LeftyBassist.com

A friend sent me this article from a Netherlands bass website (run through Google translator with the original below):

Gibson is coming with basses
Limited Runs of Thunderbirds, RDs and more - Good news for left-handers
Brand news 07-08-2017 12:09
In Bassist # 41 - July - September 2017, we reported that Gibson currently does not deliver bass at all. Epiphone is becoming more and more the Gibson family base, with recently a beautiful Thunderbird and Embassy. But Gibson surprised us with a whole lot of 'Limited Runs'.
Due to the 100th Anniversary of Orville Gibson's Heritage, Gibson comes with 100 so-called Limited Runs in 2017/18, or model year 2018. These instruments are announced quarterly and include a "Modern-Retro" Gibson logo at the head And a sticker with 'Only a Gibson is Good Enough' on the back of the same head.

We do not have any pictures, no specs yet, but we knew about this, yet secret, information. Gibson arrives with the following basses this year. We are especially curious about the RD Artist. Gibson has already released a J-elemented RD Standard, as a signature of Nirvana's Krist Novoselic. Will the 2018 version have the Moog electronics?

The basses:

EB Bass 5 String 2018 Satin Trans Black
EB Bass 5 String 2018 Satin Trans Black Left Hand
EB Bass 5 String 2018 Natural Satin Left Hand

EB Bass 4 String 2018 Satin Trans Black
EB Bass 4 String 2018 Satin Trans Black Left Hand
EB Bass 4 String 2018 Natural Satin Left Hand
EB Bass 4 String 2018 Natural Satin

Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Bright Cherry
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Ebony
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Bright Cherry Left Hand
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Ebony Left Hand
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Vintage Sunburst Left Hand
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Vintage Sunburst

RD Artist Bass 2018 Antique Natural
RD Artist Bass 2018 Ebony

SG Standard Bass 2018 Ebony
SG Standard Bass 2018 Heritage Cherry
SG Standard Bass 2018 Ebony Left Hand
SG Standard Bass 2018 Heritage Cherry Left Hand
SG Standard Bass 2018 Walnut Left Hand
SG Standard Bass 2018 Walnut

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Gibson komt toch met bassen
Limited Runs van Thunderbirds, RDs en meer - Goed nieuws voor linkshandigen
Merknieuws 07-08-2017 12:09
In De Bassist #41 - juli - september 2017, meldden we dat Gibson momenteel helemaal geen bassen meer levert. Epiphone wordt steeds meer het basmerk van de Gibson-familie, met sinds kort een prachtige Thunderbird en Embassy. Maar Gibson verrast ons nu toch met een hele hoop 'Limited Runs'.
Vanwege de '100th Anniversary of Orville Gibson’s Heritage' komt Gibson met 100 zogenaamde Limited Runs in 2017/18, oftewel modeljaar 2018. Deze instrumenten worden per kwartaal bekend gemaakt en ze hebben onder meer een 'Modern-Retro' Gibson-logo op de kop en een sticker met 'Only a Gibson is Good Enough' achterop dezelfde kop.

We hebben nog geen foto's, nog geen specs, maar we wisten wel achter deze, nog geheime, informatie te komen. Gibson komt dit jaar met de onderstaande bassen. We zijn vooral benieuwd naar de RD Artist. Gibson bracht al eerder een met J-elementen voorziene RD Standard uit, als signature van Nirvana's Krist Novoselic. Zal de 2018-versie de Moog-elektronica hebben?

De bassen:

EB Bass 5 String 2018 Satin Trans Black
EB Bass 5 String 2018 Satin Trans Black Left Hand
EB Bass 5 String 2018 Natural Satin Left Hand

EB Bass 4 String 2018 Satin Trans Black
EB Bass 4 String 2018 Satin Trans Black Left Hand
EB Bass 4 String 2018 Natural Satin Left Hand
EB Bass 4 String 2018 Natural Satin

Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Bright Cherry
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Ebony
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Bright Cherry Left Hand
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Ebony Left Hand
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Vintage Sunburst Left Hand
Thunderbird 4 String 2018 Vintage Sunburst

RD Artist Bass 2018 Antique Natural
RD Artist Bass 2018 Ebony

SG Standard Bass 2018 Ebony
SG Standard Bass 2018 Heritage Cherry
SG Standard Bass 2018 Ebony Left Hand
SG Standard Bass 2018 Heritage Cherry Left Hand
SG Standard Bass 2018 Walnut Left Hand
SG Standard Bass 2018 Walnut


http://www.debassist.nl/nieuws/artikel/ ... met-bassen

Oh this is very bad not good terrible news. I can't promise what will happen if I see a cherry lefty Thunderbird.

