Here is a lovely 1977 Gibson G3 Bass from the Kalamazoo factory in USA. Serial number is 06167713.

It is in absolutely superb condition for its age, with only some minor wear marks where the finish has faded. There are no major bumps dents or scratches. You would be doing well to find one in as good condition as this and with the original case too.

This has a solid Maple body with natural finish in a contoured double cutaway design. The solid Maple body was an optional extra and is much rarer than the Alder-bodied satin finish which was the standard model. The special design bridge adjusts height and intonation of each string. This vintage gibson bass still has its original chrome-plated bridge cover, and 4-ply B-W-B-W scratchplate. Weight is 4.7 kilos (10.4 pounds), not radically different from the Alder-bodied version we had which was 4.3kg (9.5 pounds).

Neck is laminated Maple, and the separate Maple fingerboard has pearl dot inlays and corresponding side dots, and has 20 frets at 34.5 inch scale length.

This bass plays fantastically and sounds awesome. The G3 featured 3 Bill Lawrence designed single coil pickups wired in Humbucker formation offering amazing sound and tone potential. Forward position activates the front and middle pickups in humbucking configuration. The back position activates the middle and back pickup in the same manner. The middle position activates all three pickups for what Gibson coined a "buck-and-a-half". As if that’s not enough, each pickup is also 3 point adjustable for additional tonal effects.

Some high profile bassists have used a G3, including Mark Evans in his early days with AC/DC (you can see him in the famous film clip done on the back of a flatbed truck in Melbourne's Swanston Street in 1975 - click here to see it on YouTube. Other famous users include Mike Dirnt of Green Day, Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line, and Kelly Groucutt used one during his tenure with Electric Light Orchestra during the 1970s

This bass is supplied with the original Gibson hardcase. The case is not pretty, as it has been doing its job of protecting the bass for more than 30 years. It has lost its handle, and the exterior is scruffy. The inside of the case is in very good condition, with the red plush-pile lining unfaded, and with only one small tear at back of case where the rear strap mount sits.

Sold to Mitch in New Zealand