Gibson G3

1985!? yep its true! prob made in nashville {I would think}bolt on neck, 20 frets, 34 1/2 scale? 4 strings
body of alder or maple, they made both
1 volume 1 tone knob - 1 3 way switch
3 passive single coil pu's {w/covers, not open like the early models}sd's I believe
neck/fretboard is maple
blk body and headstock
dbl sharp cutaway body, flying v style headstock, GIBSON logo sticker
p-bass stlye bridge string thru body
hardshell case..for its time it had all the basic features, DOES NOT have or need the "varitone" switch!

sounds great! well, it sounds like a jazz bass-which is great...
3 pu's handle all the needs, switch allows top and middle, all 3 or bridge and middle pu's
can cover ANY music style
using it with an old trace elliot ah-300 and peavy 3x10 cabinet
the bass is extremely quiet!

well.... its going on 23 yrs old, but you must understand this bass is in collectors grade condition, if you went back in time, into a music store and played the floor model?.... it's like that!
the action I have pretty low
the pu's are very good!
fit and finish are like new
assembled like the usual high quality gibson product, no surprise there!

big and solid, no need for backup
hardware is superb!
finish has lasted 23 yrs!

old bass, no longer made
Im sure if I needed GIBSON for repair they would help, of course for a fee!

been playing about 25 yrs, have owned them all!
sure would replace it, its damn cool!
nothing to hate about it, its gibson's most versatile bass...

*this is the only bass they should have kept in production, many people like to critique the G-3.. "it had a bolt on neck.. it had a cheap bridge... blah blah..." and YET they applaude all the same features on a fender*,
the G-3 IS the closest thing to the competition GIBSON ever made, it blows away all their other basses as far as Im concerned, it doesn't have the comfort of the P or J bass, but its way more fun to play and looks mighty KEWL!!

I'm writing to add to the review I made over a year ago.

The condenser next to the tone pot cracked recently. I don't know how it happened. After 29 years of service, I guess you can forgive a bass for giving out a little bit.

I've also noticed that the nut has moved down very slightly. That's more of a problem. I don't get how a nut moves down like that. It'll need to be replaced, which totally sucks.

Because of this, I'll downgrade my rating from a 10 to an 8.

Gibson has been very helpful. I don't agree with some decisions the company has made in recent years, but customer service hasn't suffered and I commend them for that. They sent me the schematics for my bass within a few hours. Excellent.

I just happened across the reviews for the Gibson G3 bass and had to submit my experience with them. I bought it new in '75. Sunburst finish, maple neck, alder body I think, strings through body, 3 pickup w/ 3 way toggle. Double cut-away. No electronics, just a plain 'ol electric bass guitar. I originally played it through an Ampeg V6B w/2 2-15's cab's. Awesome! I did however immediately replace the gibson strings with some Sheehan half-wounds. Big difference with the fat frets. I also put some strap-locks on it just in case.

Sound is fantastic. You really can't do any pullin' on the strings but the guitar can't be beat for a good 'ol rock bass sound. It doesn't sound like a Rick but depending on the amp, settings and effects it can sound like most all other basses. I owned a Fender Mustang, a Les Paul recording and a Gibson Ripper. I kept the G3. That should explain it all. It just fit.

The bass played pretty darn hard at first. I tried to adjust the neck myself. Got the action down a bit but not to my satisfaction. Was hard to play. Took it to Larry Prang in Seattle. He notified Gibson. They sent a new neck. He found that the toggle switch was cutting out sometimes so replaced that along with the neck. He was impessed with the guitar and he custom built guitars himself. Anyway, $35 later and I wouldn't ever get rid of my G3. Action and intonation are perfect. By the way. For you collectors out there. Mine is in JUST AS NEW condition. Case looks traveled but the guitar is perfect. A fat strap helps with comfort of play.

I played in two different bands for 4 years solid. Recorded many many songs with this baby. Finish looks like the day it came out of the box. I'm not particularly fond of sunburst finishes but it was the one they had at the music store I bought it from. I've never had to adjust a thing since the work done to it 26 years ago.

I didn't have to deal directly with Gibson but Mr. Larry Prang had no trouble what-so-ever getting a replacement neck. Must have had a bent truss rod I guess. I never asked. I was so p[leased with the results of the repair and adjustment it didn't matter. I have to give the support a 10 on this one.

