The Best Bass Gibson Ever Made // GIBSON A GO GO
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 มี.ค. 2023
- The Gibson G-3 bass, or Grabber 3 bass, was launched in 1975, first shown alongside the Grabber at the 1975 NAMM show where it was very well received, with significant orders placed. They were initially referred to by Gibson as V-series basses, most likely because of the Flying V style headstock.
The G-3 was based on the Grabber, the main difference being the pickup configuration. The G3 features three single coil pickups wired in humbucking configuration, whilst the Grabber, had one 'sliding' humbucker. Both were the product of guitar designer Bill Lawrence who joined Gibson in the early 1970s. and produced a number of similar guitar models at the same time, such as the Marauder, L-6S and S-1.
#GibsonAGoGo
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The Grabber is still the best sounding bass I've played. Surprisingly the sliding pup works perfectly after 40+ years.
I just bought a 1978 Grabber (Wine Red) on Reverb in April. It was a bit banged up, but sounded like a monster, sliding pick up & all!
I played a 76 Grabber at a Sam Ash in Asbury Park a few years ago and I agree. It was in good condition, and surprisingly light. I slid the pick up to 1/3 distance away from the bridge side of the slider and 2/3 away from the neck side, rolled the tone down to about 7.5, and was blown away by the sound I was getting. Enough with the Thunderbird and SG bass reissues, Gibson needs to be making these basses again with the proper electronics.
Mike D liked his. Now he's a P guy.
That bass came out in the "Norlin era" of Gibson, the same period that fixed the fragile Les Paul neck making it 3-piece/with volute to compensate for the angled headstock. So when the new management came, they decided to "go back to the roots" and thus they discarded the better Les Paul neck and the Grabber, sweeping them under the rug like they never happened in favor of the "classic" model lineup.
I like the looks of these basses, and they sound really good. I will join you demanding that Gibson reissue both models, not as a one-off or limited run, but as a staple workhorse to their main lineup. Great video, by the way.
And the Ripper but also the one with a sliding pick-up.
I tried them in the 80's but I had not enough money at that time 😢
Why would Gibson want to make money? They sell 50k if they could make them.
@ReRouTedlOGIC All musical instrument companies are in business to turn a profit, aka "make money." That is how they stay around to manufacture the products we crave to buy. Now, when it comes to absorbent price practices, that is when we can just not buy it and walk away. The models I am talking about bringing back are not going to cost $50,000, but yes, they may command a higher price than someone like Ibanez or Charvel. It's Gibson, and just like Fender, they charge premium prices because those established names are etched in or water marked into the headstock of what they make. We are literally paying for the name. If Gibson re-released these models, I am quite sure a clone would come along cheaper by a less prestigious manufacturer.
If they rereleased it they'd hit a goldmine.
You can demand until you’re blue in the face when it comes to Gibson. Those in the Ripper/Grabber/G3 community like me have been asking for reissues since the 80s and it’s fallen on deaf ears. Gibson was never big on taking suggestions from its general customer base seriously. They prefer to deal with and focus on music celebrity player signature models. They mostly just pat you on the head, thank you for your excellent suggestion, and say they’ll give it some serious consideration. And that’s where it ends every single time.
They did produce a limited run of overpriced so-called Ripper IIs. But other than the body shape, it had no relationship to the original. The RII had dual humbuckers and a varitone. Which sounded nothing like the Bill Lawrence pickups or electronics. It was basically just a LP bass with a different body shape and not what the doctor ordered.
Hats of to the late great Bill Lawrence, who designed the Ripper,Grabber and G3.
The Grabber!, I loved the bass tone on early KISS records.
the three pickup "buck and a half" tone sounds killer! I like the all natural finish with a black pickguard.
Both grabber and ripper are beautiful basses that need a resurgence 🤘🏻
So, I'm 61. Back in the 78/79, when I was 17, there was a store called Guitar Workshop in Tucson that I all but lived in. On the wall, for the longest time, was a G3 and a Grabber. I loved that G3 and always played it... but couldn't afford it... it was $599 (about $2500 in today's dollars). One day I came in and it had sold. That was the one that got away.
