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SG & EB Bass Club

#7,721
reep said:
I'm a relative newcomer on the SG/EB Club thread, so I hope you don't mind if I inquire about SleepingEBO's comment.....What is the annoying spring issue that hasn't been addressed? Is there a design deficiency and does it relate to why people are swapping the standard three-point bridge for the Hipshot?
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Well, let's have @sleepingEB0 answer that question...I'm not all that certain what he's referring to.

Michael Jewels said:
I owned an Ovation Magnum in the late 70s. I loved the sound, but eventually could not stand the looks, so I sold it.

Serial # 00488.

Mike
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I hear you. Back in the '80s I sold the best Strat-shaped-instrument I'm ever likely to come across because the colour was bugging me out and I wasn't about to have it refinished...
 
#7,722
l

l
reep said:
SleepingEBO said "The SG bass still has an annoying spring issue that's not been addressed for it's 19 year life. Crazy it's been around as long as the EB3 and not changed."

I'm a relative newcomer on the SG/EB Club thread, so I hope you don't mind if I inquire about SleepingEBO's comment.....What is the annoying spring issue that hasn't been addressed? Is there a design deficiency and does it relate to why people are swapping the standard three-point bridge for the Hipshot?
Click to expand...

It's minor, underneath the pickup is some spring (or something) that inevitably comes loose and rattles around in there making a minor but annoying sound.

the 3 point bridge people hate but that's because the strings catch to close to the saddles and the silk wrap wrests on the saddle instead of string and they believe it affects the sustain or mutes the sound or if you play higher tension they think it weakens the core of the string and leads to shorter life.

that isn't a view that I ascribe too but its the source of the distaste for the 3 point bridge. Imo it's a high quality bridge. Really Gibson should just make the change to make people happy even though I agree there is no need. It's a cad machined unit so it woidont be that hard to adjust it.

as for the pickups. I like them. Good modern sound and they balance each other very well which wasn't something the EB3 version did.
The EB3 of course had adjustable pole pieces which is ideal but there also can be a slight volume drop off under heavy plucking as the string moves out of the pole. The tbird blade design of the SG bass does not have this (and fender of course has two non adjustable studs instead of one pole or a bar). Overall the new pickups are certainly easier to live with for modern music and can get close to mudbucker sound (though not in output). They have a similar EQ but with more low and middle mids.

also while I'm nitpicking the neck break angle is epiphone and not Gibson and I don't like it. The necks are still done by hand so you can get the 64 bigger size or a very thin neck so try a few out to get one you like.

i also think it needs binding and I think it needs VVTT and a pickup selector instead of the Tbird controls. I think all neck rather than central pickup basses should have this but another discussion.

That's my opinion. Clearly the Market likes these basses better than the EB3 because it's not Changed and has had a long life.
 
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#7,723
I have an Epi EB-0 and honestly, it's the best playing bass I have. I bought it used from an independent music store about 4 years ago, and it was set up to perfection. I don't know what strings are on it, but it's a pleasure to play. All in all, for $125, it's a great player. The bridge isn't an issue, because I've never had to touch it. The neck is very stable. My only kick is that Epi should have used a smaller HS, like the one on my Allen Woody.
 
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#7,724
Ostie said:
I have an Epi EB-0 and honestly, it's the best playing bass I have. I bought it used from an independent music store about 4 years ago, and it was set up to perfection. I don't know what strings are on it, but it's a pleasure to play. All in all, for $125, it's a great player. The bridge isn't an issue, because I've never had to touch it. The neck is very stable. My only kick is that Epi should have used a smaller HS, like the one on my Allen Woody.
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I was VERY impressed with it in the store. Imo it's as good as any bass up to the DC Jr Les Paul.

I do wish they would set the neck is my only nit pick
 
#7,725
sleepingEB0 said:
I was VERY impressed with it in the store. Imo it's as good as any bass up to the DC Jr Les Paul.

I do wish they would set the neck is my only nit pick
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Setting the neck would easily double the price, which might not be an issue for a lot of buyers, but the Epi EB-0 is, after all, is an entry-level instrument. A very good one, in the same price point as The Gretsch Junior Jet, Ibanez TMB-30, Squier VM Jaguar, etc. All have bolt-on necks.
 
#7,726
Ostie said:
Setting the neck would easily double the price, which might not be an issue for a lot of buyers, but the Epi EB-0 is, after all, is an entry-level instrument. A very good one, in the same price point as The Gretsch Junior Jet, Ibanez TMB-30, Squier VM Jaguar, etc. All have bolt-on necks.
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its funny, and I Belive you, but I got in a little tiff with John Suhr once who said it wouldn't cost him anything extra to set all his necks and he thought bolt ons were better.

I feel we both knew he was just protecting his business and their prices.
 
#7,727
sleepingEB0 said:
underneath the pickup is some spring (or something) that inevitably comes loose and rattles around in there making a minor but annoying sound
Click to expand...

Nothing comes loose, and there are no springs under the PU cover; there is only a little bit of foam between the pickup and the cavity route. It eventually compresses, and what is heard is the pickup vibrating against the cover.

Annoying, but an easy fix. Weatherstripping foam works well. I have some below and above the pickup on mine
 
#7,728
sleepingEB0 said:
its funny, and I Belive you, but I got in a little tiff with John Suhr once who said it wouldn't cost him anything extra to set all his necks and he thought bolt ons were better.

I feel we both knew he was just protecting his business and their prices.
Click to expand...

I've built a number of both.

There isn't any appreciable labor difference (therefore no appreciable difference in labor cost) between gluing a neck in and bolting a neck on.

There is the obvious difference in serviceability for a bolt-on.
 
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#7,730
ajkula66 said:
Well, let's have @sleepingEB0 answer that question...I'm not all that certain what he's referring to.
I hear you. Back in the '80s I sold the best Strat-shaped-instrument I'm ever likely to come across because the colour was bugging me out and I wasn't about to have it refinished...
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Dang I had an Ovation Hard Body Bass with some real Bling Hardware on it. The Bridge is a Schaller High Mass chunk of chrome WITH a whammy bar. I didn't use it that much but it always stayed in tune. A bending base note can sound crazy! It got knocked as a plywood body but it was actually solid maple laminates in a stack...thing was like a tank but light. Mine was a beautiful metallic red but I could only find a Black example.
upload_2023-1-4_22-0-8.png
 
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