I've been playing for 33 years. My Uncle Chuck got me goin' when I was a wee lad of 10. He started me out on real down home country music. Hank Williams, Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson etc. Of course as I got older Rock and Roll took over but I still like country. There are so many great pickers out there. I've owned way too many guitars to list. I've kept the ones I liked the best. A Takamine ST212 12 string acoustic, an '84 Ovation collector series, a '87 custom Fender Strat, my G3 and I just bought off eBay but haven't received yet, a Washburn D12SCE 6 string. I'm anxious to try it out. This review forum doesn't give it very good reviews but I'll see for myself.

Made in the late 70ies (after 1975, due to the black Pickups) in Kalamazoo, 22 frets, all-solid body, coolest body-shape ever made, string thru body, a nice thick neck for people who really like to ,,work'' with their bass. Came along with an original Gibson leather case, a user's manual, a strap, a cable and a Rickenbacker amplifier.

I use this bass for Rock, Indie/Alternative/Punkrock, sometimes in a Jazzband, strange trashy Pop stuff - it sounds brilliant in each situation. I have used it with all sorts of Electro Harmonix effects (Bass Balls, Big Muff, Electric Mistress, Holy Grail, ...) and it sounds better than anything I have ever heard before, on each amp setup (Laney, Ampeg, Hiwatt, Fender).
The Studio Technician instantly fell in love with this bass, and so did our Live Technician.
I always play it with the pickup switch in the ,,middle'' position, so all the three pickups are on. The bridge position is a bit thinner, and the neck position comes along with a dry, woody sound.

Perfect! The bass was 26 years old when I bought it, then the hardware was a tiny little bit oxidated, but that's it! The scratches in the Pickguard are from me...
It is as solid as a mountain.

This is a bass made for eternity! I am sure this instrument will still be Rock'n Roll when I am old and grey. solid as a stone!

Well I think there is no warranty for a 27-Year-old Instrument.
(But I still have the original Warranty Card from 1976!)

I have quite a lot of instruments, but this is really my all-time-favourite one. I'll never give it away! I love its sound and shape, it is a real Vintage Instrument which looks incredibly cool and sounds just divine! If it were stolen or lost, I'd cry a river!

I can't say that i have played a better sounding Gibson, maybe even bass. The thick frets allow for someone like me with smaller fingers to play clear notes. One of the best I've heard.

35+ years old and all it has is a chip in the wood. Pick-ups are straight and neck isn't bent at all.

Like I said, 35+ years old and it still keeps truckin.

I've been playing it on an old crappy amp for 4 years and I still have very good sound on it. My sister and dog have gotten ahold of it and it still is in extremely good shape. I got lucky, because my friend just sold it to me for 150 bucks. I looked on ebay and these guitars were going for almost a grand.

Mine was made in 1976 in Kalamazoo. It's the natural honey colored model with a black pickguard. Same built as every other G3, I guess. Three single pickups and a three-way switch that lets you choose between neck and mid, all three pickups, or mid and bridge. All maple construction, black headstock. String-thru bridge, basic big giant Gibson tuners. A very basic setup, but it's a workhorse.

Talk about a straight-shooting bass. This is the sound of wood and metal, unrefined and unadulterated. Not a versatile bass, switching between pickups doesn't change much to anything, but depending on the amplification you're using, this bass's pure raw sound will shine.

I've been playing this through an Ampeg V7 head out of two 1x15 cabs. Man, this is ferocious. I play harsh dirty rock in the vein of Shellac and Mclusky, and this combination works perfectly.

I've used a couple of distortions with it, but good bass distortions are hard to come by. I tried a Big Muff (warm, but removes all details) a Boss Metal Zone (too harsh, adds too much treble) and an MXR distortion+ reissue (best one so far, but still removes too much bass freqs). Doesn't really matter though now that I'm using an Ampeg head. I can easily make it roar if I need that.

Haven't recorded with it.

When I got this bass, it was already over 25 years old. So of course, it'll look used a bit. The pickups aren't quite straight, and there's a slight wave in the pickguard. That's bound to happen over time with hand-made instruments.
The neck is thick, it almost feels like holding the thin part of a base-ball bat. The body is quite thin, which makes the bass a bit uncomfortable after a while. Much more weight leans on my left shoulder than on the right and it can hurt a bit.

All this does not affect the sound quality for what I use it for. It's a solid instrument, the neck is flawless.
I'd feel safe using this as a weapon.

This is why I bought this bass. On top of having a biting warm sound, it's built to last. It never goes out of tune, I never had to adjust anything on it. Would I go on tour with it? Hell, I'd stick wheels on it and use it to carry stuff.

