![]() ![]() This was not a completely new idea basses by Alembic and Dan Armstrong had previously fitted pickups on rails to produce a similar effect. Towards the bridge for maximum treble response, and towards the neck for maximum bass. The model got it's name from the innovative 'sliding pickup' which allowed manual positioning (see images below) you literally 'grab' the pickup, and slide it where you want it. Gibson Grabber bass constructionĪs well as a new body shape and Flying V headstock shape, the Grabber was the first bolt-on neck Gibson bass. Grabber basses had to be easy to produce, highly functional and with a price point in line the Fender Precision. ![]() All of this had to be taken into account with the design of the next Gibson bass. And on top of this, the public seemed to prefer Fender basses. America was in recession in 1970, and again in 1973-75 Japanese guitar imports had vastly improved in quality, and were directly copying Gibson's own products, often down to the smallest detail. Norlin had rescued Gibson in December 1969, and the struggling company really had to make some big changes in order to survive. The early to mid 1970s were tough times for Gibson. See original Gibson Grabber pricing details here. It is highly unlikely the total number shipped exceeded 7000 instruments. Shipping figures beyond this point are not available, but small numbers of Grabber basses were completed in 19. The final price list inclusion for this model was in January 1980. Between the years 19, some 6800 Gibson Grabber bass guitars shipped from the Kalamazoo plant, in Michigan, USA (see shipping stats). The bass itself was designed by Bruce Bolen and Edward Klein. Along with its sister instruments the G-3 and the Ripper, it brought some new ideas to the Gibson stable, and in the second half of the 1970s these models became Gibson's best selling basses. The Gibson Grabber bass, sometimes known as the G1, was a real departure for Gibson in the early 1970s. Two mid-seventies Gibson Grabbers: a 1975 Gibson Grabber in Wine Red finish, and a 1977 Gibson Grabber in Maple Gloss finish 1981 Victory Standard (Candy Apple Red).
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