Epiphone EB-3

[Brendan]

I agree it would be tough having an EB-0 as your only bass, it's limited in the styles of music you can use it for.

I agree. I own one (an EB-0), and while it does it's one trick pretty well, unlike, say other "one trick ponies" like a P-bass, a Stingray, a Ric, and so on, it's trick doesn't lend itself to a lot.

Fortunately for me, it's one trick is right up my alley. However, for most people, it's probably not the kind of trick they'd be looking for, if they only got one. I also agree with whomever said the tone pot is pretty useless. Mine's wired backwards, as well. Confused me for a bit, there.

If I was going to have one bass that's $400-500, I'd look into something more along the lines of an MIM Fender, Spector Rebop or Legend, G&L Tribute, that sort of thing. New, maybe Peavey or Ibanez.

 

[knumbskull]

i have an epi EB3 and love it, but it's a bad tempered beast - neck dive, buzzy electronics, limited range of tones, bridge that once ripped out mid gig...

BUT the set neck and mahogany body give it plenty of character and some lovely tones within this. it's really easy to play - skinny, fast neck and really light body - and it's well finished and reasonably well put together. and it looks cooler than thou.

definitely wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a versatile bass. but i've recorded 3 (heavy rock) albums with mine and will continue to enjoy playing it for years to come...

 

[Pilgrim]

i used to have one, not a bad bass, but not a true mudbucker and yes a bad neck diver, but they are not heavy basses. Fred used to convert them with dark Stars into cool basses.

That's an intriguing thought - an EB-O with a Dark Star....

 

[afroman]

Flag on the play. Personal foul, unbassmanlike conduct. 15 yards, loss of down.

LOL

 

[acook]

I seem to get plenty of different tones (had people playing jazz and funk while others playing metal and it all sounds good) from my EB3 but it really stands out to be a good classic rock kinda bass and the neck dive isn't such a big deal you get used to it really. all the fret buzz and stuff is a bit annoying but after a bit of playing around its fixable

 

[ThunderLizard]

I picked up an Epiphone EB0 a couple of years ago for $200 in the scratch & dent section. Very nice $200 bass with a cool 60's vibe. But it's probably shouldn't be anyone's 'only' bass over the long term. You should consider if $200 is enough of a commitment to your bass inventory.
Good Luck To You!

 

[FireArm]

If your thinking about an EB-3 maybe try an epiphone thunderbird aswell, I found that the builds are much more solid and gives the same fat sound but without the mud. They are great value for money aswell, I would never get rid of mine.

 

[Showdown]

I loved it right away, but, over a short period of time, the bridge began to pull out of the body. Apparently the holes hadn't been drilled correctly.

That is common in Epis and even Gibsons with the 3 point bridge. It has nothing to do with the holes being drilled wrong.

The front has to be fairly level with the back of the bridge when it is adjusted (not saying you did it wrong, it could have been at the store). If you raise the two back screws while the front one remains low, especially with string tension, it will pull the back pins forward, much like a crowbar, and pull the back pins up at an angle. The used Epi EB-3 I bought was like that. The good news is that it is easy to fix and easy to prevent. To prevent it just make sure you loosen the strings before raising the bridge, and make sure the angle from front to back isn't too great. To fix one that is already like that just put a little wood glue or white glue around the stud then hammer it carefully back down with a rubber or plastic mallet. Then let it dry.

 

[screamingmonkey]

I own one and for all the hell its given me, I still love it to death. Even though the bridge had to be fixed twice and the neck dives I still use it all the time. Yes it is muddy, but that was what I was looking for at the time and I feel that with the proper pickup selection you can get a good variety of tones. If you give it some time you can do some amazing stuff with it.

Like all other things, you really need to try it out for yourself though. Not a bass for everyone.

 

[Orpheus55]

How odd that after all the crap that thing (the EB3) gave me, I still wish I had it again. Maybe it was the neck, or the mahogany body; she was a bad girl, kid of cheap, not really well put together, but there was something about her I really liked. With all the above advice in mind, I just might..arrgghhhhh!

 

[Hemitom]

Here's mine
Agree with the neck dive but you do get use to it.As for the mud depends on how much neck pup you dial in.Sound great thru my Trace compressor and BXR Fender amp