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I just happened to be listening to The Nazz and I thought you guys would enjoy this EB-0 sound from 1968-69
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I'm pretty sure he played that bass all throughout The Nazz, ever hear the original version of 'Hello It's Me' by them? It makes me want to get one, I almost did a few years ago but the seller backed out.
You can see the bass in this video, lousy audio though:
My first real bass was a 66 Gibson EB-3. After some experimentation with all 4 switch positions, I only used position 1-Mudbucker(except for the bass break on "All Right Now"-pos. 2-bridge). Much of the time I was playing through one of these(I remember my settings-Bass input, V-4 or 5, Tr-5, B-10, Presence-10):
I think I told you this before but I played upright in a 50's rock/blues and rockabilly band during the early 2000's with a guitarist who had two of those, they sounded great cranked up, he only used one at a time.
Took them both to practice last night:
I also have a walnut, slotted '71 EB-3 and bought it back in '72 right after I saw Bowie's bass player Trevor Bolder rocking one.
I had one back then too.I also have a walnut, slotted '71 EB-3 and bought it back in '72 right after I saw Bowie's bass player Trevor Bolder rocking one.
Well, I have LaBella flats on the SG and D'Addario nickel rounds on the LP, so any tonal comparison would be pretty swayed by that. Pickup placement on the SG lends it to either that good round thumpiness with the neck pickup or a real punchy midrange with the bridge pickup. The LP is more like a robust Precision with a bit wider range, a little fuller sounding. Sounds really good. The LP has a push pull that makes the pickup go from series to placing a capacitor across one coil (basically their version of G&L's OMG circuit). It's subtle, but tends to scoop out the high mids a little.
The necks feel similar, though the LP feels a little thicker front-to-back. Both necks are very comfortable.
I prefer the SG when sitting down for two reasons. First, the obvious arm bevel that the LP doesn't have. But also because the waist on the LP is closer to the neck, so when it's sitting on my leg, the bass shifts further to the right and brings the nut in closer than I find I like. Standing, the lack of arm contour on the LP is less noticeable and the LP is lighter and balances better than the SG, and the reach to the nut is similar on both when on a strap.
Fit and finish, the SG takes it all the way. I know the LP was trying to have that unpolished look, but the one thing that they could have done better is that there is an obvious ridge from where the fretboard was taped off when the neck was sprayed. You can feel it. It's not horrible or a deal breaker, but it's noticeable.
One other thing about the LP, it's honesty one of the most resonant and acoustically loud basses that I've had. So it's real nice to play unplugged because it just sings.
I own both of these basses also and would agree 100% with your assessment of the sound and feel of both. My LP even has the fretboard paint ridge. Both killer basses though.
Gibson SG Bass Bass Guitar (Puente Hills, CA) | Reverb
Now that the market seems to be coming down a bit what would you guys say is the going rate for a used faded SG bass?
A local Sam Ash has one in stock; they're asking 1100. Its a bit dinged up which I don't mind but the price should reflect that. I shot them an offer on reverb and they came down to $980 plus shipping and tax(~$1080). Went in person because I saw on their website they have a 15% off sale. With tax it was still around $1080 so same thing really. I asked if they'd do 1k out the door and they said no; they just listed it though. I really like the bass but 1100 for a faded sg bass seems like a lot to me. I had one in college that I bought new for ~500 on sale and sold for about that much. That was about 8 years ago, Def regret it now lol.
Now that the market seems to be coming down a bit what would you guys say is the going rate for a used faded SG bass?
A local Sam Ash has one in stock; they're asking 1100. Its a bit dinged up which I don't mind but the price should reflect that. I shot them an offer on reverb and they came down to $980 plus shipping and tax(~$1080). Went in person because I saw on their website they have a 15% off sale. With tax it was still around $1080 so same thing really. I asked if they'd do 1k out the door and they said no; they just listed it though. I really like the bass but 1100 for a faded sg bass seems like a lot to me. I had one in college that I bought new for ~500 on sale and sold for about that much. That was about 8 years ago, Def regret it now lol.
If your heart is not set on faded model as an absolute must, here's this one - presuming that you don't mind the pickup swap - at what I'd consider to be about the going rate
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D
Hard to believe that price. I bought my 2013 faded cherry SG new from Sweetwater in September 2014 on a "move 'em out" sale for $599 with the hard case, down from $799. I replaced the bridge with a Hipshot SuperTone and added LaBella DTFs. Love that bass still. It was my first shortie. I have 5 now. My Fender Jazz is in storage.
FWIW, I really liked Sweetwater. I bought a ton of stuff from them when I lived in the States. I especially liked that they photographed and weighed each available bass (above $300?), and let you order a specific serial number. One of the 2013 SGs that they had on sale was misassembled at the factory. Their QC didn't catch it, and neither did the Sweetwater tech who photographed it. The cable jack and tone control were reversed! I sent Sweetwater an email pointing it out and they fixed it and re-photo'd it. Good on them.
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I bought an SG because I loved the Jr.
I prefer the sound and the two knob simplicity of the Jr , but the SG is a nice bass.
I prefer the sound and the two knob simplicity of the Jr , but the SG is a nice bass.
Thanks, yea I'm aware of that one. Thats the thing, you could basically get one of the standard models for around 1k plus tax. Seems like the faded ones should be cheaper. I actually do prefer the faded models though! I like the dot inlays and they also tend to be super light.
I've seen two faded ones locally that were around $800 and they both lasted less than two days. Its funny because these basses are supposedly not popular but people are def into them. I think 8-900 would be a good price to get them.
I bought mine from musicians friend in 2014-15. This was back when Gibson would have blowout sales every November lol. def got some good stuff around that time period.
