The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Chris P. on June 28, 2017, 12:03:48 AM
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Exciting news from Gibson. At the end of the summer the 2018 model line starts and I have all the information, specs, and prices of all the Gibson basses. It will give Uwe, as Gibson buyer, and Basvarken Rob, as archivist, busy times. And this forum will need more server space for all our discussions, user reviews, rants about black hardware, et cetera.
Okay, hold on tight:
No basses for 2018. :sad:
Having said that, Gibson unofficially states Epiphone will be more or less the bass brand. There will be a 100 limited runs so there could be a bass in it somewhere. And it'll be wrong :mrgreen:
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Wait. No new basses or no basses at all?
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None at all. No basses on the price list.
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They finally cut the bird??
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I don't think the Bird was available this year and last year. Only 2015 stock. Maybe 2016 stock.
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When you sent me the new Epiphone bass pics from the NAMM, I already thought that these three had to be the three new Gibson basses the guys of Gibson Amsterdam were talking about in november.
Oh well, at least I don't have to update the book... :mrgreen:
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The Musical Lifestyle brand is leaving us low life's to Fend(er) for ourselfs..................
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When you sent me the new Epiphone bass pics from the NAMM, I already thought that these three had to be the three new Gibson basses the guys of Gibson Amsterdam were talking about in november.
Oh well, at least I don't have to update the book... :mrgreen:
That's what I thought too. Also, not long after the 2017 EB Bass came out, Chris said that Gibson was already looking past 2017, so it's no surprise that the EB Bass has been dropped.
No T-Birds since 2015. When the 2015 Birds didn't sell at the original $2600 street price, along with he rest of the 2015 sales fiasco, that was probably the last straw for Henry. I suspect he won't offer a neck through at the old price again.
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Hate to say it, but this is probably a wise decision on their part. How many can they actually keep selling? There's a mountain of used stuff out there (which is for the most part all I ever buy from any brand). They can let demand build(?) and make a big hoopla when they re-introduce basses to the US-made lineup.
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I think a good '64 Tbird reissue (Chrome, two piece bridge) an SG Bass and a Rivoli/EB2 would always sell. Maybe not that much, but the sales will go on.
The same as with the Fender Mustang. Why a PJ? (I hate the looks, sound is good). The Mustang won't sell as much as a Mexican Precision but there will always be a little demand. There might be a lot of second hand stuff but Mustangs are hard to get second hand.
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(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtNfrJYrXw0/UX-njQWQbmI/AAAAAAAALiY/9ObI918bTIU/s1600/throwing-book.gif)
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I don't know if any of you have seen this article but it goes to basses as well:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar/?utm_term=.78193287e40a (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar/?utm_term=.78193287e40a)
The statistics aren't exactly eye opening but their application certainly encourages speculation.
With no new Gibsons in the 2018 catalog it looks like the future is already beginning.
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It's not so upsetting. At least this news is balanced out by an almost faithfully reproduced Thunderbird by Epiphone. Honestly, does anyone believe Gibson would have done any more of a capable job with it than what Epiphone could produce at a fraction of the cost? It's just a shame we'll be stuck with an Epiphone badge and have to settle for something not made in America.
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There is no stability with Gibson...
The 2013/2014 EB's were good. Thunderbirds are iconic.
G3's were good.
I would think the SG bass was pretty good...
Why not develop a product line that works, and stick to it...make it affordable for the working musician, but not cheap...
Also, not a "lifestyle" statement for wealthy idiots either.
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I don't know if any of you have seen this article but it goes to basses as well:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar/?utm_term=.78193287e40a (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar/?utm_term=.78193287e40a)
The statistics aren't exactly eye opening but their application certainly encourages speculation.
With no new Gibsons in the 2018 catalog it looks like the future is already beginning.
I've read the article, it's been discussed to death at a couple of guitar forums I belong to. Problem is, it's biased and misleading. Not surprising when the author is quoting George Gruhn as a source, and he really has no idea about Fender and Guitar Center's actual situations.
