Late G-3

[Hornisse]

Heck, I would have put a bid in for $650.  Someone got a deal.

[Dave W]

They sure did. I remember seeing a couple of refin G-3s at Spacetone Music about 5 years ago and they sold quickly at $500. Even in a recession, $550 for an original finish G-3 in suburst is a real deal.

[pamlicojack]

Another one has popped up.  This one I'm watching closely...


http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-G3-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ250445275589QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3a4fb3a1c5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

[barend]

looks fine. Hope you get it.
I still not understand why such a rare G-3 went for only 550$. Most G-3's on Ebay go for around 900$.
Still gassing for a G-3 with ebony board.

One more G-3 question. I noticed that on my G-3 the frets are very flat, the one I had before this one also had it. This results in some extra (high) fretnoises when you play higher up the neck (from the 12th fret on).

Do other G-3 owner have the same experience? is it normal that the frets are that flat? 

[uwe]

Not a late one, but in nice condition and judging from the year with (lighter) alder body. BIN is high though, especially in comparison to that late one going away so cheaply.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1975-Gibson-G3-Grabber-Bass-Sunburst-G-3_W0QQitemZ230352286212QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item35a210f204&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A10%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[Hornisse]

That is a nice one!  G-3 was my first good bass.  My dad surprised me with it and a G-50B combo amp back in 1977.

[SKATE RAT]

that looks like maple to me.

[Dave W]

I think so too.

[uwe]

I have a hard time telling the two apart! I hear and feel it more (weight and surface hardness) than I see it. 

[barend]

One more G-3 question. I noticed that on my G-3 the frets are very flat, the one I had before this one also had it. This results in some extra (high) fretnoises when you play higher up the neck (from the 12th fret on).

Do other G-3 owner have the same experience? is it normal that the frets are that flat?  

none has this 'problem' with the fret noise?

it looks like the last sunburst also has very flat frets (not sure, because it is hard to tell from a picture). Maybe all G-3 have that?

[uwe]

Yes, on both my G-3s, the frets are flat, though not any more than on most of my other seventies Gibson basses (Grabbers, Rippers, EB-3L, EB-4 etc). Flat and wide, that is what they used back then.

[SKATE RAT]

those are the best kind of frets.i got rid of my Jazz bass 'cause i hated the skinny frets.

[Dave W]

Those frets should not have anything to do with fret noises in the upper register. You may have a bit of rise in the neck above the 12th fret, a skilled guitar repairman should be able to dress the frets to counteract this.

[uwe]

G-3s and Grabbers have - like Fenders - that tendency for the "vintage bump".

[barend]

It is not actualy a loud buzz (like when the strings are too low) or normal fret noise, but a high soft rattle background noise (hard to decribe the sound). You hear it especially well when make a slide (glissando).

My old Ripper and EB-3 didn't have that problem, but both my G'3 do.