1976 Gibson G-3

• Maple body • bolt-on maple neck • three single coil pickups, wired in humbucking configuration • 34 1/2 inch scale.

This is a typical mid 70s maple bass, the body made from three pieces of maple, and a one-piece bolt-on neck. The headstock is scarfed onto the neck, something unusual in Gibson guitars, though a standard feature in Grabber and G3 basses. Along with the scratchplate-mounted electronics and comparatively cheaper bridge, this helped keep the Grabber and G3 prices down in a very competitive time for American bass manufacturers (see the G-3 publicity page for more details on original pricing).

The G3 was a fine example of mid-seventies Gibson bass building. Maple/alder rather than mahogany, big bodies and quirky electronics. "The transparent pickup covers add to player interest and the unique electric lash—up offers an unusual sound versatility". By the middle of 1978 the see-through covers were changed to black, (compare with a 1978 G-3).

This bass is fitted with G3 single-coil pickups, Gibson Grabber bridge, and Schaller BM machine heads.

In 1976, the G3 was available in Ebony, Tobacco Sunburst and two Natural finishes over different body woods: an alder body Natural Satin finish, and (as seen here) a maple body with a Maple Gloss finish. These basses cost (June 1976) $399 and $439 respectively. Obviously the Maple Gloss had a more highly polished finish, but was also a more durable (alder does tend to dent more easily) and noticeably heavier: typically 3/4 kg more. In the tough economic climate of 1976, the alder-bodied Natural Satin vastly outsold Maple Gloss examples 751 to just 9. See the G3 Shipping data.

All controls are mounted to the large scratchplate, a volume and tone control, three-way switch and output jack.

The body of this bass has been made with three pieces of maple. Note the recessed black plate towards the bottom of the bass; this is where the strings enter the body, coming out through the bridge on the other side

This bass has three Gibson G3 pickups. They are single coils, but arranged in humbucking configuration. The covers are semi clear, and the red windings and Alnico magnet can be seen within. Later G3s had black opaque covers; compare these pickups to those of a 1978 G-3. Have a look at the circuitry underneath the G3 scratchplate here. Each pickup is mounted to the pickguard with three screws that also set the pickup height.

Output jack, controls and pickup selector switch. The G3 had simplest controls. One master volume control, and one master tone (both speed knobs). The three-way switch is the pickup selector. See the main G3 page for the description of switch positions.

The G3 and Grabber were fitted with a simple Fender-style Grabber bridge, rather than the heavier 3-point bridge. Strings pass through the guitars body from the back, then over the saddles, requiring extra long scale strings. Standard long scale strings are too short, the G-3 can not be strung directly to this bridge.

The G3 and Grabber bridge cover is slightly narrower than the ones used on the EB0/3, Ripper and Thunderbird; it is not large enough to cover the three point bridge of the aforementioned basses.

Reverse body detail. The neck is held in place by four bolts through a neck plate. Bolt-on necks were a real departure for Gibson, something that they had resisted for many years, but with the extreme pressures on all American manufacturers at this point, cheaper methods of production were essential. With all controls scratchplate mounted, there was also no need for a control access cavity on the body reverse.

Gibson serial numbers are almost always stamped into the wood, typically six digits prior to 1976, or eight digits after 1977. However 1976 (and some 1975 and 1977) guitars had an eight digit decal. The first two digits are actually a year code (in this case 00 refers to 1976). Generally a model name was also on the decal, in this case 'Grabber 3'. Compare this to a 1978 Grabber 3 with an eight digit serial number. Read more about Gibson serial numbers in general here

The G3 headstock, like that of the Grabber, and S-1 and Marauder guitars, is in the Flying-V style. The Gibson logo is silk-screened. Model-designated truss rod covers were widely used on Gibson instruments in the 1970s. Some middle-period G-3s had a slightly different truss rod style; the same as the Grabber. Compare with a 1978 G-3 here.

The Grabber and G3 had rather different construction to other Gibson basses. As well as the neck being bolt-on, it is joined to the headstock by a scarf joint, rather than timbers running the entire length of neck and headstock. The Schaller BM tuning keys are typical for this time period.

Gibson G-3 wiring

The G3 wiring is fairly straightforward: have a look at wiring images and the circuit schematic. The two pots have Gibson part numbers 70031 (volume 300k linear) and 70033 (tone 100k audio). In this case pots are CTS made (code 137) with a date stamp from the last week of 1975.

Gibson G-3 soundclips

The G3 has a very different tone from the other basses offered by Gibson that preceded it - and this is no surprise: the combination of different body, neck and fretboard woods, bolt-on (rather than set) neck joint, a longer scale length and Bill Lawrence's innovative pickup design, all combine to create a considerably brighter 'snappier' bass, with plenty of snarling mids and without the muddiness associated with 1960s Gibsons. Perfect for the slapping and popping of 70s funk, and with enough presence to cut through against walls of overdriven guitar.

More soundclips from this bass can be heard here: Gibson G3 soundclips