Gibson produced considerable publicity material for the Les Paul Triumph bass towards the end of 1971 and into 1972: advertisements, catalogue appearances, original pricing and reviews
Les Paul Triumph advertising
The sounds of tomorrow for today's music
1972 double page Gibson advert for the newly designed Les Paul Bass - now dubbed the Triumph. It appeared in the April 1972 edition of Guitar Player and uses the same picture and text as used previously in the 1971 Gibson Low Impedance catalogue. The text refers to the free flexi disc that came with the '71 catalogue, and this was also included with the magazine
March and April are Les Paul months
1972 letter sent to Gibson dealers underlining the promotional efforts undertaken by Gibson in early 1972, in order to secure more orders of both the Les Paul Triumph bass, and the Les Paul Recording guitar
Show us a man who's too good for a Gibson Les Paul
UK ad for the Triumph bass and Les Paul Recording guitar. The add was produced by Selmer who were the British distributors of Gibson Instruments.
...he's flipped. Because the world's greatest can't fault the perfection of a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. So if you're serious about the sounds you're making try out the amazing new Les Paul Triumph bass.
Les Paul Triumph catalogue appearances
The Gibson Les Paul Triumph appeared in several Gibson catalogues, the first, the 1971 low impedance catalog also came with a flexi disk demonstrating both it, and the Les Paul Recording guitar. An owners manual was also available in 1971, which interestingly had a series of suggested settings for typical country, rock and solo bass tonalites.
1971 Gibson low impedance catalog
1971 Italian Gibson/Monzino catalog
1975 bass catalog
1975 Les Paul catalog
1978 Gibson catalogLes Paul Triumph owners manual
1971 Gibson Triumph Bass brochure / owners manualLes Paul Triumph pricing
The Les Paul Triumph was listed in price lists from late 1971 until 1979. As can be seen, it was the most expensive bass in the Gibson line.
|
November 1971 |
$535.00 |
November 1975 |
$679.00 |
Comparison of prices from the March 1976 Gibson price list
|
Grabber |
$329-379 |
EB3 |
$469 |
Reviews
Guitar Review - Les Paul Triumph Bass
1973 Gibson Les Paul Triumph review from the British magazine Beat Instrumental.
In the past few years. Fender have had the bass market pretty well sewn up, both on stage and in the studio. Although Gibson marketed a number of well-made guitars, they were found to have too much 'boom' for most uses, and the cutting treble sound of the Fender was preferred. Gibson have now got wise to this and have produced their first real contender to the Fender supremacy. It is called the Les Paul Triumph Bass. It has two low impedance humbuckers and enough controls to produce virtually any effect required, except the famous 'boom'
Gibson Les Paul Triumph for sale
ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1970s Gibson Les Paul Triumph Recording Bass Walnut Orig. Case
West Islip, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3580
HAS AMAZING TONE AND SOUND WITH A REAL NICE SMOOTH FEEL AND ACTION ALL TUNERS, ELECTRONICS, GIBSON PICK UPS, SWITCHES, VOL , TONE. WORK REAL WELL ALSO AS SHOWN HAS A TINY HAIRLINE ON GUARD BY INPUT JACK CONSIDERING THIS GEM IS APPROX. 50 YEARS OLD AS SHOWN IN REAL NICE ORIGINAL CONDITION BUT TO BE EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME SCUFFS, SCRATCHES AND NORMAL USAGE WEAR .PLEASE ... more
1972 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass Walnut
Tarzana, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3400
Up for sale, an incredible and unique 1972 Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass in a Walnut finish. Norlin era. Made in Kalamazoo, MI USA. All Original, stock with its Black tolex hard case.
11 0 Lbs, which is average for a Les Paul Bass
This short scale bass guitar has an Incredibly comfortable Mahogany body and neck with rosewood fretboard. No volute, perfectly straight, allowing low action playing well all across the fretboard.
The two low ... more
Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass 1972 - Natural
West Newton, Massachusetts, 024**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2399