This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. Scan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. So it is hard to generalise, although some might argue that the darker sound of humbucking pickups in a mahogany body and neck with rosewood fingerboard is the signature sound of a Gibson bass. There are humbuckers and single coil pickups. There are mahogany, maple and alder bodies. Models with set-necks, bolt-on necks, and through-body necks. There are long scale and short scale basses. As a result, there is significant variation across the range of basses Gibson created, in looks, build, electronics, and ultimately sound.

Unlike Fender, who produced just a few bass models, but continuously over 50 years ( Fender Precision, Fender Jazz bass), Gibson was continually creating new bass models, most with relatively short production periods. So the Gibson bass was shaped, and finished like an upright, and with an extendable pole at the bass so it could even be played upright. The fact that they made a solid-body bass at all in this climate is surprising, but Fender solid body sales were sufficiently high to make Gibson take notice. Their view was that guitars should be large jazz boxes, and the bass should be upright and acoustic solid body instruments were for Fender, not Gibson. This was very much in the ethos of Gibson at the time.

Gibson Firebird cases are notorious for being huge and ungainly but Gibson Custom must have been listening because this one is scaled down somewhat and it’s much more manageable.Gibson have been producing bass guitars since 1953, starting with the violin-shaped EB bass. The nut is cut well, the tuners are even and positive. It holds tuning very well in moderate use and it’s not my first but definitely the best. Great sustain, no deadspots and the vibrola behaves perfectly. The set up was great and I haven’t had to adjust anything. No such problem with the slider which is low profile, positive and quiet in operation. I was concerned about that but I haven’t experienced his problem, in fact I prefer it to the regular three way toggle on my other non teverse bird which I do knock occasionally. One of the guitar magazines gave a custom colour version of this a positive review but he did crtitisize the pickup selectot slide switch for making a thunk sound. Balance is great, no stiff pots and the firebird alnico five mini humbuckers are wonderful, not shrill yet bright full and clear with a bit more body than usual but definitely not hot. Substantial rather than big and very comfortable. Faultless build quality, gorgeous finish and a neck that’s a bit chunkier than the description suggests. I am not new to Gibson Firebirds owning reverse and non reverse models all custom shop and all great.

1979 gibson thunderbird bass value