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GIBSON Club. Part II

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Ordered my copy last weekend! Can't wait!
 
I have a '68 EB-2, I will give my personal experience with it - it just has the single "mudbucker" which to me has zero high-frequency information, and several times higher output than a "normal" passive pickup like a P-Bass. There is a baritone switch that totally changes the frequency response - to me the low end disappeared for the most part, and you got more midrange and treble frequencies, but personally I never really used that setting.

Unfortunately, I don't have any recordings available right now of the pickup clean - I tended to use mine with distortion - I like the way the mudbucker pushes distortion & fuzz pedals. Here's an example in a band setting, gain is actually not set too high:



Here's one more with a bit more gain:



I originally purchased this bass because I was after the Andy Fraser sound from Free, and had seen pictures of him playing either an EB-2 or the Epiphone version, figured it would sound close to the EB-3 he usually used. How naive I was! I discovered that the single pickup was a completely different beast. I have never personally used an EB-2D so can't comment on that.

And of course, here's a pic:

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I have a 66 that looks identical to yours. Andy Frazier used the bridge pickup alone I've been told as did Jack Bruce. I have a 65 EB-3 in which I changed out the choke, to change the baritone sound, is much bassier now and works well with both pickups on, with an EB-3 when both pickups are on (pos 3) the bottom is all cut out by the choke which is why I changed the it.
 
Well, the output is much lower. However, the sound is much clearer now. The notes have their own beauty and definition and are not just spits from a flamethrower any more IYKWIM. There's also a nice delicate growl in the mid-range. The bass sounds more like a bass than a trumpet. But there's still plenty of hair and zing. Shall work well with vintage-like dirt. A good test with VT bass in a real life situation is on its way. I'd probably rewire it some day: I replaced the pots to "proper" values and wired them according to vintage TB specs. I'd probably try JB wiring schematic: the controls work a bit weird now.

Bottom line: I was about to sell this bass. Now it's much more usable to me.
 
Well, the output is much lower. However, the sound is much clearer now. The notes have their own beauty and definition and are not just spits from a flamethrower any more IYKWIM. There's also a nice delicate growl in the mid-range. The bass sounds more like a bass than a trumpet. But there's still plenty of hair and zing. Shall work well with vintage-like dirt. A good test with VT bass in a real life situation is on its way. I'd probably rewire it some day: I replaced the pots to "proper" values and wired them according to vintage TB specs. I'd probably try JB wiring schematic: the controls work a bit weird now.

Bottom line: I was about to sell this bass. Now it's much more usable to me.

I have the TB Plus (Like you removed from this bass) in one of my basses and totally understand the flamethrower comment. They are aggressive but clearer than the black TB Plus you find on Thunderbirds. Sounds like you found a good compromise for this bass. :thumbsup:
 
Hi, I should have joined this group long ago; I am a member of the SG/EB Bass Club, but I should be here too. Anyone handing out numbers?

Here's my 2011 SG Standard bass. It's stock except for the Hipshot SuperTune bridge. The strings are light-gauge La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats in medium scale (short-scale strings don't quite fit with the Hipshot bridge), set 760FL-M. I typically play with one pickup at 10 and the other at 8 (it could be either one on 10 depending on how it sounds in the venue), with the tone on 10. I first got attracted to the Gibson EB-3 by listening to Glenn Cornick with Jethro Tull and Jack Bruce with Cream. The modern SG bass is close enough to an EB-3 to serve, though the neck pickup isn't actually a mudbucker and the Varitone is missing.

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That Gibson Bass Book looks awesome; I just now ordered a copy.
 
My copy of The Gibson Bass Book arrived today. Pretty fast delivery considering it was coming from Europe and I ordered it just before New Year's Day! The book is impressive. I haven't had time to read much yet but the production quality and the photos are gorgeous, and it looks to be organized very sensibly. This looks like the reference work for Gibson bass guitars. Kudos to Rob van den Broek and everyone else involved!
 
Always learning something...that's a good thing, right?
Was perusing regurge aka reverb the other day and came across an Orville by Gibson EB-3 Bass. I thought to myself what in the world is this? Then I googled away and found this:
Orville by Gibson - Wikipedia

Orville SG Bass EB-3 1998 Heritage Cherry

Gibson Orville Thunderbird Sunburst | Demolition Sounds

Were they any good?

Seems like they were in between Gibson and Epiphone based on the wiki info?

Like Buick is between Cadillac and Chevrolet?
 
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