#Gene simmons grabber bass manual

The rare colours were White (58 examples in 1976-77), Walnut (76 examples between 1977-79). The most abundant finishes were Natural, and Ebony. (Actually Gibson had been experimenting with reduced headstock angles on basses previously in 1971- notably the SB300 and SB400). The original design patent ( 239052) filed in late 1974 also clearly shows this lack of headstock angle. At least one of Gene Simmons' Grabbers has this feature, as does (most likely, certainly the headstock angle) the early 1975 advert for the Gibson Grabber.

It was one piece, with a skunk-stripe on the back, and it did not have the back-slanting headstock angle that typifies all Gibson basses. The very earliest examples of the Gibson Grabber bass had quite different necks from the scarfed-jointed examples that represent the vast majority of G1 and G3 production. The Grabber was all about creating a great bass, but at a significantly more competitive price than other Gibson basses - in line with the competition from Fender. These necks are quite distinctive though, typically being made with very highly figured maple, but no volute. It is probable that this was influenced by Bill Lawrence who was with Gibson at this time, and who had previously designed with Framus - a company who had used this technique with regularity over many decades.įrom late 1982, Gibson started using three piece maple necks for the Grabber and G3, with the same typical lengthways laminate construction that they used more generally. This was a commonplace construction technique used by many guitar manufacturers, but not (certainly in recent times, and never previously on a bass) by Gibson. It allowed the bass to have a greater headstock angle whilst using much less wood. This was a means of producing a headstock separately from the neck, and joining the two, primarily as a cost-cutting endeavour. The Gibson Grabber bass scarfed neck joint, as seen on the majority of Grabber basses.Īn interesting feature of the Gibson Grabber bass (and the G3) was the scarfed neck joint. The bolt on maple neck was more in Fender's tradition of building guitars, and this construction has a big impact tonally the Grabber has a much brighter, more Fender-like tone than most Gibson basses. This was not a completely new idea basses by Alembic and Dan Armstrong had previously fitted pickups on rails to produce a similar effect. Towards the bridge for maximum treble response, and towards the neck for maximum bass.

#Gene simmons grabber bass manual

The model got it's name from the innovative 'sliding pickup' which allowed manual positioning (see images below) you literally 'grab' the pickup, and slide it where you want it. Gibson Grabber bass constructionĪs well as a new body shape and Flying V headstock shape, the Grabber was the first bolt-on neck Gibson bass. Grabber basses had to be easy to produce, highly functional and with a price point in line the Fender Precision. All of this had to be taken into account with the design of the next Gibson bass. And on top of this, the public seemed to prefer Fender basses. America was in recession in 1970, and again in 1973-75 Japanese guitar imports had vastly improved in quality, and were directly copying Gibson's own products, often down to the smallest detail. Norlin had rescued Gibson in December 1969, and the struggling company really had to make some big changes in order to survive. The early to mid 1970s were tough times for Gibson.

See original Gibson Grabber pricing details here. It is highly unlikely the total number shipped exceeded 7000 instruments. Shipping figures beyond this point are not available, but small numbers of Grabber basses were completed in 19. The final price list inclusion for this model was in January 1980. Between the years 19, some 6800 Gibson Grabber bass guitars shipped from the Kalamazoo plant, in Michigan, USA (see shipping stats). The bass itself was designed by Bruce Bolen and Edward Klein. Along with its sister instruments the G-3 and the Ripper, it brought some new ideas to the Gibson stable, and in the second half of the 1970s these models became Gibson's best selling basses. The Gibson Grabber bass, sometimes known as the G1, was a real departure for Gibson in the early 1970s. Two mid-seventies Gibson Grabbers: a 1975 Gibson Grabber in Wine Red finish, and a 1977 Gibson Grabber in Maple Gloss finish

1981 Victory Standard (Candy Apple Red).