I became a Gibson bass addict in 1979 at Killeen music in Burbank, CA. They had a white Thunderbird that had been sitting on the wall for a couple years. The first time I saw it I fell in love and that was that. Unfortunately, it sold before I could talk my parents into letting me buy it. My luck; it sits for two years or more and sells as soon as I see it!
Flash forward a few months to my very first club visit at the Ice House in Pasadena (known as a comedy club, but they had bands in the back room; I saw Armored Saint there a year or two later). Anyway, the bassist had a red 70's bird. That was strike two... Strike three happened in October, 1981 when I saw Motley Crue for the first time. Nikki's white bird sealed the deal for me and I had my first bird (a black one) a few months later At $500, it was $50 overpriced for the time, but I didn't care. I wanted that bass!. I've owned other brands over the years and still still do really like and own the two Fender icons, but my first love and emotional favorites will always be Gibsons. That started with Thunderbirds and EBLs, but over the years I've grown to love most of the basses they've sold over the years. As addictions go, I could've done a lot worse!