Gibson EB guys - - - 'splain things

[knuckle_head]

Interesting contraption the EB bass . . . fun to play and unique to the ear.

I don't have time with either version to appreciate the difference - the mudbucker placement thing has me curious; the original has the pickup slammed up to the end of the fret board, and subsequent variations have them cheated toward the bridge.

To the aficionados - benefits to one over the other or of each?

 

[Phendyr_Loon]

The placement of the mud bucker changed around the early 70's, (I believe 1973 to be exact). I don't know why the change in PU position, especially after a decade of success in the traditional placement at the fret board.
As the PU is moved toward the bridge, the sound of the bass inherently becomes more clear and defined. I would imagine, (since I've not played any EB0/EB3 with this difference PU placement), that the tone is similar to a P bass.
This could be pure conjecture but maybe that was Gibson's attempt to corner the Fender P bass market?

I should also add that IME these oddball basses don't hold the resale value quite like year models before and after that era as they're seen as the "black sheep" of the vintage EB line. None the less I'd still buy one, a beautiful, iconic bass that has stood the test of time.

 

[knuckle_head]

Thanks Phendyr

It isn't about resale - it's about the tonal differences between them.

I suspect because of the shorter scale the mudbucker is - well - muddier than the Fender P that's similarly adorned.

 

[Aussie Player]

I grew up playing the '60's versions. They were thin and contoured in the body, balanced well and fast to play with the best access period, to the top ffets.

The 70's version was a plank of wood. Horrible ergonomics compared to that which it replaced, chunky/blocky neck join and it lacked the growl in the bottom end the EB3 was famous for.

The other thing that drew me to them over the Fender Fence Pailings of day was the even volume and even tone across the strings and fretboard.

I have more Fenders that Gibsons these days, but that is because I have learned that the amps we had 40 years ago were crap compared to what we have today.

Now that Fenders sound so much better through modern amps, equally do the Gibsons sound wonderful today.

For my taste, Gibson and Alembic through a valve amp like a Marshall is the end of the road and the Fender or Warwick basses are right there behind them.

We never had it so good.

 

[GlennW]

I'll point out that the "Gibson EB bass" includes the early violin shaped solid mahogany body, the later semi-hollow ES-335 style, and the SG shaped basses.

 

[Aussie Player]

There was also a slab body double cutaway version of the EBO from about '58 to '60.

The SG body style was actually an unautorized version on the Les Paul that copies the 6 string version and also included a 6 string Baritone Bass version with PAF pups. These were released in '61.

Les Paul hit the roof and withdrew his name from use. Hence the names were changed to SG for the guitar and EB for the bass.

Les Pauls were reintroduced in '68. EBO's and EB3's continued throughout the 60's.

 

[IronLung1986]

I grew up playing the '60's versions. They were thin and contoured in the body, balanced well and fast to play with the best access period, to the top ffets.

The 70's version was a plank of wood. Horrible ergonomics compared to that which it replaced, chunky/blocky neck join and it lacked the growl in the bottom end the EB3 was famous for.

The other thing that drew me to them over the Fender Fence Pailings of day was the even volume and even tone across the strings and fretboard.

I have more Fenders that Gibsons these days, but that is because I have learned that the amps we had 40 years ago were crap compared to what we have today.

Now that Fenders sound so much better through modern amps, equally do the Gibsons sound wonderful today.

For my taste, Gibson and Alembic through a valve amp like a Marshall is the end of the road and the Fender or Warwick basses are right there behind them.

We never had it so good.

great insight!

I played a Gibson EB with the 70s pickup placement on one occasion and found it to be a disappointment. my hope was that it would sound kind of like a P bass, which is the obvious expectation given the location of the pickup. I'd say the sound of the one I played was mostly unusable. it was sort of midrangey and but without any real strength. hollow I guess, like when there's a phase problem. the low end was also lacking; it was either weak or too big and wide to be easily reproduced, which to me amount to the same thing. of course it was very old and could have been the victim of some devilry or another. I normally like the sound of the SG type basses but sadly this 70s species didn't have much going for it.

 

[GlennW]

There was also a slab body double cutaway version of the EBO from about '58 to '60.

I knew I was forgetting one, shaped like the LP Jr and Specials.