Buddy, rumours abound that they're looking at a reissue for the Grabber.
I fell in love with the G3 because of Green Day’s Mike Dirnt. What a great sounding bass.
What a beautiful example of a killer bass!
Would be awesome if you were able to demo a Grabber, G3 or Ripper on your channel, especially after that Serek Lincoln you demoed a while back. I saw that Serek now makes their own version of a G3 with Curtis Novak pickups.
Those basses definitely have their own sound. Very cool.
"Serek Basses / Lincoln L3 Bass Demo [Gibson Grabber G3] / Curtis Novak Pickups" Might be worth a try.
Just watched their demo video. Wow, that's a really awesome take on the G3! Might be better than anything Gibson could come up with!
The Rippers and Grabbers were great. Should never have stopped making them.
I've been wanting one for years. Agreed Gibson totally needs to add it to their lineup again.
God damn, that G3 has such a good tone, love at first hearing! Really do hope Gibson starts taking their basses in general a little more seriously, most of the models are so good and have a place in the market, but the company policy around them (pricing, production etc) is a joke 😅
Most if not all Gibson basses suck where they can't get away from that baseball bat carve down the middle neck design. Yeah and the video this one has a good tone, but I bet you the neck still feels like you're trying to grab a python
You don't like the DC Tribute bass? @@Hndsmstrngr1
I'm a lead/rhythm guitarist who is digging deep (no pun intended) into the magic that is bass in a much more profound way than just admiration from the sidelines. I love the instrument so much, and this video knocked me out! I want a G-3 soooo bad now, but the prices are pushing $4K!!!!! in July 2024 - what's a guy or gal to do?. I mean, I just bought an exceptional stock 1968 EB-0 (which I LOVE) for $1600 for crying out loud - the market is crazy.! Anyway... Thank you all for your content, I'm new to the channel, in terms of "following," but I've seen many of your videos previously. Great content. Thanks!!! Keep doing what your doing! Cheers!
I bought a -78 G-3 with the natural body and clear pickups back in 2018 in auction. Looks and plays great. Noone was interested so I got it for 700$. Such a perfect day!
None not noone.
Super cool basses. Wish Gibson would make faithful reissues of these and not make them cost a stupid amount. Also, super surprised to hear the Headlong Flight riff! All hail Geddy bass lines!
So grateful that I got the chance to play one a couple of years ago. Still kicking myself for not jumping on it. A real beast.
I’ve loved this bass guitar since hearing Mike Dirnt growling all over Green Days Insomniac but the moment I heard Paramores Self-Titled album Jeremy Davis and JMJ opening up the door to the G3 and FX pedals it only confirmed for me that this bass would go down as one of the most sought after basses in history unless Gibson rectifies their error… that being said I’m a happy G3 owner and would love to see these brilliant basses mass produced again.
Didn't even know that about Paramore's self-titled album! That was my favorite Jeremy Davis bass tone too
I have had a G3 for 35 years. I took the frets out (sin of youth) and it sounds even better. I wouldn't trade it for any other. Greetings from Argentina.
Great vid dude.
The first bass i every played was a Gibson G-3 bass. A school friend had a father that played the pubs and clubs offered to lend me his pride and joy for a few weeks to get me started. Needless to say I fell in love with the bass from that moment and didn't want to give it back. My first bass I actually owed was a Peavy T-40, another bass i regret parting ways with.
Both of these basses need to be reissued.
Awesome video as always! I love the sound of The Grabber, that growl and lowend is amazing!
Totally agree with all things said. The G3 is such a great bass and glad I was able to grab one before they got too ridiculous. Keep up the great work gents!
Gibson bring these back! Bring them back the way they were done on the first run!
Awesome job on the demo!
Bought a G3 (a 1978 just like the one in this video) in 1996 or 1997, and have loved it ever since. Absolutely my favorite sounding bass to this day. The only thing I don't like about it is how heavy it is, it killed my back. Thanks for the video!
