New Gibson EB bass

[DanGouge]

I owned a set-neck bass for ten years, never had a problem.

 

[aquateen]

until Fender started making bolt on necks, set necks were the norm. the main reasons Fender used bolt on necks were ease of mass production and that less skilled workers could build the instruments.

 

[the mojo hobo]

Hiw is it an EB? It's nothing like EB basses.

It's actually an improved re-issue. There was an EB bass back in the seventies that had a non-mahogany body, tort guard and natural finish. It was meant to be a budget bass and only a handful were made.

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[DanGouge]

Gibson owns the name "EB" so they can call any bass "EB" that they want.

 

[dStar]

Uh, "EB" means "Electric Bass" in Gibson-speak. So, I guess it qualifies.

 

[hsech]

I like Gibson Basses, but I'm not too sure about this one. To me it just looks wrong. I have a Gibson SG short scale and love it, mudbucker and all. I've owned a Gibson LP Money Bass and hated it. I would like to try a Midtown, but the EB just looks strange to me.

 

[hsech]

It's actually an improved re-issue. There was an EB bass back in the seventies that had a non-mahogany body, tort guard and natural finish. It was meant to be a budget bass and only a handful were made.

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That looks like a cheaper budget version of the mighty EBO bass.

 

[PaperbackRyder]

I'm a Gibson enthusiast & RD ARTIST & Stingray owner, love the look but the neck is glued in. It's a throw away bass, very unfortunate.

Idiotic

 

[Feral Feline]

It's actually an improved re-issue. There was an EB bass back in the seventies that had a non-mahogany body, tort guard and natural finish. It was meant to be a budget bass and only a handful were made.

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That looks like a cheaper budget version of the mighty EBO bass.

Yeah, I really don't see it as a re-issue of anything Gibson has done before and definitely not a re-issue of the bass linked above.

 

[Jookbox]

Looks better than an SG. I noticed people get aggro here if a bass doesn't have a traditional look.

 

[Nobody]

I like that it looks retro but also looks different. At least they didn't just make P and J copies. If I was going to buy a retro style bass in this price range this would be it(make mine a 5 string please).

 

[gregbackstrom]

I like that it looks retro but also looks different. At least they didn't just make P and J copies. If I was going to buy a retro style bass in this price range this would be it(make mine a 5 string please).

I'll let you know what I think of the five-string version. Mine will be here next week!

 

[swamp2]

I'm a Gibson enthusiast & RD ARTIST & Stingray owner, love the look but the neck is glued in. It's a throw away bass, very unfortunate.

Huh? So... if I stumbled across a '59 Les Paul standard I should throw it away? What is behind this comment? I've never replaced a neck on the dozens of guitars/basses I've owned.

I have one of these. It is an excellent instrument, in my opinion the most interesting and useful instrument from Gibson I've ever touched (I've owned a Money and still have an SG Supreme). And I think a lot more bang for the buck than any other US made bass out there.

Put aside any biases and play one for a while. It's a gem.

 

[dStar]

Out of the three basses I've owned, I've had to replace one neck (and that was a Gibson) it makes me hesitate, but probably not stop me from getting one.

 

[Showdown]

Out of the three basses I've owned, I've had to replace one neck (and that was a Gibson) it makes me hesitate, but probably not stop me from getting one.

I currently own 30 basses, and have owned many more over the years, including 4 Gibsons, and I have never needed to replace a neck. Of course it does happen, but it is really rare. I have a '76 Thunderbird (neck through) that was completely broken where the neck meets the headstock and it was repaired and is rock solid, so even a neck though or set neck can be repaired most of the time by a competent luthier.

I have never based whether to buy a bass or not on the type of neck joint it has, and never would. It is a non issue for me.

 

[huckleberry1]

Didnt mean to start a forrest fire, I like thru necks though. I also did'nt bash Fender or Gibson so seem to be in the minority.

 

[gregbackstrom]

I'm a Gibson enthusiast & RD ARTIST & Stingray owner, love the look but the neck is glued in. It's a throw away bass, very unfortunate.

I assume from your comment that you don't know much about set-neck instruments. My various Gibsons that I've had over the years have all been great. None of those necks developed the "Fender-hump" at the end of the fretboard from moisture getting into the neck-pocket.

I have a set-neck Ken Smith from the earlier '80's that was carved by Vinny Fodera. Absolutely rock-solid!

 

[dStar]

Out of curiosity, how much does it cost to replace a set neck. The Gibson that I had to replace the neck on, was a bolt on (Grabber), so that was a do it yourself job.

 

[Showdown]

Out of curiosity, how much does it cost to replace a set neck. The Gibson that I had to replace the neck on, was a bolt on (Grabber), so that was a do it yourself job.

I don't know. It is such an uncommon thing that I doubt if many (or any) here have had it done. That might be something you should ask on the Luthiers forum.

 

[DanGouge]

This is such a peculiar thread because guitarists face effectively the same risks with set-necks, but I don't think I've ever heard one say that that was a reason to NOT play a given instrument. Certainly the Les Paul's popularity does not seem to have been affected by its set-neck design.

I'll stick with my original assessment of the new EB series (based on playing one) which is that they are phenomenal-sounding instruments at a fairly good price.