Opinions needed to revive my bass

[xbloodpactx]

Greetings guys,

Perhaps some of you have recognize me from my previous post regarding this bass guitar I have. I am so forgetful nowadays and I cannot recover my username and password as well, here it goes...

I have this Gibson SG EB-3 Bass which has been sold to me at a very cheapie price several years ago, kinda giveaway already. I believe this bass existed around '65 to '75 and I tried checking the serial number to confirm this even though two digits were unreadable due to sanding/weather incident. The condition: a wet-due-to-moisture, paint were terribly bad, broken neck (separated from the body) and a really wasted bass guitar. Since I am hoping that I could revive this bass, I grab it from a friend and see what I can do.

Today, the current status of this bass was pretty well unlike the first time it came through me. I removed all the hardware and let it dry for a few days then sanded the body. My dad and I fixed the neck by clamping it with a powdered wood glue solution then afterward we stored it for approx three years. My problem was this: will the body still gonna work? Actually I don't have a clue. Maybe you guys can help me rebuilding up this wonderful bass, I need various opinions from you before I spend my money for this.

Another thing I need to work on is refretting and sanding the fretboard, it would be a time-consuming job but I need to do this so it is just placing new fret wires to spend less from a repairman.

Before, I am dying to have the darkstar PU by Fred Hammon but shipping will instantly going to kill me. Since I am looking forward for the sound that I really like, I am having a dilemma which PU suits me best: a piece of Seymour Duncan Basslines SMB A4 or a set of EMG 35DC/35CS PUs.

Also the finish of the body, I want it as simple as it could be. I like the Epiphone Prophecy stle with those black chrome hardware in place, a simple volume control, all custom built whatever. Any suggestions are much appreciated so good luck to me, here it is...

Whole body, as you would notice that if I were to put a Seymour Duncan Basslines near bridge area, I would have to fix the carved whole on the neck. What would be best to do here? Cover with wood or wood-like putty on it (will the sound of the bass sounds terrible?):


Head stock needs to replace the color, probably black:


Bridge PU which is still working BTW:


Neck PU also still working:


Machineheads since maybe I will replace them with a black chrome tuners:


Selector switch:


controls needs to be replaced:


knobs:


Serial number which is so hard to read:


I am also thinking of drilling four new holes then fabricate a cylinder support rods under and over the body to insert the strings for the bridge hardware that I would like to buy soon but still, I need your opinion.

Thank you for looking!

[xbloodpactx]

perhaps no one knows, or there is no hope for this junk. thanks guys.

[202dy]

They are not making any new '65-'75 EB-3's. Restore it. Don't modify it.

The biggest question here is whether the neck was glued on correctly. Assuming that the neck is aligned correctly and the neck angle is workable, the rest of the work is refinishing the carcass. After that it is rewiring and installing the hardware.

Do the pots still work? How about the Varitone switch. If they don't, it is possible they can be made to function by using some DeOxit. If not, the parts are available.

If you cannot afford the pickups you want, use the ones you have.

As far as converting it to a string through body goes, if you research that topic on TalkBass, you will find that the majority of the readers think there is no change in tone or sustain. Of those that do, most say the effect is subtle at best. It's a lot of work for little or no gain. Leave it alone.

If the ship is tight, refitting it is not that big of a deal for someone who has the skills. If you are not handy in the extreme, find someone who is.

[Gintaras]

I would do a restore to it!!! The head has the gibson logo and I would not touch that. I had one of those in my previous life and they are becoming rare.... Restoring it to original condition and then selling it could bring you a another really nice bass with those darkstars you mentioned. Here's a 72' for sale on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1972-GIBSON-EB-3...QQcmdZViewItem

[bassgod76]

If you have a vintage piece like that, I'd stay away from drilling holes for string-thru body. I think you'd get much more bang for your buck by restoring original components rather than buying new.

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/E...nicsRepair.htm

[xbloodpactx]

Originally Posted by 202dy

They are not making any new '65-'75 EB-3's. Restore it. Don't modify it.

The biggest question here is whether the neck was glued on correctly. Assuming that the neck is aligned correctly and the neck angle is workable, the rest of the work is refinishing the carcass. After that it is rewiring and installing the hardware.

Do the pots still work? How about the Varitone switch. If they don't, it is possible they can be made to function by using some DeOxit. If not, the parts are available.

If you cannot afford the pickups you want, use the ones you have.