Guess I better put some money aside for an RD bass

Doesn't look like the RD is going to be offered lefty.

A Midtown bass would be nice!

Agreed, I'd really like a sunburst Midtown but it also isn't returning in 2018. I wish Gibson had made the 335 basses in lefty too.

I'll believe it when i see it. Gibson has promised lefties before, only to go back on their word.

Definitely. I ordered/placed deposits on basses before that Gibson never bothered to make.

Me to. I waited over 6 months after ordering And paying for a Midtown a few years ago, only to finally be told the bass was never coming.

I would really love to add a T'bird to my stable.
BUt as others have said, I'll believe it when I see it.

Hmmm..... I tend to agree with this sentiment but..... There is a good chance that Gibson will wait to see what kind of interest (and by interest I mean real committed orders) they get in a particular lefty build before they go ahead with it. That really does make good business sense. By that token, I might be inclined to place an order with a small/reasonable - refundable - deposit to indicate to Gibson that there is indeed enough interest to do a run.

In other words, I would lean on the side of being part of the solution, not the problem.

Has anyone seen any information regarding the pricing, and if there are any dealers taking orders yet?

P.S., In late 1975, I ordered a lefty Bi-Centennial Thunderbird. Put money down on it at Manny's Music in Manhattan. Waited, never came. It was listed in their catalog- a paper one for all you young players! lol! After writing a LETTER to Gibson, and putting it in an envelope, and putting it in the mailbox, I waited for Gibson's response. They mailed back- no lefty T-bird Bi-Centennial basses would be produced after all. I switched the order to a lefty Ripper. It was ALSO listed in their catalog as available in left handed. That, too, never showed up. A year went by, and no Gibson bass. So, I got my money back from Manny's, and I did something that actually changed my life.. I went to see Carl Thompson, in about August- Sept., 1976, and had him build me a bass. Mine is all Mahogany, and dated 10676. If anyone knows its whereabouts, I'd like to have it back. It was stolen from the band's van in 1991. Hanging out there, at Carls' was a learning experience. I've been repairing and building basses ever since.
But, I really don't want to build a T-bird, I'll let Gibson do that. IF they'll do that.

Understood, but given the wait period and potential for cancellation, I'd rather have my money in MY account than in Gibson's collecting interest.

I also fully expect the pricing to be through the roof on models like the T-Bird. Remember the pricing in 2013? Fairly reasonable at $1499. Then what did the do in 2014? Jacked the price up 60%!

Gibson Engineer discusses recent changes at Gibson Custom Shop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWylKk0Y6PU

Hmm... Guess I'll have to have a chat with my contact at the local Sam Ash. I'm thinking my '13 T-Bird might like having a new ebony T-Bird for company; and the coil-tapping feature is interesting, too...

I would like a lefty version of the les paul bass. I tried one by chance last week and it turned out to be most fat sounding bass i have ever played.

...And there you go!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-GoldTop- ... 1438.l2649

wow

Is the price right or is the guy taking advantage from the fact that the bass is discontinued ? I guess the bass + shipping + taxes are way over my budget

The Les Paul bass price was $1,599 new, so if his bass is in good shape as he says, it is more than fair considering he is open for offers. If you're ready to buy a brand new one but there's none being sold by Gibson now, you can send him a lower offer and see what he says.
Southpaw Guitars had 2 for sale, $1800 each and they both sold so I would say it's a good deal!
Heres the link from Gibson:
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric ... -Bass.aspx