Mine has DR Black Beauties, and I haven't plugged it in yet- just curious though. I want the old school, deep, boxy tone, without the betrayal of the more modern 'zing'.
What's in YOUR gig bag??
What's in YOUR gig bag??
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What Strings Go on your Stock Epiphone EB-3?
- Thread starter Count Bassie
- Start date
I put on the bottom four of a set of Pitbull short-scale (for 5-string bass) strings. I can get a real deep sound out of the low B string.
I switched to flats recently on my SG and will not go back. EB Cobalts = excellent. I wish I wasn't still fighting the ball-end saddle problem.
You could take a short length of round steel bar and have holes drilled in it corresponding to the width of your string/saddle spacing. String through the bar and then over the saddles. It'll pull those pesky windings back and off your bridge saddles.
Good idea. I tried a Hipshot bridge but the wrap on the E string still rides it high on the notch, at least with the Ernie Balls. To use the bar idea on a Hipshot means the intonation screws are covered. Would rather not go back to the 3-point bridge - the sustain is so much better with the Hipshot.
Do you know what strings have a short wrap length?
Do you know what strings have a short wrap length?
Fwiw, I've never thought sustain was an important feature on a bass. Mostly we're playing single notes over a time feel, sustaining a groove, and there's a certain feel for not talking up much space that isn't related to the function we execute.
In other words, making sounds with the bass that isn't pretty essential becomes a kind of noise.
This is not to say that melody, phrasing and now choice "should be limited" as a rule. Just that the idea of sustain seems, realistically, mostly unnecessary. Maybe even not so desirable.
I have a three point bridge on two of three bases. Haven't had any issue with them.
What I'm referring to is the duration of the 'ring' as well as the strength of note. The ring duration on my E string ended so much earlier than the other 3 and was not as strong - classic dead string symptoms. However, that corrected itself after I replaced the bridge. Different brands have different length wraps, some fit and some don't.
I understand what you're saying about the nature of the instrument. With the Hipshot bridge I hear a clear difference in what are probably resonant factors with the body, it's just a responsiveness thing even if it doesn't need to ring for a long time. Technique counts for a lot too.
But ... different wrap lengths with different brands are still a bugger. There aren't a ton of short scale flat makers to choose from; even so, it aint cheap to try them all, as you know. And that doesn't account for things like tonal differences, tension, and life span.
Do you have favorite short scale flats?
I understand what you're saying about the nature of the instrument. With the Hipshot bridge I hear a clear difference in what are probably resonant factors with the body, it's just a responsiveness thing even if it doesn't need to ring for a long time. Technique counts for a lot too.
But ... different wrap lengths with different brands are still a bugger. There aren't a ton of short scale flat makers to choose from; even so, it aint cheap to try them all, as you know. And that doesn't account for things like tonal differences, tension, and life span.
Do you have favorite short scale flats?
I liked mine with Chromes when using just the neck pickup and no effects. I was happy with all four different sets of rounds I put on it after I wired it stereo and drenched both pickups in effects.
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The Epi’s “old school” relation is the EB3L… was that recorded into albums by anyone of prominence?
P’s, J’s, and Ric’s recorded DI hot through a sorta fancy experimental tube preamp onto tape (two stages of compression) is The Old School Sound.
The Epi EB3 is the platypus of basses.
Anything you do with an Epi EB3/Gibson EB3L with what tech is easy to come by in 2024 is going to sound unique and artistic relative to just about any old recording or any other bass from any era.
———
The Epi’s “old school” relation is the EB3L… was that recorded into albums by anyone of prominence?
P’s, J’s, and Ric’s recorded DI hot through a sorta fancy experimental tube preamp onto tape (two stages of compression) is The Old School Sound.
The Epi EB3 is the platypus of basses.
Anything you do with an Epi EB3/Gibson EB3L with what tech is easy to come by in 2024 is going to sound unique and artistic relative to just about any old recording or any other bass from any era.
Yes. There used to be a company that sold these bridge bars as a part item. I have one. Oh - strings - GHS Balanced Pure Nickels are God's gift to short scale bass players. They have great consistency in tone and tension (as the name) string-to-string and up the neck. Reasonably priced. Last a long, long time. I use these for my travel bass to our band's annual Mexico gigs. Once the new string zing settles, they develop an organic woodiness and big, round, tone reminiscent of Fender flats from the "golden age."
