SG & EB Bass Club

[descendent22]

Not really, just turn the volume down on the bridge pick up and you still have your EB-0 sound.

I would never route an instrument if I don't have to. I installed EMG pickups on my PBass and there was no room for the 9v battery so I hadda route out the cavity to make it fit. For my 1st time it came out pretty decent or acceptable. As far as doing so to an EB0 what's the point? I'll just buy an SG special or standard if he want that pickup. No need for all that nonsense work and risk of ruining the bass.

 

[Jon Clegg]

They moved the neck pickup to that mid position in 1972 I believe. The Varitone (on that one) was taken out of it also and a probably three way switch installed in it's place, that bass has been modded quite a bit.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Yeah, random pic of an EB-3 taken off the web. But, illustrates the point of the pickup having been moved. Now just need to find a recording of one

 

[ajkula66]

Yeah, random pic of an EB-3 taken off the web. But, illustrates the point of the pickup having been moved. Now just need to find a recording of one

The fourth generation EB-0/3 are not a difficult find to test in person, and nowhere near as pricey as their older siblings. I'd rely on that approach much rather than chasing a recording of one.

They are by far my least favourite generation of them all, but tastes differ. I don't know how close you are to Fairfax, but GC over there appears to have one of them in stock.

Happy hunting.

 

[bobyoung53]

Yeah, random pic of an EB-3 taken off the web. But, illustrates the point of the pickup having been moved. Now just need to find a recording of one

I have heard they didn't sound much different, never tried one though. That Fly Guitars EB-3 page has a lot of great info on EB-3's.

 

[bobyoung53]

Anyone try one of these harnesses? They have two different ones, one without the Jack Bruce mod and one with. I just bought one and I'll let you all know how it differs from the stock harness. I bought it because position 3 with both pickups and the neck choked is supposed to be fuller with more bottom, the Jack Bruce mod is a plus for me. I'll have it in a few weeks, the tech had to make a special one for the wide 65 spacing. I kind of like it the way it is but there are situations where I'd like a little more bottom and mids, we'll see.

Gibson EB-3 Harness Jack Bruce Mode Bourns Pots Custom KellingSound | eBay

 

[ghostinthemach]

Anyone try one of these harnesses? They have two different ones, one without the Jack Bruce mod and one with. I just bought one and I'll let you all know how it differs from the stock harness. I bought it because position 3 with both pickups and the neck choked is supposed to be fuller with more bottom, the Jack Bruce mod is a plus for me. I'll have it in a few weeks, the tech had to make a special one for the wide 65 spacing. I kind of like it the way it is but there are situations where I'd like a little more bottom and mids, we'll see.

Gibson EB-3 Harness Jack Bruce Mode Bourns Pots Custom KellingSound | eBay

What is the Jack Bruce mod?

 

[bobyoung53]

What is the Jack Bruce mod?

Supposedly he had a diode (or something) put in his EB-3 to get that dirty sound he got, I always thought it was from his cranked Marshalls, but I just got it for the heck of it and maybe it will sound good. I wanted the harness anyway so I figured I'd get the one with the Jack Bruce mod for 10 more bucks, it's set up like the Rickenbacker cap, you pull up on the tone and it goes into the circuit and you can control the amount of distortion with the pot, sounds like it will be cool and I can always put the bass back to stock but it's not like it is a pristine 65 anyway, it's been stripped and had a headstock break many years ago.

 

[ghostinthemach]

Supposedly he had a diode (or something) put in his EB-3 to get that dirty sound he got, I always thought it was from his cranked Marshalls, but I just got it for the heck of it and maybe it will sound good. I wanted the harness anyway so I figured I'd get the one with the Jack Bruce mod for 10 more bucks, it's set up like the Rickenbacker cap, you pull up on the tone and it goes into the circuit and you can control the amount of distortion with the pot, sounds like it will be cool and I can always put the bass back to stock but it's not like it is a pristine 65 anyway, it's been stripped and had a headstock break many years ago.

Back in that day I owned a bass Marshall stack and stock EB-3 and spent 100's of hours 'looking' for JB's tone. There was no TB to consult with other like-minded players. Now that I'm getting the info I don't have the need for his tone in any of my current projects, but...I do daydream about a Cream tribute every now and then.
Thanks @bobyoung53 for the info!

