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New Gibson EB bass

#722
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Here is my proposed wiring changes. What may not be apparent is the move of the coil taps to mini toggles and the jack to the side of the body.
 
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#723
gustophersmob said:
View attachment 903018 Here is my proposed wiring changes. What may not be apparent is the move of the coil taps to mini toggles and the jack to the side of the body.
Click to expand...

Well, got the mods done. I ended up going with a 3 way toggle instead of the blend. I also ruined 2 of the Bourns mini pots. I don't think they withstand the heat required to solder grounds to their case very well. I'm going to put full size pots in in a week or so even though it's a tight fit with the coil tap switches. I also currently have some cheap on/off/on switches in for the coil taps. In the 1st on position it is the factory coil tap with the cap to ground. In the 2nd on position it is a true coil tap where one coil is shorted out. I don't really care for the true coil tap tone, so I'm going to just put on/off toggles in there when I change the pots to keep it simple. So far, though, I like the setup.

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#724
gustophersmob said:
I also ruined 2 of the Bourns mini pots. I don't think they withstand the heat required to solder grounds to their case very well.
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I've been using Bourns pots for years without issues. If you have to hold your iron on the back of the pot for a long time then your iron isn't hot enough. You should only have to apply the iron for a second or two. Also, sometimes with Bourns pots I've found that scuffing the back with sandpaper helps. I also like to put some flux where the solder will go as well.
 
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#725
Dominic D said:
I've been using Bourns pots for years without issues. If you have to hold your iron on the back of the pot for a long time then your iron isn't hot enough. You should only have to apply the iron for a second or two. Also, sometimes with Bourns pots I've found that scuffing the back with sandpaper helps. I also like to put some flux where the solder will go as well.
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Yeah, I agree normally. I've got a fair bit of experience when it comes to soldering, so I doubt it's my technique or tools. I wonder if it's something to do with the mini sized versions?
 
#727
gustophersmob said:
well, got my new pots and mini toggles today so I swapped them out. These were full sized Bourns and I had no issues with them. The bass is officially done now. I know the pic looks basically the same, but the pots and mini switches are different, I promise! :)

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So how does she sound? What's the major sound difference vs the stock layout?
 
#728
GBassNorth said:
So how does she sound? What's the major sound difference vs the stock layout?
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Really not much different. The only things I've done that affect the sound are these:

1) single 500k volume instead of two 500k volumes in parallel (250k). In theory should make it sound brighter, but I don't hear much difference.
2) tone is off the input of the volume control so it does not affect volume when you turn the tone up and down
3) pickup selector switch removes option to partially blend the two pickups that the stock VVT setup has. For me, it's not a big deal, I much prefer a master volume.
 
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#729
Still loving my EB's. I have a black and a white one. I think they are perfect stock. It's funny to go back and read the first few pages of this thread. Sooo many haters. These basses slay IMO and built well. The neck is perfect size for me. I believe these will be one of those Gibsons people are gonna wish they had years from now, akin to the Grabbers and Rippers. The only fault of Gibson is discontinuing their best bass in decades only after a 2 year run.
 

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#732
I played it at band practice last night and am very pleased with my new setup. The Hipshot detuner works great, I much prefer the toggle switches for coil taps, I like the simplicity of the pickup selector switch over the blend, and most of all I love the master volume.

I'm really pleased with this bass. The quality flexibility and cost are a home run, IMO. I am a bit biased towards Gibson, though. My dad has a 50's J-45 since before I was born, and I got my own almost 20 years ago. My Gibson family is growing (pics taken before mods)

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#733
gustophersmob said:
I played it at band practice last night and am very pleased with my new setup. The Hipshot detuner works great, I much prefer the toggle switches for coil taps, I like the simplicity of the pickup selector switch over the blend, and most of all I love the master volume.

I'm really pleased with this bass. The quality flexibility and cost are a home run, IMO. I am a bit biased towards Gibson, though. My dad has a 50's J-45 since before I was born, and I got my own almost 20 years ago. My Gibson family is growing (pics taken before mods)

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Cool matching set! Great choices on both instruments.
 
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#736
Gaolee said:
That guitar is a knockout. If it sounds half as great as it looks, it's a fantastic instrument.
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Thanks! Again, I'm biased, but i think it's one of the best sounding acoustics I've heard. Outside those that get into really stupid money territory.

I don't think I'm 100% biased as I played a couple other j-45s when I bought mine, and the one I got sounded much better to me. Tone is subjective, though
 

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