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Epiphone EB-3 SG Bass Guitar
- Thread starter eltjr
- Start date
I love the way they look and sound, but the neck dive ruins them for me. Same goes for Thunderbirds.
I have seen a lot of posts similar to this one over the years and I'm curious as to why the poster is asking for opinions after he/she buys a particular bass. If you played it before buying and like it then who cares what others think? If you bought it based on reviews then you will have to decide for yourself if you made the right decision. Additional feedback isn't going to do you much good at this point.
Rick B.
Hi.
Anything from Epiphone will always have very mixed reviews, just as with Squier.
I view these kind of threads as a quest to find out the potential problems that may arise, and how to spot, prevent and repair 'em. Possibly within' the warranty period if the problems can develope to more serious kinds later on.
People also tend to IME value the opinions of folks they "know" or whose "internet age" is higher than theirs better than some random reviews on the 'net.
In this particular case (EPI EB3), the lifting bridge posts, the PU upgrades, and the tuner upgrades come to mind first.
Not to forget the eventual neck dive solutions either
.
Regards
Sam
Anything from Epiphone will always have very mixed reviews, just as with Squier.
I view these kind of threads as a quest to find out the potential problems that may arise, and how to spot, prevent and repair 'em. Possibly within' the warranty period if the problems can develope to more serious kinds later on.
People also tend to IME value the opinions of folks they "know" or whose "internet age" is higher than theirs better than some random reviews on the 'net.
In this particular case (EPI EB3), the lifting bridge posts, the PU upgrades, and the tuner upgrades come to mind first.
Not to forget the eventual neck dive solutions either
.Regards
Sam
I got one yesterday and I really like the tone and feel of it, that more than outweighs the neck dive, a common epiphone issue in my opinion, and the fret buzz which is improved by a little action adjustment. I have a lot of basses and this one stands out to me.
Personally I can't put much faith in a review that trashes something because of action needing to be adjusted to fit that person perfectly, that'd be like saying a car sucks because the seat needs to be adjusted.
Personally I can't put much faith in a review that trashes something because of action needing to be adjusted to fit that person perfectly, that'd be like saying a car sucks because the seat needs to be adjusted.
To me these basses a fine, especially the short scale variant. I own two of them, and they are at present my main instruments. I have attached the strap to the neck - somewhere near the 14th fret.
You need to deal with the intonation problems caused by the bridge - the deep strings need to be mounted on a spacer.
They need better pickups. Urgently. The sidewinder might be replaced by a model one or it may be modified; it needs more iron between the coils in order to produce a fuller tone. In position 2 of the switch a decoupling resistor of 18 or 22 kOhms will reduce the overdamping of the bridge pickup by the neck pickup. The bridge pickup needs to be placed in the MM position like on the Gibson SG basses.
And it really needs a stiffer neck. But You cannot expect everything from such a cheap instruments.
You need to deal with the intonation problems caused by the bridge - the deep strings need to be mounted on a spacer.
They need better pickups. Urgently. The sidewinder might be replaced by a model one or it may be modified; it needs more iron between the coils in order to produce a fuller tone. In position 2 of the switch a decoupling resistor of 18 or 22 kOhms will reduce the overdamping of the bridge pickup by the neck pickup. The bridge pickup needs to be placed in the MM position like on the Gibson SG basses.
And it really needs a stiffer neck. But You cannot expect everything from such a cheap instruments.
I'm impressed with the quality of the circuitry, and the bass tone is massive. I like it allot.
The neck dive is ignored by Gibson ??? They should have figured that out.
I added a horn to mine, judge for yourself.
The neck dive is ignored by Gibson ??? They should have figured that out.
I added a horn to mine, judge for yourself.
6 or 7 years ago, I had an Epiphone EB-3, the long scale model with trapezoid inlays, in white. Was kinda cool, looked great, but was very neck heavy. Sound-wise, I thought the G-string sounded really weak, but that may have just been that bass.
I also had an Epiphone EB-0, which was decent - but I sold it, and eventually bought another one (yes.. I'm one of those guys). I still have it and fool around with it from time to time. I installed an original Gibson mudbucker in it, so it really roars.
The EB-3 was a few steps ahead of the EB-0 - better fit and finish, and just seemed to be built better overall. Also was set-neck, as opposed to bolt-on, so it was a little more authentic to the real thing - not that there's anything wrong with bolt-on!
And it sounded a little tighter and more focused, being long scale.
I also have a Gibson SG bass, one of the new 'reissues', though they're really not reissues.. but they're kinda close to an old EB-3. I bought the faded model (these are GREAT value, btw), in the cherry finish.
Much chunkier neck than both Epiphone models, especially the EB-0. I found the Epiphone EB-3 to have a round and medium thick shape to it; the Epi EB-0 (both of the ones I had) was/is at least as thin as a Fender jazz, particularly down at the nut. Personally, I almost find it too thin. The Gibson also has a significantly thinner and lighter body, shaped closer to an actually Gibson EB-0/EB-3, than either Epiphone.
I prefer the Gibson (not going to get into a Gibson > Epiphone thing) but the Epiphones are good basses too. I'm a really big Cream-era Jack Bruce fan, so aside from handing over big bux for an early/mid sixties Gibson EB-3, this was the next best option, IMO.
I also had an Epiphone EB-0, which was decent - but I sold it, and eventually bought another one (yes.. I'm one of those guys). I still have it and fool around with it from time to time. I installed an original Gibson mudbucker in it, so it really roars.
