Gibson Les Paul Standard Bass

1995 vintage sunburst Les Paul bass. This seems different to the other models here as it does not have the toggle switch for pickup selection. It seems to have a volume, treble, Mid/Bass and pickup blend pots. The pickups are the cream plastic and chrome surround ones with Bartolini 9v preamp. The bridge is the warwick style 2 piece and the tuners are the small grover/hipshot style. The bass has the usual mahogany neck, and body with bound top but no fancy birds eye or flamed here just the classic wood grain. I am used to jazz bass necks and the neck is wider on this but still easy to get around on and a comfortable shape, more curved than a jazz.
It does weigh about twice what my 74 jazz does! but then it does sound more than twice as fat!
The bass came with a gibson case which has the brown leather exterior and pink fluff lined interior with silk cloth cover! very nice, also had unused warranty, strings and stuff in case.

This thing sounds huge! it dwarfs the output from other basses, i know the 9v preamp helps but the fundamental sound and tone of this bass is BIG. It has a sound that is more low mid/mid than a fender but it also has a bottom end that seems to extend lower.
I play finger style but i imagine with a pick this bass would really cut through any wall of guitars.
The only things that i would change are making it a 3band EQ and giving the option a passive mode.

Got this second hand but in great condition for a 13 year old bass. The construction and finish on this bass is up there with the best! it certainly beats what you would get from any standard fender model or any of the fender custom shop stuff in my opinion. This goes as far as the case which shames the ones fender dish out. I have yet to find a fault other than a few dings from the previous owner

The only issue with this is the weight but i will put up with that for the sound, playability and looks. Every part of this bass says quality and i will gig with it without a second thought, only concern is the 9v preamp. Should come with strap locks as standard!

Never had to deal with them but the gibson website is a good source of info.

Been learning to play for 17 years now! and had precision specials, precision lytes, EB stingray, leo stingray, 74 jazz, epiphone ET's and this is by far the best quality instrument i have ever owned. If you havent tried one please do so as you really are missing out! its very different to a fender but every bit as useful and far better built to boot.
if it was stolen they really wouldnt get far due to the weight! I would catch them and then......
If i had the money i would buy another one or two and will probably try one of the newer ones with the chambered bodies as i imagine over the years the weight may become an issue.

Overall this is great bass that is overlooked and dismissed by far to many people.....

This is a 2004 LP Standard bass that I bought new old stock from a music store. Made in USA. 20 frets, 4 strings.Chambered mahogany body with a plain, but nice carved maple top (I don't really care for fancy tops on basses). Volume and tone controls for each of the TB plus pickups. It's a passice bass. Mahogany body with an ebony fingerboard. The bridge is apparently a Warwick bridge (without the 'W', of course).The tuners are Grover.Appears to be 1 3/4 at the nut, but I could be wrong. Came with case and setup tools.

I play rock, r&b and jazz. Depending on what pickup you use and how you adjust the tone control, there are a variety of sounds to suit a variety of styles. I use it with Eden and Roland amps. It is not niosy at all. The sound is bright and piano-like with a midrange that is unique to this bass. The bridge pickup is somewhat like a Jazz bass bridge pickup but thicker sounding (it's a humbucker) and with a sound all it's own. Again, the midrange of this bass makes it sound like no other bass I've played. It really cuts through the mix at gigs. I am looking forward to recording with it. Chords are beautifully defined on this bass, almost like an archtop guitar.

Factory setup was good but I had to tweak it to taste. While this bass probably doesn't have the attention to detail that a Gibson Custom Shop instrument has, it is pretty darn great. Really no flaws that I can see. Extremely well-made instrument with top quality hardware.
My only gripe(which is relatively minor) is the weight. It is somewhat heavy, but not as heavy as a EBMM Stingray 5 that I sold.That bass was a boat anchor.I also owned a G&L that was really heavy. The Gibson feels solid and is very comfortable to wear.

This bass will likely last a *very* long time. The nitro finish is not as durable as poly (of course) but ages beautifully. I would not hesitate to use it on a gig without a backup(and I have).

I haven't dealt with them on this bass, but when I've contacted them in the past (about an acoustic guitar) their customer service was great.

I've been playing for over 25 years. If it were stolen or lost,I would get another. I love the sound and that it is a very comfortable and fast-playing instrument. Can't really compare it to Fenders, it's a different beast entirely. For the price, it is awesome and has a unique vibe and sound.

2001 LPS 20 fret 4 string,Memphis factory,two vol,two tone,toggle,two passive TB Plus humbuckers,single cutaway chambered mahogany body,carved maple top,one piece mahogany neck with slab ebony board,nitro lacquer honeyburst finish,tune-o-matic stoptail bridge,Grovers,34" scale,shaped hardshell case.

Great for the surf-rock instros I play,using GK amp with 15",very quiet and powerful.The range of available tones make it capable of handling any 4 string style.The response between strings is very well balanced,making it a great choice for stage or studio.Drives effects nicely.

Sets up easily,bridge has individual adjustments for height and intonation,pickups easily adjusted as well.Excellent craftsmanship throughout.