Interestingly, the guitar version (s-1) that shares the exact same pickups and construction is one of my fave guitars. The g3 sounds amazing with some gain on it, really clear. Enjoyed the video and agree 100%
serek just release their own take on the g3 js :) sexy tones
Tobias the best Gibson bass ever made, hands down. Gibson being gibson, they kill it.
I’ve been playing for over 20yrs and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen a Gibson bass out on the wild. Every time I’ve played a real Thunderbird I’ve loved it. I’m sure a lot more people would be “Gibson guys” on bass if they actually made basses consistently. There’s no reason why Tbirds/Grabber/G3/Rippers/EB aren’t hanging next to Fenders in stores.
It boggles my mind that Gibson or Epiphone aren’t making Grabbers anymore. They are just leaving money on the table. Tons of people want them but they are really expensive in the used market.
Beautiful bass! Would definitely buy a reissue
Dude this is your funniest one. Telling Charles to chill and then the arms like a baboon killed me. Love your stuff dude
Great timing since Serek just unveiled their Lincoln with the G3 pickups!
I emailed him about this exact thing two years ago. I asked for one with the G3 style pickups. I can screen shot the email 😂 he suggested HIS pickups instead and I passed… now all of a sudden he’s making them with the pickups I asked for and wanted 🤨 hilarious….
@@Therealchuckbailey Maybe he needed some more people like you to convince Curtis Novak to make these kinds of pickups again. This new Lincoln is awesome! Unfortunately totally out of reach for me right now...
They have that Green Day "Dookie" bass sound that I loved when I was younger. The first time i saw them was Mike Dirnt playing them.
Dookie was actually recorded on an active P bass.
Loved this episode, guys, well done.
Any chance to make a RD video?
¡Salud!
The Ripper and the G3 make some of my all time favourite bass tones. I need to own one of either before I kick it.
I learned how to play bass on the Grabber in the late 70’s. I didn’t care for it much back then. I would kill for one now!!
Excellent review. You can see my 76 G-3 in my thumbnail and some old vids on my channel. Give me the Buck and half position and I can conquer the world
I'm glad you did a review on the G3 and the Grabber. I didn't know they made a G3. I've been considering a Ripper because of the 2 pickup configuration. I like more versatility in my basses. But the G3 sure changed that for me. In some cases, it would've been great to have a 5 way switch instead of 3. Just so you could have a "P" bass tone and a scooped tone (neck & bridge). I have a '78 maple RD standard that is my first bass. I bought it second hand in' 82. So I can appreciate "the stories" these basses tell. Good job on the video. I'm also in your Discord server, in case nobody knows about that. Peace bro and keep Rockin the bass ✌️😎🤟🎸🥕🦀
I was thinking the same. Maybe the best solution would be: 2 push-pull pots: The first one taking the middle pickup away (J mode), the second one taking neck and bridge pickups out of the mix (P mode). No additional holes and all pickup combinations are possible.
Alternatives:
1) A second 3-way toggle. Toggle 1: neck, neck+bridge, bridge; toggle 2: toggle 1 output alone (J-style), toggle 1 output + middle (that would be the G3 sounds), middle alone (P-bass like).
2) A Strat-like 5-way switch, and a push-pull pot to add the neck or the bridge pickup to the mix.
@@VeitLehmann that's a good idea too. Being it already has a switch. I was thinking a 5 way rotary
Don't stress Dude. Jake Serek over at Serek Basses just re-introduced that exact model w. Bill Lawrence pickups. Check it out.
Always loved Gibson basses. Thanks for Sure Know Something and this video!
I'm a Thunderbird and P bass guy and oh man I want one of those G3's .That sounds amazing !
That riff at 3:23 was funky! I was liking that!
Those are beautiful Gibson basses. Wish I had at least one in my collection. Maybe one day.🤘
Bought mine new in ‘75 and am still loving it like day one.
Sure Know Something by KISS. Wasn't expecting that but considering Gene was all about that Gibson bass, nice nod there.
