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Gibson Les Paul Money Bass (with Case)
"Great Gibson Sound."
Feature:
Features are pretty standard: Mahogany body and set neck with a AA flamed maple top (very easy to look at). 2 volume & 1 tone control (if it had a pup switch, the controls would be perfect - so a 9). The hardware is good quality; Grover tuners, and a nice heavy bridge. The bridge saddles are locked down with allen screws, and the saddles have to be moved by hand to adjust intonation. However, once set - they're not going to move.
Quality:
No Quality issues here - it was set up perfectly by Gibson, and the finish is flawless.
Value:
Absolutely worth the price. Who says you can't buy happiness?
Sound:
Great sounding bass - thunderous deep low end, nice clear highs, plenty of punch & growl, and great sustain; if you like scooped mids, this is the bass to use. I play through an Ampeg B4-R head, and SVT-410-HLF cab. I leave the EQ fairly flat, boosting some highs and cutting the mids. The sound I get with generates a lot of compliments from other bassists as well as sound-men, and that speaks volumes about how good this bass sounds. One problem though with the TB+ Humbuckers; in some rooms they pick up a lot of electronic interference and hum (trust me, it's not a cable, cavity shielding, ground loop, or amp problem). The same thing happens with both of my LP Standards (also TB+ pups) in the same rooms. The only cure I've found for this is a EHX Hum Debugger - it works very well without coloring the sound. I gave this a 9 for sound only because of the "hum" Issue, but I don't know if it's fair to blame the bass for the bad wiring in certain bars & clubs. Otherwise it would be an 11.
Ease of Use:
The neck is excellent - very fast, comfortable, and has 24 frets. The action is fantastic, quite low, and effortless to play. It's pretty easy to get just about any sound you want out of it. Sounds great picked, slapped, or finger style. Compared to the LP Standards, this bass is light and comfortable to have on your shoulder all night long.
Support:
I've only called customer service once, and that was just for some info on a Les Paul. They were easily reached, friendly, and informative. I own a few Gibson basses, and have never needed any warranty repairs.
Overall:
I'm very satisfied with this bass, it compares to my Les Pauls very favorably. The sound is similar to a LP, but it's more comfortable to play for long periods. I really like having a Gibson with 24 frets.
Features are pretty standard: Mahogany body and set neck with a AA flamed maple top (very easy to look at). 2 volume & 1 tone control (if it had a pup switch, the controls would be perfect - so a 9). The hardware is good quality; Grover tuners, and a nice heavy bridge. The bridge saddles are locked down with allen screws, and the saddles have to be moved by hand to adjust intonation. However, once set - they're not going to move.
Quality:
No Quality issues here - it was set up perfectly by Gibson, and the finish is flawless.
Value:
Absolutely worth the price. Who says you can't buy happiness?
Sound:
Great sounding bass - thunderous deep low end, nice clear highs, plenty of punch & growl, and great sustain; if you like scooped mids, this is the bass to use. I play through an Ampeg B4-R head, and SVT-410-HLF cab. I leave the EQ fairly flat, boosting some highs and cutting the mids. The sound I get with generates a lot of compliments from other bassists as well as sound-men, and that speaks volumes about how good this bass sounds. One problem though with the TB+ Humbuckers; in some rooms they pick up a lot of electronic interference and hum (trust me, it's not a cable, cavity shielding, ground loop, or amp problem). The same thing happens with both of my LP Standards (also TB+ pups) in the same rooms. The only cure I've found for this is a EHX Hum Debugger - it works very well without coloring the sound. I gave this a 9 for sound only because of the "hum" Issue, but I don't know if it's fair to blame the bass for the bad wiring in certain bars & clubs. Otherwise it would be an 11.
Ease of Use:
The neck is excellent - very fast, comfortable, and has 24 frets. The action is fantastic, quite low, and effortless to play. It's pretty easy to get just about any sound you want out of it. Sounds great picked, slapped, or finger style. Compared to the LP Standards, this bass is light and comfortable to have on your shoulder all night long.
Support:
I've only called customer service once, and that was just for some info on a Les Paul. They were easily reached, friendly, and informative. I own a few Gibson basses, and have never needed any warranty repairs.
