For sale 1972/73 Gibson EB-3 Attn: Jack Bruce

KUNGfuSHERIFF · Dec 29, 2008

Dave,
That doesn't look like a '70s bass to me...I can't read the serial number to be sure, but I'm thinking no later than '69 which is the last year before 19-fret fingerboards and slotted pegheads were introduced.

Buskman · Dec 29, 2008

Yeah, I'm thinking '69-'70 myself.

Here are some details:

http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/EB3.php

Beautiful bass, BTW!

sleepy_monkey · Dec 29, 2008

This is one of those basses that you keep forever...man I wish I had the scratch to put this together!! Nice bass!

davec · Dec 29, 2008

I just took the word of the original owner, but l looked at the serial it starts with 69. Its a very cool bass. It will be at the Chicago P&W GTG

MaddAnthony_59 · Dec 29, 2008

KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Dave,
That doesn't look like a '70s bass to me...I can't read the serial number to be sure, but I'm thinking no later than '69 which is the last year before 19-fret fingerboards and slotted pegheads were introduced.

Gotta love those Slotted PegHeads! :hyper:

Former EB-3 Player Bump :hiding:

KUNGfuSHERIFF · Dec 29, 2008

davec said:
l looked at the serial it starts with 69.

That has nothing to do with the date of manufacture...Gibson has had half a dozen equally nonsensical numbering schemes, like the one they used during the '90s where the first and fifth digits denoted the year the instrument was made. PM me the serial and I'll see if I can nail down a year for you, and point you toward a reliable database.

Fly Guitars · Dec 29, 2008

Slot head EBs were made from very late 1969 until (I think)late 1971, replaced by maple-necked EBs with a solid headstock.

The earliest slotted one i've seen had no MADE IN USA (very much the exception), but pots dating to Jan 1970 - suggesting a 1969 manufacture, and a 1970 shipping.

I've never seen one that was as late as 1972, but it is probable a few were still trickling out after the change to maple necks *probably* in late '71.

oldrocker · Dec 29, 2008

Is that an 893xxx serial number?

I have a 827xxx serial number - non-slotted neck EB3. Not sure what year mine is either.

Yours looks in much better shape than mine :bassist:

davec · Dec 30, 2008

open to offers bump/ I was wrong it is 893xxx

feel free to email for more pictures ect.

Dirk McQuickley · Dec 30, 2008

davec said:
open to offers bump/ I was wrong it is 893xxx

feel free to email for more pictures ect.

I opened that picture showing the serial number with Windows Paintbrush. After inverting the colors, the picture clearly shows the serial number is 893883.

Dirk McQuickley

KUNGfuSHERIFF · Dec 30, 2008

That would make it a '67. Look here:
http://www.gibson.com/Files/downloads/bluebook/GibsonSERIALNUMBERS.pdf

oldrocker · Dec 30, 2008

It could still be a 73 or a 74 or 75 I think (as mine probably is too).

In 1970, the words "MADE IN USA" was impressed into the back of instrument headstocks (though a few
instruments from the 1950s also had MADE IN USA impressed into their headstocks as well).

Year(s) Approximate Series Manufacture
1970, 1971, and 1972 100000s, 600000s, 700000s, 900000s

1973 000001s, 100000s, 200000s, 800000s and a few A + 6 digit numbers

1974 and 1975 100000s, 200000s, 300000s, 400000s,500000s, 600000s, 800000s

and a few A-B-C-D-E-F + 6 digit numbers

KUNGfuSHERIFF · Dec 30, 2008

oldrocker said:
It could still be a 73 or a 74 or 75 I think

Uh-uh. If it was a '73 or later it would have a maple neck with the large, solid headstock and the thicker body style. All the signs point to '67 or thereabouts.

davec · Dec 30, 2008

the friend I bought it from ( with the intent of selling ) got it from his older brother, who was a guitarist. My friend played it for about six years (when allowed) and eventually bought a Ric. It was purchased in the early 70's and thought to be new. But very easily could have been a few years old or NOS.
It has litterally remained untouched in its case for 30 years :hyper:

the "original" case was not a Gibson case and disenigrated.

a new hardshell case is included with the sale

Thanks for all the info and help dating this bass

Fly Guitars · Dec 30, 2008

KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
All the signs point to '67 or thereabouts.

Sorry, I didn't see the photos until now (currently testing internet explorer 8, and lots of things don't work), and I thought I read that it was a split-headstock - and I guess the pic of the split headstock a few posts down suggested that to me too.

Yes this is 67-69, and in very nice shape too

A look at the neck joint and pot codes could help reaffirm the date, but that's not too important, those are all good years.

The Universe · Jan 1, 2009

If I didn't already have a 67 EB-0, I'd be all over it. This is in immaculate shape...nicely done

chadds · Jan 2, 2009

Tuners do not appear to be original if it's a bass from earlier than the early to mid '70s. Check out the tuners on that EB-2D for sale here.

Fly Guitars · Jan 2, 2009

chadds said:
Tuners do not appear to be original if it's a bass from earlier than the early to mid '70s. Check out the tuners on that EB-2D for sale here.

No, they are original. I have several mid to late 60s Gibson basses sporting these. They are Schaller M-4s and I have seen them from about 1967. Check out that link to see what tuners Gibson moved onto in the 70s...

Honestly, this is in great condition, and anything except M-4s would have left holes. Other tuners being used at this time on EB basses were the Kluson 538s and the cheaper closed cover japanese tuners (usually saved for Melody maker bass, Kalamazoo KB1 and EB-0s. Probably rarely used on an EB-3 if at all).

Production numbers went up massively in '68 to '69 and to some extent there was no default tuner at this time - they used what they had to keep up with production.

davec · Jan 2, 2009

thanks LordJuju,

I have a feeling with some of the questions regarding dates and such that there doubts of authinticity ect. Please review my post and history. I'm knowledgable about basses, but I don't know crap about Gibsons. In fact this is the first Gibson bass I've ever played. I'm not scamming anyone, and this bass is the real deal. This is why I've tried to be as clear as I can on why I'm selling the bass. Its in great shape, although in need of a set up and restring, which I may do soon.

Thanks to Lord Juju, KungfuSherrif and others more knowledgable than myself with Gibsons I now believe this bass to be a 1969.

capnjim · Jan 2, 2009

I dunno..I've heard the earlier ones where prone to worm infestation

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For sale 1972/73 Gibson EB-3 Attn: Jack Bruce

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KUNGfuSHERIFF

Buskman

sleepy_monkey

davec

MaddAnthony_59

KUNGfuSHERIFF

Fly Guitars

oldrocker

davec

Dirk McQuickley

KUNGfuSHERIFF

oldrocker

KUNGfuSHERIFF

davec

Fly Guitars

The Universe

chadds

Fly Guitars

davec

capnjim

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