I really think these look great in natural finish. Kicking myself for not buying the one on eBay 2 years ago for $400.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1987-Gibson-IV-Bass-Guitar-/171186955126?pt=Guitar&hash=item27db89a376
I still don't see these picking up beauty pageant awards any time soon, but as IVs go, the natural clearcoat maho look was indeed best. Both the white and the "Ferrari red" cheapified things considerably. Now the ones in pink are another matter - they're trash, but in style!!!
Take the strings off and it looks like some form of medieval weapon...
Well, you know I like these. I don't think the white looked bad at all, very much an 80s style, but I quite liked it. The IV may not be the bonniest bass Gibson have ever issued, but by gosh it works. If I'm ever going to a gig and I've got any doubts about how good the sound is going to be (equipment, monitoring, whatever), I take the IV because it just seems to drop into any situation and just play. It's probably the same with any TB+ equipped bass to be fair.
I have no issues with them at all sonically and they are ergonomic as hell, have played them myself at gigs and people have never said a nasty thing about them. They live up to expectations how Joe Blow thinks an electric bass (all?) should look.
I dunno. The pointy headstock on a, lets face it, Fender shaped body just doesn't work for me. Not ugly, just awkward.... then again I like the way victories look (same body shape right? plus/minus contours?). Could be the hardware/PG in addition to the headstock that tie it together for me.
... maybe I'd like my Victory's tone even more if it were all maho with set neck like these... but it'd probaly loose it's value as a P sounding (if a bit ballsier/aggressive) bass - which is why I keep it (don't have a P, and when folks come in to the studio they like familiar things).
Quote from: Granny Gremlin on December 04, 2013, 11:35:06 AM
I dunno. The pointy headstock on a, lets face it, Fender shaped body just doesn't work for me. Not ugly, just awkward....
I'm with you on that. I've owned a couple of them and I'd probably have one now if not for that headstock.
The IVs and Vs don't have a Victory body shape (Q-80 and -90 had), their body is much more like a not yet fully developed larvae as opposed to the Victory hulks that are not afraid to show real contours.
Am I the only one here who sees parallels between the new Fender Dimension bass and the Victories?
Quote from: uwe on December 04, 2013, 05:55:25 PM
Am I the only one here who sees parallels between the new Fender Dimension bass and the Victories?
You are not alone in that viewpoint.
I saw the parallels between the Gibson Bass IV and the Fender Zone American Deluxe.
(http://www.partoch.com/images/materiel/modele/big/730.jpg)
I've been thinking the Fender Dimension and Gibson EB are aesthetically very similar.
(http://www.sweetwater.com/images/closeup/xl/1600-DBassADHHV_body.jpg)(http://www.sweetwater.com/images/guitars/BAEB14F5CH-14/140003378/140003378-body-large.jpg)
The horn half maybe (though that lower cutaway is much deeper - not as deep as a Victory though - love that 24th fret access) .... the ass end just screams Mosrite (aka understated Rev TBird offset) to me.
I really like the look of the new EB.
It looks as though they are getting some following at TB which is More representative of the bass community by large vs the old folks home.
Quote from: Barklessdog on December 07, 2013, 06:37:46 PM
I really like the look of the new EB.
It looks as though they are getting some following at TB which is More representative of the bass community by large vs the old folks home.
TB is representative of the online bass community because of its size. It has very little similarity to real world bassists, most of whom don't frequent forums.
TB sure has grown over the years. I remember when it started Paul was living in an apartment. It has become so profitable he now lives in a nearly half million dollar home. (Travis County property tax records are public)
More power to him. TB has its place, we're happy with ours.
Talkbass is a great place to hang out if you like hitting your head off a desk. For the record, my desk is black with a tort top, hinged with TI flats, it's good for all kinds of computing and even listening to metal and has no floor dive.
One of the most idiotic comments I've seen on TB was when the other day I read that "Rippers (and that body style) are okay if you don't mind neck dive."