Got mine brand new in 1978. With the right amp, this bass is killer! High tone, to high mids to lows. If I didn’t need the 5th string, this is my number 2, Peavey Cirrus number 1
Great sounding bass, I remember seeing used Gibson Grabber basses going for dirt cheap in the late 1980's and 90s & now they can be found in the $2500 . - $3900. range in Canadian dollars used on Reverb ... I think Gibson should do a limited run of this classic bass.
I just bought a '78 Grabber for 2K on Reverb. It was banged up (broken/cracked neck repair), but sounded EXACTLY like you'd imagine it sounded & is now my most prized possession!
@Tee Oh Good old Reverb , it's my go-to for gear. Congrats, I hope you get many years of enjoyment from your Gibson Grabber Bass 😀
I got my 81 G-3 for $150 in 1992. You couldnt give these basses away back then.
I agree 100% that this series of bass guitars are the best ones that Gibson has ever produced. I had a music store and we were a Gibson dealer so I've had lots of experience with these and all the Gibson basses. The reason they are so good is because the pickups were designed by Bill Lawrence and the bass guitars themselves are not your typical Gibson. However, what IS typically Gibson is the fact that every time they make something that's really good as far as a bass guitar goes. They make it for a few years and then discontinue it.
Gibson lives and dies by their SG and Thunderbird basses. So you have your choice of an SG bass with a giant sidewinder mudbucker stuck up at the end of the neck, with no definition. Or you have a Thunderbird which is probably the best sounding bass that Gibson has ever made. Yet it is a ergonomic neck diving wreck to try to play. Then when Gibby introduced the EB series in 2013. I thought, nice, finally a Gibby bass I actually want to buy. But alas, in true Gibson fashion. Only available for a few years and it's gone.
However, could I interest you in a $6,999.00 Gene Simmons EB-0 Bass, Ebony? It combines our tried and true LP style bass with our tried and true mudbucking sidewinder pickup. Which we did move closer to the middle of the body rather than right at the end of the neck. Oh, and did I mention that Gene Simmons endorses it. LOL
Stumbled across a G3 recently and had to give it a try. It was incredible! The action was horrible but that thing sounded amazing. It has such a clarity to its tone, so focused, but without being insufficient in the low end. Shame the price tag was waaaaay out of my league 😢
I've always liked the "Grabber" tone but the G3 has that Stingray Vibe that I like a lot. The first time I heard one was when I saw Pegboy and Pierre Kedzy was playing one, there's also a Christian melodic hardcore band named Off The Record and their bassist recorded their album with one and it sounds legit 😊
Great content,,Thank you!
That tone at 00:20 at the start of the video is 👌👌
Agree! This model was fantastic, I also like the Ripper, they sound really good and distinctive, way better than thunderbird IMO. Oh maybe I could try to replace the pickups of my TB.
Both those basses sound amazing but the G3 is crazy good sounding! The look of that G3 is so nice to look at as well. Just the perfect color and burst. Now if Gibson re-issues it let’s see how bad they can screw it up because they can and will. Sorry just not a fan of Gibson even though they have made some of the best instruments of all time and this G3 being one of them. Thanks for making this as I have never really cared about these basses mainly because I don’t care for the shape that much but the G3 with that burst has changed my mind. Great video!
They tried to reissue it once in the early 2010s I think, but the details were all different (esp the pickups) and it was just not great.
seeing as they are bolt-on all maple...knock offs would be easy.DIY kits?
The only Gibson that I own is a V with a broken headstock that I couldn't be bothered to repair and can't sell it bevause it was a gift from a family member.
Love the what you doing an headlong flight riffs love rush !
These are cool basses. Never knew they existed. After doing some research on these. I noticed they made a modern version in the 2000's. Now that you have a tone comparison video. Have you considered doing a tone comparison between modern & vintage models?
thanks for the video, I don't know how many times I've been on the fence on selling my G3, just being in a tight spot financially and my role changing in the band...but I just can't get myself to do it 🥺
Such good tone
If Gibson reissues the G3, they need to keep it under $1500. No more money grabs, just make a great bass and let people buy it.
