Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
New Gibson EB bass
- Thread starter Primakurtz
- Start date
Yes, authority is the word I've been searching for. That describes the tone perfectly. There is a quality to the tone that I've not heard before and I believe authority is it. It's a serious tone with a lot of depth.
Yes, I got many different tones out of it as well; most of them pleasant. You can't be afraid to mess with the tone controls. Unlike the majority of passive basses, there's a lot you can do to influence the tone of this monster.
Initially I had some problems with the neck pulling on my shoulder, but since I've lowered the strap, that seems to be sorted out and it is quite comfortable now. Naturally nowhere near Dano comfort though.
As others have mentioned, changing the strings may help. I honestly can't tell you because I changed the strings on mine almost immediately (within hours of receiving it) and I haven't noticed any chorusing either before or after the change.
The more I play mine, the better I like it. It doesn't sound like any other bass out there; yet it can imitate many. The neck profile (wide and thin) reminds me of my old Rickenbacker 4001 that I bought in the late 70's. I like that I can come close to replicating that tone as well. Best of all, it makes me sound better. Gotta like that.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I think I should add to my reviews that I owned a T-Bird (studio) a while back, and an SG. Nothing really wrong with those basses, but not my thing. This is much different. If someone is looking for or expecting the Gibson vibe, I think they might be disappointed. If they're looking for a great sounding versatile passive bass and feel the need to own a bass with the Gibson logo on top like I did, they'll be pleased 
.
I'll add one more thing that just crossed my mind. I've been an Ernie Ball guy for more than a decade, and have played nothing really other than a Bongo, Stingray, and Big Al. After jumping into a Zep tribute almost 2 years ago now I've gotten very attached to a Jazz bass. This bass is SOOOOOO much the middle ground between the Fender and MMs. Closer to Fender than MM, but enough oomph to keep a smile on my face in a funky slappy agressive chili pepperish kinda jam.
.I'll add one more thing that just crossed my mind. I've been an Ernie Ball guy for more than a decade, and have played nothing really other than a Bongo, Stingray, and Big Al. After jumping into a Zep tribute almost 2 years ago now I've gotten very attached to a Jazz bass. This bass is SOOOOOO much the middle ground between the Fender and MMs. Closer to Fender than MM, but enough oomph to keep a smile on my face in a funky slappy agressive chili pepperish kinda jam.
more pics - of wiring harness. control cavity 1.25" deep.
vol pot measures 258k, tone pot measures 488k ohms. all pots marked as 'Gibson' on bottom.
tone capacitor marked as 100A-473 -so .047uF
4 wire pickups - black/white/red/green. white & green connected, and going to the tap switch. red going to the vol pot center pole.
vol pot measures 258k, tone pot measures 488k ohms. all pots marked as 'Gibson' on bottom.
tone capacitor marked as 100A-473 -so .047uF
4 wire pickups - black/white/red/green. white & green connected, and going to the tap switch. red going to the vol pot center pole.
Attachments
So basically 250K volume and 500K tone. Do you know the value of the tone cap, and are the pots CTS or imports? Sure wish it didn't have that route for the wiring. It would look nice with no PG and a control plate.
I'm waiting for the delivery of my 2014 EB bass (4 strings). I will post a few pictures when I will get it this week.
I prefer the input jack location the the 2014 model. Can't wait to get it !
I prefer the input jack location the the 2014 model. Can't wait to get it !
I have my EB 5 String listed for trade, but after taking it to practice last week I'm rethinking getting rid of it. It has the thunder.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Got it Yesterday afternoon for the new year !
Here are the pictures of my 2014 fireburst:
Yep! That sure is purdy! Congrats.
I'd not had my EB long when I decided to remove the knobs to get the pickguard film off clearly.
I used the wrapped cloth technique to remove a volume knob and the pot spindle came away.
Looking at replacing the pot I did some investigating and discovered that the pickups aren't switchable series/parallel as I thought but they actually switch from series to a single coil in series with a capacitor. A sorted of tuned single coil mode.
So I fitted this Dimarzio circuit:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Two pull switch volume pots and a pull switch tone.
The volume pots pull out for parallel over series humbuckers and the tone pot pulls out for series pickups.
Now it's a much improved beast. Pickups are quiet, powerful and delightfully unsubtle. The switching gives much better tonal variations. A very worthwhile mod.
Peter
I used the wrapped cloth technique to remove a volume knob and the pot spindle came away.
