What Is This One?

[uwe]

Yup, check this from around the same time period.  Starting at 7:20 they talk about the bass and she jams on it a little unaccompanied:

I like the way she plays. And Arsenio Hall had real charm as a host.

[4stringer77]

She's done some cool stuff over the years. I really dug that collaboration she had on this tune with Marcus Miller.



Like Arsenio, it's a shame they didn't both enjoy more commercial success. She never produced any big hits and he didn't get picked up for that second season after having his show brought back. Great memories though from less divided times.

[Dave W]

I've never understood why Arsenio's popularity fell.

[slinkp]

I confess I lost track of Me'shell's work myself.  Her second album was amazing. I should see what she's been up to the past couple decades!

[gearHed289]

The LP-Saga:

- LPB-1/Special: early version TB Plus soapies and passive, later version TB Plus soapies and active with Bartolini TCT,

- LPB-2/Deluxe: througout its life span Bartolini pups and TCT electronics.

- LPB-3/Standard: early version TB Plus guitar size humbuckers and active Bartolini TCT electronics, later version TB Plus guitar size humbuckers, but passive.

And let's not forget the early small headstock/flower pot/3 knob version with soapies and passive.

[Highlander]

The color is custom, but you could request colors on that particular model, quite a few people did, I have inter alia a fretless one in a brownish sepia tinge which the preowner hoped would turn out translucent black when he ordered it - suffice to say it didn't!

The idea of a fretless LP does sound appealing... still stuck with the idea of a fretless T'Bird though...

[Basvarken]

In the Facebook Gibson Bass Guitars Group this Les Paul Bass popped up.
I never knew those had a Paul Reed Smith type faux binding!

[Dave W]

I saw one with self binding like that but it was stained the same color as the top.

[FrankieTbird]

Isn't that just the edge of the maple top?

[Basvarken]

Yes it is. Paul Reed Smith has been doing this for ages. It looks like a binding. But it's actually the edge of the maple top you see. A faux binding so to speak.
And very beautiful (if well executed).

[doombass]

I guess that one is not a factory burst.

[Nocturnal]

Dave, here is the serial number you were asking about. The site lists it as a 98 but I have no clue. I remember seeing the flat-bodied LP's at The Bass Place back in the early to mid 90's but couldn't tell you what year that actually was.

This is a nice solid bass! It has tapewounds on it now so it sounds very thumpy.

[Nocturnal]

I guess that one is not a factory burst.

Why do you say that?

[Dave W]

Dave, here is the serial number you were asking about. The site lists it as a 98 but I have no clue. I remember seeing the flat-bodied LP's at The Bass Place back in the early to mid 90's but couldn't tell you what year that actually was.

This is a nice solid bass! It has tapewounds on it now so it sounds very thumpy.

A-ha!

1994 was Gibson's centennial year. All the Nashville serial numbers that year began with 94. It was the exception to their numbering system at the time. That's why I asked.

Congratulations, you're now four years closer to vintage. 

[Nocturnal]

That is good information, thanks. Installed a set of DR Black Beauties this evening and it sounds much more like my sound. So far have found a couple of settings that I like. I do see where the "sterile/HiFi" comments come from tho. Turn a couple knobs the wrong way and it becomes kind of brittle sounding, for lack of a better word. So far so good.