One of my basses is a Les Paul bass from '69 or '70 - the thing weighs a ton, makes any Alembic I've played feel light as a feather, but I used it for years and survived (tho come to think of it, maybe that's where the cervical herniated disks come from...)  It has a lovely, rich, woody sound  and a 30.5 neck, which makes the weight bearable since it sounds and feels so good.
 
R.

I wonder sometimes what the heck they're thinking over at Gibson.  With the exception of the Thunderbird (which I've grown to love over the years), they keep discontinuing their Basses.  Now they only offer two models;  the T-bird in sunburst only, and the SG re-issue.  At least offer a choice of colors!!!
The 2 models they currently offer are cool, but they're really not into Bass players.
What a shame.
 
Rami

I for one will admit I'm more than a little out of shape. I use an ash bodied jazz bass most places I've played, which I find a little heavy. (dont care that much if it were to get trashed)
I also use a couple 3 straps I've had since Pikes Peak was a pimple, they distribute the weight pretty good.
 
Recently I tried out an SG re-issue, played ok, but still sounds like..well..a fart. You'd think they would have re-worked/upgraded the pickups a bit.
T-birds are also available in white. One day I'd like to pickup a Gibson RD model.

It?s not the weight of an Alembic but the wait for an Alembic.
I had to wait 25 years for my first one. And the weight increase on my shoulder was off set by the weight decrease in my wallet.
 
Olie

Amen, Olie, Amen.

Hey Gary,
 
The white T-bird is discontinued for 2008.  It has been removed from the Gibson website as an option.  That's unfortunate because as well as being really cool looking, it featured an Ebony fingerboard compared to the Sunburst's Rosewood.  Gibson also discontinued the Les Paul Bass, and the 2 Studio T-birds for 2008.

Olie, I fell off my chair.  Thanks for the laugh!
 
Bill, tgo

heh... I LOVE LOVE LOVE my JPJ Alembic.  The triple omega body is not very nice in the weight department but I play it every night now with my cover band for 3 hour+ sets with a lame little 2 strap and it doesn't bother me.  I'm not sure what exactly it clocks in at but I'm sure it is something around 12 pounds.  I practice with it as well but I've found a nice position to sit down and play it where the lower cutout isn't digging in and killing my leg.

I'm here all week folks
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on January 25, 2008)

I play Jazz so I have never liked the sound of Gibson basses.

I never really cared for Gibson basses either, although I did used to own a Gibson G-3.
 
I did love all my old Les Paul Guitars though. I could kick myself for selling them. All 3 mid 60's 2 of which were Gold Top.  
 
Olie

Stanley Clarke & Jack Bruce among many others played Gibsons.  It's really not about the instrument as it is what you do with it.

Rami,
 
I never new SC played a Gibson electric.  Do you know what model?  I wonder what effects he used.

He played an EB3 in the days of Return To Forever. The same model that Jack Bruce played with Cream.
I suspect that the short scale Series I styling (with it's short equal length horns) is somewhat influenced by the Gibson.  Of course, Alembic raises the bar about a hundred notches.
 
(Message edited by rami on January 25, 2008)

I liked the old (69/70) Les Paul quite a lot, due to its scale and sound.  The neck was a bit narrow at the nut, and the weight was a killer.  I've now loaned it to a friend for his son, who is a small guy with small hands, to learn and it suits him perfectly - a good bass, short scale for small hands.
 
I also have a real soft spot for the Ripper - rich, even sound over the register, and recorded well.
 
Nothing like the Alembic though.
 
Rick