The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Grog on November 30, 2018, 08:09:48 AM

Title: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Grog on November 30, 2018, 08:09:48 AM
I don't think I've ever asked this here before. The case that my Les Paul bass came in is sort of unusual. I've never seen another like it. Has anybody else seen a case with this type of interior shipped with a Gibson?

(https://i.imgur.com/4QyYiQZ.jpg)
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Rob on November 30, 2018, 11:47:16 AM
I have seen something similar from Gibson but it was a brown leather exterior rectangular case with a satin cover that could be placed on top of the bass.
I saw it for sale at a music store that bought a storage unit full of guitar cases from Hard Rock in Orlando.  They couldn't tell what bass was supposed to fit.
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Pilgrim on November 30, 2018, 03:25:45 PM
That crushed velvet screams 70's.
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: FrankieTbird on November 30, 2018, 04:06:57 PM
Quote from: Grog on November 30, 2018, 08:09:48 AM
The case that my Les Paul bass came in is sort of unusual. I've never seen another like it. Has anybody else seen a case with this type of interior shipped with a Gibson?



I've never seen one like that, except for some Japanese cases.  The standard Gibson lining from the '60s was a plain yellow.  Is there a "Gibson" or "Lifton" logo anywhere on it?
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Dave W on November 30, 2018, 04:43:59 PM
I've seen that type of material but not in that color.
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Grog on November 30, 2018, 05:18:37 PM
There is no logo on it anywhere. The latches, stitching & other hardware looks identical to the Les Paul Personal case. The Les Paul Professional case is similar, but with chrome hardware & no stitching. Both of these cases have the usual yellow/gold interior. The bass case interior reminds me of something you would see in a trumpet case.

(https://i.imgur.com/9tp0wfs.jpg)
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Dave W on December 01, 2018, 03:44:48 PM
Maybe it was professionally repaired at some point. A good luggage repair shop can do work like that.
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Grog on December 01, 2018, 04:53:07 PM
Quote from: Dave W on December 01, 2018, 03:44:48 PM
Maybe it was professionally repaired at some point. A good luggage repair shop can do work like that.

That's a real good possibility............
In a 1973 catalog & price list, they featured these cases. It looks similar. It's hard to tell without a color photo. I've always considered this bass to be a 1970.

(https://i.imgur.com/BEnNAtd.jpg)

As an afterthought, the acoustic brother to this bass has a red crinkle fur inside it's case. Not as visible as the bass case though.........

(https://i.imgur.com/TVeA4PU.jpg)


Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Grog on January 10, 2019, 08:22:21 AM
A guy posted a photo of his LP Professional on the Les Paul Forum, trying to get some info on it. This is the only other case that looks the same as my bass case that I have come across.


(https://i.imgur.com/ggCO5Qsh.jpg)
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Basvarken on January 10, 2019, 09:48:53 AM
Looks lovely.
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Pilgrim on January 10, 2019, 11:29:14 AM
Did Gibson have a published theory as to why they should slant the pickups in that way?  I know that lots of manufacturers have done it, but I've never heard whether there's an actual reason for doing so (other than cosmetics.)
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Granny Gremlin on January 10, 2019, 03:00:13 PM
Pickup placement affects tone.  Bass strings are (a tad)  bassier that way.  It should be the other way (treble strings bassier - for better string to string balance) but that doesn't look right except on reverse style instruments.
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Basvarken on January 10, 2019, 04:05:57 PM
Quote from: Granny Gremlin on January 10, 2019, 03:00:13 PM
It should be the other way (treble strings bassier - for better string to string balance) but that doesn't look right except on reverse style instruments.

I know that I rather have my bass strings sound bassy and my treble strings sound trebly.
But maybe that's just me.  8)
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: gearHed289 on January 11, 2019, 08:24:48 AM
Quote from: Basvarken on January 10, 2019, 04:05:57 PM
I know that I rather have my bass strings sound bassy and my treble strings sound trebly.
But maybe that's just me.  8)

I tend to agree with Granny on this. Give the skinny strings more oomph, and the fat ones more clarity. It's similar to the way Spectors and Guild Pilots have the two halves of the P pup reversed. How much difference any of this makes is anyone's guess, but I like the theory!
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Granny Gremlin on January 11, 2019, 03:13:01 PM
Exactly - think of the 'rule of opposites' when it comes to using EQ.  It won't make bass strings not bassy, but prevents them from being too much so relative to the higher strings. 

You know I'm a fan of neck pups and the mudbucker, trust me you're not losing much but gaining better string to string balance.  I was gonna mention that they did it with P pups in the 80s but forgot what brands it was; gearHed with the save.
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Grog on January 11, 2019, 04:19:23 PM
It looks like they were confused as to what they wanted on the L-5S. On the EB-4L they did exactly what Granny was talking about, the treble polepieces closer to the neck & the bass polepieces further away....

(https://i.imgur.com/9wfdivN.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/87NNg3Z.jpg)
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Pilgrim on January 11, 2019, 05:07:56 PM
Interesting note about the placement of the poles on the EB-4L.

And then I realized it's just backwards from the way the split pickup on a P-bass is set:

(https://stuff.fendergarage.com/images/i/Q/y/taxonomy-bass-player-precision@2x.png)

Does that mean the bass strings are treblier and the treble strings are bassier?
Title: Re: First issue Les Paul Bass cases.
Post by: Grog on January 11, 2019, 07:33:28 PM
The late Bill Lawrence was credited with many unique pickup designs.