"Gibson Custom Shop Original Flame Top Bass"

hieronymous · February 09, 2012, 04:50:22 PM

Here's one for Uwe - custom made for Geddy Lee???

http://www.bananasmusic.com/productdetail.asp/pid_17110/productname_Gibson-Custom-Shop-Original-Flame-Top-Bass

Dave W · February 09, 2012, 05:40:21 PM

Not a Gibson. Look at that "custom shop logo" photo -- that's not a logo ever used by Gibson.

Based on examples we've seen before, I'd guess this is another Roger Giffen creation.

The hand wound pickup looks suspiciously like a DiMarzio Model One. "high mass but low impact bridge" is the funniest description of the three-point yet.

dadagoboi · February 09, 2012, 05:51:27 PM

Quote from: Dave W on February 09, 2012, 05:40:21 PM
"high mass but low impact bridge"

I bet it's great for the ultimate cardio workout!

TBird1958 · February 09, 2012, 06:06:34 PM

"high mass but low impact bridge" is the funniest description of the three-point yet.

I gotta agree Dave!
I love 3 points......but WTH.
The whole thing is a bit strange, I really can't see Geddy Lee wanting a bass like that.

Dave W · February 09, 2012, 06:46:57 PM

Wait a minute! This isn't another Giffin, it's the exact same Giffin we discussed here a couple of years ago: http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=3961.0. Only it was $5000 back then.

OldManC · February 09, 2012, 07:22:36 PM

I was gonna say I was pretty sure I'd seen those drums before...

mc2NY · February 09, 2012, 07:44:21 PM

A friend of mine had that built for him out in Hollywood in the mid-90s by Roger Giffin. There was also a matching Explorer short-scale bass.

I got offered the pair at the time but didn't take either. This EB went to Petersson at the time.

My friend is not Geddy Lee BTW but was a longtime Hamer endorser, hence the obvious Hamer influence in the builds

Dave W · February 09, 2012, 08:14:27 PM

Quote from: mc2NY on February 09, 2012, 07:44:21 PM
A friend of mine had that built for him out in Hollywood in the mid-90s. There was also a matching Explorer short-scale bass.

I got offered the pair at the time.

My friend is not Geddy Lee BTW

Uwe now owns that Explorer! At least I think it must be the same one. See this thread from 2008: http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=1131.0

mc2NY · February 09, 2012, 08:16:40 PM

Yeah, I just saw that Explorer pic....that IS the same bass.

BTW....I have a REAL Gibson WC Custom Shop TBird build by Roger when he was there '90/91 that I "may" be selling. On the fence but probably. It was made for another Hollywood bass pal of mine. About 8 years back I bought his TBird and his custom Hamer B12S with his band logo (Bogus Toms) in blood factory graphic on it

There was a Hamer rumor that the factory actually added drops of real blood to the paint. Funniest part was my friend's stage name was "Liv Wurst."

He actually flew out to NYC and hand carried the basses to me to be sure they got here in one piece.

Dave W · February 09, 2012, 08:41:34 PM

We were pretty sure the Explorer was built by Roger, after his Gibson days, even though he couldn't remember for sure when Uwe contacted him. And we thought so about this one that's still for sale. As far as I'm concerned, your comments settle it.

uwe · February 10, 2012, 03:52:33 AM

I remember contacting Roger Giffin about this Junior sibling to my short scale Explorer and he went out of his way not to state that it was made while he was still associated with Gibson as their "West Coast Custom Shop". Basically all he said was that it looked like something he might have done. It is 100% his (then) trademark look and really a deadringer to my Explorer (which wasn't made during the Custom Shop era either, but I knew that when I bought it, it is my "fake Rembrandt" in the collection).

Geddy Lee playing that thing is a preposterous thought though, have fun trying to get his grindy trademark clank sound out of it, short scale and neck pup equipped as it is.

If the Rush connection is true then - also by the looks of it, he likes fancy, translucent or natural tops, Geddy not so much - it is more something Alex Lifeson might have used for demoing his material ("See, Geddy, not all basses have to go clank, just listen here!").

mc2NY · February 10, 2012, 07:37:47 AM

I have pics of both of these in my friend's front yard from when he first brought them home and will post them later.

From what I recall from my conversations back then, they were finished up from some remaining parts and imput from my friend on how he thought they should be spec'd into basses he could use for a short time and then flip.

I've bought/sold a lot with him over the years. Recently got a similar Hamer B4S from him that was made for the late Howie Epstein of Tom Petty's band because I had Epstein's other one of the set. I had some buyer begging me for the pair and after I was good enough to get the other one out here the A-hole vanished and stuck me.

Funny thing about this pair of basses....I asked him a couple months back if he still had them. I'd come across the original pics he'd sent years back and thought about maybe trying them out but he said they were gone.

Dave W · February 10, 2012, 09:00:56 AM

IIRC Uwe bought the Explorer off eBay from an individual, not this seller. So they got separated.

Looking forward to the pics. Another piece of the puzzle, even though we're pretty sure of the origins.

mc2NY · February 10, 2012, 09:09:18 AM

Here are a few of the pics my friend sent me when these were first made...maybe around 2006-07 or so from my recollection. I'd have to go through ancient emails to see exactly when it was. Might have been a joing effort with Roger in a "cleaning house" mode to get ready to move out of CA back then. But you can see they are defintely the same pair of basses.

Dave W · February 10, 2012, 01:11:54 PM

That's the same pair, all right. Are you sure about the approximate date of 2006-07? I got the impression these were made in the 90s.