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SG & EB Bass Club

#11,641
It was around 2010 I learned about the choke and the extra caps in the Rivoli and I bypassed them. It sounded much better but I think there was something wrong with the pickup in my bass. Some notes sounded normal and then some notes at particular frets would be like three times the sound level of the fretted note next to it. The bass sounded absolutely glorious acoustically so I knew it was not a physical issue with the wood like the dead spots you get on Fender basses at certain frets and some kind of pickup issue. When I replaced the stock pickup with the Novak EB-BSx that odd volume difference went away and the bass sounded just as good plugged in as it did acoustically.
 
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#11,644
GonePlaid said:
And played with the thumb!:cool:
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I hadn't even noticed that. That song/tempo would be a real thumb workout, eh.

I think I'd run into issues (tendonitis, or I dunno… something would surely give out) if I tried to keep that up.

Looking closer, it seems like he may have thumpicks on his thumb and index finger? I've tried thumpicks like twice in my life, both times many, many years ago, so I wouldn't know if that would help or hurt… Anyway, sounds cool.

I like the tone. Fits the song perfect. I'm a big P bass fan, but looking at a later vid of Muddy doing this song, but with the bass player playing a P bass, it didn't fit as well to to my taste. EB-0 for the win :bassist:
 
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#11,645
I was buying a Gibson EB-2 from 1968 at a very decent price. Unfortunately, it is no collector item but a great player. The headstock was broken and have been professionally repaired by a renowned luthier in my region. The original Mudbucker is missing and replaced by an Artec EBA4 Alnico V pickup. Someone was crazy enough in the past, to drill a hole in the top to place a mini switch there. I connected the pickup directly to that mini switch which gives me additinal sounds. After all, this is an excellent player and just sounds great. The combination with the Alnico pickup together with Fender flats is absolutely top.
The instrument is nicely aged, the neck is straight, the truss rod is working as it should, the action is very low. Just fun.
 

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#11,646
Bassistcool said:
I was buying a Gibson EB-2 from 1968 at a very decent price. Unfortunately, it is no collector item but a great player. The headstock was broken and have been professionally repaired by a renowned luthier in my region. The original Mudbucker is missing and replaced by an Artec EBA4 Alnico V pickup. Someone was crazy enough in the past, to drill a hole in the top to place a mini switch there. I connected the pickup directly to that mini switch which gives me additinal sounds. After all, this is an excellent player and just sounds great. The combination with the Alnico pickup together with Fender flats is absolutely top.
The instrument is nicely aged, the neck is straight, the truss rod is working as it should, the action is very low. Just fun.
Click to expand...

That looks great to me! If I ever get another Rivoli/EB-2, it will be a "player" that I wont feel bad about doing some modifications to.
 
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#11,647
Bassistcool said:
I was buying a Gibson EB-2 from 1968 at a very decent price. Unfortunately, it is no collector item but a great player. The headstock was broken and have been professionally repaired by a renowned luthier in my region. The original Mudbucker is missing and replaced by an Artec EBA4 Alnico V pickup. Someone was crazy enough in the past, to drill a hole in the top to place a mini switch there. I connected the pickup directly to that mini switch which gives me additinal sounds. After all, this is an excellent player and just sounds great. The combination with the Alnico pickup together with Fender flats is absolutely top.
The instrument is nicely aged, the neck is straight, the truss rod is working as it should, the action is very low. Just fun.
Click to expand...
Wow, I don't know if it's just the photography, but that one looks particularly great (to me). Enjoy!
 
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#11,648
I have a Gibson trussrod adjustment tool I've had for many years. It worked for a Les Paul bass, my 2014 Thunderbird, and my '69 EB0/EB3. However; it is too tall for my 2014 SG, and started stripping the trussrod nut when I tried to use it.

Does anyone know of a Gibson trussrod tool that isn't as tall (I don't want to modify one as I don't have a vise anymore).
 
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#11,652
ctmullins said:
Find a soapbar with a tone you like (hint: there are soapbar P pickups) and do that instead. Much easier and looks better IMHO.
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I just found your sound clip from the EB with the three soapbar pickups, CS at the bridge, P in the middle and P at the neck from a post in 2022, and I really liked the P in the middle. I think I will start with just the P in the middle, but later do exactly what you did, moving the neck pickup slightly away from the neck a bit and the middle exactly where you put yours, but no bridge pickup. That was a very nice setup.
 
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#11,654
CochinoBass said:
I just found your sound clip from the EB with the three soapbar pickups, CS at the bridge, P in the middle and P at the neck from a post in 2022, and I really liked the P in the middle. I think I will start with just the P in the middle, but later do exactly what you did, moving the neck pickup slightly away from the neck a bit and the middle exactly where you put yours, but no bridge pickup. That was a very nice setup.
Click to expand...
Awesome! Yeah, that little beastie is a keeper. Was recording with it the last few days.
 
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#11,656
I'm pretty impressed with it so far. Excellent build quality, nice low action and very comfortable. The P pickups are hot and punchy and the Rio Grande is especially nice sounding.
It weighs just under 8 pounds. Feels well balanced on my lap, but I haven't had a strap on it yet. If I experience any neck dive while standing with it tomorrow, I'll report in.
 
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#11,658
I have to agrwith ajkula66 on the flats. My 69 EB3 came wearing flats. They sounded great, a really woody but powerful tone. I tried, but the extreme diameter really hurt my fretting hand, even after a month, just not meant to be.

Today I put on a Supertone even though the origional bridge was working, looks good, and gets me the super low action I like. Put on some DR Hi-Beams, they feel and sound great, with way more versatility than the flats had. I never put strings on a bass without a tuner slot before. That was tedious, but it'll be quicker next time. I just need to figure out why the A string won't intonate for me.

What a cool bass, and the Guild PUP really sounds good soloed, gets me the aggressive tone I need for some of the Warwick/Stingray tone. A really fun bass to play.

I'll trim the strings tomorrow, I ran out of steam tonite.

20260322_222530.jpg
 
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#11,659
Thumper said:
What a cool bass, and the Guild PUP really sounds good soloed, gets me the aggressive tone I need for some of the Warwick/Stingray tone.
Click to expand...

My '76 JS-2 sports a pair of these pickups and they're pretty amazing. The bridge PU provides an "angry Jazz Bass" sound better than most Fenders that I've owned, and I've owned *very many* Jazz Basses.

I'm very happy to hear that you're enjoying the old girl. Here's for a lifetime of happiness for the two of you!
 
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