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Epiphone EB3 sound... Too dull. Any suggestions?

#41
2F/2F said:
You get a great improvement in the tone of the Epi EB-3 mudbucker if you do one of two very easy and inexpensive things:

1. Take the two pickup coils out of series and wire them in parallel. They are wound to such a high DC resistance when stock. I think mine was something dumb like 30K or more! This kills definition and makes the tone harder to tweak, because you're starting point is a high output, treble-attenuated tone. Putting the coils in parallel really tames the pickup so it becomes something that can be tweaked a lot better with e.q. and gain. It gives you a clean, low output starting point, with which you can do practically anything in terms of tone shaping. It also makes it possible to truly balance the output levels of the two pickups, which makes the bridge pickup more usable in the real world.

I would also pad the pickup with tape or foam while you are in there. It sits loose in the pickup rout, held in only by the pickup cover. The pickup being held in in this janky way can cause annoying rattles.

2. Replace the pickup selector switch with a passive bass cut control (like G&L and Reverend use). You'll have to experiment with pot and cap values, and ideally you want a reverse audio taper pot. But it's not hard to do, and it's very rewarding tonally, especially with that bass.

I didn't ever replace the pickup cover on mine, but I wouldn't be surprised if doing so opened up a bit of top end clarity as well. The Epi covers have traditionally been quite bad in that regard (not sure if they have improved since I formed that conclusion, though...or if anyone else makes covers that are any better, for that matter).

The standard Seymour Duncan mini humbucker pickups (available in three outputs) are good economical replacements for the bridge pickup. They're built basically like old Firebird pickups (i.e. with blades, not a pole piece per string), so they work quite well for bass.
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This is good advice^^^
 
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#43
ProgressiveDoom said:
Wasnt gonna go there but I gotta defend it or live with myself knowing I didnt try. Where in hell did the OP ever say or ask what other brand of bass he should buy instead?. Did he not request a recommendation on an alternative to modding his tone?. Im pretty god damned sure he wasnt looking for people to make him feel at a loss about his preference in bass. Quit wasting fn' thread space and leave room for people who are generally willing to help a brother out.
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You have apparently taken this personally...must have the same bass. Sometimes the truth hurts, doesn’t make it not true. Sorry that I’m wastin space, but I do pay to be here, so I’m entitled.
 
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#44
mdogs said:
You have apparently taken this personally...must have the same bass. Sometimes the truth hurts, doesn’t make it not true. Sorry that I’m wastin space, but I do pay to be here, so I’m entitled.
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I guess he was referring to the wasted bandwidth with the buy a p or buy a jazz blah blah blah. It does get rather old. Why not just help the guy find a solution instead of being cheerleaders?
 
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#45
It’s not a one-step solution. I have an Epi EB-0 from ‘98 which I really like, but found lacking in the pickup department. The first step was installing a DiMarzio Model One. Step two was the addition of a bridge pickup. I have never cared for the sound of the mini humbucker by itself, so I searched out a chrome “guitar size” Gibson TB Plus. These are found on some Les Paul and other Gibson basses. This really gave the bass some definition, and unlike the mini, holds its own when solo’d. The bass is wired V, T, Toggle, with the series/parallel option for the Model One enabled via a push-pull pot on the tone control.
 
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#46
ToneMonkey said:
There's a reason EB style basses fell way out of favor for many decades. You now know the reason.

I hear you complain that you don't want to do any mods that exceed the cost of the bass. I'd say ditch it and go with a P bass.
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WRONG. No offense, If I wanted a P-Bass I would get a P-bass. No offense. I love Warm and dark sounding basses. At this point I am even considering adding a MM pickup at neck position and see how it works:-)
 
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#47
ToneMonkey said:
Cmon man. OP bought a bottom feeder bass and (gasp) it sounds like he got what he paid for. We've all been there. Mentioning that is perfectly legit. Especially if it stops him from throwing more money down the drain. I always advise people buying entry level instruments NOT to mod them. Play it. Learn on it. Enjoy it. When you finally outgrow it, it will be worth more dead stock than if you modded it. Plus you didn't spend money on mods. Win-win.
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Wow, we got a gear snob here. Some of us are salary men and do not have rich daddy. I bought the bass because I LOVED THE NECK. Ibanez necks can't even compare. Also, I got it because it was made out of REAL WOOD and not out of compressed saw-dust (once again, see, Ibanez for that). I also got a deal with upgraded bridge (forgot the name) and a hard case. If I have to, I will cram a MM pickup in there:-)... I got it because it is solid heavy body, and very comfortable neck. And yes, I love the fact that it the sound is so deep and full.
 
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#50
ToneMonkey said:
Cmon man. OP bought a bottom feeder bass and (gasp) it sounds like he got what he paid for. We've all been there. Mentioning that is perfectly legit. Especially if it stops him from throwing more money down the drain. I always advise people buying entry level instruments NOT to mod them. Play it. Learn on it. Enjoy it. When you finally outgrow it, it will be worth more dead stock than if you modded it. Plus you didn't spend money on mods. Win-win.
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Say he mods this bass.

