I've never seen a Kalamazoo KB1 in either the mustangish style or the later sg style for sale or in the flesh. Mind you, I'm in the land Downunder so that's not suprising
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So the tone would be similar I guess. Or would pickup position in relation to a shorter scale length nullify any tonal similarities?
The bass player in this Jilted John clip is playing the SG style bodied Arbiter.
If i recall correctly, Arbiter in the U.K had distribution rights in Europe for Fender at some point, which is mentioned in this for sale in the U.K which erroneously says it was made by Arbiter, when actually Arbiter was not the manufacturer, only the importer. Has a typical Teisco/Kawai looking neck and tuners. Very pretty specimen imho [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
If i recall correctly, Arbiter in the U.K had distribution rights in Europe for Fender at some point, which is mentioned in this for sale in the U.K which erroneously says it was made by Arbiter, when actually Arbiter was not the manufacturer, only the importer. Has a typical Teisco/Kawai looking neck and tuners. Very pretty specimen imho [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Besides the early KB1 this girl jazz/blues singer has i only saw one in Chicago maybe 15 years ago...she runs DR flats and mostly finger style thru a MarkBass rig....Heather Newman, she is with Vizztone records, on YouTube.
Will try to check out.
A bit of German engineering. Check out this splendid piece 60' craftsmanship, courtesy of reverb . Hopf Hopf SG – 1960s German Vintage Solidbody Bass Guitar / Gitarre | Reverb Australia
I can feel an exploration of European made SG style basses coming on. I'm familiar with Framus and the exquisite Italian fashion statement EKO
But hadn't run into a Hopf before.
To me, they sound nothing alike...but...
I own a Midtown Signature Bass which sports the same pickups as the SG Bass. Sounds nothing like a Bird, IMO. However, my '87 Bass V does sound like a Bird to my ears, with the same pickups they used on both back then. With so many variances in the TB pickup range over the past 35 years, I don't think that even some of the Birds sound like what I imagine to be their signature sound...
And none of them sounds like the ones from the '60s...so...
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I don't know who the bass player in the Annette Peacock's band was back then, but that's a nice old EB-3 at the time when no one dared to be seen with one...
I love the TB bass tone but that shape is pretty lame, not gonna lie. It's probably the only Gibson/Epiphone shape that I don't really like.
Most here know about my KB1 clone. I bought an original neck off EBay and had it refretted, installed and set up by Lay's Guitar. Here's the finished product.
Sorry my cell takes giant photos!
I like the unique tuning keys too.
That's an Epi EB-0 body.
It was a radical shape in '63 and my biggest complaint is weight. I personally like the curvy, offset lines and the fat tones. It doesn't look as futuristic today but in 1963 it was unique.
They had to shim the neck pocket width ~3/16ths inch total to stabilize neck so not too much but you can feel the difference. I also have a few baseball bat size necks that I like to use for thumping on too.
Nice but not really a KB1 clone, just the neck....but its cool.
Yes but what else do I call it?
An EB-0 with a Kalamazoo Bass neck is too long...KB1 Clone sounds better!
Ha! its an EB3 type but it certainly looks cool i bet it sounds good too.
The thing about neck 'mudbucker only' basses is EQ, string choice and picking style matter even more imo...i happen to play with a pick a lot by the bridge or thumb.
Some amps overdrive a lot with mudbuckers so lowering the pickup as much as possible helps a bunch but some amps dont have extensive EQ...HPF is recommended as well.
I've been playing bass since 1967. The first bass I played was a USN issued 66-ish Gibson EB-3. After I left the Navy in late 68, I bought my own. It was my main(OK, only)bass 'til spring 73 when I got my 67 Gibson Thunderbird, which then became my main bass.
IMO, one should buy a bass not based on what one's favorite bassist plays, but on what feels and looks good to you. Many of the bassists I was most impressed by on recordings played Precisions(I didn't know this until many years later); some played J's; some played EB-0s/3s; some played Hofners/Rics. I tried a Ric-very uncomfortable. I've never even held a PBass.
None of us is likely to become Jamerson, or Jaco, or Carol Kaye, or anyone else famous.
IMO, one should buy a bass not based on what one's favorite bassist plays, but on what feels and looks good to you. Many of the bassists I was most impressed by on recordings played Precisions(I didn't know this until many years later); some played J's; some played EB-0s/3s; some played Hofners/Rics. I tried a Ric-very uncomfortable. I've never even held a PBass.
None of us is likely to become Jamerson, or Jaco, or Carol Kaye, or anyone else famous.
I always tried to be a little different with my gear and only own one P Bass with a reverse headstock.
You have a very cool NR T-Bird! I see it's a '67! Sweet!
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I should probably clarify that's it's mostly the reverse offset shape that puts me off. I like the non reverse TB shape a lot better. If only they weren't 2000 dollars. 