As far as converting it to a string through body goes, if you research that topic on TalkBass, you will find that the majority of the readers think there is no change in tone or sustain. Of those that do, most say the effect is subtle at best. It's a lot of work for little or no gain. Leave it alone.

If the ship is tight, refitting it is not that big of a deal for someone who has the skills. If you are not handy in the extreme, find someone who is.

you got a point in there sir, my problem is just to refret it, i'll find someone who does. the alignment of the neck is good (thanks to my dad).

Originally Posted by Gintaras

I would do a restore to it!!! The head has the gibson logo and I would not touch that. I had one of those in my previous life and they are becoming rare.... Restoring it to original condition and then selling it could bring you a another really nice bass with those darkstars you mentioned. Here's a 72' for sale on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1972-GIBSON-EB-3...QQcmdZViewItem

i was looking for a natural finish of the head, couldn't find it online, all were in black gloss finish, i believe mine was made during the 60's maybe i can sell it more than the 70's if i can do it right!

Originally Posted by bassgod76

If you have a vintage piece like that, I'd stay away from drilling holes for string-thru body. I think you'd get much more bang for your buck by restoring original components rather than buying new.

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/E...nicsRepair.htm

thanks, i had decided to restore it full time and no to drilling holes!

sirs, you are a lot of help. your advices were great and the previous owner would be proud as well! (he played new wave back in the 80's as carved on the control plate cover).

i checked the 4-way switch selector and it is stucked for good, i will try to get something to deoxide it.

again sirs you are a big help! will update you soon!

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Restore for sure. And with the original pickups as well if they're salvageable.

Why the re-fretting?

IIRC, and looking from the pics, that's jumbo fretwire there. If the surface of the fretboard has some defects, that's easily sandable with the frets in place.

The switch and the knob will most likely benefit from submersion to some anti-seize liquid.
I've done that succesfully with CRC 56-6 and brake fluid.
In this instance I wouldn't necessarily use the brake fluid at first for the potentiometers though, as it's effect on the carbon track(s) is unknown. Should be all right for the switch though.

Regards
Sam

[xbloodpactx]

how about spraying some DW-40? will that work?

[Disappear]

Originally Posted by 202dy

They are not making any new '65-'75 EB-3's. Restore it. Don't modify it.

Originally Posted by Gintaras

I would do a restore to it!!!

Originally Posted by bassgod76

I think you'd get much more bang for your buck by restoring original components rather than buying new.

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Restore for sure.

Yeah, restore it.

[Pilgrim]

1) DON'T sand it!!!! Use stripper to remove the finish. Better yet, don't remove the finish!

OOOooooops. Well, that's done. And the bass has probably lost $1000 in value because the original finish is no longer present.

Now that you've blown that, treat the body more gently...don't do ANYTHING to it that is a permanent modification.

2) Do not do ANY fret work unless it's necessary to play the instrument. Further, any fret work should be performed only by a competent repair person. DO NOT replace the frets if they can still be re-crowned. Every deviation from original, stock condition reduces the value.

3) NO SANDING should be done on the fingerboard unless it's absolutely necessary, and only then by the repair person while the frets are out. DO NOT TOUCH IT with sandpaper yourself, especially while the frets are in place.

4) PLEASE do not mess with the headstock!!! Leave it as you got it. If it was originally black, that may mean the bass was refinished, but don't change ANYTHING until after you've done enough research on old Gibsons that you are 110% sure that you are not changing part of the original equipment or finish.

Clean up the electronics, but don't pull apart any solder connections unless you must. Remember that pretty isn't required - only functional. the closer to original, the better. I'd probably clean up the tuners and use them as they are - no refinishing.

The basic message is: do everything humanly possible to keep the bass as close to factory original as possible. You should not have sanded it, so don't do it any more. Read up on refinishing at Reranch.com and get Dan Erlewine's book on guitar repair. Do your homework, because you have a bass worth a lot of $$ and you can easily screw it up more than may have already occurred.

EDIT: lest you think I'm being too harsh, I learned much of this the hard way. I have a 1963 Precision that I refinished in 1972. Even though the original paint was badly chipped (and looked like crap, which is why I refinished it), the bass would be worth at least $1000 more if I hadn't done that! I was smart enough not to sand it and change the body contours - I used paint stripper. The color on it now is a Ford Gold Metallic that's a bit darker than the Fender gold colors for the 60's, but I'm not going to change the paint again unless I take it back to an Olympia White nitro finish that matches the original. And aside from replacing the neck in 1972 when the truss rod broke, I haven't swapped or changed anything else on the bass.