Gibson Bass Guitars

Next to the famed Les Paul and Firebird, Gibson bass guitars fly relatively low under the radar. Despite their comparatively overlooked history, Gibson basses remain a subtle staple in the hands of some of Rock and Roll’s most prominent bassists.

The 1953 debut of the Gibson EB (Electric Bass) paid obvious homage to the upright bass with a mahogany neck and body, a rosewood fingerboard, a single humbucker, and false f-holes. Only 105 of these original EBs were made. Later, in 1959, the EB-1 was replaced by the EB-0, a cherry red solidbody, shaped after the Les Paul Junior.

Gibson basses became increasingly popular with British bands shortly after the release of the EB-3 in 1961. Back then, this dual humbucking pickup bass was played by the likes of Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones, Cream’s Jack Bruce, David Bowie’s Trevor Bolder, Chris White of the Zombies, and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead.

In 1963, Gibson released the Thunderbird as a complement to its six-string Firebird. “Reverse” and “non-reverse” Thunderbirds were in and out of production in the years between ’69 and ’79; today these limited models are rare and valuable, selling upwards of $4,000. In 1973, Gibson launched The Ripper and The Grabber, two bold new basses that lost the EBs’ distinct mahogany finish. Gene Simmon’s love for these basses was common knowledge, especially with The Grabber as his gigging bass.

Gibson’s sister-brand, Epiphone, has also produced its share of bass guitars, spreading the Gibson sound to even more talented bands. Since the ‘60s and ‘70s, Gibson basses have been played by Nirvana, Kings of Leon, Suzie Quatro, Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith, Lynrd Synrd, the Allman Brothers, and The Cure. Clearly, if Gibson basses are good enough for the pros, they are more than adequate for rising musicians. Unfortunately, the one thing keeping most bassists from buying their own Gibson is the price tag. Gibson’s EBs have come a long way since they were sold for an easy $258.