Oddball Gibsons

[Dave W]

You should be able to view this page even if you're not on Facebook: Oddball Gibsons 1973-1983 And Beyond

Mostly guitars, but some basses too, including a link to a Gibson electric bass from the late '30s -- have we seen this one before?

Some oddball styles, some prototypes including a '54 Junior prototype with a solid maple body, and some players not usually associated with gibson.

[Grog]

Odd?? They all look normal to me........... 

[chromium]

Cool stuff!

I like this tenor guitar... video of which was buried in the comments on a LP-jr-style tenor:

[Basvarken]

Mostly guitars, but some basses too, including a link to a Gibson electric bass from the late '30s -- have we seen this one before?

Yes we've discussed this bass before.
I've been trying to get in touch with the museum for high resolution pics (for the Gibson Bass book). But they've never replied.

[Granny Gremlin]

This looks interesting - LP Personal Prototype (mislabelled as LP Custom prototype):

https://www.facebook.com/OddballGibsons19731983/photos/a.133021273534443.26338.132999666869937/393537110816190/?type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-xpf1%2Ft31.0-8%2F10924175_393537110816190_2341278723980583953_o.jpg&smallsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-xfa1%2Fv%2Ft1.0-9%2F10930863_393537110816190_2341278723980583953_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dd032a64495d77368b839b774ade2396b%26oe%3D555205E4&size=1000%2C750&fbid=393537110816190

ETA: LOL, some of those are hos, not even real Gibsons.  Most of the rest are merely aftermarket customizations.

[Rob]

Yes we've discussed this bass before.
I've been trying to get in touch with the museum for high resolution pics (for the Gibson Bass book). But they've never replied.

That's the big Momma with an end pin isn't it?

[uwe]

It's even got Ritchie in it!!! A good link then, doubleplusgood.

[Aussie Mark]

It ain't oddball unless it's a reverse flying vee.

[Dave W]

...

ETA: LOL, some of those are hos, not even real Gibsons.  Most of the rest are merely aftermarket customizations.

They don't claim all of these are factory short runs and custom orders, although many of them are. Even so, they still consider the ones that are customized to be oddball Gibsons. I agree.

Cool stuff!

I like this tenor guitar... video of which was buried in the comments on a LP-jr-style tenor:

I hadn't seen that one before, but Neko Case has an SG Tenor with a conventional headstock, P-90s and a Maestro vibrola. She bought it from Elderly: http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/80U-1773.htm She tunes it like the lower four strings of a guitar, and the one in the video sounds like it is too. Conventional tenor tuning is in fifths.

[amptech]

I have this 'SG history' book from late 80's- early 90's. The tenor SG is featured in the book, a 1962 model with normal headstock (2+2).
It is described in the book as the only one made, but maybe they mean only one made in 1962.

[Grog]

Dave Rogers has a SG Jr Tenor in his colection............

http://davesguitar.com/collection/sg-junior-tenor-66/

[gearHed289]

That thing sounds great.

[Highlander]

Nice pic of Chris Squire playing an NR T'Bird, but they are inferring it's pre Yes...? He doesn't look that young to me in the pic...?

[Denis]

If I remember correctly, I read someone that Squire used that NR for a short time while playing with Yes. Not sure if it was a temporary replacement if his Ric was out of action or just a different bass to fit a specific song or series of songs.

[amptech]

I remember his tech said in an interview that squire used to strip down his rick and paint it or cover it with foil or whatever. So he used other instruments from time to time.

He also explained that the special tone this ricky´s got, was because the finish/wood was so damaged by squires tinkering that the whole instrument was sanded/planed a couple of times - so the body is very thin.