You know damn well it will be 2-3k and limited to like 500 units
Dude i have been trolling Gibson for years over these basses. Its not gonna happen with all the gibson guitar LP fuck bois frothing every single 6 string release. Gibson are stupid af.
Isn't it just absolutely insane that they don't bother making this stuff anymore? If they rebooted ANY of the 3 basses in this shape, I guarantee they'd make so much cash. They'd have SOOO much free advertising from youtube, it would sell itself.
These basses sound AMAZING overdriven.
What a tone! 😮
Please in the future try to get your hands on a gibson victory standard bass! It’s one of the many Gibson competitors of the p bass and it really might be their greatest one!
I'm pretty sure Chris had a Victory not too long ago. I think it was even in some early channel videos.
I need to know the song at 3:23. Such a great grove it makes me wanna learn the tabs
I've got a '75 Grabber that pretty much eats my P-Bass, J-Bass, Ric and Firebird. The Grabber, to my ears, has more growl and fatness than the Ripper, which I used to own. Wasn't until the Grabber came in that I could hear how different it sounded. Gene Simmons used the Grabber on the classic KISS ALIVE! album and it sounds amazing.
I love old gear like these basses and I hope that they make a comeback, *BUT* let's not forget that there are unicorns still being made today. If we don't recognize them, then they, too, will be lost. In my opinion, the Fender Meteora bass is a great example of a "modern weirdo" that is likely going to get canned within the next few years. Consider it an updated reissue of Fender's Blacktop Precision bass. I have a Meteora bass and I think that it's excellent for achieving all sorts of classic double humbucker bass tones: it's no Wal, but I can still get a satisfying impression of Geddy's Wal tone using nothing but the Meteora's blend control and EQ, and it's also capable of doing a great imitation of Justin Chancellor's tone as well. I would describe it as sounding something like a cross between a Jazz bass and a Wal.
I really hope that The Bass Channel reviews the Meteora. It's a great bass that really shouldn't be ignored.
A black with maple neck G=3 was the first bass I owned, I got it around 1989 when I was 13 and I ended up playing a shit ton of gigs on it over the next few years. I think it's because I owned that bass that I never understood where all the hate for Gibson basses is coming from. It sucks that Gibson as a company is in such disarray, I'm pretty sure it's top tier hierarchy is incapable of hearing the voice of reason, but if they could they would get their shit together in a hurry and figure out the price points, find themselves another Bill Lawrence and Bob Moog and fully reinstitute the product lines for The Ripper, The Grabber/G-3, RD Artists basses, and the S1 guitar lines. They were crazy to have ever stopped making them and in the mean time they have offered nothing that is even remotely competitive to Fender.
I had a 1978 Gibson Ripper fretless bass.
Bought it for 400 dollars in 1997.
It was the heaviest instrument I have ever owned or played.
Must have been about 20 pounds.
I've never been more envious of anyone in my life
I’ve never been a fan of the g3 sounds but the original grabber is my fav bass
Great bass I used in the 90’s…
I really really hate all the current Gibson basses… But I love this one.
Hopefully they will bring them back to life.
Well Done!💥💯💥
Man, these basses sound awesome! I was always gravitating more towards the Grabber, I just love that sliding pickup. P-Bass on steroids (or on rails 😉). But man, that G3 sounds incredible! Does the Grabber have flats on it? Or maybe old strings? Sounds like that, at least in comparison. The G3 is so much brighter. Really to a point it competes with modern active basses!
By the way: Reverend makes something kind of similar - the Triad bass. 3 J-style rails humbuckers, 5-way switch like a Strat, volume, tone. And the body style is also some kind of hybrid between Fender and Gibson. But I'm sure it will sound and play much different.
Gibson could do a lot to get back on the bass radar if they return with both of these, instead of continually goofing around. I started playing bass around '78, and the Grabber was THE bass to try to get. But of course they were out of reach for a cashless high school kid... maybe now dropping 3k on one might be a thing... Great review here, thanks!
