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An Amazing little version of the SG: https://images.gibson.com/Products/.../Documents/SG-Bass-4String-2018-One-Sheet.pdf
I'm new to EB land. Just got this walnut brown 1970 EB-0L. Loving it. The 'case' it came with, if one can call it a case was aftermarket, likely also 50ish years old and definitely not sized properly for this old lady.
Given this is a slothead model with the tuners sticking out the back of the headstock, I'd guess I'm a bit limited on suitable cases. Any ideas? I believe I read somewhete that the Epi EB-3 case would work as it's longscale, just dunno if there's room for the tuners on my EB-0L...
Given this is a slothead model with the tuners sticking out the back of the headstock, I'd guess I'm a bit limited on suitable cases. Any ideas? I believe I read somewhete that the Epi EB-3 case would work as it's longscale, just dunno if there's room for the tuners on my EB-0L...
Epiphone case fits as good as any aftermarket case ever will. Ask me how I know...
BTW, the original bridge was still in the pocket of the case, right ?
Yep. Kudos to Allentown GC they packed that exceptionally well. First box held a second box wrapped in bubblewrap, inside that was the case - wrapped in bubblewrap, holding the bass-- wrapped in bubblewrap and made form fitting with extra foam. The original bridge was in the case and was also, yes, wrapped in bubblewrap. Detroit GC was very impressed!Epiphone case fits as good as any aftermarket case ever will. Ask me how I know...
BTW, the original bridge was still in the pocket of the case, right ?
5string SG,s? are they fairly easy to find? I would love to have one some day to keep my G&L company...
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
beautiful work,,really admire the 8 string would like to try that,,must be a lot of fun.
My Novak EB-BSx neck pickup apparently died about three weeks ago after letting a friend borrow my bass (hmmm - but I don't see how he could have broken a pickup, so whatevs). Went back to my practice room a few nights later and still dead (wanted to see if it would magically repair itself). The bridge pickup still worked fine, so it wasn't the cable or the amp, etc. Came back a 3rd night with some tools and it still didn't work, but I got distracted by actually playing music whilst just using the bridge pickup and never got around to investigating further.
So, took it home where I could work on it at my leisure, opened the back up and...dang, it looked beautiful. My tech had done a really nice job with the wiring, and everything seemed solid in there (no loose wire I could just re-solder myself, etc.)
So, put the control cavity cover back on, brought it over to my tech's shop and...it worked fine at the shop
What the...?!
The push-pull switch he used is actually too big for the cover to close on the cavity (it had been lifting the cover up a bit by the top corner). When I put the cover back on, I just left it loose up there since the (lifted up) screws in that corner weren't easily grabbing. The tech said maybe relieving the pressure fixed the situation. Who knows. Seems like a problem that could reoccur, so I'm not completely thrilled, but as long as it works...
Anyway, I'd never installed those Hipshot Ultralite tuners I'd gotten for it last year, so I left them and the bass with him and will go back later this week to pick it up. Looking forward to finally having my SG Bass re-spec project completely finished! Neck pickup, bridge, nut, tuners, strings and setup will all finally be how I've been wanting them. Yeah
So, took it home where I could work on it at my leisure, opened the back up and...dang, it looked beautiful. My tech had done a really nice job with the wiring, and everything seemed solid in there (no loose wire I could just re-solder myself, etc.)
So, put the control cavity cover back on, brought it over to my tech's shop and...it worked fine at the shop
What the...?!The push-pull switch he used is actually too big for the cover to close on the cavity (it had been lifting the cover up a bit by the top corner). When I put the cover back on, I just left it loose up there since the (lifted up) screws in that corner weren't easily grabbing. The tech said maybe relieving the pressure fixed the situation. Who knows. Seems like a problem that could reoccur, so I'm not completely thrilled, but as long as it works...