I've played music for 13 years, bass for a year and a half.
I didn't really know kind of bass I needed, they happened onto this one and felt like it was calling me. It fits me. I don't do studio, I'm never trying to sound clean or pretty. I play rock and I want a big raw sound. This does it. It takes a licking and keeps on pounding.

1975 USA
22 frets 4string
solid maple body and neck
3 way switch 1 vol 1 tone
3 single coils
passive pick-ups
natural finish
grabber style body
bridge is a badass2 upgrade
stock gibson tuners
large very thick frets
came with classic gibson case(no handle)

I use it with my indie band, and it works perfectly
i use it with my ampeg svt and Electro voice 2x15 cab
no hums or buzzes
really bright sound on the bridge pickup and a deep sound on the neck pickup, the bass has a growl that i absolutly love
works awesome in both the studio and the stage
love it!

action was great when i got it, had to change old strings, then i had to adjust the truss rod for the heavy strings
otherwise this bass was used as a workhorse, the neck is worn and the back of the body has buckle rash

gibsons are tanks! it looks worn but plays great. i know that it will last for another hundred years. My most dependable bass.
i bring backups just incase i break a string.

no such thing with this bass

the coolest bass there is. i wouldnt trade it for anything. i wish a company made pickgaurds for these

Very basic. 3 single coil pickups. Maple neck. 1 volume 1 tone control.

I own 15 basses and this is probably the best sounding bass I have ever owned. This bass records 10 times better than my Fodera Monarch and sounds great live. I never even considered owning a Gibson bass because I hate humbuckers on Basses until I saw this model on Ebay with the single coils. The Mids on this bass really cut through on recordings.

This bass was a mess when I recieved it from Ebay but after some tweeking (neck adjustment, crud lifting, wiring) it came together great. The neck is very similar to a Jazz bass neck which I really love. The finish(black) is sort of worn out and dull but it gives it character. This bass was probably slaped together in 5 minutes at the Gibson factory but they got lucky and produced a killer bass.

It lasted 30 years and I expect it to last another 50.

?

I have been playing 20 years and this is one of the better ones. I would definitaly consider changing out the cheap crappy bridge for a Badass.

Okay this is as late 70s Gibson bass, 21 frets, 4string, black piano finish, a real beauty, 3 passive epoxide-picks, 3way switch. Purchased with a real black Gibson leather case.
The neck is interesting, quite round on the back, and imho. good thin.

Wow, in every style a good sound, especially when recorded. From bright to dark, the sound comes clear with absolutely no noises. Even my guitarist became yellow.

Everything is okay, thanks...

Oh yes it is a very good live bass, very stable. Nice finish, very durable mechanics. I did adjust the neck once in the last 4-5 years.
I use a backup live, it is a Fender Precision, and play some fretless Zerosette. But the Gibson is my fav, because I trust in its sound - although the bass is quite heavy, but that doesn't mean a thing.

A classic bass guitar with excellent live and studio sound, nice finish, good hardware, a bit heavy, compared to some other basses I ever played (Fender Precision, Fender Precision Plus, G&L, Zerosette L2P, Hohner Prinz) teh Gibson beats them. If it were stolen I would buy the same one, maybe in natural blonde.
My fav feature is the clear sound. Absolutely no noises. Interesting neck.

This bass is pretty basic in the controls department one volume and one tone, to me the tone control doesnt affect the bass all that much. Whats really cool is the 3-way selector switch that gives a nice variety of tones. the bass is all maple and has three single coil pickups which are passive, only came in a 4- string version.

Sound is where this bass gives you your moneys worth it has a very punchy mid and ample lows the high arent that great but it works. i mostly play punk and occasional jazz and this bass does well for that it can cover most musical styles. I use it with a nemesis 2x12 combo and it sounds great, the tone is very clean and crisp. This bass does great in the studio because it can be heard from under all the guitars.

I bought this bass used but when i got it most of it was in pretty good condition a complaint i hear from allot of folks is that the bridge can be a pain i havent had any problems yet. the finish is pretty decent and it looks nice if you take care of it.

This bass is very reliable i havent had any problems with id still probably tour with a backup just in case. the truss rod rarely needs to be adjusted and the neck is solid probably one of the best things about this bass is the neck.

if this were stolen or lost id definitely replace it with another one.
if you like palying nice necks this is the bass for you!