Fix it yourself. Save the $500 and learn some skills while you're at it. The worst thing that can happen is you have a bass that is still (as opposed to newly) non-functioning.
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Mid 60s? Gibson EB-3(PICS) would you make an Offer
- Thread starter Kaden Daniels
- Start date
EB series can be real muddy, depends on strings and technique. If its recording that is a different, but not necessarily easier issue to deal with. For a playing bass, trust your ears, for an "investment" bass, I wouldn't trust anybody.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
It isn't an investment. No musical instrument is much of an investment. If the mudbucker is shot, I'm pretty sure Dimazio still makes Model One pickups that would fit and sound great.
I owned one of these once. It is definitely a 60s original, but probably mid- to late 60s (headstock, tuners, knob arrangement, and body contours suggest this). The bridge pickup is not original (the original had four pole pieces), and the pickguard looks like a hand-made repro--the shape is not quite right. And as someone else said, it should have the four position varitone chicken head switch, not a 3-way pickup selector. And obviously the bridge is not original. My guess is that it is a later 60s EB-0 that was modded with a second pickup and two new pots (like the one I had), but I may be wrong! If it works fine as is, it could go for around $500-600. If it's just a problem of electronics, that is not an expensive issue. And a Dimarzio Model One replacement for the mudbucker can be found for under $100 new and considerably less used. For a wealth of info about these basses and their different forms over the years, see:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Aside from it being old, what are the perceived positives in this deal? That bass has some serious issues.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Why not ask if you could take it to a luthier to get an estimate? No different than buying a used car. With a real idea what it would cost to fix, you can decide better.
It might take $500 to completely restore it, but you could make it playable for a lot less than that. As long as the neck is stable and one of the pickups work, you could easily turn that into a cool, playable instrument. It doesn't have to be your only bass, right?
- Jan 28, 2009
- 2,929
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- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
Lots of misinformation here.
This is a Gibson EB-3 not an SG bass (I know this has already been covered). It looks to me to be a mid sixties model; here is pictures of a 1965 EB-3:
[This invalid link has been removed]
The control layout on this bass is different from an early sixties model. Also the original chicken head knob is not a varitone switch, it is a pickup selector which was often replaced with the more simple 3-way toggle switch.
The EB bass line went through several slight body changes over the years, ending up in the seventies with almost no body contours. The pickguard has obviously been altered but if you look at the first picture you can see the screw hole for hand rest which has been removed.
The fact that it doesn't have a serial number seems strange; I'm not sure when Gibson swapped over to stamped serials numbers (pressed into the wood) from the earlier inked numbers, but it still seems odd. That being said, this is a real Gibson Bass (not a knock off).
It looks like decent mid sixties models are going for around the $1000 mark, which honestly surprises me. I would of guessed more. Regardless, it's a vintage bass no matter the condition. It may never be fully restored to it's original glory, but it would make a great players bass. The biggest issue is obviously the neck joint, still not a deal breaker especially for a couple of hundred bucks.
If you have some woodworking skills (or want to learn instrument repair), I would say fix it yourself, but at least show it to a reputable repair guy and get their opinion on it. The neck joint could probably be repaired (Hard to say without seeing it in person) for not an arm & a leg as long as you don't want a pristine restoration.
Pickups are available from Artec (inexpensive) to Curtis Novak who can wind a replacement pickup however you want it.
I'd buy it for $200 in a heartbeat.
Moonshine
This is a Gibson EB-3 not an SG bass (I know this has already been covered). It looks to me to be a mid sixties model; here is pictures of a 1965 EB-3:
[This invalid link has been removed]
The control layout on this bass is different from an early sixties model. Also the original chicken head knob is not a varitone switch, it is a pickup selector which was often replaced with the more simple 3-way toggle switch.
The EB bass line went through several slight body changes over the years, ending up in the seventies with almost no body contours. The pickguard has obviously been altered but if you look at the first picture you can see the screw hole for hand rest which has been removed.
The fact that it doesn't have a serial number seems strange; I'm not sure when Gibson swapped over to stamped serials numbers (pressed into the wood) from the earlier inked numbers, but it still seems odd. That being said, this is a real Gibson Bass (not a knock off).
It looks like decent mid sixties models are going for around the $1000 mark, which honestly surprises me. I would of guessed more. Regardless, it's a vintage bass no matter the condition. It may never be fully restored to it's original glory, but it would make a great players bass. The biggest issue is obviously the neck joint, still not a deal breaker especially for a couple of hundred bucks.
If you have some woodworking skills (or want to learn instrument repair), I would say fix it yourself, but at least show it to a reputable repair guy and get their opinion on it. The neck joint could probably be repaired (Hard to say without seeing it in person) for not an arm & a leg as long as you don't want a pristine restoration.
Pickups are available from Artec (inexpensive) to Curtis Novak who can wind a replacement pickup however you want it.
I'd buy it for $200 in a heartbeat.
Moonshine
Last edited:
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
1961 SG Bass? (PICS) would you make an Offer
Nope ... I would go out and buy one of the new Gibson SG basses ... I am not a fan of old worn out broken down vintage gear ...
Nope ... I would go out and buy one of the new Gibson SG basses ... I am not a fan of old worn out broken down vintage gear ...
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
People refer to the EB0 and the EB3 as SG basses because the body shape is like the SG guitar ...
People who were around when these basses were in production do not, anymore than they called an EB-2 the "ES bass" because it is shaped like a Gibson ES-335.
- Jan 28, 2009
- 2,929
- 4,152
- Disclosures
- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
I totally understand that, this post makes that obvious.
Call any reputable vintage music store and tell them that you have a 1961 SG bass for sale and most likely they will correct you "You mean an EB-0 (or EB-3)?
Moonshine
- Jan 28, 2009
- 2,929
- 4,152
- Disclosures
- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
- Jan 28, 2009
- 2,929
- 4,152
- Disclosures
- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
I doubt that they would. 1961 was the first year of EB basses with the SG body shape. I imagine that it would be possible (though highly unlikely) that some early models got through without a serial number. I just looked at the back of the headstock (a picture of) of an all original 1961 EB-3 and the serial number was barely legible... it also looked like it was stamped (pressed into the wood).
It is odd that there isn't a serial number, but I would think that there could be a number of (okay, maybe a few) reasons for that.
Moonshine
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I totally understand that, this post makes that obvious.
Call any reputable vintage music store and tell them that you have a 1961 SG bass for sale and most likely they will correct you "You mean an EB-0 (or EB-3)?
Moonshine
Music store employees are not a good source of wisdom and knowledge ... they are usually just interested in selling what is in stock at their location and not much more.
Thanks for the input Thanks fpr the information its a deffinaetly a Mid 60s somewhere between the different control layouts but without the pressed wood serial numbers Some were asking about the Headstock the bass was completely sanded then tung Oiled so maybe that has to with with..as far as What is appealing besides age is it could give a thumpy sound comparitive to my other basses and I love history so its cool its not goin anywhere and Ive known the guy for 17 years so I have time to decide
