Two mid-seventies Gibson Grabbers: a 1975 Gibson Grabber in Wine Red finish, and a 1977 Gibson Grabber in Maple Gloss finish

Gibson Grabber Bass

Solid maple (early models) or alder body, maple neck. 34 1/2 inch scale.

The Gibson Grabber uses standard long-scale strings D'Addario EXL170 Nickel Wound Bright Round Wound Electric Bass Strings (D'Addario Bass Strings Nickel Wound - Soft) Fender 9120 Nylon Tapewound Bass Strings (Fender Nylon Tapewound - Long Scale - 34) Rotosound RS66LD Bass Strings Long Scale Strings (RotoSound Swing Bass RS66LD - Stainless Steel) Rotosound RS88LD Trubass Bass Strings (Rotosound - Bass Strings - RS88LD - True Bass (Black Nylon)) Rotosound RS66LB Bass Strings (RotoSound RS66LB Swing Bass - Stainless Steel) Fender 9050ML Stainless Flatwound Bass Strings (Fender - Stainless Bass Flatwound - Long Scale - 34 - Medium Light) D'Addario ECB81 XL Chromes Flatwound Bass Strings (D'addario Chromes Stainless Steel Flatwound - Soft) Rotosound RS77LD Jazz Bass Strings (Rotosound - Bass Strings - RS77LD - Jazz Bass) Fender 9050L Stainless Flatwound Bass Strings (Fender - Stainless Bass Flatwound - Long Scale - 34 - Light ) D'Addario EXL160 Regular Gauge Nickel Wound Electric Bass Strings (D'Addario Bass Nickel Wound Long Scale - Regular)

The Grabber was a real departure for Gibson in 1973. Along with its sister instrument 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 gibsons best selling basses. They take pride of place in the 1975 Gibson bass catalogue. As well as a new body shape and flying V headstock shape, the Grabber was Gibsons first bolt-on neck bass, and had an inovative 'sliding pickup' which allowed manual positioning (see images below - click to enlarge); you literally 'grab' the pickup, hence the name. The bolt on maple neck was more Fenders way of building guitars, and as such the Grabber has a brighter more Fender-like tone than most Gibson basses.

It was, of course, built to be a cheap bass, because it had to compete commercially not only with the classic Fender models, but also many imported instruments. The Grabber used cheaper parts, the least parts and cheapest construction methods possible. The sliding pickup gave the sounds of a bridge or neck position, with just one pickup, 2 pots and no switches, all mounted on the scratchplate. The Fender-like bridge was far simpler than the usual Gibson post-mounted versions, and the front-routed body with bolt-on neck is still the simplest, and quickest way to manufacture and assemble a guitar.

In January 1975 the Grabber was listed at $319 for the Natural Satin finish (alder body), or $369 for Wine red finish. This is not only Gibsons cheapest bass (the Ripper is $449, EB3 $499, and the Les Paul Signture and Triumph are $629 and $679 respectively), but the cheapest guitar in this catalogue period. The Marauder is the cheapest six string at $349; the reason behind this may have been to directly target Fenders Precision and Telecaster basses, which were then priced $325 and $330.

Take a closer look at a Grabber here

The most famous Grabber users were probably Gene Simmons from the band Kiss, Suzi Quatro (Suzi tells us what she thinks of the Grabber in our Suzi Quatro mini interview) and Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson.

Sound Clips

These sound clips are recorded directly into a mobilepre preamp. Recorded with flat wound strings.

• Pickup towards the neck
  volume and tone control on 10. Played fingerstyle.
• Pickup towards the bridge
  volume and tone control on 10. Played fingerstyle.
• Pickup towards the bridge
  volume and tone control on 10. Played with a pick.

The Grabber first appeared in the 1975 catalogue, described as follows

The Grabber's sliding pickup offers a wide variety of sounds. Slide it forward for a deep rhythm roar, backward for a full treble punch, or slide it anywhere in between

Sales were strong, and almost immediately the grabber replaced the EBO as Gibsons entry level bass.