Looking at replacing the pot I did some investigating and discovered that the pickups aren't switchable series/parallel as I thought but they actually switch from series to a single coil in series with a capacitor. A sorted of tuned single coil mode.
So I fitted this Dimarzio circuit:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Two pull switch volume pots and a pull switch tone.
The volume pots pull out for parallel over series humbuckers and the tone pot pulls out for series pickups.
Now it's a much improved beast. Pickups are quiet, powerful and delightfully unsubtle. The switching gives much better tonal variations. A very worthwhile mod.
Peter
Funny post, and quite true. The one time I happened to encounter her, at Sam Ash, she looked like a real floozy, cheap and nasty, clad in a style that appeared mismatched and haphazard.
But then I heard her sing in a recent TB video shootout, and I thought she emerged the clear winner -- or at least a top contenter -- in the the sonic sweepstakes. So while I am not about to flip any Fenders to raise scratch to blow courting this gal, I certainly appreciate why some of you guys would want to date her, and I am confident that as you squire here around you will be sure to turn many heads.
Played a 2014 eb yesterday. I didn't have the slightest inclination to try it out when I saw it first, I was playing a epi t-bird actually! Then a salesman came and asked if I tried the eb. I am one for giving new things a chance so I said yes.
Boy am I ever glad that I tried this thing out. Lots of usable tones, can range from fat and round to a razor sharp growl. I tried it out with a gk 1001rb through a traynor 210 at first. It was very good tone that opened my eyes at the first note. Then we plugged it into a traynor yba 200-2 with the same cabinet. That is when I truly fell in love with, this bass responds so well with a tube amp. It really opened up the tones and everything just kinda fell into place. If you guys get a chance to play it into a decent tube amp, do it!
Its crazy, I had other salesmen come in and compliment me on my tone. This is a long and mcquade so not a commission based store and they have actual working musicians that work there.
I am usually not that overwhelmed by Gibson basses, I want to really like them but they are missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. This bass puts at least 1.5 fingers on that something in my opinion.
Put it on lay away till I can get some more cash to pick it up.
Here is another video of the 2013, dunno if somebody posted it already. Its in Spanish but the reviewer plays with a drummer.
Invalid Link Removed
Boy am I ever glad that I tried this thing out. Lots of usable tones, can range from fat and round to a razor sharp growl. I tried it out with a gk 1001rb through a traynor 210 at first. It was very good tone that opened my eyes at the first note. Then we plugged it into a traynor yba 200-2 with the same cabinet. That is when I truly fell in love with, this bass responds so well with a tube amp. It really opened up the tones and everything just kinda fell into place. If you guys get a chance to play it into a decent tube amp, do it!
Its crazy, I had other salesmen come in and compliment me on my tone. This is a long and mcquade so not a commission based store and they have actual working musicians that work there.
I am usually not that overwhelmed by Gibson basses, I want to really like them but they are missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. This bass puts at least 1.5 fingers on that something in my opinion.
Put it on lay away till I can get some more cash to pick it up.
Here is another video of the 2013, dunno if somebody posted it already. Its in Spanish but the reviewer plays with a drummer.
Invalid Link Removed
I would love to check one of these basses out; I will try the first chance I get.
Mike
P.S. The guy is speaking Italian in the video.
I would love to check one of these basses out; I will try the first chance I get.
Mike
P.S. The guy is speaking Italian in the video.
Hahah well at least I guessed a latin based language
well, I've been gigging my 5 string eb a ton - it's super light, plays like butta, great passive tone, flexible. works well on jazz and blues gigs.
I swapped the electronics out for vol/tone/pu switch/coil tap - the tap switches both pu's from single to parallel. I need the one vol control; I go direct at most gigs, and also run the mixer, so I must keep it simple. I bought the harness on ebay. 500k pots - I'll probably swap the vol pot for a 250k or 125k.
first gig review - works very well, but I definitely will change the volume pot to a lower resistance - too bright w/the 500k - I'll start with 250k, because I have them in hand...
I swapped the electronics out for vol/tone/pu switch/coil tap - the tap switches both pu's from single to parallel. I need the one vol control; I go direct at most gigs, and also run the mixer, so I must keep it simple. I bought the harness on ebay. 500k pots - I'll probably swap the vol pot for a 250k or 125k.
first gig review - works very well, but I definitely will change the volume pot to a lower resistance - too bright w/the 500k - I'll start with 250k, because I have them in hand...
