Pro artist modded Gibson basses

[Barklessdog]

You know you cringe when someone on Ebay does it, but when a major artist does it...

Post any pictures of famous bass players modded  Gibson or Epi basses

Watt's Eb-3



Glen Cornick


John Entwistle Fenderbird

[chromium]

Gerald Casale and bandsaws are a dangerous combo!

This one looked like it may have been an EB-something? at some point:


...and then there's that Ripper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IYrJxodsm0

[gweimer]

Dennis Dunaway's Frog Bass

[eb2]

In defense of all of those creatures, they were typically modded when the going rate for ANY used Gibson bass was less than $300.  And in the case of Devo, the 70s basses were considered worthless out of the box.  Unjustly of course, but the instances of Gibson basses achieving even the $600 mark are within the last 10 years alone.  I found some of it appalling then, particularly in the cases of banjo peg basses, but hey - you could have gotten a mint replacement within a month for about what an old Fender neck would set you back.  And if you plugged in and wondered why it didn't sound like a Fender, the wood chisels and DiMarzios came out in a flash.

[Chris P.]

I like Mike Watt's EB! Almost a piece of art! just a bass you have to use instead of hanging it on the wall.

Entwistle: I think they only used Gibson pick ups (and bridges?). Didn't Peter Cook made the bodies + guards and mounted Fender P necks on 'm?

That leaves two questions:
Are the pick ups ordered at Gibson's or are there some T-birds around without pick ups? Entwistle smashed one and so did keith Moon by accident. But there are at least five known Fenderbirds (3? Fiesta, black, white)/Explorerbirds(2? Fiesta and white). That could mean he used five Birds only for pick ups...
Pete Townshend ordered three SGs at Gibson when they stopped producing the P90-models and when he used up almost all the old ones in England. He didn't like 'm so I guess they where smashed and he went on using mini-humbucker LPs. Entwistle ordering Gibson bass pick ups isn't strange then...

And the same wih the Fender necks, but i think it was easier in the seventies to find some cheap Ps.

[doombass]

Craig Grubers Non Rev:



Gene Simmons EB-0:


Leon Wilkesons Non Rev with custom inlays (possibly a gift from John Entwistle):



Same bass modified about 15 years later:

[OldManC]

Here's one for ya; Julian Cope and his non reverse thunder/firebird.

[Chris P.]

Nice pics!

What does Craig Gruber uses as pick ups? Two mudbuckers and a T-bird in the middle?

[shadowcastaz]

Alan Woody's  mandolin bass.

[n!k]

Gerald Casale and bandsaws are a dangerous combo!

Chromium, glad to see someone else is as big of a Devo fan as I am! Gerry is one of the most unduly unrecognized bass players of his era.

He's playing a Steinberger Synapse even today, so he must have really liked that body style.

[Dave W]

Chromium, glad to see someone else is as big of a Devo fan as I am! Gerry is one of the most unduly unrecognized bass players of his era.

Of any era. IMO he's one of the unsung greats.

[Barklessdog]

A devo fan here as well. A lot of my relatives live in or around the Akron area!

Which, if you have ever been there, is not such a great thing.

[Blazer]

Modified or battered Gibson basses? Don't look anyfurther than Kim Gordon of Sonic youth.



Her Thunderbird has had a headstock repair (sounds familiar doesn't it?) she has given it the drumstick treatment (as seen in the picture) and she has decorated it with inscriptions and drawings.

[SKATE RAT]

DEVO   !

[Barklessdog]

I like the Japanese versions as well-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUbqOcMlD7I