Like many bass players, I’ve journeyed through a variety of basses over the years, each with its own character and story. However, there’s one particular model that has consistently held a special place in my heart: the Les Paul Bass Guitar. My absolute favorite is, without a doubt, my 1969 Gibson Les Paul Bass. There’s something truly magical about its short scale and those incredible Lo-Z pickups.
My affection for the Gibson Les Paul Bass runs so deep that I even decided to build my own tribute. For this project, I specifically sourced Lo-Z Gibson Les Paul guitar pickups and controls to capture that authentic tone. In the picture above, you can see them side-by-side – the genuine Gibson Les Paul Bass is the lower one, while my handcrafted version sits above it.
My first attempt at building a bass, a Brooks model, was also heavily influenced by my beloved ’69 Les Paul. It shares a similar body shape and scale length, although I opted for different pickups and a maple top to give it a unique voice.
Sadly, my original Gibson Triumph, also known as the Les Paul Bass, is no longer with me. I had to make the tough decision to sell it during a period of unemployment seven years ago. It’s a decision I still regret to this day.
Another bass that came and went from my collection was the Epiphone Allen Woody Signature Rumblekat. While it was undoubtedly a lovely instrument, it simply didn’t possess the same substantial feel as the Gibson Les Paul Bass, at least to my hands. So, eventually, it was sold.
Then there was the Magic, an old Dutch bass from 1963, built in my hometown. I acquired it for sentimental reasons, but unfortunately, it proved to be almost unplayable. Sentimentality aside, it had to go.
A rare find on eBay led me to a Japanese CBS bass, built in the 1970s specifically for the Australian market. They were quite rare, as scarce as hen’s teeth, as they say. I held onto it for about a decade before deciding to sell it three years ago, mainly because it wasn’t getting much playing time, and I wanted to free up space for new bass projects.
The Gibson GFB bass was another interesting instrument – a long scale monster! It was also relatively rare. However, to make room for yet more bass builds, it too was sold.
Lastly, the Revelation RLB. This bass is a clever clone of the Gibson Les Paul Bass, but with different wiring. For the price, the quality was exceptional. When it appeared on a second-hand website, I simply couldn’t resist adding it to my collection. It serves as a testament to the enduring appeal and iconic design of the Les Paul bass.
