I just bought an Epiphone EB-0 short scale for fun. I had a Gibson back in the 70's and loved the way it played and that fat sound. This one plays nice, even the frets are dressed well. The sound is terrible. I only paid $100 for it so I don't mind putting a few bucks into it. Can I change the pickup and get that Gibson sound? If so, what kind of pickup should I get? Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks for reading this.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
EB-0 PICKUP REPLACEMENT?
- Thread starter dash927
- Start date
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 252
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
Also the DiMarzio Model 1 was made to drop into that spot. It is warm and fat but less fat and more articulate than the original Gibson. I've never heard the Gotoh so can't comment on its sound. It does look more "original" than the black DiMarzio.
I also have the Epiphone EB-0, and I've experimented with the Dimarzio Model One. In my opinion it is not the pickup that is the problem but the placement. Any pickup that close to the neck on a short scale bass is going to be boomy, I can't imagine improving the sound without adding a bridge pickup.
Disclaimer: I guess I am just more of a Fender-sound fan. If you want a big pillowy wall of mush then maybe the EB-0 is the bass for you.
Disclaimer: I guess I am just more of a Fender-sound fan. If you want a big pillowy wall of mush then maybe the EB-0 is the bass for you.
One difference, your EBO has a bolt on neck. The Gibson's were set neck construction.
My 67 mudbucker measured 31K ohm. Only the baddest amps on the market at the time could handle it. My 70's 360 helped.
. But in the end I replaced the bridge with a Bad Ass I, added the orig eb3 bridge pickup, I also switched out for DMarzio Mod 1 with series/parallel/single coil switching in HB it read 13.5K. It helped a bunch to clear up the mud and let the personality shine.
My 67 mudbucker measured 31K ohm. Only the baddest amps on the market at the time could handle it. My 70's 360 helped.
. But in the end I replaced the bridge with a Bad Ass I, added the orig eb3 bridge pickup, I also switched out for DMarzio Mod 1 with series/parallel/single coil switching in HB it read 13.5K. It helped a bunch to clear up the mud and let the personality shine.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 252
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
I had an EB-0 mudbucker on my Ric. It's a boomy pickup no matter what the scale length or the bass its on. It was designed to sound the pedals on a pipe organ.
I think it's a cool tone for what it is. I also had an EB-2DC with the bridge pickup. I found that pickup to be fairly useless on its own, and they didn't mix very well either. I now make a better bridge replacement pickup, based on my experience with that bass.
Eventually I rewound the mudbucker on the EB2 to about 11K. It detained the warm deep tone, but was clearer and mixed better with the bridge pickup. Then I put that mudbucker in my Ric.
It did lose that Gibson EB bass grunt however.
I think it's a cool tone for what it is. I also had an EB-2DC with the bridge pickup. I found that pickup to be fairly useless on its own, and they didn't mix very well either. I now make a better bridge replacement pickup, based on my experience with that bass.
Eventually I rewound the mudbucker on the EB2 to about 11K. It detained the warm deep tone, but was clearer and mixed better with the bridge pickup. Then I put that mudbucker in my Ric.
It did lose that Gibson EB bass grunt however.