I've seen the detailed figures in Music Trades, with unit sales and sales volume going back to 2010. It's true that guitar sales are flat but other categories have either been flat or declined over the same period, including percussion, portable keyboards and pro audio. Electric guitar sales for 2016 were up over 2015, and especially in the over $1250 retail category (go figure).
Bass sales were down, and are down about 1/3 since 2010, yet sales in the over $1000 retail category are up (again, go figure). But expensive bass sales are still very small compared to expensive guitars, and you have to figure Gibson will go where the most sales are.
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The Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro is pretty sweet:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EBTVAWNH
(https://media.sweetwater.com/images/items/750/EBTVAWNH-large.jpg)
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Looks great!
I wonder how many Gibson trussrod covers there will be sold... :mrgreen:
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White one is really cool.
I often think when guitars sales will drop. After some years, there must be more Strats than people. Saturation? Having said that I think the world has changed enormously. Around 20 years ago most people had one or two guitars. Now I see more and more young people with several guitars and even basses: vintage, second hand and new (*). Besides that in those years the Dutch population grew from 15 to 17 million, all Eastern European countries got better economics and access to western guitar brands. Russia, China and some more countries became big economies.
(*) When I started in bands all local musicians had a black Squier strat or a black cheap LP Studio, fed into a Marshall Valvestate. Now all youngsters I see have Tele, Strat and Gretsch, some vintage stuff...
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It's not so upsetting. At least this news is balanced out by an almost faithfully reproduced Thunderbird by Epiphone. Honestly, does anyone believe Gibson would have done any more of a capable job with it than what Epiphone could produce at a fraction of the cost? It's just a shame we'll be stuck with an Epiphone badge and have to settle for something not made in America.
Yep. The Bonamassa ltd ed Firebird 1 is very nice on all accounts - all the tobaccoburst ones are sold out, only a few of the polymist golds remain. ... For an Epi they were a bit high-priced, but still half of what a Gibson would cost, and the fit/finish was excellent they say. If that 60s reissue TBird we saw promo pics for is anywhere close to that (and with no new TBirds in the last 2 model years) I bet it'll sell rather well. As I said on a guitar forum in a Bonamassa FBird thread; I expect a bull market in Gibby truss rod covers in the next year (...and Rob beat me to it here).
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White one is really cool.
I often think when guitars sales will drop. After some years, there must be more Strats than people. Saturation? Having said that I think the world has changed enormously. Around 20 years ago most people had one or two guitars. Now I see more and more young people with several guitars and even basses: vintage, second hand and new (*). Besides that in those years the Dutch population grew from 15 to 17 million, all Eastern European countries got better economics and access to western guitar brands. Russia, China and some more countries became big economies.
(*) When I started in bands all local musicians had a black Squier strat or a black cheap LP Studio, fed into a Marshall Valvestate. Now all youngsters I see have Tele, Strat and Gretsch, some vintage stuff...
So true! Very few people I know had more than a couple of guitars or basses until sometime in the 90s, then things changed quite a bit within a few years. The only area where new guitar sales are dropping now is the under $200 category.
Only question I have about the new Epi Bird and Embassy is how they sound. Claiming that they sound like their 60s counterparts is fine, but I'll believe it when I hear it.
Meanwhile, here's an example of what Henry has in mind: your basic slab body LP Special, originally a student model, now available as a Gibson Custom model in Firebird finishes. Yours for only $3500! (http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2017/Custom/Les-Paul-Special.aspx) ???
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Meanwhile, here's an example of what Henry has in mind: your basic slab body LP Special, originally a student model, now available as a Gibson Custom model in Firebird finishes. Yours for only $3500! (http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2017/Custom/Les-Paul-Special.aspx) ???
That would make a very nice $600-$800 Epi. Over $1000, I can't see the appeal. The color is nice but it doesn't look more appealing than a Squier Vintage series instrument to me. Henry isn't going to sell $800 guitars for $3500.
