New 2009 Grabber II and, yes, even the Ripper!

[ramone57]

so do you have a delivery date, Uwe?   

[nofi]

the 1750 price tag is far from alluring. not  being an expert i don't see many being sold. besides, just think what else you could buy for that kind of money.

everything old is not always good again.

[Barklessdog]

I think that is just protective plastic foil.

That unfinned neck in combination with a set neck construction is strange. Yet alluring.

Yeah, notice how it looks like the grain is not filled on the body?

[Dave W]

Yeah, notice how it looks like the grain is not filled on the body?

At first I thought it was just unevenness in the satin paint. After looking again, especially on the edge, I think you may be right.

[uwe]

According to my music shop, the Grabber II should be with me "within weeks", the new Ripper "in June or July" and the BFG bass "after the other two". We'll see. This forum will be the first to know.

In the above description, the Grabber II is supposedly flat black, that could fit with non-sealed pores and even a see-thru pick guard.

As regards the "not everything old is good"-doubt, Gibson can probably say that the two most successful basses in recent years - SG and TB - are both reissues of shapes that were also the most popular (EB) or iconic (TB) in the sixties. Following these two, the next bass model family that had a larger impact on the market were the Grabber/Ripper/G-3, for Gibson standards, those were popular basses in the seventies, the Grabber quickly outselling the EB-line. So it's not exactly nuts to assume that the Grabber II might find 350 buyers today. And those 350 will scarcely be people comparing the Grabber to Yamaha and Ibanez price lists and what value for money you could get there. Rather they will be seeing this thing more like a Custom Shop instrument, Gibson's modern day homage in better quality to what was once a budget instrument.

[uwe]

It has arrived! Might have it as soon as tonight.

[ramone57]

wow, that was fast!  congrats, Uwe!

[Barklessdog]

I will be intersted how that TB pup sounds.

[Chris P.]

WOW! That looks very good!

[Basvarken]

Gratuliere!

Did Gibson "discover" a new way of finishing?
I've been seeing a lot of those matte finish Gibbies lately

[uwe]

It's a way to save money!!! Becomes glossy over time, my Blackbird has by now a nice shiny sweat and grease finish all over. In this case it gives the bass a pleasantly sinister Gene Simmons look, don't you think? It would take Gibson to come up with the idea of making a set neck look like a bolt-on  one by keeping it natural finned. 

[SKATE RAT]

it looks narrower than an old Grabber/Ripper and with more "carve" almost more SG-ish. Uwe, that looks great but i wish they painted the neck too.

[Barklessdog]

Blackbird has by now a nice shiny sweat and grease finish all ove

and you poke fun at my RD...

[Chris P.]

it looks narrower than an old Grabber/Ripper and with more "carve" almost more SG-ish. Uwe, that looks great but i wish they painted the neck too.

My first thoughts were Gretsch Corvette.


I like the unpainted neck.

[Dave W]

The body does look narrower.

I like matte finishes if they're done right. This one doesn't look like Gibson's economy model paint jobs, and at that price you wouldn't expect it to.