Overall:
I'm very satisfied with this bass, it compares to my Les Pauls very favorably. The sound is similar to a LP, but it's more comfortable to play for long periods. I really like having a Gibson with 24 frets.
"Damn Near Perfect"
Feature:
American-made. Came with iconic hard-shell fitted case, 2 pickups, 3 knobs: basic stuff. Maple top, mahogany back and neck. Should have come with strap-locks, which I bought and installed.
Quality:
It was delivered in perfect condition and set-up. The paint/lacquer finish is stunning (but for a little, barely noticeable wierdness in the finish at the neck-to-body joint). It is an absolutely beautiful guitar with a beautiful headstock. It feels rock-solid, and like the '66 LGO acoustic I bought new (and still play regularly), I expect this Gibson product will be long-lived. The major quality issue concerns the aforementioned fret-ends, which doesn't impede the playablilty or enjoyment.
Value:
I think the Money Bass is worth 9 out of every 10 bucks I paid for it. Understand, I really have no complaints about it. It is simply a lot of money for an electric bass, no matter how you slice it.
Desirability:
The Money Bass is visually beautiful in fit and finish, and in it's classic design simplicity. Wearing and playing this guitar is most satisfying, and it has cache as a Gibson Les Paul model. I looked at more technically advanced (active, 5-string, etc.) and more highly regarded (Fender P and Jazz) basses, but this is the guitar I had to have.
Sound:
Tone is great. I like a big-bottomed bass sound, and can get it here. Great sustain. Took delivery 2 weeks ago, and played it in anger (with a band) for the 1st time last night, through my Ampeg V4-B tube head and Crate 2x15 cab. Thunderous.
Ease of Use:
Its a no-brainer, and offers a pretty wide variety of sounds from 2 pickups. The size, weight and balance are to my liking. Neck is long and a bit wide, but not unusually so, and the action is low and relatively effortless. You can feel the fret ends when running your hand up and down the neck: it's neither visually noticeable nor physically uncomfortable, just inexplicable. I played it with the band for 2.5 hours last night, and it hangs comfortably from the shoulder. I will need some hours with it to get fluid and faster: I wouldn't say it's as easy to play straight out of the box as a Jazz Bass. Great owner's manual.
Support:
I'm concerned: I have sent 2 e-mails to Gibson, with some model questions. One was answered in about a week (which is about 6 days longer than I find acceptable), and the other has gone unanswered for over 2 weeks now. Hopefully, they have built a high-quality product that won't require communication with the factory.
Overall:
I played an aluminum-neck Kramer XKB-20 for 25 years before mustering the desire for something different. I love the finish, look and feel of the Money Bass, and it'll be a long time before I start looking for a new bass. I'm old-school: no slap-bass, no 5-string. I looked at Fender (had a new '66 Jazzmaster back in the day - swapped it for a Farfisa Combo-Compact with Leslie; wish I had that guitar today) basses, but they're common (albeit great to play). Yes, I'd buy another LP if I lost this one, because I haven't had enought time with this model yet.
American-made. Came with iconic hard-shell fitted case, 2 pickups, 3 knobs: basic stuff. Maple top, mahogany back and neck. Should have come with strap-locks, which I bought and installed.
Quality:
It was delivered in perfect condition and set-up. The paint/lacquer finish is stunning (but for a little, barely noticeable wierdness in the finish at the neck-to-body joint). It is an absolutely beautiful guitar with a beautiful headstock. It feels rock-solid, and like the '66 LGO acoustic I bought new (and still play regularly), I expect this Gibson product will be long-lived. The major quality issue concerns the aforementioned fret-ends, which doesn't impede the playablilty or enjoyment.
Value:
I think the Money Bass is worth 9 out of every 10 bucks I paid for it. Understand, I really have no complaints about it. It is simply a lot of money for an electric bass, no matter how you slice it.
Desirability:
The Money Bass is visually beautiful in fit and finish, and in it's classic design simplicity. Wearing and playing this guitar is most satisfying, and it has cache as a Gibson Les Paul model. I looked at more technically advanced (active, 5-string, etc.) and more highly regarded (Fender P and Jazz) basses, but this is the guitar I had to have.
