Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars
  2. Bass Guitars

In Pictures: Gibson Grabber 3 70s Tribute Bass

News
By Matthew Parker published 11 September 2012

A closer look at some of the features on the reissued bass

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Gibson Grabber 3 70s Tribute Bass

Gibson Grabber 3 70s Tribute Bass

Gibson recently announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Body

Body

Gibson has announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Bridge

Bridge

Gibson has announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Pickups

Pickups

Gibson has announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Controls

Controls

Gibson has announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Neck

Neck

Gibson has announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Headstock

Headstock

Gibson has announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Profile

Profile

Gibson has announced that it's once again reviving the Grabber bass design in the form of the new Grabber 3 70s Tribute, a three-pickup solid-body bass, which (unlike the original) features a set neck.

The original Gibson Grabber G-1 had a bolt-on neck and an usual sliding pickup and was said to sound more akin to a Fender bass. The firm reissued a tweaked version of that model for a limited time in 2009 as the Grabber II.

This latest bass is based around an even rarer Grabber variant, G3, which had three fixed-position single-coil pickups and was only produced between 1973 and 1975, but once again has been given a few modern tweaks, including new pickups.

The Grabber 3 70s Tribute has a US MSRP of $1,499 (approx. £935). Click through the gallery to find out more.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Latest in Bass Guitars
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 14: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO STANDALONE PUBLICATION USE (NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE; NO BOOK USE). Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Rogers Centre on November 14, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Taylor Swift's bass player Amos Heller says he couldn't believe the "insane" length of the Eras Tour setlist
 
 
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers performs during a concert at Federation Square on April 11, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia
Flea teases his first solo album with a seven minute jazz rave single
 
 
David Ellefson, back to camera, playing guitar
“Truly one of the most fun things I've ever done”: David Ellefson joins 1,000 musicians to tribute to Ozzy Osbourne
 
 
Queen perform live in 1986, with Freddie Mercury wearing a yellow basketball vest over a blue T-shirt, Brian May wearing an open collared white shirt, and John Deacon playing a prototype Warwick Buzzard bass, which was designed by John Entwistle and is up for auction in December 2025.
How the “fingerprint” wood grain of this Warwick bass revealed a connection to not one but two British rock legends (and tripled its value)
 
 
Mani of the Stone Roses, 1992
Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, dies, aged 63
 
 
The Epiphone Mike Dirnt G-3 Grabber is an affordable replica of his original Gibson and features a trio of Gibson USA pickups, custom wiring, and is available in Natural and Silverburst finishes.
Epiphone unveils signature G-3 Grabber with Gibson USA pickups for Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt
 
 
Latest in News
Joe Walsh plays a PRS SE electric guitar live onstage
Joe Walsh on the best guitar solo he ever recorded (and how it officially made the talk box a thing)
 
 
Olivia Rodrigo playing guitar
Olivia Rodrigo explains why she loves playing her custom Ernie Ball Music Man St Vincent Goldie signature model
 
 
Yo La Tengo on stage
“We’re gonna salute a Jewish songwriter we were not expecting to be saluting this Hanukkah”: Yo La Tengo pay tribute to Rob Reiner
 
 
nopia
"You don't need to know music theory – Nopia takes care of that": Two years after going viral, this pastel-coloured, harmony-focused synth has finally broken cover
 
 
Sombr and Wendy Melvoin
How Wendy Melvoin’s bass playing became the “secret weapon” on Sombr’s 12 to 12
 
 
Kylie Minogue
Amazon and Kylie Minogue have got Christmas wrapped up as their exclusive deal propels her to No.1
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...