Gibson EB-0 Electric Bass Guitar (1963)
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Item # 11963
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Gibson EB-0 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1963), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 123811, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This EB-0 is a relatively rare instrument, an early SG-style body bass dating to spring 1963. this was about two years after the model had adopted the new slimmed sculpted body in place of the older slab style introduced in 1959. Before 1965 these EB-model Gibson basses were built in the hundreds, not thousands as would be the case later in the decade (production just topped 1,000 for the first time in 1964). 682 EB-0 basses shipped 1963, a decent total for Gibson but only a fraction of what Fender sold at the time. The list price in 1963 was $210, plus case.
While not carrying "Les Paul" markings, this is essentially the 4-string version of the "Les Paul-SG" model guitars. It has the same cherry-finished elaborately sculpted body with the squared-off neck pocket. Due to the tenon set deeper into the body the basses generally do not suffer the same neck heel issues as their 6-string cousins. The bass has all nickel-plated hardware except for the earlier black plastic pickup cover, a holdover from the 1950's that was replaced with metal soon after this one was made. There is a lever-action mute assembly fitted to this bass, an on-and-off appointment that appears somewhat randomly on the model over the earliest years.
The round-backed neck is fairly chunky, noticeably wider at the nut than post-1965 models and very comfortable. The headstock has slightly more pronounced curves than later models, fitted with the large Kluson bass tuners Gibson adopted in late 1960 in place of the elegant but problematic banjo style used previously. The headstock is inlaid with the Gibson logo and crown motif on the face.
While the EB-0 is not one of the more coveted or collected Gibson instruments it is an important part of their history, the first really popular electric bass from Kalamazoo and a dark-horse classic to connoisseurs of pure low end. The single large "Mudbucker" pickup puts out an enormous swath of deep bass, and not much else! It also easily overdrives many amps, sliding into distorted Cream/Mountain territory. This early example is a fun and very comfortable instrument to play, as long as you don't expect much treble in the sound. With the mute engaged it actually does an excellent upright bass impression, just as intended!
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This bass has been played over the last 60 years but not abused, and remains all original with no repairs or modifications. The cherry finish is well preserved retaining a nice dark hue, faded and checked only slightly with the most fade on the back of the neck. There are minor dings, dents and scrapes scattered around, the back has a couple of belt buckle spots into but not heavily through the finish. The back edge of the body around the endpin has some spots of finish flaked away, probably from exposure to moisture long ago.
The instrument retains all the original hardware, even the handrest and the lever-action mute which is still functional. The pickguard has a split at the lower front tip with the piece glued back in place. The center tang on the back edge of the bridge has been bent up a bit; this appears to have been done purposefully long ago to allow it to sit a bit lower over the mute.
The frets show very little wear and the fingerboard is quite clean. This is one of the most comfortable basses we have played; fairly light, supple and effortless to handle. How does it sound? Like a big, seething tide of low-end darkness, "All the bass all the time" as Geddy Lee put in in his excellent recent book on bass lore. This is a fine example of an early '60s Gibson bass, housed in a modern HSC (the original was probably chipboard). Overall Excellent Condition.
This EB-0 is a relatively rare instrument, an early SG-style body bass dating to spring 1963. this was about two years after the model had adopted the new slimmed sculpted body in place of the older slab style introduced in 1959. Before 1965 these EB-model Gibson basses were built in the hundreds, not thousands as would be the case later in the decade (production just topped 1,000 for the first time in 1964). 682 EB-0 basses shipped 1963, a decent total for Gibson but only a fraction of what Fender sold at the time. The list price in 1963 was $210, plus case.
While not carrying "Les Paul" markings, this is essentially the 4-string version of the "Les Paul-SG" model guitars. It has the same cherry-finished elaborately sculpted body with the squared-off neck pocket. Due to the tenon set deeper into the body the basses generally do not suffer the same neck heel issues as their 6-string cousins. The bass has all nickel-plated hardware except for the earlier black plastic pickup cover, a holdover from the 1950's that was replaced with metal soon after this one was made. There is a lever-action mute assembly fitted to this bass, an on-and-off appointment that appears somewhat randomly on the model over the earliest years.
The round-backed neck is fairly chunky, noticeably wider at the nut than post-1965 models and very comfortable. The headstock has slightly more pronounced curves than later models, fitted with the large Kluson bass tuners Gibson adopted in late 1960 in place of the elegant but problematic banjo style used previously. The headstock is inlaid with the Gibson logo and crown motif on the face.
While the EB-0 is not one of the more coveted or collected Gibson instruments it is an important part of their history, the first really popular electric bass from Kalamazoo and a dark-horse classic to connoisseurs of pure low end. The single large "Mudbucker" pickup puts out an enormous swath of deep bass, and not much else! It also easily overdrives many amps, sliding into distorted Cream/Mountain territory. This early example is a fun and very comfortable instrument to play, as long as you don't expect much treble in the sound. With the mute engaged it actually does an excellent upright bass impression, just as intended!
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This bass has been played over the last 60 years but not abused, and remains all original with no repairs or modifications. The cherry finish is well preserved retaining a nice dark hue, faded and checked only slightly with the most fade on the back of the neck. There are minor dings, dents and scrapes scattered around, the back has a couple of belt buckle spots into but not heavily through the finish. The back edge of the body around the endpin has some spots of finish flaked away, probably from exposure to moisture long ago.
The instrument retains all the original hardware, even the handrest and the lever-action mute which is still functional. The pickguard has a split at the lower front tip with the piece glued back in place. The center tang on the back edge of the bridge has been bent up a bit; this appears to have been done purposefully long ago to allow it to sit a bit lower over the mute.
The frets show very little wear and the fingerboard is quite clean. This is one of the most comfortable basses we have played; fairly light, supple and effortless to handle. How does it sound? Like a big, seething tide of low-end darkness, "All the bass all the time" as Geddy Lee put in in his excellent recent book on bass lore. This is a fine example of an early '60s Gibson bass, housed in a modern HSC (the original was probably chipboard). Overall Excellent Condition.