WTF was he talking about? Those are about the most ass-heavy basses there are!!! I can only think he's never, ever picked one up.
The alder bodies are much lighter than the maple. One of my alder Rippers is just a little above 8 lbs and the dive is pretty bad, even using a Fretsling strap.
Are the alder ones THAT much lighter? Maybe that would explain it.
My '80 weighs 10lbs and my '73 weighs 9ish.
Ah..... TB a veritable fount of Gibson knowledge :rolleyes:
NOT!
I know Mark and I visit TB often. It doesn't take too long to figure out who knows something, and who's blowing smoke. You always have to consider the source.
;D
Blowing smoke out of an alternate orifice in most cases!
Quote from: Hörnisse on December 07, 2013, 08:32:16 PM
TB sure has grown over the years. I remember when it started Paul was living in an apartment. It has become so profitable he now lives in a nearly half million dollar home. (Travis County property tax records are public)
Here in Sydney, half a million would buy a one bedroom apartment LOL
Quote from: Aussie Mark on December 08, 2013, 03:27:50 PM
Here in Sydney, half a million would buy a one bedroom apartment LOL
Here in Norway, half a million would'nt even get you the bedroom :sad:
Well it's a known fact (documented on that other site) that if the upper horn does not reach the 12th fret the bass will dive so all Rippers suffer from it. There's no need to actually try or own the instrument, its a fact that you can see from the pictures. :rolleyes:
Quote from: hollowbody on December 08, 2013, 12:01:48 PM
The alder bodies are much lighter than the maple. One of my alder Rippers is just a little above 8 lbs and the dive is pretty bad, even using a Fretsling strap.
AHH, the Fretsling. My only strap! ;D I had to resort to buying tanned cowhides and cutting my own because I honestly cant stand to play with anything else. Someone isnt actually making them again are they?
Quote from: Aussie Mark on December 08, 2013, 03:27:50 PM
Here in Sydney, half a million would buy a one bedroom apartment LOL
Quote from: amptech on December 09, 2013, 02:25:53 AM
Here in Norway, half a million would'nt even get you the bedroom :sad:
Wow. Home ownership must be fairly low and rents unusually high.
In my neighborhood, half a million would buy you three nice older houses on big lots.
Quote from: Dave W on December 09, 2013, 12:36:47 PM
Wow. Home ownership must be fairly low and rents unusually high.
Home ownership is declining due to the prices, and yes, rents are high. There's a lot of discussion about the fact that people who are just starting their working life now would have no hope of being able to afford to buy a house in Sydney. And a lot of apartments are being bought by Chinese investors. Expensive real estate is the price we pay for our weather, beaches, lifestyle and standard of living.
Quote from: Dave W on December 09, 2013, 12:36:47 PM
Wow. Home ownership must be fairly low and rents unusually high.
In my neighborhood, half a million would buy you three nice older houses on big lots.
Half a mil here is 3500 square feet in a good neighborhood.
Half mil US$ == £300,000 ish. Despite the UK's reputation for expensive, well, everything, £300,000 would buy you something pretty big OR pretty nice, location being the obvious variable.
So, how about those Bass IVs eh? ;)
Quote from: neepheid on December 09, 2013, 05:08:03 PM
Half mil US$ == £300,000 ish. Despite the UK's reputation for expensive, well, everything, £300,000 would buy you something pretty big OR pretty nice, location being the obvious variable.
So, how about those Bass IVs eh? ;)
How about one in Inverness Green with chrome parts :)
Someone here has a Heather Poly IV for sale. I had a red V back in the late 1990's. I recorded a track that appeared on the original Dudepit CD set.
I had a Heather Poly IV at one time but sold it a long time ago.
Quote from: TBird1958 on December 09, 2013, 05:27:25 PM
How about one in Inverness Green with chrome parts :)
You have no shame. At all.