Fake Gibson Bass?

[peterkidd]

That '59 EB-0 being used as an example used to look Just like the one on Craigslist, stripped to the wood.

Happen to know as I restored it, about 10 years ago.

Fussy masking, black lacquer, bit of amber tint on the pearl, then a little satin lacquer.


Wonder where it is, now?

 

[Flabass]

OK look at this pic. Clearly shows that the logo is a squared off piece of MOP that the black headstock paint is masked over. The bass in question has had it's paint removed leaving the MOP block.

Looks real to me, down to the tuners.

The bass in question has cloverleaf tuning keys. Is this correct? Your picture does not.

 

[96tbird]

You're right, the one I showed has the banjo tuners. Clovers were more common. It's still clear the mop is a block though.

 

[smcd]

I would!

It wouldn't be that hard to restore the headstock either.

The routing makes it unrestorable. But if you removed the additional pickup, plug the routed holes, repair the headstock, and refinish the bass, you'll have sunk $1,300 into an instrument that will be worth less than $1,300.

 

[aquateen]

The routing makes it unrestorable. But if you removed the additional pickup, plug the routed holes, repair the headstock, and refinish the bass, you'll have sunk $1,300 into an instrument that will be worth less than $1,300.

SGD Lutherie wasn't suggesting to restore the whole bass, just the headstock. that wouldn't cost $1,300.

 

[P. Aaron]

Had a '66 Humingbird where the headstock had similar finish issues. A nice guitar but beat. Severely checked, and scraped all over. Not a bad guitar, sold it in '95 & got a new Martin D-28.

No regrets. The Martin is an awesome tone machine.

 

[smcd]

SGD Lutherie wasn't suggesting to restore the whole bass, just the headstock. that wouldn't cost $1,300.

I'm aware that setting the headstock right wouldn't cost that much. That's why I detailed the procedures that would cost $1,300.

A buyer would have to be nuts to sink any money into something like this. I've seen these things up for sale all the time. Buying something like this is a classic beginner mistake. Instruments in this condition are bought by people who are short on dough, but hot to own a vintage instrument. They buy it, think it's great for about 2 months, and then after seeing other, better vintage pieces pass by, they get sick of looking at it and want to get rid of it. Problem is, it takes forever to sell it because it's been badly mauled, and the only people interested in it are other neophytes with money burning a hole in their pocket.

 

[SirGrotius]

On another note, that is one fugly bass.

 

[Mister Know Not]

It puzzles me, on one hand you have people, who have a perfectly good bass and "relic" it, to me it's just ruining a perfect bass.
On the other hand, people, who have a real reliced bass,almost 60 years old, and want it restored.
I just don't get it.
Why dont you trade it with someone who wants a relic bass and has a perfect bass but wants a relic.

 

[AntAir267]

It puzzles me, on one hand you have people, who have a perfectly good bass and "relic" it, to me it's just ruining a perfect bass.
On the other hand, people, who have a real reliced bass,almost 60 years old, and want it restored.
I just don't get it.
Why dont you trade it with someone who wants a relic bass and has a perfect bass but wants a relic.

Genius of the year. +1000

 

[kenfxj]

I think it's real and I would seriously consider buying it.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The routing makes it unrestorable. But if you removed the additional pickup, plug the routed holes, repair the headstock, and refinish the bass, you'll have sunk $1,300 into an instrument that will be worth less than $1,300.

I don't see a problem with it being a fake EB-3 instead of a real EB-0. I'd rather have an EB-3. I'd also go ahead and install the rotary pickup selector.

So that's why I'd rather buy this for $550 than the other bass for $1,300. It will be a more useable bass.

If I'm going to spend $1,300 bucks, it's going to be on a LP Triumph bass and not an EB-0.

And just for you Gibson fans, here's my old EB-2DC. I traded it for a '73 P bass, but it still has a good home (which is where this photo was taken). Note the 6-position Varitone switch that replaced the pushbutton baritone switch.