Gibson EB owners!

[tegnoto89]

Do you have a hard time getting the tone to come out on the D and G strings if you play close to the bridge? I was at GC today trying one out, and it seemed like when I was playing close to the bridge (I have a jazz and almost always am playing pretty close to the bridge) the volume and punch of the two high strings was really bad, but when I moved my fingers up toward the neck pickup, it came out and filled out really nicely.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Are the SG basses just not meant to be played toward the bridge?

 

[chuckocaster]

honestly, i don't think they should be played period! i own a 69 eb0, and it's my least favorite bass. it sure does look cool though!

i'm sure there are dude out there who get a good tone out of them, but when i play and everyone i've ever heard play one sounds bad.

 

[bassgasser]

My 67 EB-2 sounds really good toward the neck on any string and not that great past where the back pickup would be. They are chubby sounding basses and need to be played that way, in my opinion...

 

[Jimmy Bones]

It's the three-pointer. They make the whole bass suck. They're the cause of neck-dive, dog abuse, SARS, alcoholism, and alien invasions.

They are, in short, the devil.

 

[aquateen]

I have a '72 EB-3, so it's not quite the same as the newer SG but I've found that the overall sound does thin out if you try to play between the bridge and the bridge pickup. it sounds fine if played directly over the bridge pickup or anywhere towards to the neck.
and sorry chuckocaster, but it's not that hard to get a decent sound out of an EB-0. it's just not gonna sound like your fenders.

 

[Jimmy Bones]

I've found that Gibby and Epi basses are way too muddy for me, and that's a sad thing. The neck dive doesn't help their case much.

 

[Fly Guitars]

Do you have a hard time getting the tone to come out on the D and G strings if you play close to the bridge?

No. I regularly play at the bridge on my EBs too.

Adjust the height of the bridge pickup a little - maybe raising the D and G side a little, or even dropping the E and A. If I decided that was already fine, i'd maybe tweak the polepieces a little. You can change the relative balance of sound quite easily - be sure you don't go too far (subtle changes only) and keep a screwdriver with the bass for a while - you may find that what sounded right quietly at home is not right loudly at a gig.

All you need is a screwdriver and a bit of time playing with it.

 

[Groover]

I have a 72EB3L and I find the D a G to be actually on the strong side of things. I'm using Labella Flats, which may help a little?

 

[Barkless Dog]

Be one with the mud, embrace it!

 

[Thor]

Played a 63 Eb3 for 28 years, never had a problem. I'd
often use the bridge pickup eq'ed so the thing would
literally snarl.

 

[bassvi]

Gibson EB1's go Boom, Boom, Boomity, Boom!

That's a beautiful instrument, regardless of opinions on the tone-

Heck, If Jack Bruce likes 'em they can't be all bad.......

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

That's a beautiful instrument, regardless of opinions on the tone-

Heck, If Jack Bruce likes 'em they can't be all bad.......

And let's not forget Felix Pappalardi of Mountian.

Check out the 40th anniv woodstock dvd as it now features a few clips of Mountian. You can see and feel Felix's EB!

 

[Thor]

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[Thor]

Thank you! It is all stock 1963, no mods, in excellent shape.
The case is from a 1975 I had stolen in 1977. I bought this
one as a replacement in 1977 in Boston at a pawn shop for
$125. I have owned it since and taken good care of it.

Here is another pic since we are doing EB pron.

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Fuzztone. Cool bass, rare!

 

[pjmuck]

Here's my '74 lefty EB3. Even with the neck pickup moved further away from the neck, it still gets pretty muddy. I just slapped a set of LaBella Beatle bass flats on it, and it's the perfect combo!

 

[chuckocaster]

bad pic, but my EB0 is center in this pic. '69, it's a basketcase!

i added a stop tail, and it has a '65 pup in it. maybe i was a little harsh on the EB series of basses, but i've never really liked the tone of them. as much as i like my fenders, i love my 73 ricky! my gibby needs its neck reset, the angle is too shallow. i also think i'll get some custom saddles made out of real metal. i might also get my buddy jim to build me a p90 type pup to put in it.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

Here's my '74 lefty EB3. Even with the neck pickup moved further away from the neck, it still gets pretty muddy. I just slapped a set of LaBella Beatle bass flats on it, and it's the perfect combo!

That's so cool looking!

 

[Barkless Dog]

Mr Watt should write a relicing tutorial-he did it in no time!

The "Dan" bass
Before - Two LP pickups

After with two Rio Grande Pitbulls

 

[xbloodpactx]

I got a question: why does my vintage EB-3 got a natural finish headstock? was that for real? I got that from a friend who happens to live in bahrain then was given to him by a friend from US. wierd headstock.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

I got a question: why does my vintage EB-3 got a natural finish headstock? was that for real? I got that from a friend who happens to live in bahrain then was given to him by a friend from US. wierd headstock.

I've never seen one. Could you post a picture, love to see it. Maybe I'll, or someone else, will be able to identify it.