“Players have been requesting a reissue of this model for decades”: Epiphone has brought back its quirky cult classic 1970s Grabber bass beloved by Gene Simmons, Krist Novoselic and Mike Dirnt
The double-cut four-string was a hit back in the 1970s, and finally makes a triumphant return in the form of a more affordable Inspired by Gibson Epiphone reissue
(Image credit: Epiphone)
Epiphone has revived the Grabber – a cult classic bass guitar once favored by the likes of Gene Simmons, Mike Dirnt, Krist Novoselic and more.
While many Epi basses (and Gibsons, for that matter) take aesthetic inspiration from their electric guitar counterparts, this curiously contoured double-cut four-string is one of those exceptions to the rule.
Indeed, it’s quite unlike any Epi electric you’ll be able to get your hands on, with the Grabber flaunting a spiky horn design, some upper body bevels, two-a-side headstock and an expanded black pickguard to provide a rather unique design.
And, as mentioned, the Grabber carries some history behind it, and finally makes a triumphant comeback following decades of player requests in the form of a new Inspired by Gibson reissue.
Hailing from the 1970s, this design was adopted by a slew of high-profile bass players, perhaps most notably Gene Simmons, who selected the Grabber as his go-to bass in the mid-’70s. It can also be seen on the cover of KISS Alive!
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Epiphone)
(Image credit: Epiphone)
For the revived take, Epiphone has opted for a three-piece alder body, C-profile three-piece maple neck and maple fingerboard, as well as all the bells and whistles you’d expect from an Epi bass. That includes a 34” scale, bone nut and medium jumbo frets.
A more surprising spec is the Epiphone Bass humbucker, which neatly offers an SPDT mini switch for coil-splitting, as well as the standard master volume and tone knobs.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Elsewhere, there’s a Grabber four-string bridge, which lines up alongside Clover button tuners, black speed knobs and a truss rod cover that reads ‘The Grabber’. This new model is available in Ebony or Natural.
To look at, this new version looks to be a faithful adaptation of its source material, and while it might not opt for the more extravagant pickup pairings of some of the original Grabbers – there was also one with three oversized single coils – it does a decent job of bringing back the ’70s vibe to the players who have apparently been clamoring for it for years.
“Players have been requesting a reissue of this model for decades, and Epiphone has heard you!” the firm writes. “The Epiphone Grabber Bass is an Inspired by Gibson reissue of the vintage ’70s era classic that has been played by everyone from Gene Simmons and Krist Novoselic to Mike Dirnt and Lou Barlow, to name a few.”
Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
