{"product_id":"gibson-eb-6-6-string-semi-hollow-body-electric-bass-guitar-1961-13139","title":"Gibson EB-6 6-string Semi-Hollow Body Electric Bass Guitar (1961)","description":"Gibson EB-6 6-string Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Bass Guitar (1961), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 3529, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis EB-6 6-string bass is one of the rarest of all Gibson electric instruments with a total of only 67 produced, easily their smallest run production electric bass. While a spectacular instrument in many ways this classy deluxe twang machine missed its market niche and was re-thought after less than 2 years, replaced by an SG-styled solidbody version that fared little better. In the early 1960s the market for these bass\/guitar hybrids was very small, largely confined to professional session players. This deluxe semi-hollow 6-string Cadillac was certainly an impressive instrument but even so that proved not enough to convince most of them to trade up from their cheap but reliable Danelectros.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 1950s-60s guitar styled 6-string bass was the brainchild of Nathan Daniel. His Danelectro company introduced the UB-2, its first bass in 1956. It was a ringer for their Masonite and pine guitars but with a longer 29 1\/2\" scale and 6 heavier strings sounding an octave down. With two pickups it offered a twangier tone than contemporary 4-string basses (electric or acoustic) putting the low notes up front. Daniel felt he had given bass players \"2 extra strings for free\" and thought the instrument a natural for both bassists and guitarists.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDaniel's bass did not eclipse the recently introduced Fender Bass OR the still-popular bass fiddle but was a hit in recording studios, especially in Nashville. Session players there developed a style of playing with a palm-muted pick, dubbed \"Tic-Tac\" bass. Used mostly to double and re-inforce the upright bass and give punch to the track, within a short time the technique caught on in East and especially West Coast studios becoming a widely heard sound on country and pop records.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGibson kept in close contact with Nashville studio players with an ear for the latest trends. In response to the cheaply made Danelectro, Gibson developed this beautiful, lavish and expensive instrument. Announced in 1959 and first shipped in 1960, the EB-6 was kin to the new ES-335 and EB-2, built on the same thin semi-hollow double-cutaway body. It was not pictured in the 1961 or '62 catalogs, but availability was noted in a small box at the bottom of the bass page. The 1961 price list had the EB-6 at $325.00 plus $57.50 for the #538 case; the Danelectro Longhorn 6-string bass listed at $150 while the Shorthorn model was all of $85! Gibson had \"bass-ically\" priced themselves out of this niche market; as Leo Fender would also do when his lavish Bass VI debuted at the end of 1961.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike its sister EB-2 the semi-hollow EB-6 was phased out in 1962, replaced by an SG-styled solidbody that ended up being equally unsuccessful saleswise. The semi-hollow 4-string basses would roar back with the British invasion in 1964, but the company's 6-string has never returned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis example is the second EB-6 from the same early 1961 batch we have had the pleasure to offer. The body is akin to the ES-335\/EB-2, laminated maple with a center block single bound and sunburst finished on the top and back. A single PAF humbucking pickup is mounted in the neck position wired to standard tone and volume controls, with a \"Tone Selector Switch\" activating a one-position choke mounted under the bridge, which brightens the sound considerably for tic-tac effects. The headstock is the same as the ES-335 with a pearl Gibson and crown inlay and mounting 6 Kluson Deluxe guitar tuners. The tailpiece\/bridge is a 6-string version of the solid block unit used on all period Gibson basses, adjustable for height and overall intonation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll of 34 of these were shipped in 1960 with a further 33 in 1961 making for a likely total of 67 built before the solidbody design was substituted. This one carries factory order number R5796-29; we have seen several with this same batch number and it appears likely only one \"rack\" of these was produced each of those 2 years. It carries an early 4-digit impressed serial number on the headstock and the orange label under the bass side soundhole indicating it was most likely shipped in late spring or summer 1961. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis EB-6 is an eccentric instrument, perhaps, but a delightful one. It is better balanced than one might expect; the long 30.5\" scale one-piece mahogany neck has a surprisingly slim \"C\" profile than and is very comfortable to play. The single PAF pickup produces a rich and well-rounded sound, less \"twangy\" than many similar instruments with a distinctly warm \"Gibson-y\" character. The company also termed the EB-6 a \"Baritone Guitar\" and perhaps if they had marketed it more that way it might have caught on with more players.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSomeone (likely a Gibson sales rep) got one into the hands of Wes Montgomery and it saw use on several tracks of his 1961 LP \"Movin' Along.\" (credited as \"Bass Guitar\") played as a deep-toned baritone lead guitar. A casual listener might mistake it for a standard guitar but a careful listen will discern the difference in tone and register. George Benson owned one for a time as well. The EB-6 is truly a unique instrument; perhaps not the ultimate classic \"Tic Tac\" bass but a superbly friendly and smooth playing deep twang machine.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 44 3\/4 in. (113.7 cm.), 16 1\/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5\/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 1\/2 in. (775 mm.). Width of nut is 1 21\/32 in. (27 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a very clean and original instrument, with some very light wear overall and one small repair. The back top edge of the headstock must have taken a hit at some point, and an area was chipped out along the grain running down through the serial number. This has been repaired solidly but visibly with topical touch up; the serial number is still fully legible. This is not a structural issue but is noticeable; this neck itself never suffered any cracks. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe otherwise all-original finish has mostly very light wear, some minor scuffing, a few shallow scratches and a couple of noticeable dings to the back of the neck and wear to the headstock edges. The lovely rich sunburst has faded a bit, really only noticeable if the pickguard is removed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe hardware is all original and unaltered. The \"Tone Selector Switch\" is a lever instead of the usually expected pushbutton seen on most EB-2's; Every EB-6 from this batch we have seen is equipped this way. The PAF sticker is intact on the bottom of the pickup and the untouched unit exhibits all the correct characteristics for the 1961 period. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original frets are in excellent shape and this big 6-string is a delight to play, and awesome to behold. It is strung with what appear to be original period roundwound nickel Gibson strings (an original box is still in the case pocket) in E-E bass tuning (except for the high E string, which is new). It would also be a really excellent instrument for use as a Baritone guitar tuned B-B or A-A with lighter stringing. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis EB-6 resides in the original 1950s style brown HSC, designed for the banjo tuner equipped EB-2 and the 6-string instrument needs to be angled slightly when slipped into the narrow top end of the case; Gibson seems to have only issued these basses with this case. Even many veteran Gibson fans and collectors have never seen let alone played one of these, a truly unique instrument and mighty mighty twang machine! Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Gibson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50462402674828,"sku":"13139","price":15000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_948a25e4-4dca-4ee8-b9b4-f546fe16852b.jpg?v=1780616755","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/gibson-eb-6-6-string-semi-hollow-body-electric-bass-guitar-1961-13139","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}