The EB-3 was a few steps ahead of the EB-0 - better fit and finish, and just seemed to be built better overall. Also was set-neck, as opposed to bolt-on, so it was a little more authentic to the real thing - not that there's anything wrong with bolt-on!
And it sounded a little tighter and more focused, being long scale.
I also have a Gibson SG bass, one of the new 'reissues', though they're really not reissues.. but they're kinda close to an old EB-3. I bought the faded model (these are GREAT value, btw), in the cherry finish.
Much chunkier neck than both Epiphone models, especially the EB-0. I found the Epiphone EB-3 to have a round and medium thick shape to it; the Epi EB-0 (both of the ones I had) was/is at least as thin as a Fender jazz, particularly down at the nut. Personally, I almost find it too thin. The Gibson also has a significantly thinner and lighter body, shaped closer to an actually Gibson EB-0/EB-3, than either Epiphone.
I prefer the Gibson (not going to get into a Gibson > Epiphone thing) but the Epiphones are good basses too. I'm a really big Cream-era Jack Bruce fan, so aside from handing over big bux for an early/mid sixties Gibson EB-3, this was the next best option, IMO.
Me too.
Yeah, my Epi EB-3 reminded me very much of a Jazz bass.
I bought a stripped out, and totally gutted Gibson slot head EB0, and put in DiMarzio pups, Model One (neck) and an Ultra Jazz at the bridge.
The short scale gave the bass a perfect balance, but I decided short scale hasn't got the string snap of long scale.
I prefered the Epi EB-3, and the Epi pups over the DiMarzio pups.
Maybe you can see all the new parts I used, so I don't have to list them.
As it was listed on Ebay:
Jack Bruce's 1968 Gibson EB-3:
Me too.
Yeah, my Epi EB-3 reminded me very much of a Jazz bass.
I bought a stripped out, and totally gutted Gibson slot head EB0, and put in DiMarzio pups, Model One (neck) and an Ultra Jazz at the bridge.
The short scale gave the bass a perfect balance, but I decided short scale hasn't got the string snap of long scale.
I prefered the Epi EB-3, and the Epi pups over the DiMarzio pups.
Maybe you can see all the new parts I used, so I don't have to list them.
As it was listed on Ebay:
Jack Bruce's 1968 Gibson EB-3:
Nice! Great job on that restoration/project. Looks like you built it from basically a dead carcass - refin, plus all electronics and hardware lol.
Is that actually Jack Bruce's bass? (or one of them, at least). Interesting wear pattern on it - I don't if I've ever seen him spend much time anchoring his thumb where you see the finish worn off. Particularly right above the neck pickup. Then again, it was played pretty damned hard for quite a few years. Really cool either way.
That's what it said on the auction site, taken right from Jack himself.
About the thumb marks, I wonder what songs were responsible for each mark?
Yeah, I'm wondering that too. I don't remember seeing him really anchor his thumb to any particular spot. That bass has a lot of miles on it though, so I wouldn't doubt that he left some bald spots here and there. He definitely had a few EB-3s, I remember seeing a video where he was playing a very early model, with the black plastic cover over the neck pickup. He also had one with a couple of white stratocaster volume/tone knobs on it too.
Last year I had a deep interest in Cream, I bought those 2 bass', bought some music books, and a history of Cream too.
Jack Bruce was always trying different bass'. Probably only used the EB-3 for the last year 1968.
One thing I remember was that all of them injured their ears from the loudness, and the loudness is one of the reasons they all quit. Way too many gigs too.
Jack Bruce was always trying different bass'. Probably only used the EB-3 for the last year 1968.
One thing I remember was that all of them injured their ears from the loudness, and the loudness is one of the reasons they all quit. Way too many gigs too.
Yup volume was a huge issue. Especially with Jack Bruce. Ginger Baker was really frustrated trying to keep up, and I read somewhere that Clapton actually stopped playing during one concert, and Bruce and Baker didn't even notice.
I like the sound with flats.
I did have to lower the action and glue in the bridge nuts, they where slipping out.
The volume pots don't seem right.
If you turn them down it changes the tone and won't lower the volume until almost off.
I use it for sixtys and seventys.
I did have to lower the action and glue in the bridge nuts, they where slipping out.
The volume pots don't seem right.
If you turn them down it changes the tone and won't lower the volume until almost off.
I use it for sixtys and seventys.
I changed the front pickup to a DiMarzio DP120.
Haven't really checked out the sound yet because I have company over for a week.
Easiest pickup change I've ever done.
Now the volume works the way its supposed to.
2013-10-12 09.17.24 by radiorobert, on Flickr
Haven't really checked out the sound yet because I have company over for a week.
Easiest pickup change I've ever done.
Now the volume works the way its supposed to.
2013-10-12 09.17.24 by radiorobert, on Flickr
The Epi EB-3 bass is as near as you're going to get to an original Gibson EB-3 but don't let the Epiphone name put you off- the quality and sound are amazing. Let's not forget that this bass new costs well south of $300. Yes, there's neck dive like its US ancestor. For many, that's the big issue. But for looks, build quality, mojo, features, electronics, hardware,palette of sounds and sheer value, it's hard to beat this one. It ticks a lot of boxes. Say if parent company Gibson USA were to reissue an American-built replica of its own original EB-3 it would have to cost 5-6 times the price of the Epi. Would it be worth it? I don't think so when you can have the Korean-built quality reissue at a very low price indeed.
