Looking for Experiences

[Snakeman1066]

So these came and went without much fanfare...but as time has marched on...I'm kind of digging them now

anybody have direct experience with them that would like to share their thoughts...I like the concept of "J Bass pickups location" double humbuckers with coil taps...seems like it would offer a nice tonal variety...

the prices are pretty decent currently

I did find this Gibson EB-13, impression and impressions?

so don't do the whole "Search function is your friend schtick" I'm looking for honest direct experience with these basses form people that own or have owned them

 

[bdgotoh]

I liked the tone of the pickups but didn't like the short upper horn and how they hung on a strap for me. I liked the next version of the body style better but never got around to buying one.

 

[Snakeman1066]

I liked the tone of the pickups but didn't like the short upper horn and how they hung on a strap for me. I liked the next version of the body style better but never got around to buying one.

View attachment 4141687

these are even less expensive...but too traditional looking...i prefer the other body style

 

[Beej]

I had one in my possession for a while. Nice hardware, fit and finish, and pretty versatile tonal palette. Clunky ergonomics for me. Body was too small and also too large where it counts and overall the nut felt 10 feet away.

 

[bassbully]

I got one on trade and flipped it quick. It was pretty lifeless tone wise the fit and finish was not good at all

 

[ajkula66]

I owned a 5-string version for a while. By far the most versatile Gibson bass ever, plenty of usable tones IMO and very "un-Gibson-ish" in feel. The only reason why I sold it was the fact that I couldn't get used to the neck profile.

The QC can be a hit and miss on most Gibsons built over the past 15-20 years, but if you find a good one it may very well end up being a keeper. At today's prices I would suggest giving this red-headed stepchild a shot.

 

[Snakeman1066]

I had one in my possession for a while. Nice hardware, fit and finish, and pretty versatile tonal palette. Clunky ergonomics for me. Body was too small and also too large where it counts and overall the nut felt 10 feet away.

kinda what i figured....

 

[Snakeman1066]

I owned a 5-string version for a while. By far the most versatile Gibson bass ever, plenty of usable tones IMO and very "un-Gibson-ish" in feel. The only reason why I sold it was the fact that I couldn't get used to the neck profile.

The QC can be a hit and miss on most Gibsons built over the past 15-20 years, but if you find a good one it may very well end up being a keeper. At today's prices I would suggest giving this red-headed stepchild a shot.

too chunky front to back? to thin? Deep C shape instead of a D shape?

 

[ajkula66]

too chunky front to back? to thin? Deep C shape instead of a D shape?

I'd describe it as flat, wide and fairly thin front to back. Definitely not baseball bat chunky. My apologies for never being able to wrap my head around various C vs. D vs. IDK shapes.

 

[Haans]

I love my EB-2014, though I barely play it anymore. The Babicz bridge and the rest of the hardware is great, the bass is very playable and sounds good. Well built, very light. I love the shape, hate the newer models. The barrel-type jack is a weak spot, mine had to be replaced within a few months. Been fine ever since. The satin finish is lovely in my opinion, and is the reason they could offer a US-made bass at such a great price. I got mine at a blow-out sale for the price of the case alone, so I would probably be satisfied if it turned out to be half the instrument it actually is. I was getting ready to special order one in red or gold when the shop decided to cut the price by 70%, so I jumped on it. Though I'm not a fan of sunburst, this one looks really nice. It's a solid bass at the original price, and a hidden gem for the current second hand prices. I've never been a big fan of Gibson basses, but this one just did it for me. I should probably give it some more playtime soon.

 

[TinIndian]

I never had the chance to play one but I always liked those. 1st Gibson bass since an RD that caught my eye. Always thought of ordering one and then they quit production and went to the newer body style. To me the part I liked the most was the sort of unique body shape so the change was a killer for me. I'd still love to get a 2014 5 string in the satin gold. One of these days I'll track one down.

 

[Haans]

Just glanced through the current ads on Reverb, and there are only three there. Cheapest one is $1000, which is more than the street price back then, one of them is listed at a ridiculous $2k!

Where do you find the cheap ones you're talking about?

 

[ajkula66]

Where do you find the cheap ones you're talking about?

GC online usually has them priced between $650 and $800...pretty fair at this point in time IMO. The prices of musical instruments have been creeping up steadily since the lockdowns began, at least here in the U.S.

 

[Haans]

Sounds more reasonable. My guess is they will hold their value well, maybe even see an increase a few years down the line. They were incredible value when they came out, and I rarely see them on the used market here in Norway. A few years back they were all over Reverb and eBay for around $500 IIRC.

 

[ajkula66]

A few years back they were all over Reverb and eBay for around $500 IIRC.

Yep. They were the least expensive "name brand" offering out there back then. In many respects that still holds true. The figures changing has more to do with (undeclared) inflation than with people realizing what a hidden gem these basses are. Had I been able to get used to the neck profile I would've never sold mine.

 

[Snakeman1066]

I'd describe it as flat, wide and fairly thin front to back. Definitely not baseball bat chunky. My apologies for never being able to wrap my head around various C vs. D vs. IDK shapes.

so kind of like a Rickenbacker then?

 

[jd56hawk]

The earlier ones were okay, the newer ones look like someone got carried away with the router.
Seriously though, so many other choices in that price range I have to ask myself why?
Is the Gibson name on the headstock that important?

 

[ajkula66]

so kind of like a Rickenbacker then?

The necks on the Rics that I've played over the past 40+ years - I've only owned one decades ago - vary so much that I'd hate to use them as a comparison.

If you've ever played a Guild Pilot, the 2013/14 EB neck feels close to it *to me*. A fairly modern feeling neck IMO, without a trace of any "old school" feel.

Hopefully you can make some sense out of my description.

 

[Snakeman1066]

The earlier ones were okay, the newer ones look like someone got carried away with the router.
Seriously though, so many other choices in that price range I have to ask myself why?
Is the Gibson name on the headstock that important?

no not really...never been a Gibson fan when it's all said and done...I owned a couple of T-Birds for a short time and just never got one with them...when i had the chance to buy a Les Paul Guitar i actually ended up buying an ESP EC series because i liked them better in hand....

I'm not sure why but this particular shape does something for me aesthetically reminds me of a Mosrite kinda...always been a fan of the RD Artist's shape as well...

and your right there are probably a ton of other basses with that pickup placement and coil taps...I don't know it's just an itch i feel like i need to scratch possibly...

 

[jd56hawk]

no not really...never been a Gibson fan when it's all said and done...I owned a couple of T-Birds for a short time and just never got one with them...when i had the chance to buy a Les Paul Guitar i actually ended up buying an ESP EC series because i liked them better in hand....

I'm not sure why but this particular shape does something for me aesthetically reminds me of a Mosrite kinda...always been a fan of the RD Artist's shape as well...

and your right there are probably a ton of other basses with that pickup placement and coil taps...I don't know it's just an itch i feel like i need to scratch possibly...

Yes, it does resemble a Mosrite.
I wonder what they'd look like if Gibson had used some different, brighter finishes...red or blue, etc.