 

[StudioGC]

I would never route an instrument if I don't have to. I installed EMG pickups on my PBass and there was no room for the 9v battery so I hadda route out the cavity to make it fit. For my 1st time it came out pretty decent or acceptable. As far as doing so to an EB0 what's the point? I'll just buy an SG special or standard if he want that pickup. No need for all that nonsense work and risk of ruining the bass.

My thoughts were you can usually find epi EB-O's for dirt cheap used....often under $100. You mentioned earlier you were looking for a epi EB-3....which are harder to find and more expensive. Get a EB-O and then the sky's the limit for what you can add in the bridge position. Filtertron? Jazz bass pick up? Go for it.

 

[ajkula66]

I have heard they didn't sound much different, never tried one though. That Fly Guitars EB-3 page has a lot of great info on EB-3's.

I've owned several short-scaled and one long-scale piece from this era and would venture a guess that you'd be surprised if you ran any of them head-to-head against your '65. Between the pickup movement, neck wood going from mahagony to maple and the change to the Oil Rig bridge (although the earliest series IV sport a Tilit-O-Matic) it's actually a pretty different instrument IMO. Definitely more polite than the older ones, but somewhat of a "neither fish nor fowl" in my view.

 

[cbuck66]

Supposedly he had a diode (or something) put in his EB-3 to get that dirty sound he got, I always thought it was from his cranked Marshalls, but I just got it for the heck of it and maybe it will sound good. I wanted the harness anyway so I figured I'd get the one with the Jack Bruce mod for 10 more bucks, it's set up like the Rickenbacker cap, you pull up on the tone and it goes into the circuit and you can control the amount of distortion with the pot, sounds like it will be cool and I can always put the bass back to stock but it's not like it is a pristine 65 anyway, it's been stripped and had a headstock break many years ago.

Can somebody provide more details on this pull pot distortion effect? Sounds cool!

 

[bobyoung53]

Can somebody provide more details on this pull pot distortion effect? Sounds cool!

This is all i know about it, I did order one though and I'll post the results when I get it, should be probably a few weeks. It's for an EB-3 though but maybe the guy can make one for an SG, try contacting him through the eBay ad.

Gibson EB-3 Harness Jack Bruce Mode Bourns Pots Custom KellingSound | eBay

 

[Jon Clegg]

Basically a push-pull pot is used to swap the usual tone capacitor for a pair of diodes to clip the signal

 

[Jon Clegg]

Very similar to this: Passive Guitar Overdrive (Black Ice)

And this:

 

[ctmullins]

I've done that, both unidirectional (one diode) and bi-directional (one diode in each direction). It's a pretty cool sound. For about fifteen minutes.

It actually reminds me more of McCartney's fuzz bass tone on "Think For Yourself". Neat, but not the sort of tone that's universally useful...

 

[gregmari]

Enjoying my SG bass. I put the babicz bridge on it.

 

[bobyoung53]

I've done that, both unidirectional (one diode) and bi-directional (one diode in each direction). It's a pretty cool sound. For about fifteen minutes.

It actually reminds me more of McCartney's fuzz bass tone on "Think For Yourself". Neat, but not the sort of tone that's universally useful...

Supposedly you can control the distortion with the pot. I don't like a lot of fuzz so if that's what it sounds like I won't use it.

 

[ghostinthemach]

Supposedly you can control the distortion with the pot. I don't like a lot of fuzz so if that's what it sounds like I won't use it.

Keep me in mind if you decide you don't want to keep it, because I may want to try one myself.

 

[descendent22]

I've mentioned how I've wanted an Epiphone EB3 shortscale. I've come across a Korean DOT Epiphone EB3 but it doesn't list any specs. Can anyone tell me if they are shortscale? It does have the Dot inlays like the short scales have.

 

[bobyoung53]

Keep me in mind if you decide you don't want to keep it, because I may want to try one myself.

I actually didn't buy it for the fuzz, that was just an added feature for me. I want the harness and the choke that allows more bottom through than the stock one, if I do want to get rid of it I'll let you know though.