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.

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.

Features
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… read more 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.

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.

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?

Manufacturer 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.

Musical Background:
Active Musician

Musical Style:
Rock, Blues, some Country read less