The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: stiles72 on November 26, 2012, 05:38:00 PM
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Was looking at American Musical today and notice they have two different OSB LP basses listed. One is in stock, the other is "pre-order". From the photos, it appears they changed the head stock to look more like an LP guitar and charged about $100 more.
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-GIB-BA13-LIST?SRC=W1209CREE1209SRT&utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=retargeting
(http://www.americanmusical.com/ItemImages/Large/GIB%20BA13%20GTCH1.jpg)
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-GIB-BA11-XXCH1-LIST
(http://www.americanmusical.com/ItemImages/Large/91504.jpg)
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Well, I do like the new look better.
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I like it. I wonder if the neck is thinner or narrower? The copy hints at a change.
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Neither of the listings mentions an oversized body.
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I like it. I wonder if the neck is thinner or narrower? The copy hints at a change.
I like that headstock much better, and it looks thinner unless it's just the angle in that pic Bill.
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Guess I'm the only one who doesn't like the new headstock better... :-\
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No, I think the original headstock has more of a bass tradition with Gibson as it has been used on a lot of basses since the early nineties. The larger headstock just rips off the guitar look.
Will I need to get one though? Do I collect for heqadstocks?
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No, I think the original headstock has more of a bass tradition with Gibson as it has been used on a lot of basses since the early nineties. The larger headstock just rips off the guitar look.
Will I need to get one though? Do I collect for heqadstocks?
I might get one if the neck has been slimmed down. I'll have to urge the HOG to get a couple to check them out! As for headstocks, I do like the guitar-style better. Just an inexplicable brain thing.
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Wonder if the bridge is different?
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Wonder if the bridge is different?
The bridge looks the same in the pic to me. I talked with Curt at HOG and he's gonna order one to see what it's all about. If I like it, I might have to buy it!
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I really like this bass!
I always really have to think hard about owning one - It's not a 'Bird, would I play it enough?
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I really like this bass!
I always really have to think hard about owning one - It's not a 'Bird, would I play it enough?
Me too Mark. We can be so narrow sometimes! :P
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Both shown as In Stock today.
The Oversized on Gibson's site has a list of $2599 and one of the pics is identical to the one listed at American Musical with that list price, so I guess it's the same oversized model.
The other one? It has "traditional" weight relief. How is that different from being chambered? Is it a revived LP Bass with the standard guitar sized body?
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Both shown as In Stock today.
The Oversized on Gibson's site has a list of $2599 and one of the pics is identical to the one listed at American Musical with that list price, so I guess it's the same oversized model.
The other one? It has "traditional" weight relief. How is that different from being chambered? Is it a revived LP Bass with the standard guitar sized body?
..."the Mahogany 50’s rounded taper neck"... WTF does that mean? MY 50s Gibson bass has a round back 1-3/4" wide neck. I love it but I don't think that's what they're talking about.
That said, I like the 'new' old headstock better...would it break Gibson to use Hipshot clovers instead of Chinese Grover minis on a supposedly $2500 bass?
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Guess I'm the only one who doesn't like the new headstock better... :-\
I like the original headstock better too. Just looks more "right" to me for a 4 string.
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Amen on the 2 ton Grover tuners! I'm not a fan of them on the Gibsons.
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I like the new headstock better, it's a better match to the Les Paul Signature. (How's that for Anal Retentive?) That being said, I'm not going to collect for headstocks, I hope.......... :P
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I like the Schaller M4 look of the Grovers. I can't say the weight of them is a noticible factor on my bass.
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No, I think the original headstock has more of a bass tradition with Gibson as it has been used on a lot of basses since the early nineties. The larger headstock just rips off the guitar look.
Will I need to get one though? Do I collect for heqadstocks?
Of coarse you do. who knows what else id different?
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Got to say I prefer the new squarer headstock to the other, but that said, not a fan of Les Paul basses, period.
Working at Gibson's R&D must be one of the easiest jobs going...pretty much everything this year (EB aside...shudder) has been rejigged versions of existing models or reissues of those long dead. What's left? The Victory? The Bass IV? EBO? (Yes please on the EBO, but if you're reading this R&D, no banjo tuners, eh?).
Seriously, how difficult would it be to take a leaf out of the Reverend model and produce something unique like the Dub King?
Rant over.
P
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Yeah a reproduction EB0 would be nice, but I'm guessing that the original mudbucker with 25,000 wraps on the coils won't be made again by Gibson. For what it's worth my double cut Les Paul bass is a wonderful instrument and one I would never trade or sell.
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Having had 4 LP basses, I have to say they all sounded great, but I had trouble handling the neck and/or weight of them. My problem!
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Of coarse you do. who knows what else id different?
John Fertig aka Barkless Dog aka now :o "Dobby",
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-LrDvbJFOvw/TPd7zxRT8HI/AAAAAAAAAXk/nwgKjRTKg1A/s1600/dobby.jpg)
you live!!!
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He's been Dobby for two or three months now. You just noticed?
