1987 Gibson 20/20 electric bass guitar

• Maple body • bolt-on maple neck • two active Gibson humbuckers • black hardware • two octave neck • 34 1/2 inch scale

The Gibson 20/20 was only available from late 1987 and 1988. The serial number dates this one to November 1987, manufactured at the Gibson Nashville plant. On such a short production run there is not too much room for variance, but there is some. The 24th fret on many 20/20s has double fret marker dots, but that fret is just plain on this bass. The 20/20 was available in Luna Silver and Ferrari Red finish, as seen here. The Red finish was less common than the Luna Silver seen on most 20/20s.

Hardware is not typical for Gibson. The pickups look somewhat similar to seventies RD Artist pickups, but they are not the same. These units were only fitted to the 20/20. The Sperzel tuning keys are another unique 20/20 feature, as is the height adjustable nut. The Schaller adjustable bridge is similar in appearance but not the same (in terms of vertical adjustment) as the Tri-4 wedge bridge fitted to Gibson basses earlier in the decade.

All hardware on the 20/20 is black: metal bridge, control knobs, and tuning keys, and black plastic pickup covers.

Reverse body detail. The 20/20 has no curved edges, but is far from a simple rectangle in shape

Pickup detail. The active humbucker pickups in the 20/20 are marked with the word GIBSON in gold lettering. These pickups were not used on any other Gibson bass guitar.

The 20/20 fuses Ned Steinberger's 21st Century vision with Gibson's tradition of craftsmanship. His signature emblazons the top horn in gold.

Bridge detail. The covered compartment to the left of the bridge in this picture holds the 9v battery.

Bolt-on Neck plate. The 20/20 steered further away from Gibson tradition with it's bolt-on (as opposed to a glued or 'set') neck joint.

Reverse body and neck detail

Headstock detail. The serial number and 'MADE IN USA' are stamped on the underside of the headstock. The layout of the tuning keys is unusual, in that the A and D string tuning keys are nearer the neck than the E and G

The hinged arm on the underside of the body allows easy playing whilst seated. The truss rod of the 20/20 is adjusted where the neck meets the body; a first for a Gibson bass. The truss rod nut can be seen here.

Reverse headstock detail. The 20/20 had 4 tuning keys in a row, made by Sperzel

The 20/20, having a wooden rather than graphite neck, requires a truss rod; this has an adjustment at the body end of the neck, that (unlike many guitars) can be adjusted without removing the neck from the body.

The 9 volt battery fits in a small compartment behind the bridge, and is covered by a black rectangular cover held in place with two screws.

The 20/20 body is routed for pickups, controls and a battery just behind the guitars bridge.

1987 Gibson 20/20 bass video clips

This short clip shows this 1987 Gibson 20/20 bass played through a late 70s/early 80s Gibson/Norlin Lab series L2 100w head and matching 1x15 cab. Recorded with an Electrovoice RE-20 (left channel) and Shure SM57 (right), through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface - all highly recommended gear!

Subscribe to our youtube channel for more vintage guitar and bass demos. Also, check out the longer, high definition demo of this guitar/amp here

This video (part2) demonstrates some of the wide range of sounds you can get solely by adjusting the L2 midrange frequency control - and, to some extent, playing style. As you can hear, just this one control has an enormous effect on the sound - the Lab series amps really are awesome, and hugely underrated. Recorded with an Electrovoice RE-20 (left channel) and Shure SM57 (right), through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface - all highly recommended gear!