The hardware is heavy duty,much better and more reliable than J or P bass.As with any nitro lacquer finish,scratches and wear are likely to occur with normal use.Being a set-neck long scale design,caution is recommended to avoid breakage.Neck is very stable,again much more so than any J or P bass.No backup needed.

Gibson was extremely responsive and helpful regarding this instrument,even though I wasn't the original owner.Very impressive.

Playing bass and guitar for over 30 years,have owned many Fender basses which were always sold due to the frustration of the constant neck problems,weak pickups and loose bridge screws.Since Gibson guitars are superior to Fenders,I decided to try their bass,and am glad I did;only wish I'd gotten one sooner.Best sounding and playing bass I've ever had,looks great too.Highly recommended.

Gibson Les Paul Standard Bass, made in the USA. Twenty frets, four strings, solid carved maple top with chambered mahogany back and neck. Standard Gibson guitar control layout - volume, volume, tone, tone and three-way switch. Pickups are Gibson TB Plus humbuckers (passive). Heritage cherry sunburst finish in nitro lacquer. Les Paul body style (same size as the guitar!) with chambered body. The bridge is a Schaller Warwick-style three point bridge and tailpiece combination. Grover tuners on a two-a-side angled headstock. 34" scale. Came with a very tough Gibson hard case and tools for the truss rod, bridge and body screws.

My style ranges from stoner rock to punk to electro, with a little Motown in there as well. This bass has a very unique sound - incredible midrange is achievable on both pickups, with smooth, rounded lows on the front pickup and thunderbird-style growl on the back pickup. This bass covers my playing territory very well - pick users will not be dissapointed with this bass, and slippery fingerstylers will also feel at home here. I'm running it with a medium-sized 1 x 15 and 2 x 10 rig at 800w.

This bass puts out a very supportive sound, with the thump of a p-nass, the growl of a Warwick and the tubby boom of a semi-hollow Gretsch rolled into one. Hi-fi players need not look here, however slappers take note: there are incredible retro slap sounds to be pulled out of this bass, thanks to the warm tone and high output of the pickups.

This bass is surprisingly comfortable. The chambered body reduces the weight overall, and is a hair lighter than my old Jazz Bass. I have not tried it in the studio yet, however I am itching to hear the front pickup on this thing on tape - it sounds like it would support exceptionally well. Live, this bass can cut through the mix thanks to the amazing midrange response, however it can also boom and rumble, especially on the front pickup.

The only dislike I have about this bass is that the edge of the body is not contoured as much as other basses, however this is a symptom of the Les Paul body shape and I prefer tradition and style over comfort.

This bass came quite well set up, however the Gibson Thunder Plus strings were less than satisfactory, with slightly sloppy tension and a thin ringing tone. I changed them to D'addario Prosteels. The ebony fingerboard was also quite dry, and needed oiling. The rear pickup was not flush to the strings and was angled back towards the bridge in the mounting ring. This was easily fixed by removing the ring, unscrewing the pickup and cutting the springs short by about one centimeter. The finish is exceptional, and I could not spot a single flaw in the nitro lacquer (granted there was some wrinkling where the fingerboard met the body, however it is hardly noticeable and is consistent with traditional finishes of this kind).

The neck and radius of this bass is one of the most comfortable I have played. It feels like a P-bass neck, but a tough thinner and very fast thanks to the slick nitro finish.

This bass should withstand moderate abuse from live playing. I have installed Schaller straplocks and highly recommend that this is done to protect against unwanted trips to the stage floor. The nitro finish is more fragile than modern finishes and needs a little more care if you want it to stay in near-mint condition. Over(a long) time it should wear away nicely, like on an old P-bass. The neck is very solid mahogany, and even during a humid Australian summer it did not need adjusting. The bass arrived with just a little relief, which is perfect. I would be happy to gig with this bass without a backup, because it is passive, simple and solid as a rock.

I have played bass for twelve years, and have owned a Tune bass maniac, a Warwick Corvette six string and a Fender Jazz bass, and the Les Paul is an excellent blend of the best qualities these basses had to offere, in terms of comfort, playability and tone (excluding razor-sharp hi-fi, which I don't use anymore!). If this bass was stolen I would buy another one, absolutely. My favourite feature regarding this bass is the comfortable neck/fingerboard profile, with the tone coming a close second. I only wish this bass came standard with Straplocks.

I bought this bass new in 2002. Made in Tennessee by GibsonUSA. It's got 4 strings and 20 frets. It features a carved maple top with a bound body. It has the typical Les Paul knob layout 2 volume and 2 tone with a 3-way switch. There are two TB-Plus humbucking pickups with cream surrounds and the electronics are passive. The chambered body and the neck are made of mahogany. Mine is finished in translucent honeyburst and sealed with laquer. The traditional Les Paul body style is complimented with a Schaller chrome bridge and a Warwick tailpiece. The chrome tuners are also Schaller. The neck is full scale-34" and the price included a custom hardshell case with tools and Gibson literature.