Buys a Dimarzio model one off the classifieds/
Changes the pots.
Heck, put on new tuners.

When he comes to sell the bass these are reversible mods.

He can then sell the bass and parts separately for what he bought them for.

Anyway, EB-3's are hardly bottom feeder basses.
 
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#51
Tigerclaw_x said:
Hi. I got myself an Epiphone EB3. First the good parts: the neck is THE BEST I have ever seen on bass. Folks say Ibanez necks are good? Epiphone neck is 10 times more comfortable. Mine came with enchanced full contact bridge and hard case for $200 shipped.
The bad. - Sound.
The sound of Epiphone EB3 is VERY nice and deep and full - LOVE IT. It is also... dull... Basically like you are playing in a cave. Any suggestions? The ideas I am exploring are:
1. Brass nut. Will it make the sound less dull?
2. Replacing the neck pickup. The problem is that I am not sure which pickup to get. There are some out there by DiMarsio, as well as some on Ebay and on Best Bass parts...
3. Replacing Caps. Maybe?
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Have Jerry Sentell make you some replacement pickups >>> Sentell Pickups electric guitar pickups
 
#52
All interesting comments. I have two fine Precisions and a nice Ibanez SR600; I like and play the Epi EB3 professionally because it sounds nothing like the other family members. Like most of its ilk, the tone controls are essentially useless; I leave them all on full and EQ via the amp. The tone is dark, woody, and BASSY. No hum, no buzz, and the sound guy loves it. I have no idea why, but the cherry edition sounds quite different from the ebony model. Perhaps this is my imagination, but I have owned each; a little voice in my head thinks the see-through finish of the cherry means better wood or real mahogany. The weight is good, the neck is great, and the neck "dive" really manageable for this 67 year old. The Clayton 4" strap with a suede underside is literally "made" for this bass and solves the imbalance issues--at least for me. I have had many basses, including real Gibsons, my first being a Kalamazoo back in '65, and this inexpensive baby nails the Gibson tone. The three-point bridge requires some expertise; just keep the mid-bolt higher than the back bolts and the posts won't pull out. I tried a Supertone bridge but it made little difference and I sold it. As for being a "bottom-feeder" bass, I think that is unfair. These are unique animals, and there's no need to tame them into something they are not. Just my two cents from a thrifty semi-retired teacher who appreciates good bang for the buck instruments
 
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#53
Orpheus55 said:
All interesting comments. I have two fine Precisions and a nice Ibanez SR600; I like and play the Epi EB3 professionally because it sounds nothing like the other family members. Like most of its ilk, the tone controls are essentially useless; I leave them all on full and EQ via the amp. The tone is dark, woody, and BASSY. No hum, no buzz, and the sound guy loves it. I have no idea why, but the cherry edition sounds quite different from the ebony model. Perhaps this is my imagination, but I have owned each; a little voice in my head thinks the see-through finish of the cherry means better wood or real mahogany. The weight is good, the neck is great, and the neck "dive" really manageable for this 67 year old. The Clayton 4" strap with a suede underside is literally "made" for this bass and solves the imbalance issues--at least for me. I have had many basses, including real Gibsons, my first being a Kalamazoo back in '65, and this inexpensive baby nails the Gibson tone. The three-point bridge requires some expertise; just keep the mid-bolt higher than the back bolts and the posts won't pull out. I tried a Supertone bridge but it made little difference and I sold it. As for being a "bottom-feeder" bass, I think that is unfair. These are unique animals, and there's no need to tame them into something they are not. Just my two cents from a thrifty semi-retired teacher who appreciates good bang for the buck instruments
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I have owned both Gibson and Epiphone EB’s and the Epiphone was beautiful!!
 
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#54
The eb3 sounds wonderful and clean as is. Obviously it is different from other basses, particularly the Fender Squier types, but this is its attractiveness.

To “wake it up” try simply rolling off the Bass eq, and opening up the High Mids.

Don’t change the pickups, it’s what makes this bass unique. It’s not a failed novelty, it’s been mesmerizing (some) players for generations already.
 
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#55
butterfingers1 said:
The eb3 sounds wonderful and clean as is. Obviously it is different from other basses, particularly the Fender Squier types, but this is its attractiveness.

To “wake it up” try simply rolling off the Bass eq, and opening up the High Mids.

Don’t change the pickups, it’s what makes this bass unique. It’s not a failed novelty, it’s been mesmerizing (some) players for generations already.
Click to expand...
I will say that Scott Beckwith(spell check) of Birdsong has a Peavey T-40 in his EB instead of the mudbucker. I have a T-40 pickup in the bridge position on my Birdsong.
 

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