Fly Guitars

Interview: Mick Hawksworth

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:01:01 GMT

The latest Fly Guitar interview is with one of Britain's unsung bass heroes. Mick Hawksworth has been performing and recording for over 40 years, in a long line up of bands, and as a session player. In the 60s he was noted for his "technically brilliant basslines" after he formed the short-lived Andromeda with Attack frontman John Cann. He's got a great taste in gear: Acoustic, Danelectro, Guild. And of course Gibson; he most often plays an RD Artist bass. Check out the youtube clips to see it in action! In six parts.

1976 Gibson G3

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:01:01 GMT

Images and description of a 1976 Gibson Grabber 3, or G3, bass guitar in Maple Gloss finish. The G3 was the upgraded version of the Gibson Grabber, essentially the same bass in every way, except the pickups. Rather than one sliding humbucker, it featured three G3 single coil pickups wired in humbucking configuration. many people regard the G3 as the best of the Grabber/G3/Ripper family of basses.

Gibson Victory Wiring Schematics

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:01:01 GMT

The Gibson Victory bass guitar had complicated circuitry designed by Kalamazoo research and development engineer Tim Shaw. The full circuit schematic for the Victory Artist and schematic for the Victory Custom are online now for the first time, along with images of the circuits themselves. The Artist circuit was redesigned shortly after introduction of the model, and named Rev B. for this reason we are calling the older circuit Rev A. Schematics for both circuits are included on this site.

1977 Gibson Grabber

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:01:01 GMT

Images and description of a 1977 Gibson Grabber bass guitar in Maple Gloss finish. As the finish name implies, this is a maple-bodied bass, in contrast to the majority of Grabbers shipped with a natural (satin) finish, which were alder, and also cheaper. Maple Gloss is an unusual colour, with just 181 such instruments shipped between 1977-79 (see Gibson Grabber shipping figures), although a few more may well have been shipped in the early 1980s.

1973 Gibson EB-4L

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:01:01 GMT

Images and description of an early 1973 Gibson EB-4L bass guitar in Walnut finish. The early '73s had the two-point bridge, changing to the three-point bridge later that year (see a late 1973 EB-4L). There are no other differences; all EB4s have the same pickup (special design superhumbucker), controls, and other hardware.

Gibson Bass Guitars Pickguard Information

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:01:01 GMT

Fly Guitars includes quite a lot of Gibson Bass part information, predominantly pickups, machineheads and bridges. This new section details some of the scratchplates used on Gibson bass guitars. Includes downloadable templates you can use to make your own replacement guards.

Gibson SB-300 and SB-400 Circuit Information

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:01:01 GMT

The circuitry of the early SB basses (SB-300 and SB-400) was shared with a number of six-string Gibson electrics: the SG-200, SG-250, and the ES-320. This page shows the circuit in close-up, component list (with part numbers), and simplified wiring schematic.

1969 Gibson EB-2W Electric Bass Guitar

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:01:01 GMT

Description and photographs of a 1969 Gibson EB-2W electric bass guitar. The EB-2 was available between 1959-1961 and again 1964-1972. According to the available EB-2 shipping figures, just 12 EB-2W basses were shipped, all in 1969, although this is most likely incorrect, as the finish was listed in all price lists between June 1968 and October 1972, and was available for the two-pickup EB-2D too.

The Development of the Gibson Victory Bass

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:01:01 GMT

The Gibson Victory series was created by the then research and development team housed in the basement of the old Kalamazoo plant. The guitar itself was the work of artist/designer Charles (Chuck) Burge, whilst the electronics were created by another team member, Tim Shaw. I was lucky enough to catch up with Chuck, on my recent visit to Kalamazoo, and get some of the story on these often overlooked basses.

1962 Epiphone Newport Deluxe EBD bass

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 01:01:01 GMT

Description and photographs of a 1962 Epiphone Newport Deluxe electric bass guitar. The Newport series comprised four models, the Deluxe being the top-of-the-range two-pickup model. In reality, this bass is a Gibson EB3 with no varitone control; both are short scale, all mahogany, set-necked basses, and use the same pickups and hardware. Manufactured 1961-1963

1971 Gibson SB-400 bass

Sun, 9 Nov 2008 01:01:01 GMT

Description and photographs of a 1971 Gibson SB-400 electric bass guitar. The SB series was a new attempt to capture the lower-middle end of the bass market; Gibson quality and construction, but with a cheaper price tag. The SB-300 and longscale SB-400 were the first Gibson basses to have a maple neck, and the first solid-bodies not made of mahogany.

1981 Gibson RD Artist CMT bass

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:01:01 GMT

Description and photographs of a 1981 Gibson RD Artist electric bass guitar, in Antique Sunburst finish on a curly maple top (CMT). The CMT basses came right at the end of RD production, and perhaps as few as 100 were produced. This bass features the second version switch layout allowing expansion and compression consecutively.

Interview: Ralphe Armstrong

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:18:01 GMT

Bass player Ralphe Armstrong, (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jean-Luc Ponty, Curtis Mayfield, James Carter, D-12) talks about his playing, musical career, Gibson endorsement, and of course, his love for Gibson bass guitars. By John Fertig. In four parts.

1962 Gibson EB0 bass

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:49:01 GMT

Description and photographs of a 1962 Gibson EB-0 electric bass guitar, including wiring photographs. This bass has a black bakelite pickup cover, nickel hardware, 'raised' crown logo, and fat, wide, neck; typical of the early sixties.

Interview: Justin Meldal-Johnsen

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:19:01 GMT

Bassist, producer, and musical director, talks about himself, his music and, of course, his Gibson bass guitars. In four parts.

Gibson Victory bass series

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:47:01 GMT

There were three versions of the Gibson Victory bass: the passive Standard and Custom, and the active Artist. FlyGuitars has a look at these eighties classics; descriptions, specifications, images and soundclips