sad:
That's more than a decent Gibson collection he has there.
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That's more than a decent Gibson collection he has there.
Here's Dave's personal Gibson collection (http://davesguitar.com/daves-collection/browse/brand/gibson?&view-all=true).
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Looks like Dave's Guitar Shop has Dave's Hobbit, (even though the GAS has cooled to a liquid!). It even has an "Evertilt Tune-O-Matic bridge!
http://davesguitar.com/products/gibson/les-paul-bass-early-70s/
She's a beaut. That's the one you want Dave (too bad about the price, on the high side of fair, but fair nonetheless).
Alo, Uwe has competition? Whoa.
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I've never even heard of a Giffin Paxton guitar.................. I don't know of anybody else that has that many personal guitars, out for public display as Dave. I don't know of anybody else that has that many personal guitars!! I think he could use a Hobbit and a few Low Impedance guitars in his herd, that's about all that is missing.
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I've never even heard of a Giffin Paxton guitar.................. I don't know of anybody else that has that many personal guitars, out for public display as Dave. I don't know of anybody else that has that many personal guitars!! I think he could use a Hobbit and a few Low Impedance guitars in his herd, that's about all that is missing.
You haven't heard of that particular model, or do you mean you haven't heard of Giffin? If it's the latter, maybe you missed this thread (http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=6604.0) and a couple of earlier ones. Roger Giffin (http://giffinguitars.com/) is a Brit who came to the US, worked for Gibson and is now headquartered in Portland. He has a reputation as a top-notch luthier. The Paxton series was made exclusively for Pro Guitar Shop in Portland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMt7bdoeKbs
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I totally missed that thread, just read it for the first time. Interesting stuff!!
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Dave... why did you post that link to that shop... you know it feeds my OCD... :o ;D