Gibson EB-0 Electric Bass Guitar (1961)
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Item # 9640
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Gibson EB-0 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1961), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 14308, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, period black chipboard case.
This EB-0 is a relatively rare instrument, one of the VERY first of the SG-style body bass models ever built. It dates to spring 1961, when the model had just adapted 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). 535 EB-0 basses shipped 1961, some of which would have still been the old-style "slab body' models.
While not carrying "Les Paul" markings, this is essentially the 4-string version of the early "Les Paul-SG" model guitars. It has the same cherry-finished elaborately sculpted body with the squared-off neck pocket as the guitars. Due to the tenon set deeper into the body these 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. 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 next few years.
The neck is wider at the nut than post-1965 models but slimmer back to front than many from 1962-4. 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.
The pots in this instrument are coded 134 6023 & 134 6032, they would have been in stock for some months already when it was built. An interesting quirk is the "upside down" wooden fingerrest on the pickguard; only the first few were so mounted with the curve facing downwards. The original catalog pictures it that way, within a few months Gibson reversed it to the more familiar position. The metal hand brace filled over the strings appears to be made of nickel-plated brass, not the white metal commonly used.
This is a very well-used but historically interesting bass. 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 the low end. This is the earliest example we have ever seen and a fun and 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.).
Somebody must have loved this bass, and played it extensively for a long time! The cherry finish is faded somewhat and checked heavily, especially on the face. There are dings, dents and scrapes everywhere; the back has a couple of belt buckle spots that were partially touched up long ago. There is a spot worn through into the wood on the face under the G string from finger action, and the handrest is worn down into the metal in several places. The back of the neck is worn through quite a bit in the center as well. Like we said, this bass was played a LOT!
Despite this heavy use the instrument remains original except for some very minor parts. One of the tuner shaft screws is the correct part but chrome-plated, so a bit later and a new foam block has been supplied making the mute fully functional. All of the screws on the face are the same size; Gibson usually used mixed sizes for the pickguard and pickup mounting but these are all old period factory screws and appear to have always been there. The pickguard has several splits at the corner screw holes with the front tip on the lower horn missing.
The frets have some wear but not affecting play, the fingerboard is relatively clean. This is one of the most comfortable basses we have played; light, handy 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 far from a mint instrument but a natural relic par excellence, with real wear from many nights in the gigging trenches somewhere out on the road. Very Good + Condition.
This EB-0 is a relatively rare instrument, one of the VERY first of the SG-style body bass models ever built. It dates to spring 1961, when the model had just adapted 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). 535 EB-0 basses shipped 1961, some of which would have still been the old-style "slab body' models.
While not carrying "Les Paul" markings, this is essentially the 4-string version of the early "Les Paul-SG" model guitars. It has the same cherry-finished elaborately sculpted body with the squared-off neck pocket as the guitars. Due to the tenon set deeper into the body these 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. 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 next few years.
The neck is wider at the nut than post-1965 models but slimmer back to front than many from 1962-4. 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.
The pots in this instrument are coded 134 6023 & 134 6032, they would have been in stock for some months already when it was built. An interesting quirk is the "upside down" wooden fingerrest on the pickguard; only the first few were so mounted with the curve facing downwards. The original catalog pictures it that way, within a few months Gibson reversed it to the more familiar position. The metal hand brace filled over the strings appears to be made of nickel-plated brass, not the white metal commonly used.
This is a very well-used but historically interesting bass. 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 the low end. This is the earliest example we have ever seen and a fun and 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.).
Somebody must have loved this bass, and played it extensively for a long time! The cherry finish is faded somewhat and checked heavily, especially on the face. There are dings, dents and scrapes everywhere; the back has a couple of belt buckle spots that were partially touched up long ago. There is a spot worn through into the wood on the face under the G string from finger action, and the handrest is worn down into the metal in several places. The back of the neck is worn through quite a bit in the center as well. Like we said, this bass was played a LOT!
Despite this heavy use the instrument remains original except for some very minor parts. One of the tuner shaft screws is the correct part but chrome-plated, so a bit later and a new foam block has been supplied making the mute fully functional. All of the screws on the face are the same size; Gibson usually used mixed sizes for the pickguard and pickup mounting but these are all old period factory screws and appear to have always been there. The pickguard has several splits at the corner screw holes with the front tip on the lower horn missing.
The frets have some wear but not affecting play, the fingerboard is relatively clean. This is one of the most comfortable basses we have played; light, handy 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 far from a mint instrument but a natural relic par excellence, with real wear from many nights in the gigging trenches somewhere out on the road. Very Good + Condition.