Seeing some love for these basses recently. Curious to see how many TB'ers own these fine basses!
(post pictures pls)
(post pictures pls)
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2013 & 2014 Gibson EB Enthusiasts
- Thread starter Chamber
- Start date
I've tried to snag one a couple of times but no luck. Really great sounding basses. Someday maybe.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
4 string 2013 here. The only thing I didn't like was the tort pick guard. It has a black one now.
[Edit] (The intonation problem I reported below turned out to be a false alarm. Checked intonation again and discovered that the apparent intonation problem symptoms were a consequence of having installed ultra-light-gauge strings. Fretting on the highest two or three frets, the pitch of the plucked string goes sharp but eventually settles to the correct pitch. Back to heavier-gauge strings.)
I was just this minute thinking about my 2014 sunburst EB bass before I saw this thread---specifically, about the fact that, alone among the basses I've owned, intonating it so that the notes above the 12th fret sound in tune seems impossible.
The range of sounds the bass is capable of is amazing, and I love its surprisingly light weight, etc. But the fret slots on this one appear to have been cut by an employee who, for whatever reason, more or less guessed at where they should be located. They're close, and I rarely play up there, but still.
I'm the original owner of the bass, so Gibson's lifetime warranty should apply here, I think. The question is, would misplaced frets be covered under warranty? I'll check with the local authorized Gibson repair center. Fingers crossed.
I was just this minute thinking about my 2014 sunburst EB bass before I saw this thread---specifically, about the fact that, alone among the basses I've owned, intonating it so that the notes above the 12th fret sound in tune seems impossible.
The range of sounds the bass is capable of is amazing, and I love its surprisingly light weight, etc. But the fret slots on this one appear to have been cut by an employee who, for whatever reason, more or less guessed at where they should be located. They're close, and I rarely play up there, but still.
I'm the original owner of the bass, so Gibson's lifetime warranty should apply here, I think. The question is, would misplaced frets be covered under warranty? I'll check with the local authorized Gibson repair center. Fingers crossed.
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I would think that would definitely be covered, but since they don't make the bass anymore I think you would be hard pressed to get any resolution aside from having a new fretboard installed by an out of network luthier.
I have always had a warm place in my heart for those basses, ans have never stopped gassing for a five string version. The money and opportunity have never lined up, however. Still on my list!
Thanks for the reality check, but it turned out that I was mistaken about the intonation. Here's what I added to my original post:
The intonation problem I reported below turned out to be a false alarm. Checked intonation again and discovered that the apparent intonation problem symptoms were a consequence of having installed ultra-light-gauge strings. Fretting on the highest two or three frets, the pitch of the plucked string goes sharp but eventually settles to the correct pitch. Back to heavier-gauge strings.
I had a white 4 string i bought from MF SDOTD.
There was a lot i liked about it,(light weight,great feeling neck and body,excellent hardware,Babicz bridge), and a few things i really didn’t. (The see through milky finish, and the ultra hot pickups.)
Traded it in for a ‘57 AVRI Precision.
I love that sunburst finish pictured above.
I’d like to see/hear one of these with chrome T-bird pickups.
There was a lot i liked about it,(light weight,great feeling neck and body,excellent hardware,Babicz bridge), and a few things i really didn’t. (The see through milky finish, and the ultra hot pickups.)
Traded it in for a ‘57 AVRI Precision.
I love that sunburst finish pictured above.
I’d like to see/hear one of these with chrome T-bird pickups.
This is the 2013 EB5 that I used to own
Great sound. but too wide of a neck for my aging hands. Very nice instrument, all in all.
Great sound. but too wide of a neck for my aging hands. Very nice instrument, all in all.
Always liked the body shape on these--cool looking basses. Never encountered one in person. You mention the ultra-hot pickups--when I look at those I think "MFD"! Always wondered if they were similarly high output, or if they just look like G&L's beasts...
I haven’t had any experience with GL MFD pickups, but from what i’ve read, the Gibson ones maybe are similar. They tended to OD the amp...and didn’t have the clearest treble, which is a must for me.
Even with the standard coil taps,I didn’t like the pickup sound.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
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- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
I fully expect to have one at some point.
I've had mine for a while. I would be lying if I said it's my favorite bass, but I still keep it in rotation when I gig. I swapped the guard on mine for a cream 3 ply and dumped the tone knob for a V/V set up in the process. I went with the gold knobs as a nod to the Gold Top Les Paul. The pickups have 4 leads, so one of these days I'm going to get around to adding a series/parallel switch for each pick up... and maybe one for the combo as well in case I want to switch the whole thing to series and get rid of a set of speakers.
I don't have a better picture at the moment, but the 5 string has Thunderbuckers in it. Much more satisfying than the stock electronics.
I've always loved the look of these, and the overall concept.
To me it feels like some funky old pawn shop trophy from the 1960s that someone hot rodded with a good bridge & tuners. And it's a wide 5-string!!
When this specimen came up on Reverb without a case for a ridiculously low sum, I had no choice in the matter.
I think of this as my "old-school" 5-string. Some folks might not even realize I'm rocking a 5'er - especially if they only look at the top row of tuners!
Sonically speaking, this bass has a certain something about it. Sometimes it actually wins out over the P or the J! (Maybe I just want to look cool - or feel that satin nitro under my forearm.)
To me it feels like some funky old pawn shop trophy from the 1960s that someone hot rodded with a good bridge & tuners. And it's a wide 5-string!!
When this specimen came up on Reverb without a case for a ridiculously low sum, I had no choice in the matter.
I think of this as my "old-school" 5-string. Some folks might not even realize I'm rocking a 5'er - especially if they only look at the top row of tuners!
Sonically speaking, this bass has a certain something about it. Sometimes it actually wins out over the P or the J! (Maybe I just want to look cool - or feel that satin nitro under my forearm.)
