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Modding A EB0 May Be My Future

ejaggers

ejaggers

Aug 18, 2009
2,728
2,681
Fort Worth, TX
#1
My first bass was a white Kalamazoo KB. I’ve always wanted another SG style short scale bass. I don’t see a lot of eb0 posts, so I hope this thread gets lots of action. A pawn shop has a eb0 for $120 in great shape. Thought I’d find one cheaper, and I’ve been looking, but I need a project to cure my boredom.

Anyway, I’m thinking a chrome Artec bridge pup because it’s the only chrome pup I could find on ebay w/o spending Mike Lull amount money.

Here’s my questions-:
1. Is there room in the controls for more pots (VVT or VTVT)?
2. Do you know of more chrome pups I can use w/o breaking the bank
3. What’s a reasonable price for routing the body to add a pup?
4. 250K or 500K pots, or what for the bridge pup?

Any mod suggestions you have are welcome!!!


Artec Pups:
Artec Custom Hot 4 String Bass Pickup 30K Ohms Chrome | eBay
Artec Soap Bar 4 String Bass Pickup Chrome | eBay



057912
 
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#2
I've modded two Epi EB-o's. I paid $90 for one with a hard case,strap and 12' cord. The other one I paid $75 and it was like new.
The control cavities have plenty of room.
I am not sure what it would cost to have it done, I did it myself.
A hum-bucking Jazz sounds good and would probably cheaper to have installed because most all repairmen have a template for it.

I put a Jazz neck pick up at the bridge and the stock neck pick up from my Gibson SG in one

5287685905_3f591fecd0.jpg


The other one I used a DiMarizo Model 1 and a TV Jones

5893910321_eb9f7417ac.jpg
 
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#3
The do make two different models.
The ones that come in the starter packs are plywood and have very skinny necks and real bad tuners. (the red one)

The standard EB-O has a mahogany body and better hardware. The neck is more like a Gibson too. (black one)

The plywood one does sound a lot brighter but weighs a LOT more.
 
#4
hdracer,

Nice looking basses!!! I wasn't aware there was a difference between the red and black models. The one I'm looking at is red. Thanks for the info.

You spent some $$$ on your mods. I see you have supertones on both. Which is your fav out of the two you have, and why? I have a jazz, but don't have a bass with a TV Jones.

You don't still have the 3 point bridge, do you? I need one for my tbird.

What tools are needed to install a pup?
 
#6
They're fun. Mine has two Guild Humbuckers and vol vol with stacked bass treble S.D. Blackouts circuit. Absolutely love it. I bought mine with a dead pickup for cheap and couldn't have asked for a better out of the box fit finish and neck.
 
#8
now is there a difference in the necks on either model EB-0 is maybe one a set neck & 1 bolt on or are both bolt on necks? I didn't know if the cheaper one mabe had a set neck or not. I saw the eb-0 had a bolt on neck I have a setneck on my SG Goth and don't much care for it and I saw the EB-3 has a set neck also.
 
#14
The Op didn't tell us whethher his EB-0 is a Gibson or Epiphone, and how old it is. But the Epis are a good modding platform.

Here's another take...when I got this 1964 Gibson EB-0 it had the Dimarzio Model One pickup already mounted in the bridge position and a hole where the original mudbucker had been. The damage was done, so I figured to make a slightly more versatile bass out of it. I got a period-correct Gibson pickup and installed it at the neck, then just set up the pots as volume - with that pickup selection there was no need to EVER turn a tone knob and reduce the treble! This is one powerful sounding bass!

Note that the pickup isn't too close to the bridge, and I like it that way. The Model One is designed to be a Gibson humbucker replacement, but it's not as woofy as the original early 60's pickup. If the OP's EB-0 is an Epiphone, then the Dimarzio will probably be more powerful and have more of the early 60's character than the stock Epi pickup at the neck.

PB070017.jpg


PB070018.jpg


Also - the Artec pickups have a good reputation and I wouldn't be a bit scared of installing one. I don't have an opinion on the pots - that's personal taste. You can read about both on the web and form an opinion.
 
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#15
Pilgrim said:
The Op didn't tell us whethher his EB-0 is a Gibson or Epiphone, and how old it is. But the Epis are a good modding platform.

Here's another take...when I got this 1964 Gibson EB-0 it had the Dimarzio Model One pickup already mounted in the bridge position and a hole where the original mudbucker had been. The damage was done, so I figured to make a slightly more versatile bass out of it. I got a period-correct Gibson pickup and installed it at the neck, then just set up the pots as volume - with that pickup selection there was no need to EVER turn a tone knob and reduce the treble! This is one powerful sounding bass!

Note that the pickup isn't too close to the bridge, and I like it that way. The Model One is designed to be a Gibson humbucker replacement, but it's not as woofy as the original early 60's pickup. If the OP's EB-0 is an Epiphone, then the Dimarzio will probably be more powerful and have more of the early 60's character than the stock Epi pickup at the neck.

PB070017.jpg


PB070018.jpg
Click to expand...

Sweet! I'll bet that thing THUMPS!
I've had a couple modded EB-0's. One had a J pickup mounted near the bridge, a super common 70's mod. The other had a split P a bit further from the bridge and I liked it a lot more. For me, a short scale like that isn't something I grab when I'm looking for a J-bass type tone so the P pickup a bit further from the bridge gave just the right amount of mids to "clear-up" that monster humbucker and add just the right amount of definition without being too bright.
 
#16
ejaggers said:
The epi website says the mahogany body comes in black and cherry.
Click to expand...

Yes, both come in red or black.
My red one is plywood.
I got the TV Jones pick up off eBay for $45 I have about $260 into the black one and about $180 into the red one.

I like playing the black one, it feels & sounds more like my SG.
The stock SG neck pick up sounds great in the bolt on Epi. You can find them on eBay for around $50 and Jazz neck pickups are cheap & easy to find. I feel it's the best bang for the buck.
 
#17
Pilgrim, That's a sweet looking eb0, and that bridge gives it that vintage character.

The pawn shop epi ebo is a red epi. I don't know if it's plywood or mahogany though.

The problem with me installing the pup is, I'm not sure where to place it. I'm pretty handy with tools but this is a "get it right the first time thing".


**Ric5**

Those two heavily mod eb0 are down right awesome, in fact, the best I've seen!!!!
Are they still short scale?
 

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