Gibson Les Paul bass
Encyclopedia
The Gibson Les Paul bass is a bass guitar
first manufactured by Gibson
in 1969, just after the relaunch of the Les Paul guitar
in 1968. Initially it was a short scale bass guitar, like the EB0
and EB3
. Suzi Quatro
used a Les Paul Recording Bass in the early seventies.
It featured the latest low impedance
circuitry, especially designed for recording in the studio, and sometimes goes under the name of the Les Paul Recording bass. Like the solid-body EB basses and the Les Paul guitar, it had a Honduras mahogany body with mahogany
set neck.
In 1971 the model was redesigned slightly, and given the name Les Paul Triumph. This model had built in switching to change from low to high impedance, but was, in essence, much the same, using the same woods and construction.
A hollow body version was created in 1973, named the Les Paul Signature bass. This was a long scale bass (34½") with double cutaways
. Very different from the preceding models, but still bearing the Les Paul name.
All Les Paul Bass models were once discontinued in 1979.
In recent times Gibson has concentrated on its classic designs, and in the early 1990s
decided to give the Les Paul bass another chance. Offerings included flattop versions (Deluxe and Special) and a carved-top Standard model. Les Paul basses were available in 4 or 5-string models. The first 90's version of the Standard model featured Bartolini
electronics and pickups. This version is recognizable because there is no pickup selector switch.
The most recent incarnation of the Les Paul Standard bass, introduced in 1997, featured a chambered body which reduced the weight. This Standard model also featured a carved maple top and saw a switch to passive electronics with TB Plus pickups, which are very high output humbuckers with ceramic magnets
. This version features a three-way pickup selector switch. The Les Paul Standard bass was discontinued in 2006.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
first manufactured by Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
in 1969, just after the relaunch of the Les Paul guitar
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
in 1968. Initially it was a short scale bass guitar, like the EB0
Gibson EB-0
The Gibson EB-0 is a bass guitar that was introduced by Gibson in 1959.-History:The EB-0 was first marketed in 1959 in response to the declining sales of Gibson's EB-1. The body was styled after the Les Paul Junior, but retained the mahogany neck and body and 30.5" scale length of the EB-1. It was...
and EB3
Gibson EB-3
The Gibson EB-3 is an electric bass guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.Introduced in 1961, the EB-3 was one of the bass guitar equivalents of the popular Gibson SG...
. Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
used a Les Paul Recording Bass in the early seventies.
It featured the latest low impedance
Electrical impedance
Electrical impedance, or simply impedance, is the measure of the opposition that an electrical circuit presents to the passage of a current when a voltage is applied. In quantitative terms, it is the complex ratio of the voltage to the current in an alternating current circuit...
circuitry, especially designed for recording in the studio, and sometimes goes under the name of the Les Paul Recording bass. Like the solid-body EB basses and the Les Paul guitar, it had a Honduras mahogany body with mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
set neck.
In 1971 the model was redesigned slightly, and given the name Les Paul Triumph. This model had built in switching to change from low to high impedance, but was, in essence, much the same, using the same woods and construction.
A hollow body version was created in 1973, named the Les Paul Signature bass. This was a long scale bass (34½") with double cutaways
Cutaway (guitar)
In guitar construction, a cutaway is an indentation in the body of the instrument adjacent to the neck of the instrument, designed to allow easier access to the upper frets....
. Very different from the preceding models, but still bearing the Les Paul name.
All Les Paul Bass models were once discontinued in 1979.
In recent times Gibson has concentrated on its classic designs, and in the early 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
decided to give the Les Paul bass another chance. Offerings included flattop versions (Deluxe and Special) and a carved-top Standard model. Les Paul basses were available in 4 or 5-string models. The first 90's version of the Standard model featured Bartolini
Bartolini
-People:*Gioseffo Maria Bartolini , Italian painter*Lorenzo Bartolini , Italian sculptor*Luigi Bartolini , Italian writer*Enzo Bartolini , Italian rower*Elio Bartolini , Italian writer...
electronics and pickups. This version is recognizable because there is no pickup selector switch.
The most recent incarnation of the Les Paul Standard bass, introduced in 1997, featured a chambered body which reduced the weight. This Standard model also featured a carved maple top and saw a switch to passive electronics with TB Plus pickups, which are very high output humbuckers with ceramic magnets
Ferrite (magnet)
Ferrites are chemical compounds consisting of ceramic materials with iron oxide as their principal component. Many of them are magnetic materials and they are used to make permanent magnets, ferrite cores for transformers, and in various other applications.Many ferrites are spinels with the...
. This version features a three-way pickup selector switch. The Les Paul Standard bass was discontinued in 2006.
See also
- Gibson EB-0Gibson EB-0The Gibson EB-0 is a bass guitar that was introduced by Gibson in 1959.-History:The EB-0 was first marketed in 1959 in response to the declining sales of Gibson's EB-1. The body was styled after the Les Paul Junior, but retained the mahogany neck and body and 30.5" scale length of the EB-1. It was...
(1958-1979) / Gibson EB-3Gibson EB-3The Gibson EB-3 is an electric bass guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.Introduced in 1961, the EB-3 was one of the bass guitar equivalents of the popular Gibson SG...
(1961-1971) — predecessor - Gibson Les Paul Recording — design origin of Les Paul Bass & Triumph
- Gibson EB-2 (1958-1972) — precursor of Signature Bass
- Gibson Les Paul Signature — design origin of Signature Bass
- Epiphone Jack Casady Bass — a signature model based on Signature Bass
- Gibson Les Paul Standard — design origin of Standard Bass