Anyway, I'd never installed those Hipshot Ultralite tuners I'd gotten for it last year, so I left them and the bass with him and will go back later this week to pick it up. Looking forward to finally having my SG Bass re-spec project completely finished! Neck pickup, bridge, nut, tuners, strings and setup will all finally be how I've been wanting them. Yeah
I paid $999 which is still a great deal. Most sellers are trying to get quite a bit more than that.
Well, I finally got those Hipshot tuners in and my planned re-spec'ing of my SG Bass is now complete: bone nut, EB-BSx neck pickup, SuperTone Bridge, my desired setup (thanks to the new bridge) and, finally, Ultralite tuners
It's been a long, slow project as I've been suffering from some ear woes and my activities have resultingly been cut way back, but anyway, it's done and I spent the evening getting reacquainted with, dare I say it, my favorite bass 
I mean, my P bass is my all-time favorite, but since I got the enew pickup in, and then especially after putting on the new bridge, the bass I want to play anymore is the SG. Anyway, I still love and play my Ps, but I guess it's more that my Mustang is getting bumped from it's spot as (along with my MIM P) co-favorite. Oh well, sorry Mr. Mustang; I'll surely circle back around to you in due course, don't worry
Regarding the new tuners, I have to say, it's a bit of a mixed bag. I went with the Ultralites in hopes of eliminating this bass's neck diving once and for all. Didn't do it, the bass still tries to pull my shirt off over my left shoulder (though now it's with a pull more like that of an easy lover rather than the previous frenzied tug of a demented groupie).
As a secondary consideration, I always thought it was funny how the stock tuners stuck out like Jughead's ears and I was hoping to be able to pull those in tighter to the headstock, and in that regard, these "short Y-key" Ultralites are a complete success
I mean, my P bass is my all-time favorite, but since I got the enew pickup in, and then especially after putting on the new bridge, the bass I want to play anymore is the SG. Anyway, I still love and play my Ps, but I guess it's more that my Mustang is getting bumped from it's spot as (along with my MIM P) co-favorite. Oh well, sorry Mr. Mustang; I'll surely circle back around to you in due course, don't worry Regarding the new tuners, I have to say, it's a bit of a mixed bag. I went with the Ultralites in hopes of eliminating this bass's neck diving once and for all. Didn't do it, the bass still tries to pull my shirt off over my left shoulder (though now it's with a pull more like that of an easy lover rather than the previous frenzied tug of a demented groupie).
As a secondary consideration, I always thought it was funny how the stock tuners stuck out like Jughead's ears and I was hoping to be able to pull those in tighter to the headstock, and in that regard, these "short Y-key" Ultralites are a complete success
D
Poor, poor me. I am never going to know the frenzied tug of a demented groupie. 
More for you tuner junkies:
I'm happy enough, but if I could do it over again, I'd go for the Gotoh GB528 RES-O-LITEs instead. This is mainly for the following reasons:
1) the Res-o-lites are a direct drop-in replacement that I could have done myself and thereby saved a lot of time and money
2) the Ultralites permanently mod the back of the headstock with a new screw hole (and, I can guess, impression in the finish) each
3) the Ultralites leave the old screw holes and impressions in the finish [from the stock tuning machines] sticking out like a set of four sore thumbs
4) the Hipshot look doesn't match the Gibson look, including that the tuning keys themselves have a dull finish to them
and finally,
5) the Ultralites didn't completely solve the neck dive issue anyway
I knew most of the above going in, but I was willing to have an ugly back of the headstock (which no one ever sees) in exchange for no neck dive, which didn't quite happen. Nevertheless, if I had gone for the Gotoh Res-o-lites, they wouldn't have solved the neck dive either (they're slightly heavier than the Ultralites), so I always would have thought, "Dang, I shoulda gone for those Ultralites!" Oh, well, now I know. Live and learn.
