Gibson “Grabber” G3
Year: 1977
Finish/Color: Ebony/Black
Made in: USA
Factory/Plant: Kalamazoo
The three-headed monster of tone While it shares the iconic flying pointed headstock and bolt-on neck of its predecessor, the G3 is a completely different sonic beast. Designed under the visionary guidance of Bill Lawrence, the G3 features three unique single-coil pickups wired in a sophisticated humbucking array. In the up position, the neck and middle pickups work together; in the down position, the bridge and middle pair up. But the magic happens in the middle bucker (Buck-and-a-half) position, where all three pickups activate to create a massive, hum-canceling tone that is thicker than a single-coil but more transparent than a traditional Gibson mudbucker. This 1977 model is a true survivor from the original Kalamazoo plant, offering that rare ’70s Gibson punch with a clarity usually reserved for Fenders.
Did you know? The G3 has also earned serious indie-rock street cred’ over the decades; it was the primary touring bass for Mike Dirnt during Green Day’s Dookie era and a staple for Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. Despite its bolt-on neck – a rarity for Gibson – it was built with a string-through-body bridge design, which is the secret behind the G3’s legendary sustain and piano-like low end.
The Gibson G3 bass stands as a testament to the creative ethos of the mid-1970s.
Making its grand entrance at the prestigious NAMM show in 1975, it emerged alongside its predecessor, the original Grabber, captivating the attention of musicians and aficionados alike.
Crafted under the visionary guidance of esteemed guitar designer Bill Lawrence, who lent his inventive spirit to Gibson in the early ’70s, the G3 embraced the legacy of the Grabber while charting its own distinct sonic path. At its heart lay a revolutionary arrangement of pickups – a trio of single-coils configured in a harmonious humbucking setup. This departure from the Grabber’s singular sliding humbucker not only distinguished the G3 but also imbued it with a unique tonal palette, ripe for exploration and expression.
Bass Curiosum
This bass is a late 1977 model, one of 316 shipped that year from the Gibson Kalamazoo plant.
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