I can't see that it looks more appealing than a Squier Vintage Modified Strat at a street price of $349, but since the Gibby has a nitro finish and a set neck, I'll give it a $400 bump in value over the Squier: call it street price of $749.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratVMRSG?adpos=1o1&creative=55280243281&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&product_id=StratVMRSG&gclid=CP_O5vqy49QCFc22wAodzfYC4g
(https://media.sweetwater.com/api/i/ha-65e5cc7efaea4c23__q-82__hmac-1b2757f9ad0b143a7da08b123c540d35c6e626de/images/guitars/StratVMRSG/ICS16226696/ICS16226696-angle-large.jpg)
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That would make a very nice $600-$800 Epi. Over $1000, I can't see why anyone with cognitive activity would buy it. The color is nice but it doesn't look more appealing than a Squier Vintage series instrument to me. Henry isn't going to sell $800 guitars for $3500.
IMHO more like a nice $600-$800 Gibson or a $300-$400 Epi. :)
Henry always takes advice from Henry.
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I think the new Epi will be quite nice esp. at that price point, and in it's own right a nice bass, as good as an original '60s, no, no way.
It'll just be a nice new bass to have and like the "Classic" version the QC will likely be pretty good (certainly better than most contemporary Gibsons), in terms of finish and fit. I have one coming and will probably leave it bone stock including the TRC, nothing to be ashamed of in owning and playing it out.
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IMHO more like a nice $600-$800 Gibson or a $300-$400 Epi. :)
Henry always takes advice from Henry.
I agree. That's not a guitar with any features that justify a price over $1000.
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Not seeing much about it over here, let alone a UK price...
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Not seeing much about it over here, let alone a UK price...
I was reading somewhere that people might be able to pre-order from GAK.
https://www.gak.co.uk/
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I have one coming and will probably leave it bone stock including the TRC, nothing to be ashamed of in owning and playing it out.
Hear hear!
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I play all my Epis with pride. Some of them sound better than their Gibson counterparts.
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This is a chance for the Epiphone Elitist series in Japan to stir it up and take the stand.
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I was reading somewhere that people might be able to pre-order from GAK.
Not showing up yet Michael...
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Not showing up yet Michael...
I would keep checking back. The person suggesting GAK seemed to be sure they would get it sometime. Of course you never know for sure about something like this until you actually have it in your hands. Talk is cheap.
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I think the new Epi will be quite nice esp. at that price point, and in it's own right a nice bass, as good as an original '60s, no, no way.
It'll just be a nice new bass to have and like the "Classic" version the QC will likely be pretty good (certainly better than most contemporary Gibsons), in terms of finish and fit. I have one coming and will probably leave it bone stock including the TRC, nothing to be ashamed of in owning and playing it out.
I certainly wouldn't be ashamed of playing it if it was well made and sounded like I wanted. QC seems to be good on recent Epis. OTOH it needs to sound like a TBird. If not, why bother?
This is a chance for the Epiphone Elitist series in Japan to stir it up and take the stand.
The Elitist basses and most of the Elitist guitars were discontinued almost 10 years ago. Don't hold your breath waiting. Even if they returned, prices would probably rival Gibsons.
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I don't think the Bird was available this year and last year. Only 2015 stock. Maybe 2016 stock.
Well how about that. I completely missed a year.
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA.aspx?ModelYear=2016
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If you look at the other years 2014 also says there are no available 2014 basses although we know they made them. In 2015 they are showing the Thunderbird and SG Bass, and 2017 shows EB 4 and 5 strings. I'm guessing this means there are still Thunderbirds, SG Bass, and EB basses in Gibson's warehouse.
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I heard from people there's some stock indeed.
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I heard from people there's some stock indeed.
Musicians Friend/Guitar Center and sister companies still have new 2015 and 2016 ES-Les Paul Basses in stock.
American Musical, which shares inventory with Zzounds and Same Day Music, still has the 2014 EB Bass 5 string, 2015 SG Standard Bass and 2016 ES-Les Paul Bass in new stock.