Sound:
Tone is great. I like a big-bottomed bass sound, and can get it here. Great sustain. Took delivery 2 weeks ago, and played it in anger (with a band) for the 1st time last night, through my Ampeg V4-B tube head and Crate 2x15 cab. Thunderous.
Ease of Use:
Its a no-brainer, and offers a pretty wide variety of sounds from 2 pickups. The size, weight and balance are to my liking. Neck is long and a bit wide, but not unusually so, and the action is low and relatively effortless. You can feel the fret ends when running your hand up and down the neck: it's neither visually noticeable nor physically uncomfortable, just inexplicable. I played it with the band for 2.5 hours last night, and it hangs comfortably from the shoulder. I will need some hours with it to get fluid and faster: I wouldn't say it's as easy to play straight out of the box as a Jazz Bass. Great owner's manual.
Support:
I'm concerned: I have sent 2 e-mails to Gibson, with some model questions. One was answered in about a week (which is about 6 days longer than I find acceptable), and the other has gone unanswered for over 2 weeks now. Hopefully, they have built a high-quality product that won't require communication with the factory.
Overall:
I played an aluminum-neck Kramer XKB-20 for 25 years before mustering the desire for something different. I love the finish, look and feel of the Money Bass, and it'll be a long time before I start looking for a new bass. I'm old-school: no slap-bass, no 5-string. I looked at Fender (had a new '66 Jazzmaster back in the day - swapped it for a Farfisa Combo-Compact with Leslie; wish I had that guitar today) basses, but they're common (albeit great to play). Yes, I'd buy another LP if I lost this one, because I haven't had enought time with this model yet.
"I love this bass!"
Feature:
It comes with a fitted case, which it should for the price and a minimum of tools. There's nothing out of the ordinary here. The pickups on this thing is just plain hot. The finish is absolutely beautiful, though when I first got it, my thumb would stick to the neck when sliding up and down. One wipe with a cloth and some polish and it was all good from there.
Quality:
It seems very well made, but I haven't bumped into anything with it yet. We'll see in time....
Value:
The price is a bit high, but it is that good. I'm sold on Gibson and I'm getting rid of some of my other basses to get a Thunderbird next.
Desirability:
Mine is in Midnight Manhattan Blue (the limited edition "Guitar of the Week" version) and it is absolutely beautiful. Les Paul basses aren't exactly sexy, but boy the color is something else.
Sound:
I own a bunch of basses...Fender (2), Yamaha (3), BC Rich, Line 6, Ovation and this bass just blows them away. For a passive bass, it certainly can put out a wall of sound. Lows are just beautiful and the highs are clear. This is my first Gibson and I am sold on it.
Ease of Use:
Three knobs, two volume and one for tone. It's as easy as my ex, and no fiddling required.
Support:
Never have had dealings with Gibson yet.
Overall:
I would buy another one in a heartbeat if this one was lost or stolen.
It comes with a fitted case, which it should for the price and a minimum of tools. There's nothing out of the ordinary here. The pickups on this thing is just plain hot. The finish is absolutely beautiful, though when I first got it, my thumb would stick to the neck when sliding up and down. One wipe with a cloth and some polish and it was all good from there.
Quality:
It seems very well made, but I haven't bumped into anything with it yet. We'll see in time....
Value:
The price is a bit high, but it is that good. I'm sold on Gibson and I'm getting rid of some of my other basses to get a Thunderbird next.
Desirability:
Mine is in Midnight Manhattan Blue (the limited edition "Guitar of the Week" version) and it is absolutely beautiful. Les Paul basses aren't exactly sexy, but boy the color is something else.
Sound:
I own a bunch of basses...Fender (2), Yamaha (3), BC Rich, Line 6, Ovation and this bass just blows them away. For a passive bass, it certainly can put out a wall of sound. Lows are just beautiful and the highs are clear. This is my first Gibson and I am sold on it.
Ease of Use:
Three knobs, two volume and one for tone. It's as easy as my ex, and no fiddling required.
Support:
Never have had dealings with Gibson yet.
Overall:
I would buy another one in a heartbeat if this one was lost or stolen.
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