They certainly sound good played with a pick and treble. You like them more than a Thunderbird? I had both an 80s Thunderbird and a '65 EB-0. The EB sounds like mud, but looks cool. My son has the Thunderbird and most of the others. I kept the EB. My favorites are my Precisions, a '64 and '72. I hate my '76 Jazz, and the neck on the '68 Tele bass is a baseball bat. I love my Ovation Magnum bass, but it's a heavy beast on stage, although not as heavy as the Travis Bean. Both of those sound better than anything I've played, but amp makes a big difference. I played mostly pre bass effects, and I mostly play with my fingers. ....I never noticed the sliding pickup on the Grabber, and never played one. Pretty good idea for different tones. Nice vid.
I had a G3 and loved it, but it had a large body😲
They sound awesome
Chester from BADBADNOTGOOD definitely puts his grabber to work. Audible butter basically lol
I agree, It is always going to be the number one bass that not many people know about. The best sounding passive bass.
Better sounding than a Jazz bass. The neck plays very well. I don't know if it has 19mm finger spacing at the bridge. Someone needs to make those pickups in a four and five string Jazz layout. The closet thing I can find are EMG hz pickups.
Damn, that’s heavy as hell.
🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽🤟🏽
Why in the world Gibson came out with a Gene Simmons signature T bird and did not jump at the chance to do a Grabber or Ripper is just mind blowing. I truly do not understand their thinking.
I don't even recall Gene ever playing a Bird.
G3 sound is a beast
You're right. That thing sounds nice! 🤌
It’s kind of unlike any other standard production bass I’ve heard. So good!
Had to come back again too make sure I was still agreeable ,with fresh ears again,,,,YEP.!!!!!
Hey guys. I used to live in LV but moved out of state about 10 years ago. Going back in a couple of weeks. Are there any cool music stores (NOT GC) that are in business there now? I love hitting local guitar shops in different places. Please let me know. Thanks.
I have a natural finish G3 and I am looking for a case for it! Any suggestions? Id love to get a Mono case but I am not sure if itll fit.
Pastilla corrediza, brilliante!
The Grabber definitely sounds beefier than the G3, which is more trebley with it's Strat like pickup configuration. I had no idea that either of these basses existed since Gibson isn't really known for their basses. I only knew about the Ripper which seem to be more common and also their short scale EB basses. Later on, Gibson buys Tobias which became their flagship bass line.
Love the Sound of the G3 but it is so expensive. Is there any Bass that sound quite like the G3?
I heard a stingray or warwick sounds a bit like the G3
I love the look of these. It's just impossible to afford vintage ones and at the same time if Gibson were to put out a reissue it would be out outrageously priced too. The S-3 definitely has that single coil Jazz bass kind of vibe and the Grabber is closer to a Precision.
Reissuing Grabbers wouldn't have to be any more expensive than anything else Gibson makes.
But is anything G makes deserving of the price? And I'm only referring to guitars, not referring to the leather jackets or lifestyle items they sell.
@@carpediemarts705 I'm not saying they should be more expensive. I'm saying that if Gibson reissues them they will be more expensive. There is no way Gibson would ever pass up the opportunity to squeeze more money out of people clamoring for reissues of their old stuff. I was hoping that Henry J leaving would turn Gibson around, but it's just been more of the same BS.
I like how you threw in the sure know somethin bassline.
It looks like the string spacing at the nut on the Grabber 3 is really messed up, or is that an optical illusion on the video?
that second song big gun sounded great
Simmons had one i belive, great tone
They used to make grabber basses where you can move the pickup hence the name grabber
Ouch! I thought I owned every bass I would ever need, but I need this. Much Maple-necked Jazz Bass Growl + SOMETHING MORE! I'd love to hear some swing bass 66s on it. Probably sound like a Rottweiler with whooping cough.
I wish Epiphone would bring out the classics, like the RD, Grabber, G3 and the ripper. I'd probably end up with one of each 😅🙈
....of course, goes without saying: no 3 point bridges 😂