How is the sound from a Gibson EB2?

[smcd]

Flats with a couple of "15s push by a Dual Showman, you'll be fine

I've tried playing an EB-2, with and without flats, through a staggering range of (mostly Ampeg) gear. Amazingly, though nearly all other basses sounded great, the EB-2 didn't.

So either the Dual Showman (generally regarded as a good guitar amp/bad bass amp) is the magic bullet here, or we have different ideas on what "fine" means.

 

[johnk_10]

So either the Dual Showman (generally regarded as a good guitar amp/bad bass amp) is the magic bullet here, or we have different ideas on what "fine" means.

personally, i think it's the latter.

 

[Batmensch]

Purely a matter of taste, nothing more.

 

[bassvi]

I can understand most everything said in this thread. I have one I lusted after for a couple of years and finally bought for the grand sum of $350. It's got it's own thing, mine's a 68 and can sound quite similar to an EB3 if eq'd properly. I used to use it in a band doing early Stones and similar stuff which I found it great for. Ultimately it became more of a collection piece like my EB3 since I'm playing mostly funk and fusion these days. I still love it though, it's a beautiful bass and good for what it does. And it just feels great in my hands.

 

[all_grown_up]

I can understand most everything said in this thread. I have one I lusted after for a couple of years and finally bought for the grand sum of $350. It's got it's own thing, mine's a 68 and can sound quite similar to an EB3 if eq'd properly. I used to use it in a band doing early Stones and similar stuff which I found it great for. Ultimately it became more of a collection piece like my EB3 since I'm playing mostly funk and fusion these days. I still love it though, it's a beautiful bass and good for what it does. And it just feels great in my hands.

I have an EB2DC that I got in 1968 when I was 15. It is a wonderful thing to have hanging on the wall. (I simultaneously improved it dramatically and ruined it by putting a Fender Pbass pu on it in 1974.)

 

[valdi kolli]

I have an Epiphone Rivoli from '64 I think. It's beautiful. But, it's way too much work to get a useable sound out of it. This bass was altered in the 80's quite a bit so I don't have to feel guilty for improving it in a not traditional way. So I've been fantasizing about getting rid of the mudbucker and putting a dark star into it instead. It would just be great if anybody had the experience and could tell me about how it worked before I go into major investments.
Anyone?
The bass itself plays amazing and resonates well and is really good craftmanship . So maybe it could just as good as a Starfire bass.

 

[johnk_10]

the most popular mod for the mudbucker in EB series basses was a dimarzio model one, since it's a completely reversible mod. IMO, they sound very good in them and are an excellent altenative if you don't want or care for the super low end of the stock pickup.

 

[leegreenman]

nice old school thump. not terribly versatile but pretty sweet if that's what you're going for.

 

[GeneralElectric]

Had one, sold it. Sounded great in a studio where I can endlessly tweak the bass tone and get a great sound. I thought it played and looked great too.

Unfortunately, live, I sounded like mud in the mix every time.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

these are great looking basses, but I have no good music stores around here that would have anything like this. Anyone know how they sound?
...

Grab a copy of the first Gov't Mule CD...it'll make you crave an EB-2 and an old SVT!

 

[all_grown_up]

I have an EB2DC that I got in 1968 when I was 15. It is a wonderful thing to have hanging on the wall. (I simultaneously improved it dramatically and ruined it by putting a Fender Pbass pu on it in 1974.)

Here is a picture. It really did help the sound. It really did remove the value.

 

[Gizmot]

One of my former bandmates had one of these basses and I never cared for the sound of it. It was too muddy and had no punch or definition even with the switch in the bass roll-off position. The workmanship was just okay, although some of them look quite nice. For what these typically sell for, I think there are far better buys for the money.

 

[smcd]

My '68 EB-2D -

As much as I don't like the way it sounds, I can't bring myself to get rid of it. It looks fantastic, and is extremely well made.

 

[johnk_10]

that's a beauty!


here's my '68 EB2 and '66 EB2-D. IMO, both are great playing basses. (i've owned quite a few in the past, but the cherry ones are my fav).

 

[smcd]

Nice! I agree that they're great playing basses. As previously mentioned in this thread, they play themselves.

 

[Dark Horse]

To the OP - They're really a "love/hate" type bass, as you can tell from the posts here. I love 'em, but many absolutely hate 'em. They work very well in the genre that I typically gig in....Americana/roots/alt. country type stuff.

 

[main_sale]

I've got a '67 EB-2C and it's not going anywhere. I really, really like it. It does that Dark Cloud thing like nobody's business, filling in the low end and bringing the whole mix together. Turning off the baratone switch gives you a much more modern tone. If you want to go deep, this bass can take you deeper that any I've ever found.

 

[Bassamatic]

The 2-D was my first bass, loaned to me in the 60's. Perfect for THEN with the thick, gooey bottom. Can't see it being useful now.

 

[jackcheez]

nice old school thump. not terribly versatile but pretty sweet if that's what you're going for.

That's kind of how I find it. Mad phat. There's nothing like it for certain things.

 

[corinpills]

They sound wonderful. They don't sound modern with a lot of high frequencies that compete with guitars, cymbals and vocals in a mix, but they sound great. With a set old flats on, they sound classic, old school boomy and thuddy. You know?
like a bass. The old ones are very well constructed and, of course, they look beautiful.