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New Gibson EB bass

#181
Showdown said:
Just curious, considering that Fender has used sunburst bodies with natural necks since the 1950s, and that is one of the most common combinations there is in all price levels, what makes it look cheap?
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The one I played looked cheap and nothing like a Fender in any case.

The back of the body on the EB is not sunburst like the front of the bass (or like almost every sunburst Fender or any other sunburst bass from other manufacturers would be finished). Also, the bass is a set neck (natural neck set onto a black body), not a bolt on. The transition between 2 different woods on a set neck CAN work, but the bass I saw did not have exactly what I would call a graceful transition from body to neck.

This is a better example of what I am talking about.... The one I played was not perfectly level at the joint nor was the body wood as smooth at the transition point.

If you like it, knock yourself out. That is all that really matters in any case.

07671fa053a75c87e36d60f2635049b7_zps2632ca95.jpg
 
#183
Showdown said:
I don't really care for the shape of it, particularly the pickguard, but I don't think it looks cheap. But if I liked the way it sounded and felt I would still play it. Everyone has different opinions though, I was just trying to understand yours, no offense intended.
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Not at all. :)

I have owned 8 or 9 Gibson basses over the years and am a big fan. Still play Les Paul Guitars and a Epi Mandolin (not well) and even have a 1930's Gibson amp.

To me, the QC of Gibson very recently is not good to say the least, which is upsetting for such a great brand. The last great Gibson I have played was my 2010 Goldtop Les Paul Oversized.

Recently, the Flying V, Midtown and EB basses I have tried have all been..... ahem.... rustic?;)
 
#184
Baird6869 said:
Not at all. :)

I have owned 8 or 9 Gibson basses over the years and am a big fan. Still play Les Paul Guitars and a Epi Mandolin (not well) and even have a 1930's Gibson amp.

To me, the QC of Gibson very recently is not good to say the least, which is upsetting for such a great brand. The last great Gibson I have played was my 2010 Goldtop Les Paul Oversized.

Recently, the Flying V, Midtown and EB basses I have tried have all been..... ahem.... rustic?;)
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I have a very limited experience with new Gibsons. I own 3 older ones (two '76 Thunderbirds and an '87 IV), but don't get much chance to try new ones. I did buy a 2011 Thunderbird Short Scale, which is a great bass and no QC problems. The only complaint is that the G string was strung with only half a turn around the tuner, which is pretty sloppy work, but doesn't really have anything to do with the condition of the bass itself. I did buy the bass in a local store (not a big box chain) and they usually check them out real well before putting them up for sale.

I also tried a couple of SGs a year ago at Sam Ash in Las Vegas. They seemed good, except for the really bad action. One had so much relief it was unplayable. I blame Sam Ash for that for not setting them up before hanging them on the wall. There have been enough complaints about Gibson QC in the last few years that there is obviously something to it, but I just haven't seen it in my limited experience.
 
#185
Primakurtz said:
All righty then - as promised, a review.

Cons:
The rosewood fretboard is great - a big, thick slab of nice wood - but the edges were just squared off. I gave them a quick roll, which made a big difference.

Neck dive - not terrible, but still annoying for me. I had a set of Hipshot lightweight tuners on hand. These, plus moving the bottom strap button up 2 inches, made it balance perfectly. I was not real pleased about having to modify a new 1000 dollar bass to make it gigworthy. However...

Pros:
Lightweight. Extremely resonant. Mine seems to be a single piece of ash, and the maple neck is beautiful. I love the thin satin finish on both body and neck.

The pickups are wonderful! I am using the neck pup in single coil, with the bridge pup in humucker mode. Huge, fat, clear, detailed tone. It produces a nice hot signal - no preamp required on this bass.

The Babicz bridge is great. It just seems to be a perfect match with the rest of the bass. I was quickly able to get the action low, and intonated properly with a set of broken-in TI Powerwounds. Yes, the stock strings are awful.

At a gig, I loved it. Sounded great, felt very natural. The body shape works fine - feels kind of like a thinner Jazz. I'll post a pic, since I have yet to see one in action. I think my body is a lot weirder than the bass's:
c87eb221-ae03-4599-9ed3-09a26a2cd71a_zpsd83cd1c2.jpg


In sum,
I love it and will play it a LOT. I wish it had arrived with lightweight, better-quality tuners and a rolled fretboard; however, those details may have pushed the price above my comfort zone. Henry J. may be a loon, but I'm glad he released this one. :bassist:
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Sounds awesome, and looks freaking amazing. I'll need to get me one of these. I haven't checked if they make 5's yet... If they doesn't, that's too bad.
 
#186
Baird6869 said:
I played one yesterday. Not impressed at all.

The lack of grain filler on the body looks kinda cool, but a sunburst body front with a black back and a natural neck... Sorry, looks really cheap.

Sounded ok, but the action was so high the bass was nearly unplayable. This could be a climate issue and not Gibson's fault necessarily that a retailer doesn't bother to set up a bass before hanging it on the wall.

I liked the weight, the bridge and the $899CAD price. Not much else.... And I am a big fan of Gibson.
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Who has them in the GTA?
 
