My comments about the Epi EB-3, having owned one (briefly):
- Fit and finish were very nice.
- Sound was good, and much more modern than the mudbucker on my '64 EB-0. The modern Epi pickups don't sound anything like the old 60's Gibson mudbuckers.
- If you like a contemporary sound, the EB-3 may give it to you.
My biggest problems with it were in the balance and the neck offset.
- The SG-style body on the Epi EB-3 is simply too light to counterbalance a 34" neck. No matter what I did, I was unable to prevent severe neck dive.
- Because of the design of the SG-body and th way the neck is mounted, the design of the bass throws the neck farther to the left than is true of most other 34" scale basses. The result is that you have to reach your arm farther out to get at the lower frets on the neck. This offset amplified the already poor balance of this bass. Compared with common basses like the Fender P and J, the Epi's 34" neck required a longer reach..OK for a few minutes, but not a good situation when you're playing for hours!
- The result of problem #2 was that my left arm fatigued quickly from the need to support the bass while reaching farther out than normal.
For me, the EB-3 was a nice-looking bass that had poor ergonomics and was very uncomfortable for me to play. I used it twice at band practices and promptly sold it.
My conclusion was that I personally will not buy another SG-bodied bass in 34" scale. I own a 1964 Gibson EB-0 (30" scale) and it balances nicely and is extremely comfortable to play. As far as I'm concerned, a 30" neck is the best option for that body style and I won't own anything else.