I'm in two different bands and this bass suits both styles; blues and rock; very well! I use either a large Hartke stack with 6 10's or my Hartke Kickback 12" for small gigs and it sounds awesome in both amps. I just used it today in a recording studio for the first time and the engineer commented on how quiet the pickups were. But..This thing is loud when played! The pickups are very potent. It can sound rich/full with the switch set to "Rythmn", or very bright when set to "Treble". It's equally adept at handling stage or studio. I can't think of anything I dislike about this bass.

The bass was set up perfectly at the factory with a nice low action without fret buzzing. The pickups were the correct height. I checked everything out at the store for about an hour and I found it to be flawless.

This bass can easlily withstand live playing. It's got excellent hardware, a beautiful sturdy finish, and very secure strap buttons.
I'm so confident of it's dependability that I would use it on a gig without a backup.

The only dealings I've had with Gibson was to email them to tell them how happy I was with my new bass. They responded the next day thanking me and wishing me well. It hasn't needed any repair yet but it is under a Lifetime Warranty.

I've been playing bass for 18 years and this is bass 29 in my collection. I own all the major brands and this baby is definitely in my top 10. I did lots of research before buying this bass and I'd get the exact same bass if it got stolen. Of course, I'd have to beat the thief into a bloody pulp if I ever caught him! I had a Gibson Thunderbird and it wasn't my cup of tea although it was very well made. I sold it and knew that the perfect Gibson bass for me was a Les Paul. I was right and I'm never selling this one. It's a beauty!

I bought this new in 1998. It was one of the last Les Paul basses to be made in Nashville before they moved the operations to Memphis.
Bass is a four-string, 21 fret, carved and bound maple top with rotarty controls for volume, low, mid and high eq.
Guitar-styled toggle selector for pickups.
The pickups are chrome covered TB Plus with creme colored rings. The electronics consist of an active 9 volt Bartolini TBT preamp located in a shielded cavity accessed from the rear.
The body and neck are made of mahogany glued together in traditional Gibson style. The finish upon the bound Les Paul body is a high gloss ebony.
The bridge is a great-looking two-piece chrome unit that resembles the ones Warwick uses.
The chrome enclosed tuners look like Schallers but are labled "Gibson."
The flat ebony fretboard has jumbo frets in between pearly trapezoid inlays.
The neck is fat as hell.
The bass came with a custom hard-shell case, lifetime warranty and tools.

This bass is perfect for what I play which is Americana-Brit pop.
I plug it directly in to my SVT II all-tube head and SWR 8x8 cab. The electronics are a little noisy when any amount of treble boost is dialed in but really no big deal. Some sound guys complain. The LP provides a rich deepness that I have yet to hear on any other bass. The mid eq helps the deep tone have an aggressive edge.
The sound is very muscular and is perfect for the "support" role (working with two loud guitarists and a loud drummer). The bass, when equed for this support tone, does not sound that great when soloed. Crank the mid for that.
The sound on stage is full and big. The recorded sound is thick and huge as well. It recorded better than our producer's '59 P-Bass (no slouch). I rate the sound a 9 for the pickup noise.

The set-up wasn't that great when I got it, but I tweaked it until it was okay. After I couldn't get some buzzes out, I finally took it in for a pro set-up. They discovered that the fretboard was "kicking up" at the body (the board was not detached). I guess it looked like a ramp. More on that later. Other than that, the bass was beautifully crafted and finished.
Gets a 7 for the fretboard issue. I know it's a big hit, but jeeze, get the fretboard straight!

This bass has hung in there through antics on stage, bar fights and daily use. I trust this bass to last longer than I do. The hardware, wood, finish and the electronics are over-engineered to the point where it's rediculous. You could strap it to the space shuttle and it would last more missions...
One time I did jump off the drum riser without supporting it well enough and tore the strap off at the bridge side. The cord was looped through the strap and got yanked hard enough that before it snapped, it bent the jack plate. Good thing it was the last song in the set. I just straightened the plate back with pliers.
I still have a dent from where the tuning key catapulted into my cranium.

The lifetime warranty was helpful. I needed an expensive fret job to fix the fretboard. But I lost the f***ing reciept! I went the the Gibson website and found an email address for the person who handles those issues. I explained my situation, sent him my serial number and where and when I bought the bass. He wrote back and said everything was fine and that my bass could get repaired by my local shop on Gibson. Woohoo! Then he sent me some goodies in the mail!
Very nice people.

I have been playing bass ten years and have owned a Yamaha, five Fenders, a Les Paul Special Bass and a Zon. I've been playing through my heavy as poop (80 lbs) SVT II head and my 100 lb SWR cab for years. Have a US Jazz that I swapped the pickups on as my backup and side project bass.
Hmmm, if it were stolen, I'd find the sorry bastard, pull his arms out, rip his head off, sh** down his neck, blow up his car, kick his dog, burn his house, punch out his mom and then beat him with the bass. It wouldn't even lose intonation.
I love this bass. I hate the weight. God, it's gotta weigh 12 or 13 lbs. The tone is worth it. HUGE! If you want a big, thick, muscular bass tone, this is the one. Only thing is, they don't make them like this anymore. Now they have carved the insides out and have gone to passive, Thunderbird pickups. Beats me why...
Gets an 8 for the weight, high price and fretboard flaw.