This is a really interesting bass - a single pickup version of the better known Les Paul Triumph bass. This was never a production model, and is never specifically mentioned in Gibson literature or shipping statistics. Presumably this was an early version of a single pickup companion to the Triumph that was ultimately never released.
The Les Paul Triumph prototype?
During the development and design of any new guitar, a number of mock-ups and prototypes are created. These would be used to test viability of designs, to gain feedback from musicians and for use at trade shows. The wear and tear of such promotional use would typically prevent these instruments from being sold as new instruments; they would usually end up being dismantled for the parts to be reused, or sold on at a reduced price. Whether it is correct to label these demo models prototypes is open to debate. The serial number stamped on the reverse of this bass' headstock suggests that although it is an early example, there were a good few standard dual pickup Triumphs preceding it, or at least produced contemporaneously.
This bass has had just one owner, Gary Moskowitz from Philadelphia who bought it new in 1972 from Cintioli's (also in Philadelphia) for $350. Apparently the owner Benny Cintioli bought the bass at a trade fair in Chicago. The suggested retail price for a regular Triumph at this time was $535-$560, so Gary got a deal.
Dating this Gibson bass
The serial number 637011 (with MADE IN U.S.A. below) places it mid-late 1971. The potentiometer codes date from September and October 1971. The dual pickup Triumph was first mentioned in the November 1971 price list. It is currently unclear whether basses produced in late 1971 were shipping any earlier than 1972.
Appointments
This interesting early Triumph is very much a simplified instrument. [Check out a standard Les Paul Triumph]. With just one pickup, there is no need for the pickup selector or phase in/out switch, but otherwise it would appear to be the same as two pickup models electronically. In terms of ornamentation it is quite different: the body and neck binding, and split diamond headstock inlay are missing, as are the block fretboard markers. The truss rod cover is unscripted and the control plate is a simpler unmarked single ply. Like the Triumph and earlier Les Paul Bass it does appear to be all mahogany, with a three piece laminate mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. The finish is the typical orangey 'Natural Mahogany' so associated with this bass. The headstock inlays are very much in keeping with the later-design Les Paul Bass models; a simple crown inlay and dotted i. Was the lack of ornamentation was an attempt to produce a significantly cheaper bass with similar functionality, or merely something unnecessary in a prototype?
Comparison of this model with a regular 1972 Gibson Triumph. Left: regular dual pickup instrument, and Right: 1971 single pickup prototype
The three position tone selector is still present (but as a 3 way toggle, rather than the lever switch) as is the hi-lo impedance switch (although this is not working...). As can be seen the pickup is positioned slightly further from the neck than on the regular Triumph. This is presumably deliberate, though perhaps a little surprising; at this point in the early seventies (a time of huge financial pressure for all American guitar makers) manufacturers tended to devise bodies that used the same routes. Perhaps the purpose of this bass was to test a different, more central pickup location? The placement difference is bigger than at first it might appear; although both instruments above have 24 frets, the single pickup bass has a longer fretboard beyond the last fret. Do other single pickup Triumphs exist with a different placings? Do others exist with the same spacing? Such demonstration instruments were often produced in batches, so there is a strong likelihood of further examples having been produced.
Did you work for Gibson in 1971? Do you know anything about this instrument? Have you seen another similar Triumph If you can help, or even throw any more light onto the matter, please comment. There is also a thread about this bass in the Gibson bass forum
Thanks again to Gary for providing pictures and info on this bass
Gibson Les Paul Triumph basses for sale
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ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1970s Gibson Les Paul Triumph Recording Bass Walnut Orig. Case
West Islip, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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HAS AMAZING TONE AND SOUND WITH A REAL NICE SMOOTH FEEL AND ACTION ALL TUNERS, ELECTRONICS, GIBSON PICK UPS, SWITCHES, VOL , TONE. WORK REAL WELL ALSO AS SHOWN HAS A TINY HAIRLINE ON GUARD BY INPUT JACK CONSIDERING THIS GEM IS APPROX. 50 YEARS OLD AS SHOWN IN REAL NICE ORIGINAL CONDITION BUT TO BE EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME SCUFFS, SCRATCHES AND NORMAL USAGE WEAR .PLEASE ... more
1991 Gibson Les Paul Bass Guitar | Rare | Transparrent Red | Preowend | GITA
Mansfield, NG18***, UNITED KINGDOM
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