• Solid mahogany body • one piece set mahogany neck • rosewood fingerboard • 30 1/2 inch scale • two humbucking pickups
A Gibson EB3 bass from the peak year of their production, built at Gibson's main plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA; one of the last basses produced whilst Gibson was still under the ownership of CMI.
The 1960s EB3 was very popular with the British bands of the time. Jack Bruce, bass player with Cream had a very distinctive style which was closely associated with the short scale EB3s he played. The sixties instrument was characterised by its one piece mahogany body and neck, and comparatively small body (only slightly larger than a same-period SG guitar) and of course its sound. Peak production was from 1969-1971; around about 2000 guitars shipped each of those years. It was a still popular instrument in the early seventies (examine a 1972 model here) but sales fell rapidly during 1973-4.
The instrument pictured is quite typical for its vintage; large neck humbucker and bridge humbucker, two point bridge with mute and bridge cover and Kluson 538 'elephant ear' tuners. Typical 1969 neck joint, and type 2 cutaway*. Weight 3.7kg.
Gibson had been using the tune-o-matic two-point bridge on all EB basses for a year or so; early examples still had the more centrally located hand rest, but they were quickly replaced by the chrome bridge cover, as shown here. The late 60s EB basses had thinner necks than the early 60s basses; this one is 1 1/2" at the nut, compared to 1 3/4" of some of the earliest EB3s.
Position 1: neck pickup with tone choke
Position 2: bridge pickup only
Position 3: both pickups
Position 4: neck pickup. Listen to some soundclips of this bass here.
The bridge pickup on an EB3 is very different tonally to the neck pickup - many players find the neck a little too boomy, and the bridge a little too thin, preferring a blend of both pickups.
The 1969 EB-3 had series 1 circuitry
Sound Clips
The clips below demonstrate this bass in all four varitone positions, both with direct input and through a vintage B15 amp. The choked setting (varitone position 1) is perhaps a bit too strong when amplified - the intense vibrations can rattle apart old amps, and certainly cause undesirable vibrations when digging in. When DI'd, though, the depth and roundness of tone is captured beautifully. Other settings work really well when amped.
DI only
The clips below were played on this 1969 EB3, with fingers rather than a pick. Recorded directly into an M-audio mobile pre soundcard - no amplifier.
Varitone position 1 - neck pickup with tone choke
tone turned to 0 - for the full dub experience
Varitone position 2 - bridge pickup only
Varitone position 3 - both pickups
Varitone position 4 - neck pickup only
Ampeg B15
These clips were recorded using a Shure SM58 microphone in front of a 1964 Ampeg B15 amp, with neutral settings (volume, bass and treble all on 5/10).
Varitone position 1 - neck pickup with tone choke
Varitone position 2 - bridge pickup only
Varitone position 3 - both pickups
Varitone position 4 - neck pickup only
* Gibson EB basses had subtly different cutouts small changes in the bevels as opposed to the actual size of the horns - there is no obvious way to name these differences, and no reference to them in any Gibson literature, so they have been described here simply as types 1-5. For a comparative look at the variations, see the EB bass cutaway page
Gibson EB-3 bass guitars for sale
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The electronics work perfectly and it has that classic "double bass" tone in the first position!
There is some bow in the neck. The truss seems to ... more
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There's nothing worse than not having a cover for that big Gibson bass humbucker. It's one butt-ugly pickup without it! This is correct for late 1965 thru 1970 EB-O, EB-2 and EB-3 models as well as 1969 & 1970 EB-1 basses. It will also fit Epiphone Rivoli basses. This version has the small-head mounting screws (4 are included but just not shown). Gibson changed the height and the position of this cover in 1970 and enlarged the mounting screw holes. It's in great shape ... more
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COLOGNE, GERMANY
€399
* CASE ONLY !
* interior has stains
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* worn but solid
* check all pics
PLENTY of PARTS for SALE
ATTENTION! OVER 1000 more
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1971 Gibson EB 3 HÜLLE - passt NUR SCHLITZKOPF Version
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£399
* CASE ONLY !
* strap that holds case open=GONE
* bottom and top are loose =need reglueing
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* check all pics
* SOLD AS IS - NO RETURNS... more
1971 Gibson EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - Made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£345
* CASE ONLY !
* interior has stains
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* worn but solid
* check all pics
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1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€444
* CASE ONLY !
* strap that holds case open=GONE
* bottom and top are loose =need reglueing
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* check all pics
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
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TAKE A LOOK !!!... more
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Internally / Externally Original
Mahogany body / rosewood fretboard
Humbucking pickup in the neck and mini-humbucker in the bridge
Four-way rotary pickup selector switch
Condition 8 / 10
Case
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1963 Gibson EB-3 Bass ex Bob Daisley (Rainbow, Black Sabbath)
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We are happy to offer the following from the personal Private Collection of The Blizzard Himself that Being Bob Daisley whom is Heavy Rocks most distinguished and respected of all Bass Players and Songwriters, details as follows
History
The history and career of Bob Daisley is Legendary and has been one of the main contributors to the sound, look, style of the following Iconic Hard Rock artists some of which are as follows:
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Meadow Heights, VIC, 3***, AUSTRALIA
AU $4895
Long Scale 1973 model bass guitar with original hard case
All pictures supplied with the auction are of the actual item for sale, and indicate its condition
This vintage Gibson is in good playable condition with a clean fingerboard and neck, good fretting and fully functional tuners. This model is fitted with a drop-D tuner (adjustable) which functions well. The pickups and wiring appear original, are operational, and it sounds superb. It has been fitted with a set... more