I wanted to know if anyone owns or as preveously owned a Gibson EB-3. It´s one of my favourite basses, and I wanted to know if you think it's to overpriced, or if it's good for smooth bass solos (like the one in orion from metallica) or heavily distorted bass solos (like hysteria from muse)
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Gibson EB-3
- Thread starter BrunoMateus
- Start date
It do that stuff for sure. Might not be the absolute best bass for the job, but you could definitely make it work.
they're not naturally trebly. of course signal processing can change everything, but it's not really the first bass i would go to for stuff like metallica and smooth solos. i have played a few of them, though, and i can tell from the tone that it would probably sound cool with distortion.
Use an EQ.
You can make the bass do anything you could want it too with the proper application of effects and equalizers.
Your bass is the brush, now use some different color paint!
(Corny i know)
You can make the bass do anything you could want it too with the proper application of effects and equalizers.
Your bass is the brush, now use some different color paint!
(Corny i know)
Are you talking about a vintage EB3 or a new SG bass? I think the pups in the new SGs are pretty different from the old EB3s. My understanding is the old guys were real muddy and the newer ones are much more articulate.
WOW! Beautifully said and quite true! I obtained my first real bass (Gibson EB3) in 1966 and still have it. After Brit rock, punk rock, a quick and unpleasant foray in metal, and classic rock, the the little Gibby is as wonderful and multi-useful as ever. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for absolutely anything. Change strings, adjust amp, and run it through any effect that tickles your fancy and you can play any type music you want.
Drop tuning is not really possible due to the short scale. They respond great to effects. Probably not to be used as your only bass. Old Eb's are pricey as well $1200 (slot head & 70's) - $2500 (60's)
Thank you!
In my opinion (and you can disagree) a bass not being "able to do something" is more in line with the player not wanting/being able to do it. No offense to anybody, but with the range of modern amplifiers, effects, and the wonderful thing known as a recording board, you can work magic!
I've played metal with a Hollowbody Triburst bass, and so on.
If you WANT to do it, you can make it work.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
IMO, my '68 can sound almost any way i want it to. IME, it's the EBO's that are very limited to having just a ton of low end, but the little bridge pickup on the EB3, as well as the pots (to blend pickups) and rotary pickup selector make it alot more versatile.
here's a pic of it:
here's a pic of it:
I owned one in the early 70's as my first "good" bass. It will never sound like a Fender, but it's a very versatile bass in it's own fashion when properly amped. It's still the one and only bass I wish I'd never sold.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
IMO, my '68 can sound almost any way i want it to. IME, it's the EBO's that are very limited to having just a ton of low end, but the little bridge pickup on the EB3, as well as the pots (to blend pickups) and rotary pickup selector make it alot more versatile.
here's a pic of it:
Beautiful, if you ever want to sell let me know. I've got a 68 SG custom that I've been looking for a counterpart to. Beautiful bass.
I couldn't agree more! With very little effort, you can pretty much make any bass sound any way you want. Like you said, no offense to anybody, but I don't agree with those that say that there is a "true" P bass sound, or only a MM can sound like a MM, or that there is a real difference between a MIM or MIJ. Tweak your amp, go with different strings, or run it through an effects pedal, or all of the above, and you can get any sound you want. There is no 'metal' bass, or 'punk' bass or any other special bass for that special sound. Put some effort into it, and your fav bass can magically become the perfect bass for whatever you type of music you want.
I could not agree more.
Unfortunately, many people do not agree with us.
If you actually want to make it work, then you CAN make it work.
There is simply TOO much in the way of good EQ's and effects and all that jazz to prevent you from being able to not do "something".I apologise in advance for my ignorance here, but from looking at the picture of an EB-3, I couldn't tell the difference between that and an SG. Would somebody be able to fill me in on what I'm missing here please? 
*why* is this bass "one of your favorites"? Have you played them and really dig the feel, or do you just like how they look?
Appearance is a pretty poor way to judge a musical instrument...
Appearance is a pretty poor way to judge a musical instrument...
i agree that there is no specific "metal bass" and so forth, but in my experience there are definitely situations in which going against the natural inclinations of the instrument can be frustrating and costly. it's like marrying someone in the hope that you will be able to change them...there's a good chance it won't work out. i used to constantly fight with my rickenbacker 4003, trying to make it sound like tony levin on peter gabriel's "So" album. now, say what you will about finger technique and EQ'ing, there is simply no way to get that sound without an absurd amount of signal processing. and even then it wouldn't sound like a real stingray. i bought a warwick $$ and it easily enables me to get that sound, as well as a whole bunch of other sounds that the rick can't really do. conversely, i love going back to the rick because it can do things the warwick can't. each bass is special in its own way, and most can be made to do many different things. but i don't think any bass can truly do everything. as my dad always says, "there's a right and a wrong tool for every job."
