Gibson EB0/3 owners, help me out

Subsong · #1 05-21-2008, 05:01 AM

I've got a Gibson EB4-L and it's a great bass apart from the flaw of being terribly unbalanced. I always put this down to the fact that it's a long scale neck on the same body as it's short scale counterparts. I'm now thinking of getting an EB3 and was wondering if I'm really right about that, do they balance well? When I play the EB4-L I end up getting strangled by my t-shirt because of it's tipping over. It makes playing harder too, when you're constantly having to hold the neck up your left hand hasn't got so much time for the actual playing.

Buskman · #2 05-21-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subsong

I've got a Gibson EB4-L and it's a great bass apart from the flaw of being terribly unbalanced. I always put this down to the fact that it's a long scale neck on the same body as it's short scale counterparts. I'm now thinking of getting an EB3 and was wondering if I'm really right about that, do they balance well? When I play the EB4-L I end up getting strangled by my t-shirt because of it's tipping over. It makes playing harder too, when you're constantly having to hold the neck up your left hand hasn't got so much time for the actual playing.

You might have better luck posting this in the 'Basses' section, as opposed to the 'Bassists' section...

But to try & answer your question, you might want to try a strap with a suede (or non-smooth) back to it. It definitely helps to reduce the movement due to a neck-heavy bass.

Good luck!

Subsong · #3 05-21-2008, 02:03 PM

Ahh, slight mistake there, that's what I meant to do.

The Golden Boy · #4 05-21-2008, 02:08 PM

I moved the strap button on my EB-0 to behind the upper horn. Not something I'd recommend with an older bass. But it did help a lot.

Subsong · #5 05-21-2008, 02:43 PM

This is an older bass, but I need to be able to live with it so I'll give it a go. I'm thinking of getting the EB3 as well though, but it seems you saying this is still a problem with the short scale EB's, why can nothing be easy.......?

bwj8 · #6 05-21-2008, 03:08 PM

Good question!

I had both an EB-0 and an EB-3 in the late 70's and found them both neck heavy and uncomfortable, but I have a slight build and thought that Fenders would give me nerve damage like they did to some players I know. I wish I still had them to hobby with, or maybe move the strap connection to the horn, but mostly I'm glad to have moved on. I now play a headless bass just because of that experience, but I'm thinking of wading back in to something more standard.

Wish I could say otherwise, but they neck-dived on me all the time and distracted me from my playing.

Bruce [bwj8]

Subsong · #7 05-22-2008, 02:17 AM

The EB4-L would be great if it was my girlfriend, it's always going down on me!! I used it for one show with my old band and had to switch to another bass after about 3 songs. If I use a nylon strap it free slides all over the place, if I use a suede backed one then my t-shirt gets taken with it. I did play it at a friend's wedding reception, I used the suede backed strap and I was wearing a suit, it was OK then. Maybe I've found my answer, I need to play in a wedding band permanently!

Auzzie-Phoenix · #8 05-24-2008, 03:53 PM

The old sg's are all neck heavy. For comfort you could go with a wider strap, but there's not much you can do about the neck dive other than moving the strap post as someone mentioned.

Even the 30 1/2" shortscale neck models dive. Maybe you could try to balance it out a little bit by adding some weight to the rear, but that would make it even heavier.

Subsong · #9 05-25-2008, 01:31 AM

I heard of one guy screwing a pool ball to the back off an EB3-L to balance it. I think I need a bowling ball though!!

theix · #10 05-25-2008, 08:49 PM

I have an Epi EB3 and the neck dive is ridiculous! As previous posters said try a wide strap with a suede back. That did reduce it for me but it still dives. I think all the gibson/Epi EBs and TBirds are notorious for it.

Subsong · #11 05-27-2008, 03:11 AM

Has anybody got one of the 70's slotted headstock models? Maybe that helps.

bassvi · #12 05-27-2008, 09:04 AM

I have an Epiphone Elitist EB3 and to me the balance is not that bad. It does have a slight neck dive , but the instrument itself is very light compared to my other standard basses and it's quite easy to hold up. I had a 70's model EB3 (pickups closer together towards the middle) that I remember being harder to deal with and also way less punchy than the Elitist. I find mine can get very close to a 60's Cream era Jack Bruce sound (which is what it does best and what I use it for) but is pretty limited for much else.

You could try out the SG-reissue at most Guitar Centers. I played one, it was similar in balance and sound to the Elitist but not as faithful to the 60's styling of the EB3.