Gibson Grabber technical information

Body and neck

Alder or maple body, maple neck. Necks were typically two-piece maple, joined just below the headstock with a scarf joint. Later examples did away with this joint, and were produced in a more traditional style using three-piece lengthwise maple laminate.

Strings

The Grabber, like the G3 can only be strung through-body, i.e. the strings enter the bass from the body reverse before reaching the bass bridge. The bass can not be strung from the bridge alone. For this reason extra long scale strings are required.

Circuitry

Gibson Grabber circuit schematic (1973)

The Grabber circuitry is very simple, two potentiometers, a capacitor (.047 mfd part 70057 and the output jack. The 1977 Gibson parts list shows the same part (70023 250K audio taper) for volume and tone controls. The 1981 list shows two different pots: volume - 300K audio taper part 70031, tone - 100K audio taper part 70033.

The pickup is the single coil Grabber sliding pickup.

Gibson Grabber Hardware

Gibson Grabber parts lists - (1977, 1981) Components listed with part numbers

Pickup Grabber single coil
Machine heads Schaller BM, or occasionally (towards the end of production) Schaller M4
Pickguard Single ply. Early instruments had red or brown tortoiseshell pickguards, the bulk had plain black
Truss rod cover (Gibson part no. 80537). Mounted with either two, or three screws. Inscribed with 'THE GRABBER' in block capitals
Bridge Grabber / G3 plate bridge (Gibson part no. 81554).
Bridge cover Gibson part no. 80076. Smaller than the cover fitted to the EB/Ripper/Triumph basses. The very last examples shipped (1982-84) seem not to have had bridge covers.

Gibson Grabber Patent

The design patent for the Gibson Grabber was filed by Bruce Bolen and Edward Klein in August 1974, and granted in March 1976.

Gibson Grabber bass for sale

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1972 Gibson L6-S Bass Prototype (Ripper, Grabber) Singlecut Sunburst

Syracuse, New York, 132**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9000

1972 Gibson L6-S Bass Prototype (Ripper, Grabber) Singlecut Sunburst
 
This bass guitar is the prototype for the L6-S bass, a model that was never manufactured by Gibson. Although it is the prototype for an instrument that was not produced, it also seems to be a prototype of the Ripper and Grabber models introduced later that are constructed with the same materials (maple neck and body) and similar dimensions. The look of this one does foreshadow those later models
SETUP & ... more

CLEAN! Vintage Gibson Grabber Bass!! Plays great! W / alt Pickguard

Monticello, New York, 127**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3000

This vintage Gibson Grabber Bass is a dream come true for any right-handed player looking for a solid body electric bass guitar. With its natural body color and 4-string configuration, this bass is perfect for any music genre. The alt pickguard adds a unique touch to this 1974 model year, making it a must-have for collectors and musicians alike.

The bass plays great and has been well-maintained, ensuring its quality and reliability. Whether you're a seasoned player or a ... more

Vintage Gibson Grabber Bass 1974-1975

Allston, Massachusetts, 021**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2200

Vintage Gibson Bass. Serial numbers from this time were a little disorganized, but it seems like this was 1974 or 1975. Real rock bass.
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Vintage 1976 Gibson G3 Grabber Electric Bass with original hard Gibson Case

East Amherst, New York, 140**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3200

This vintage Gibson G3 Grabber Electric Bass is a rare gem for any musician. With a beautiful blond body made of alder and maple, this right-handed bass guitar features a rosewood, ebony, and maple fretboard, making it a dream come true for any player. The 4-string configuration and vintage series add to its uniqueness, making it a must-have for any collector. This bass guitar comes with its original hard Gibson case, making it easy to transport and store. Perfect for any musician or collector, ... more

Vintage Gibson G3 pickups in Grabber style boutique bass

Lions Head, Ontario, N0H***, CANADA

C $4500

Fancy Gibson G3 style boutique bass with genuine vintage 1970s Gibson G3 pickups.
Through neck design.
Figured maple body & neck with exotic wood center stripe.
Ebony fret board
Ebony headstock
Ebony string-through body inset
Bone nut
4 way rotary switch gives extra setting for neck pickup only. First 3 positions same as traditional Gibson G3 bass. CTS pots
Orange drop capacitor
Hipshot 3 point bridge
Hipshot Ultralite tuning machines
Finish is French ... more

Gibson style grabber bass

Newton Abbot, TQ13***, UNITED KINGDOM

£475

This Grabber custom Bass is a fantastic choice for any musician looking for a high-quality electric bass guitar  With its clear body colour and 4-string configuration,  this guitar is perfect for quick play I have owned this bass since 2012 and loved playing funk on it  the guy I bought it from beloved it could be a Paul Rose custom  I purchased it due to it's natural finish and beautiful wood used ... more

1974 GIBSON GRABBER / RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€350

1974 GIBSON case for RIPPER & GRABBER models:
+ black tolex, has a lot of wear & rips
+ rips & material missing at the plastic surround
+ strap that holds case open has a rip
+ deep purple interior, has some wear
+ all latches work fine
+ handle is gone
+ top of case is at headstock front resting on the bottom part=NOT OVRRLAPPING AS USUAL
+ all feet on back are missing
Over 1000 more
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1974 GIBSON GRABBER / RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€279

1974 GIBSON GRABBER / RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA:
+ black tolex, has a lot of wear & rips
+ bottom is loose=check pic 7
+ strap that holds case open is gone
+ deep purple interior, has stains
+ 1 latch is broken=check last pic
+ handle was replaced
+ all feet on bottom are missing
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
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Vintage Gibson G3 pickups in Grabber style boutique bass

Lions Head, Ontario, N0H***, CANADA

C $4500

Fancy Gibson G3 style boutique bass with genuine vintage 1970s Gibson G3 pickups.
Through neck design.
Figured maple body & neck with exotic wood center stripe.
Ebony fret board
Ebony headstock
Ebony string-through body inset
Bone nut
4 way rotary switch gives extra setting for neck pickup only. First 3 positions same as traditional Gibson G3 bass. CTS pots
Orange drop capacitor
Hipshot 3 point bridge
Hipshot Ultralite tuning machines
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