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I was about to write an email to you "Where the hell is John"? Seriously. Maybe he is jsut avoiding prog threads after you successfully intimidated him re his love for John McLaughlin. :mrgreen:
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I was about to write an email to you "Where the hell is John"? Seriously. Maybe he is jsut avoiding prog threads after you successfully intimidated him re his love for John McLaughlin. :mrgreen:
I wasn't aware proggies could be intimidated! :mrgreen: That discussion must have been a good eight years ago at the Pit, I'm sure he's participated in more than a few prog threads since then.
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Got to say I prefer the new squarer headstock to the other, but that said, not a fan of Les Paul basses, period.
The old headstock is the squarer one...
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Make up your mind, Rob, and stop confusing people, which one do you now like better, the wider or the narrower (concave-edged) one?!
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This one
(http://www.americanmusical.com/ItemImages/Large/GIB%20BA13%20GTCH1.jpg)
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The old headstock is the squarer one...
Really? Now I'm confused and I apologise. I thought the tapered headstock was the original and the squarer one the newer design. Irrespective, still prefer the squarer one, but not a fan of the bass overall.
P
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Really? Now I'm confused and I apologise. I thought the tapered headstock was the original and the squarer one the newer design. Irrespective, still prefer the squarer one, but not a fan of the bass overall.
P
That is the way I took it too. When the original post was new the one with the squarer headstock was on order, not in stock, so I assume it is the new one. And it is the same as the Les Paul guitars.
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Himmel, macht doch nicht alles so kompliziert!!! The orignal oversize LPs came out with a tapered headstock in the style of the LP headstocks in the nineties. I have one so I know.
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We'll see how they look if the HOG can get one in for me.
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Getting ready to pull the trigger on a new Gibson so I can keep my Musicians Friend card active...
Can anyone compare the pickup placement to that of a T-bird? I'm guessing it's pretty close to the same - but from some pics it looks like maybe the neck pup is closer tot he bridge.
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Here are a few shots of the first version & the T-Bird........
(http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Grog_03/2011GibsonLesPaulStandardBass.jpg) (http://s999.photobucket.com/user/Grog_03/media/2011GibsonLesPaulStandardBass.jpg.html)(http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af119/Grog_03/2011GibsonThunderbirdIV-1.jpg) (http://s999.photobucket.com/user/Grog_03/media/2011GibsonThunderbirdIV-1.jpg.html)
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With the exception of the Limited Run Faded LPs (which basically closed the production of single cut long scale LP basses as started in the nineties before the reintroduction via the oversize models a few years ago), which had the front pups a bit close to the neck TBird style, and the BFG LPs which had three pups, practically forcing one of them to go right behind the neck, LP basses in general have their front pup closer to the bridge than a modern TBird (which in turn has its front pup closer to the neck than any TBird predecessor in the sixties or seventies), it explains why the LPs are more agressive sounding than any TBird, a bit of P Bass "getting heard" in there. And that was a concscious move as there are LP prototypes from the early nineties around that have the front pup moved forward (Phil Jones offered some of them) so Gibson was obviously experimenting with the position. No worries though that an LP (even a non-oversized one) would offer less bass than a TBird, the opposite is true, likely due to the LPs thicker bodies and sturdier necks.
Generally, any single cut LP long scale bass I have played has more of an "axe quality" to it and is "grindier" than any Rev TB I've played. The Rev TBirds are imposing basses for their sheer size and looks but there is always something a bit more benign/docile/graceful (or musical if you want to call it that) to them, not that edge an angry P Bass or Ric 4001/3 can have, TBirds don't sound nasty and edgy. It probably mostly has to do with the thin neck which, eg, the more aggressive sounding Non Rev TBs don't have. And a long scale LP Bass is even more agressive than a Non Rev already is.
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Also the LP has a guitar size pickup as opposed to the T-bird's more soap bar shape. That must play a part as well.
Damn it, now I've got myself reconsidering the placement of the pickup in my custom build. (See projects and mods)
I always figured the original designed T-bird pickup with it's alnico magnets and thinner construction works better closer to the neck than the PAF size ceramic mag TB+.
Would a single T-bird pickup in sixties position be to bassy in a flat top single cut LP shape? I still have time to decide.
Opinions wanted.
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Getting ready to pull the trigger on a new Gibson so I can keep my Musicians Friend card active...
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Well, then, you have to buy something!
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Would a single T-bird pickup in sixties position be to bassy in a flat top single cut LP shape? I still have time to decide.
Opinions wanted.
NO SUCH THING.
TBird pups aren't particularly bassey to begin with (not like a mudbucker, or even a LoZ LP pup, both of which came in exterem neck position, though granted folks complain about the mud). You can always take the bass down a tad at the amp (or pedal, or have an onboard passive bass rolloff tone knob in addition to the typical treble tone).
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Right on GG. I was thinking along those lines as well.
Stiles72, you still thinking about a new Gibson? Maybe consider a Fender Starcaster. They're cheaper and are practically a Gibson anyway with those two Seth Lover Telecaster buckers, and you have to love witch hat knobs. No wonder Scott had to buy one, in Cherry burst of course.
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Yes - sure am. Also considering the 335 or the Midtown (in Cherry of course). I'd go with another Bird but I'm trying to branch out a bit more. The LP just seems like it would be a bit more practical for my playing style/needs.