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Description
The Gibson Grabber Bass is a distinct choice for bassists seeking a blend of vintage style and robust performance. Originally introduced in the 1970s, this electric bass has been reissued to bring its iconic sound and innovative features to contemporary musicians. The Grabber is renowned for its unique sliding pickup system, allowing players to adjust the pickup position effortlessly for a versatile range of tones. This design provides a seamless transition between warm, rounded lows and crisp, articulate highs, making it suitable for various musical genres from rock to funk.
A solid maple body and neck ensure durability and sustain, while the bolt-on neck construction offers a snappy response and easy maintenance. The Grabber's minimalist yet effective control layout includes a single volume and tone knob, allowing for straightforward sound shaping without overcomplicating your setup. Its classic design is complemented by a sleek finish and high-quality hardware that ensures reliability both on stage and in the studio.
Key Features:
- Unique sliding pickup system for versatile tonal options
- Solid maple body and neck for enhanced sustain and durability
- Bolt-on neck construction for a responsive feel
- Simple control layout with one volume and one tone knob
- High-quality hardware for consistent performance
Videos
Johan Segeborn
Gibson Ripper Vs Grabber - Comparison - Shootout
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson Grabber.
Features and functionality
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The Grabber is described as a meaty sounding P bass, with a thin, super light body that some compare to a canoe paddle.
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The pickups are single coils prone to becoming microphonic as they age, leading to feedback issues.
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The unique epoxy-covered pickups, designed by Bill Lawrence, resist becoming microphonic, preserving tone without the possibility of rewinding.
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Setup and maintenance
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It's noted that vintage G series basses, including the Grabber, are prone to neck warping, requiring high action to remain playable.
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Grabbers are reported to handle down tuning well, with one owner using D standard tuning for metal projects.
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Owners warn to check for headstock breaks, a common issue with vintage models.
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Owners report fret buzz predominantly on frets 1-4, especially on the G string, requiring high action adjustments to maintain playability.
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Adjusting the truss rod significantly (3 whole turns) can correct a backward neck bow, allowing extremely low action without rattle.
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Build quality
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Vintage Grabbers feature a wide but thin body, with certain years having thicker necks due to a switch from scarf joint to three-piece builds.
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The original hard case is crucial as the Grabber's wide body doesn't fit most standard cases.
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Early Grabber models had one-piece necks with a skunk stripe and straight headstock, which are preferred over later scarf joint designs prone to twisting.
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User experience
Use cases and applications
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The Grabber excels in delivering a growly rock and roll tone, with a mid-scooped EQ that suits large venues.
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Value and pricing
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Prices have risen post-Covid; $1875 is now considered reasonable, especially with the original hard case included.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 8 Ratings
474
Classic and Versatile Instrument
After a year of playing with my 1975 model Grabber, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is truly one of the most unique basses ever made. Though it was made to be one of the Gibson’s cheaper bass models back in the ‘70’s-‘80’s, the Grabber bass is a powerful instrument that could be use in many different music styles for nearly any occasion. It’s like a much louder P-Bass, but with a lot more punch and mids to it. This bass is perfect for rock music especially, because it has this growl to it when you’re playing hard that is absolutely unbelievable. And even if you don’t play heavier music, this bass is still perfect to use to get a fat, beefy sound that cuts through a mix with ease. The sliding pickup is also a neat feature, and the differences in tone you get depending on where you place the pickup is very handy for changing your sound up (I prefer to place it in the middle to get the best of both the neck and bridge tones). All in all, this is a great bass to have whether you’re playing in the studio, at a live gig, an acoustic set, a church service, etc. I’d recommend it to anyone!
Artist usage
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Chris Wolsenholme was seen using this bass in studio for recording "Unnatural Selection", as well as for a live performance of "Exogenesis Symphony - Part 1(Ouverture)".
At Riot Fest 2013, Frank played this orange Gibson Grabber Bass while playing for Reggie and the Full Effect.
In this video at 2:44, it is said on a Facebook Q&A Brown, said that one of his first Basses was a Gibson Grabber.
In this video, Gene is seen playing the Grabber bass. According to the website Axeology this bass was "introduced in 1973, the Grabber was Gibson's first bolt-on neck bass and featured a sliding pickup (you 'grabbed' it to change the pickup position, hence the name)."
Nick Reinhart showcases a vintage Gibson Grabber Bass he purchased in an Instagram post. He humorously notes, "grabbed me a grabber. anyone need a bass player that’s plays like a guitar player?" and describes a modification made to the instrument, including an additional pickup and a non-functional extra knob.
At :08s of this video, Jesse can be seen playing the Gibson Grabber. In a direct message on Jesse's Twitter, when asked what type of bass this was he says "Back in the day? Grabber I. 74." The message can also be seen in the comments below.
It says in the rig rundown "Bassist Lou Barlow played Gibson Grabber on Dinosur Jr.'s first two albums," It is also regarded as his main bass and he often plays full two hour sets with this bass alone.
In this Live on Good Morning America performance in 2014, Paramore's Jeremy Davis plays his Gibson Grabber Bass. He's known to play it particularly on the song, "Ain't It Fun" and has been seen in some photos online using the same bass.
The bass in that picture is a Gibson Grabber. You can tell it apart from the similar Ripper and G3 basses, even if you cannot make out the pickup configuration, by the pointed headstock (which distinguishes it from the Ripper) and lack of a pickup switch (which distinguishes it from both.)
in this rare photo shows bill wyman playing a gibson grabber in a foreign version album.
Billy used a 1970's Gibson Grabber bass in Natural finish on the first two Faith No More records, 1985's 'We Care a Lot', and 1987's 'Introduce Yourself'. This bass was later accidentally damaged during their first European tour in 1987/1988, where he then started exclusively using his backup Aria Pro II SB Integra bass that he had been toying with around 1986 here and there at previous shows.
Album Usage
The Gibson Grabber has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson Grabber, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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