Gibson EB-1 Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1953)
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Item # 5795
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Gibson EB-1 Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1953), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, dark mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
Just about the coolest and most distinctive electric bass ever designed…and one of the most eccentric! The "Gibson Electric Bass" (The EB-1 name was not used until 1958, when the semi-hollow EB-2 debuted) was first issued in mid-1953 and is one of the earliest solidbody basses. The "fiddle-shaped" body design is unique and owes nothing but general concept to the slightly earlier (late 1951) Fender Precision-and was likely an inspiration to Hofner in Germany! The violin-body EB's were produced in fairly small numbers from 1953 through '58, when they were replaced by the simpler slab-bodied EB-0.
Generally these early EB-1's are the clearest sounding of the 30" scale Gibson basses…the large brown-covered pickup is actually a single coil (the huge coil is mounted on its side) and has more mid/high content than the 1958 and later humbucking versions. This particular bass is missing its inked-on serial number but the pots are dated to 1953, making it likely an early example.
Overall length is 44 1/2 in. (113 cm.), 11 3/8 in. (28.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This old Gibson bass presents very well and is an excellent player; it has had a well handled major restoration. The headstock is a very finely crafted exact replacement, joined to the neck at the first few frets with a scarf joint; this work is extremely high standard and you have to look closely to see the seam. The rest of the finish on the instrument is original, and the new finish on the head is very well executed and seamlessly blended to the original neck finish. The only obviously visible sign of the restoration is that the pearl "Gibson" logo is seated slightly higher on the headstock than it originally would have been. The rest of the instrument is quite well preserved; there is average light finish wear (more on the back than front) and much of the hardware is original as well.
The frets and fingerboard are original, as are the pickup and electronics (except for a newer jack and jackplate). The knobs, pickguard, special endpin, and bridge and posts are original as well; it appears the original bridge has been buffed somewhat to restore some shine. An extra strap button has been added to the heel. The tuners are the correct Kluson banjo pegs but are newer, still in production for use on Firebirds-they are fitted with the correct style plastic keystone buttons. The bass is a very fine player, and although it must have suffered some sort of disaster long ago has been expertly resurrected and is now a fine and very early example of Gibson's first Electric Bass at a less than premium price. Includes a battered but still fully functional brown OHSC. Very Good + Condition.
Just about the coolest and most distinctive electric bass ever designed…and one of the most eccentric! The "Gibson Electric Bass" (The EB-1 name was not used until 1958, when the semi-hollow EB-2 debuted) was first issued in mid-1953 and is one of the earliest solidbody basses. The "fiddle-shaped" body design is unique and owes nothing but general concept to the slightly earlier (late 1951) Fender Precision-and was likely an inspiration to Hofner in Germany! The violin-body EB's were produced in fairly small numbers from 1953 through '58, when they were replaced by the simpler slab-bodied EB-0.
Generally these early EB-1's are the clearest sounding of the 30" scale Gibson basses…the large brown-covered pickup is actually a single coil (the huge coil is mounted on its side) and has more mid/high content than the 1958 and later humbucking versions. This particular bass is missing its inked-on serial number but the pots are dated to 1953, making it likely an early example.
Overall length is 44 1/2 in. (113 cm.), 11 3/8 in. (28.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This old Gibson bass presents very well and is an excellent player; it has had a well handled major restoration. The headstock is a very finely crafted exact replacement, joined to the neck at the first few frets with a scarf joint; this work is extremely high standard and you have to look closely to see the seam. The rest of the finish on the instrument is original, and the new finish on the head is very well executed and seamlessly blended to the original neck finish. The only obviously visible sign of the restoration is that the pearl "Gibson" logo is seated slightly higher on the headstock than it originally would have been. The rest of the instrument is quite well preserved; there is average light finish wear (more on the back than front) and much of the hardware is original as well.
The frets and fingerboard are original, as are the pickup and electronics (except for a newer jack and jackplate). The knobs, pickguard, special endpin, and bridge and posts are original as well; it appears the original bridge has been buffed somewhat to restore some shine. An extra strap button has been added to the heel. The tuners are the correct Kluson banjo pegs but are newer, still in production for use on Firebirds-they are fitted with the correct style plastic keystone buttons. The bass is a very fine player, and although it must have suffered some sort of disaster long ago has been expertly resurrected and is now a fine and very early example of Gibson's first Electric Bass at a less than premium price. Includes a battered but still fully functional brown OHSC. Very Good + Condition.