Strange contoured LP bass

[Barklessdog]

Does not say if he put the contours in when he did the paint, which is nice (needs chrome)

http://cgi.ebay.com/1993-Gibson-les-Paul-Bass-Studio-CUSTOM-PAINT_W0QQitemZ180356547557QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item29fe1683e5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50

Not quite a Flat Top or a standard?

[uwe]

Does look more elegant than the slab originals and more modernistic (think Bongo!) than a carved top Standard. Ich mag es.

[Dark Storm]

Woah, sweet bass.

[Dave W]

There was no Studio, could be a Special (the all mahogany lowest priced model) or Deluxe that was contoured. Barts were stock on the Deluxe, but they had mounting rings. These don't, so I'm guessing this is a Special with TB Plus and the Bart preamp.

Looks like a nice paint job but I don't care for that color.

[uwe]

Only the standards were contoured, the DeLuxe were flat top too, they just had a maple top.

Special - all maho slab body
Deluxe - maho body with maple top slab body
Standard - maho body with carved maple top

People unwittingly mistake the Special's electronics (TB Plus soaps with Bart TCT active circuit) all the time with the Deluxe's electronics (guitar-size Bart humbuckers with "Bartolini" embossed on them plus the same Bart TCT active circuit). And the Standard had TB Plus pups again, but in the chrome guitar size humbucker guise, plus the unavoidable Bart TCT active circuit. Until 1997 or so when they turned the Standard line passive and faded the Special line out (the Deluxe line had already departed by then).

[Dave W]

I'm saying this was not a factory contour. Sure doesn't look like one.

[uwe]

Oh yes, definitely no factory contour, but the seller isn't stating that either.

[Freuds_Cat]

Be interesting to hear it but that colour is not doing anything for me.

Although the comment  "The paint that is on this bass is used on multi-million dollar sport yachts." did make me feel better about it, especially when I got to see a real Yacht with that paint on it. 

[SKATE RAT]

Only the standards were contoured, the DeLuxe were flat top too, they just had a maple top.

Special - all maho slab body
Deluxe - maho body with maple top slab body
Standard - maho body with carved maple top

People unwittingly mistake the Special's electronics (TB Plus soaps with Bart TCT active circuit) all the time with the Deluxe's electronics (guitar-size Bart humbuckers with "Bartolini" embossed on them plus the same Bart TCT active circuit). And the Standard had TB Plus pups again, but in the chrome guitar size humbucker guise, plus the unavoidable Bart TCT active circuit. Until 1997 or so when they turned the Standard line passive and faded the Special line out (the Deluxe line had already departed by then).

my Special is passive. TB's and 3 knobs in a row.

[Nocturnal]

Yeah, but there was another version of the Special with the TB's and 4 knobs. Don't think it had the Bart preamp tho.

[Dave W]

The 92 Specials were passive with 3 knobs. Starting sometime in 93 they switched to the Bartolini TCT preamp and 4 knobs (volume, treble, bass, blend).

The Deluxe models had the same preamp but with Bart pickups instead of TB Plus.

[Chris P.]

I love the conrours and the colour! I love copper Les Paul guitars too and this one's great. A bit orange, our Dutch national colour!

[uwe]

Oooops, I forgot the first version of the Specials before the dreaded TCT electronics invaded its innocent entrails! Those early Specials are actually more desireable.

[doombass]

Oooops, I forgot the first version of the Specials before the dreaded TCT electronics invaded its innocent entrails! Those early Specials are actually more desireable.

They also have the bigger more traditional headstock shape with flaming cup inlay.

[Barklessdog]

You mean Ice Cream Cup!