GIBSON is doing a FULL run of Leftys in '13

iozz · **Posted:** December 20th, 2012, 1:54 am

How about the balance? Do you have some neck diving or not?
The only SG bass copy I've owned was a nightmare...

rdavidson · **Posted:** December 20th, 2012, 2:21 am

Very minimal neck dive. Practically a non-issue.

iozz · **Posted:** December 20th, 2012, 6:04 am

Thanks!

AustinLeftyBass · **Posted:** December 20th, 2012, 6:18 am

Thanks for the review!

rdavidson · **Posted:** December 20th, 2012, 3:51 pm

rdavidson wrote:

Negative: The fret edges were a bit sharp. Jimmy warned me about this and said they did a bit to file them down when they set it up, but they’re still too sharp for me. If I did nothing it would be sort of annoying but OK. However, I’m gonna bring the bass to Mike Lull to see how much he’ll charge to file them down a little more. (I’m talking about the beveled part of the fret along the edge of the neck; imagine holding the neck like a baseball bat and sliding your hand up and down; the fret beveled edges are too sharp when I do this; it’s smooth on all my other basses.)

I brought the bass to Mike Lull today. They are going to smooth the fret edges for about $40. Nice. Also of note, he said the neck, frets, overall construction was excellent for an instrument coming from Gibson these days. (He's seen brand new $4000 Les Pauls that have needed neck work.) He was shocked when I told him the bass was $800; he guessed $1200-1300 based on construction. He wondered if it was a prototype, being that it was the first one made/shipped. Serial number dates it to Dec 2012 but it's stamped 2013. Attention and care not usually seen on an $800 bass, etc. (rough fret edges aside). I hope all of your basses are as nicely put together as this one!

bugsy · **Joined:** June 7th, 2010, 2:29 am **Posts:** 220

rdavidson wrote:

1. I am not going to swap the tone and jack back to the way they should be. I like how the cable rests—see photo above. And it’s kinda cool that it was the first SG bass Gibson made
.

we will have to compare serial numbers because yours and mine were made and shipped at the same time.
so you or I could have the first faded SG, depending on how southpaw shipped out
sorry to burst your bubble :lol:

iozz · **Posted:** December 21st, 2012, 1:55 am

Personnally I'm completely lost with all these new Gibson models, I don't know what to buy

Is the SG a 30" scale ?

Agent00Soul · **Posted:** December 21st, 2012, 9:46 am

Great review!

Addison · **Joined:** June 15th, 2009, 8:03 am **Posts:** 1341

Yeah, I'll agree... I'm more than likely never going to buy one of these, but your review was honest, thoughtful and informative.

Good job!

rdavidson · **Posted:** December 21st, 2012, 11:37 am

iozz wrote:

Is the SG a 30" scale ?

Yes it's a short scale, 30".

bugsy wrote:

we will have to compare serial numbers because yours and mine were made and shipped at the same time.
so you or I could have the first faded SG, depending on how southpaw shipped out
sorry to burst your bubble :lol:

I'm ok with it being 1st or 2nd. I'll post my serial number once I get it back from Mike Lull. It will be interesting to compare.

bugsy · **Joined:** June 7th, 2010, 2:29 am **Posts:** 220

might take a little while to get mine as Im in Australia, and it hasnt been shipped off yet from Southpaw.
:cry:

moejoe · **Joined:** February 11th, 2011, 7:29 am **Posts:** 24

Well guys, I wasn't even looking for left handed Gibson basses, but when I was looking at the Sterling Ray 34 I saw that this store from UK has already added left handed Gibson basses to their inventory (of course not in stock, but there's already a price added so people from Europe see which price might get them a Gibson bass

)

http://www.andertons.co.uk/left-handed- ... asp#page-1

andrew · **Posted:** December 26th, 2012, 7:25 pm

ptbass wrote:

I was number 1 on the T-Bird list I received a call from Jimmy today and it shipped from Gibson and it should be in NJ day after Christmas!

Did you get it?

bugsy · **Joined:** June 7th, 2010, 2:29 am **Posts:** 220

got my faded SG today.
initial thoughts
the case is heavier than the bass! :shock:

great looking case though

light and a thinner body than i expected. Although this may be normal width, i dont know
dated 12-12-12.
no sharp fret edges on mine.
action is a tad high for me though, has to come down a fraction.
There is neck dive, but with a good strap i dont think it will be an issue
finish is great
havent had the time to plug it in

Basshappi · **Joined:** March 14th, 2008, 2:28 pm **Posts:** 965

Well, there goes my tax return.
If they add the Ripper to the line up I'm in real trouble.

bugsy · **Joined:** June 7th, 2010, 2:29 am **Posts:** 220

Ive just had a little play around with mine and some quick points,
i dont know why people say these are hard to eq in the mix or muddy.
Because they are not.
maybe the pickups are different on these newer models? I dont know as Ive never played an original
I would call it more punchy, ballsy or thick but not muddy at all.
clear, tight
All strings and notes are clean and even in volume all the way up the neck
for me , full on bridge pickup and back off the neck alittle and its kills, i did back off the bass eq on my amp to about 11 oclock and highs and mids about 12 roughly.
ampeg PF210, GK MB500
At low volumes i get the feeling that it just wants to be turned up and rocked, like holding back a racehorse.
I think i will keep roundwound strings on it as well.
I like the neck because its not to slippery but not grabby like a vanished neck can be at times.
thinking about changing the strap nut to the outward facing neck heel, i just dont like the way it faces into me.

overall very happy

cangaroo · **Joined:** October 8th, 2009, 5:57 am **Posts:** 254

Very interested at this point. The main question is : will Southpaw ship the leftys outside the US ?

bugsy · **Joined:** June 7th, 2010, 2:29 am **Posts:** 220

Got mine in About 4 - 5 days to australia

elhambre · **Joined:** February 13th, 2011, 5:17 am **Posts:** 21

Basshappi wrote:

If they add the Ripper to the line up I'm in real trouble.

+1

fivebass52 · **Posted:** December 28th, 2012, 6:24 am

bugsy wrote:

Got mine in About 4 - 5 days to australia

bugsy, and anyone else have have gotten on of these basses, I'd enjoy seeing some pictures!

LeftyBassist.com

GIBSON is doing a FULL run of Leftys in '13

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