#187
I have the new gibson EB 2013 for about a month and in my opinion its badass i love it! It's all about personal choice if you don't want or a gibson period great that is ur choice but seriously don't come in here and bash a bass you have never even picked up let alone played go back to ur ibanez threads cuz' you know their so innovative.
 
#189
Throughout it's life Gibson was known mainly for one thing. The Law suit. They sued Carlo Robelli, Fernandes and PRS because thier product resembled a Les Paul or SG. I find the new bass amusing because every piece of it is a replica of a Leo Fender Design except the headstock and the dovetail joint. It may be a fine bass but they are breaking their own rules. Shame, Shame. I especially like the backwards jazz bass tail. Congrats!!!
 
#190
Gibson may not be the "perfect" manufacturer but they have produced some great designs for musicians.

I appreciate the fact they have produced set neck instruments and have had different pickups and locations for their pickups. Thunderbirds, EB/SG series, RD, Epiphone Jack Casady (Gibson Les Paul Signature)etc. are certainly a nice palette of bass flavors.

I constantly see negative comments from the same talkbass members on all the threads...appreciate the fact that some of these companies are still around.
 
#193
I also wanted to say that my first bass was a 1966 EB-0 with the slotted headstock. I loved the thing until I had to sell it for food and shelter. I wanted to see Gibson pursue THAT dream. The Ripper was certainly a step in the right direction but for some reason it really didn't catch on. The thing that made Gibsons great was the Mahogany necks and bodies. They seem to have abandoned that.

Sorry about the negativity.
 
#196
So next week I get a new bass for me! Im torn between a Fender P, and the Gibson EB. Been going to local music store almost every other day and playing them side by side. The EB is great. I like its lightweight and tonal options. The neck has a great feel too. The Fender P, well, its a P, its a great bass. Almost standard for a bass player...the $200 price difference isnt a factor.

Not rich so I can only afford one lol. I have to make up my mind!!!! This is a tough one! TO me, they both have awesome pros and a couple cons. TOUGH DECISION!

:crying::help::hyper::rollno::confused::confused::confused::confused:
 
#197
Bill Tyler said:
Throughout it's life Gibson was known mainly for one thing. The Law suit. They sued Carlo Robelli, Fernandes and PRS because thier product resembled a Les Paul or SG. I find the new bass amusing because every piece of it is a replica of a Leo Fender Design except the headstock and the dovetail joint. It may be a fine bass but they are breaking their own rules. Shame, Shame. I especially like the backwards jazz bass tail. Congrats!!!
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HAHA. Good observations. Ya, I get ticked off when huge companies dont practice what they preach.

To an extent everybody rips everybody off. Maybe it should be taken as a form of flattery??:confused:
 
#198
Philip71 said:
I have the new gibson EB 2013 for about a month and in my opinion its badass i love it! It's all about personal choice if you don't want or a gibson period great that is ur choice but seriously don't come in here and bash a bass you have never even picked up let alone played go back to ur ibanez threads cuz' you know their so innovative.
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Dude, u still loving your EB. Just wanted to know from a potential EB owner, thanks
 
#199
Baird6869 said:
I played one yesterday. Not impressed at all.

The lack of grain filler on the body looks kinda cool, but a sunburst body front with a black back and a natural neck... Sorry, looks really cheap.

Sounded ok, but the action was so high the bass was nearly unplayable. This could be a climate issue and not Gibson's fault necessarily that a retailer doesn't bother to set up a bass before hanging it on the wall.

I liked the weight, the bridge and the $899CAD price. Not much else.... And I am a big fan of Gibson.
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I must be lucky cuz the one I play at the store by me plays beautifully. After reading these posts I was more observant too. Then again, this store is totally professional and take pride in what they sell. Im a huge fan of my Les Paul, and I think it would be ironic to have Gibson bass and guitar. LOL.

Oh, I agree, the black back and burst front? LAME. If I did go with the EB, just going black.
 
#200
mgauge said:
So next week I get a new bass for me! Im torn between a Fender P, and the Gibson EB. Been going to local music store almost every other day and playing them side by side. The EB is great. I like its lightweight and tonal options. The neck has a great feel too. The Fender P, well, its a P, its a great bass. Almost standard for a bass player...the $200 price difference isnt a factor.

Not rich so I can only afford one lol. I have to make up my mind!!!! This is a tough one! TO me, they both have awesome pros and a couple cons. TOUGH DECISION!

:crying::help::hyper::rollno::confused::confused::confused::confused:
Click to expand...

As much as I love the look of the new EB, if I could only afford "one" bass I'd go for a P bass. Lots of people say its a "one sound" bass. I agree but that one sound is proven to be solid on thousands of recordings and live performances.

Is the P the best bass for all types of music? No but you can walk into any gig playing any type of music with a P bass and cover the gig. It will always sit well in the mix. I say this from over 40 years playin a P in all types of situations. There's a reason almost every bassist has a P in their arsenal.

Don't get me wrong, if the EB does it for you, go for it and enjoy. I'm considering the possibility of adding the EB to my collection. I've almost always had a Gibby too but haven't owned one for a few years.

Good luck with your choice. Have fun'
 

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