On the positive side, the tuners are as light as possible, so neck dive was minimized as much as possible. Also, although Clover keys are the classic bass look, I prefer the Y-key style anyway as they're more comfortable on my fingers when tuning. Also, these tuners are very precise - no slop; definitely very nice in that way. Finally, the dulled finish (not what I expected on "chrome" tuning keys) doesn't look bad, especially from the front. So, like I said, I'm happy enough
I'm happy enough, but if I could do it over again, I'd go for the Gotoh GB528 RES-O-LITEs instead. This is mainly for the following reasons:
1) the Res-o-lites are a direct drop-in replacement that I could have done myself and thereby saved a lot of time and money
2) the Ultralites permanently mod the back of the headstock with a new screw hole (and, I can guess, impression in the finish) each
3) the Ultralites leave the old screw holes and impressions in the finish [from the stock tuning machines] sticking out like a set of four sore thumbs
4) the Hipshot look doesn't match the Gibson look, including that the tuning keys themselves have a dull finish to them
and finally,
5) the Ultralites didn't completely solve the neck dive issue anyway
I knew most of the above going in, but I was willing to have an ugly back of the headstock (which no one ever sees) in exchange for no neck dive, which didn't quite happen. Nevertheless, if I had gone for the Gotoh Res-o-lites, they wouldn't have solved the neck dive either (they're slightly heavier than the Ultralites), so I always would have thought, "Dang, I shoulda gone for those Ultralites!" Oh, well, now I know. Live and learn.
On the positive side, the tuners are as light as possible, so neck dive was minimized as much as possible. Also, although Clover keys are the classic bass look, I prefer the Y-key style anyway as they're more comfortable on my fingers when tuning. Also, these tuners are very precise - no slop; definitely very nice in that way. Finally, the dulled finish (not what I expected on "chrome" tuning keys) doesn't look bad, especially from the front. So, like I said, I'm happy enough
Even with the old tuner key impressions and screw holes, it's not so bad. These pictures definitely show the good side, but at some angles, the light really catches the impressions left in the finish from the old tuning machines and it very much sticks out that replacements have been put in. Couldn't capture that by myself on camera though. Usually the situation is somewhere inbetween these nice angles and the worst angles
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Finally, the front of the headstock has some damage to it from the job, too. The old bushings for the stock tuners had to come out I guess (so the tech told me), but the grooves/teeth in the bushings were pulling up some finish on the front of the headstock when they came out. So, he had to re-melt the finish around the tuner holes and sand it out. From the resulting dull areas and uneven finish depth, you can see where that work was done when holding it right there in your hands. Again, I didn't really capture that on camera.
And, from just like two feet away it's absolutely fine:
The extra work on the finish necessitated an extra fee though, plus an extra trip across the city when I found out (after already heading out to the shop) that it wasn't done yet. This got quite expensive - thankfully I got this bass used as these new tuners (not to mention all the other mods) have really added up.
Besides just wanting to tell my story, I'm posting all this to give other SG & EB Bass Clubbers all the info they might want if looking to get replacement tuners.
Overall, I'm happy. The front of the headstock is okay, but I didn't particularly expect there to be any marks there at all from tuner installation. The back of the headstock actually looks better than I expected going in. The tuners are light as possible, precise, comfortable with the Y-keys, and are not sticking out to the sides too much like the stock tuners were. Some negatives were involved, but overall, with the new tuners the bass is more comfortable and looks good, especially from the front
And, from just like two feet away it's absolutely fine:
The extra work on the finish necessitated an extra fee though, plus an extra trip across the city when I found out (after already heading out to the shop) that it wasn't done yet. This got quite expensive - thankfully I got this bass used as these new tuners (not to mention all the other mods) have really added up.
Besides just wanting to tell my story, I'm posting all this to give other SG & EB Bass Clubbers all the info they might want if looking to get replacement tuners.
Overall, I'm happy. The front of the headstock is okay, but I didn't particularly expect there to be any marks there at all from tuner installation. The back of the headstock actually looks better than I expected going in. The tuners are light as possible, precise, comfortable with the Y-keys, and are not sticking out to the sides too much like the stock tuners were. Some negatives were involved, but overall, with the new tuners the bass is more comfortable and looks good, especially from the front
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