Bash the new Gibson Bass!!!

[Dave W]

New paparazzi shots of Dave W, walking his dog (no doubt fleeing from prog rock sound emissions), have just arrived!!!

I really was out walking my dog.

As Rob has observed, the new inner curves are a tribute to better neck joint stability. Since when is improving something a crime?

We don't know that. It depends on where the tenon starts and ends and how long it is. For all we know, it could be less stable. Not that Gibson would ever do anything to cut corners.  

If your aim is to more or less reproduce a classic, you don't destroy its classic lines to make improvements. If you want improvements, redesign from the ground up. Or copy Fender designs.  

Maybe Gibson should redesign the LP with less neck angle, a big volute and a three piece maple neck. I'm sure it will be very popular. 

[dadagoboi]

As Rob has observed, the new inner curves are a tribute to better neck joint stability. Since when is improving something a crime?

Total Gibson BS.  Hamer managed to make a 12 string neck stay put with out bastardizing the shape.  But I guess they G.A.S. IMO the sound of an original Mudbucker combined with the ability to blend it with the right (bright?) sounding bridge pup would be better than whatever Gibson had lying on the shelf and stuck in that thing.  Also would appeal to the generation that loves organ rupturing bass sounds.  Speaker reconers too!

[Basvarken]

Total Gibson BS.  Hamer managed to make a 12 string neck stay put with out bastardizing the shape. 

Well thank you Carlo.
As you can see the Hamer doesn't have a pickup straight at the end of the fret board. So no deep routing there.
I can tell you for a fact that cutting away that much wood with such a neck joint design is asking for trouble.

[dadagoboi]

Well thank you Carlo.
As you can see the Hamer doesn't have a pickup straight at the end of the fret board. So no deep routing there.
I can tell you for a fact that cutting away that much wood with such a neck joint design is asking for trouble.

I've owned one with that neck joint for 45 years with no problem...but it's made of real mahogany.  If the neck pup was screwing up the joinery move it or design a shallower pickup. Don't just uglify the thing.

I'm almost positive I've spent more money on pickup R&D in the last year than Gibson has.  That's SAD.

[Chaser001]

I'd reserve judgment on something like the LP Jr DC bass until actually playing it.  The original LP Jr guitar had very humble beginnings but is actually a great sounding guitar.  It greatly exceeded expectations. 

[Basvarken]

I'm almost positive I've spent more money on pickup R&D in the last year than Gibson has. 

Money spent recreating / reverse engineering a Gibson design pickup 

[Barklessdog]

I'd reserve judgment on something like the LP Jr DC bass until actually playing it.  The original LP Jr guitar had very humble beginnings but is actually a great sounding guitar.  It greatly exceeded expectations. 

I dont know how it can be any different sounding than the SG reissue?

[dadagoboi]

Money spent recreating / reverse engineering a Gibson design pickup  

It's a tough job but somebody has to do it.

[Basvarken]

I've owned one with that neck joint for 45 years with no problem...but it's made of real mahogany. 

Maybe you were lucky?
For example: none of my Gibson basses have ever had a headstock fracture.
That doesn't say the problem doesn't exist.

[Pilgrim]

But wasn't the original primitive too? That was part of its archaic charm. I actually find that they captured that utalitarian look quite well. Only a hammer paint fin could have enhanced that aspect more. Slab of wood sprayed in one color, two pups, bridge and tuners on it, finito!

Of course, a spalted maple top could have ...  

They could have at LEAST offered a 2-color burst on it.....that thing makes a Telecaster look elegant.

[dadagoboi]

Maybe you were lucky?
For example: none of my Gibson basses have ever had a headstock fracture.
That doesn't say the problem doesn't exist.

That may be because from '66-'72 it didn't have a case of any kind and stands were nonexistant...did I mention the drugs?

OTH none of my 5 Gibsons has a broken neck.  I must be very lucky since the newest is a '67.

[dadagoboi]

They could have at LEAST offered a 2-color burst on it.....that thing makes a Telecaster look elegant.

A 'burst finish would require using a better grade of wood and a higher level of craftsmanship.  What do you want for $900 list or whatever it is?

[Chaser001]

I dont know how it can be any different sounding than the SG reissue?

That wouldn't be a bad thing, though.  Actually, my mind is off the topic now.  I've just read through the thread on the short scale T-Bird and realized that is something I might seriously be interested in. 

[Highlander]

Harking back to the re-issue RD - the pup selector just has to be LP positioned - boo-boo'd again

I like this bass though...

[Dave W]

A 'burst finish would require using a better grade of wood and a higher level of craftsmanship.  What do you want for $900 list or whatever it is?

The MSRP is $1899.

Anyway, back to the neck joint.

Well thank you Carlo.
As you can see the Hamer doesn't have a pickup straight at the end of the fret board. So no deep routing there.
I can tell you for a fact that cutting away that much wood with such a neck joint design is asking for trouble.

AFAIK there's been no unusual problems with the LP Doublecut Specials over the years, or with PRS guitars with the same curve at the neck joint. Both have humbuckers or P-90s right at the end of the neck. Plenty of thickness for a tenon to go underneath the neck pickup cavity and beyond. The historic problem was with the SG which just didn't have enough wood there.

I dont know how it can be any different sounding than the SG reissue?

It should sound noticeably different with of the extra body thickness. Just as the original Junior style EB-0 sounds different from the SG style.