New G-3!

[slinkp]

I was reading about the control setup ... from gibson.com:

"simple array of a three-way switch and master volume and tone controls assures that these units—with a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle pickup—offer hum-canceling performance in all positions. The "switch up" position gives you the neck and middle pickups for a rich, woody tone. The middle position taps all three pickups for a round, funky tone. And with the switch down, the bridge and middle pickups offer a punchy, snappy sound. "

That sounds fine... just wondered, anybody played around with different switches? There's at least 4 other combinations they don't give you that way.

What was on the original G3?

[neepheid]

What was on the original G3?

Exactly the same.

[uwe]

It was a no frills bass, front two pups, back two pups or all three. A modification to have back and front, but not middle was quite popular, gave it a more scooped Jazz Bassy sound. Single pup mode was never intended due to necessitiy of hum cancellation, two of the single coils had to always work.

[Denis]

I'm considering selling my red BaCH TH-2 to get another G-3.

[uwe]

It hath arrived, Mark, danke, looks nice from what I saw taking it out of the bag (thank God not another case!).

Et les Lülls arrive aussi, merci.

[TBird1958]

It hath arrived, Mark, danke, looks nice from what I saw taking it out of the bag (thank God not another case!).

Et les Lülls arrive aussi, merci.

I can't thank you enough for the pleasure of playing that bass - Sit down and play it fingerstyle, it's most refreshing. I'll await your thoughts re the Lulls. 

[Denis]

Looking forward to hearing what you think of it, Uwe.

[uwe]

It takes ages to get rid of that protective foil on it - you have to dismantle both the pg and the pups to do it! 

Other than that ... I only restrung it this morning with EB Cobalt strings and played a little with it over a practice amp, no real set up yet. Much like the Grabber II and the Ripper II, this thing emulates the original closely in sound and feel. Due to the set neck it feels a little more substantial/less cheap, that and the sturdier bridge also account for more sustain and less snap than a seventies G-3. It's a bit deeper in sound, yet the bass frequencies are more focused than with the original whose low bass output could be a little sloppy.

First impression: Well done Gibson! Kind of like as if the original G-3 had never been deleted and had progressed to this over the decades.

[TBird1958]

Most of my time with it I used a 4x10 and my 400 watt GK, that bass really has some big balls, very good tone, I liked the stock strings a lot, I definately left some DNA on that bass!  

[Chris P.]

I have two sets of Cobalts lying around. Can you tell something about your experiences, Uwe?

[uwe]

Most of my time with it I used a 4x10 and my 400 watt GK, that bass really has some bigs balls, very good tone, I liked the stock strings a lot, I definately left some DNA on that bass! 

They still had plenty of life in them! I just replaced them because I had to take them off to be able to get to the entrails under the pick guard because I had to dismantle the pups to get rid of the last remnants of that friggin' foil! (Clean soldering job by the way.) And with the strings off, I thought I might just as well put on new ones, I have too many string packages gathering dust as is.

[uwe]

I have two sets of Cobalts lying around. Can you tell something about your experiences, Uwe?

I found the G string chafed after wearing it for a day or two unlubed!



Other than that they are indeed not smooth surface strings, but offer incredibly rich mids, bit like Rotos with mids. My Lee Sklar Sig always sounded lackluster and has benefitted incredibly from these strings, it now has a real voice now. On a very mid-rich bass they might even be a bit much.

[TBird1958]

I found the G string chafed after wearing it for a day or two unlubed!

I think you're wearing it wrong! 

[uwe]

You had given no further instructions!

[TBird1958]

You had given no further instructions!

You got me there, Herr Moderator! I sometimes forget your choosen profession, it doesn't always allow you to proceed