1961 Gibson EB3 bass guitar >> FlyGuitars

The EB3 was first manufactured in 1961, and the model changed little by little throughout its years of manufacture. The 1961 model had a silvered bakelite cover on the EB neck pickup with a similarly silvered surround on the bridge pickup.

EB3 Photographs courtesy of Mark Headington. This fine bass sold for $4825 in August 2005.

The cherry finish on Gibson EB basses is prone to fading with sunlight, and handling. Only examples kept cased for the majority of their lives seem to escape this. This bass has browned to some extent - compare with a similar 1961 EB3 with more of it's cherry colouration intact here.

This example is otherwise complete, and it is quite unusual to see an early Gibson EB3 with so much metal plating still attached to the bridge pickup surround. The plating on the neck pickup is heavily worn, as is generally the case; it is no wonder Gibson moved to actual metal pickup covers for their EB basses fairly quickly. The EB3 timeline on this site details some of the changes that were introduced to the EB3 over the two decades of it's production.

Like all 1960s EB basses, this guitar has a scale length of 30 1/2", necessitating short scale strings. EB3s sound phenomenal when fitted with a set of flats. Compare this image of a 1961 Gibson EB3 with a later model - 1969 EB3, notice the difference in neck thickness. The early EB basses had much chunkier feeling necks, which many players prefer. The width at nut is a full 1/4" greater in the 1961 EB3. Notice also the yellowing on the back of the neck. Sweat/oils from the hands of players did have a significant effect on the cherry nitro finish of the earliest EB basses - although all Gibson Cherry finishes were prone to fading, only the earliest yellowed in the way shown here.

This early EB3 has a metal plated neck pickup cover, over it's EB humbucker, although it has largely worn off to reveal the black bakelite cover underneath. Other features that mark this as a really early EB3 are: metal plating on the bridge pickup surround, wide-spaced controls with bell knobs (in 1965 the EBO and EB3 control cavity route was standardised - see an EB3 with narrow-spaced controls here, from 1967 Gibson used witch hat knobs), and the early-style nickel bar bridge, with string mute.

The reverse of a pre-1966 EB3 is quite distinctive: firstly the control cavity cover is very different to the shape used from 1965, and broadly unchanged to this day. The neck/body join or heel is also a pre-1966 style - see how the EB bass heels changed over time here. This bass' body still has a relatively strong Cherry colouration, both front and back.

The early 1960s EB basses had an inlaid mother of pearl Gibson logo with raised (above-center) crown inlay. Compare this to a slightly later bass with centered crown - 1966 Gibson EBO headstock. Note the inlaid pearl Gibson logo with dotted i and open o and b.

One-piece mahogany neck, five digit serial number and Kluson 538 tuning keys. Note the wide neck. The width at nut of the early 1960s EB basses was 1 1/2", a desirable feature amongst many players.

The hardcase accompanying this 1961 bass was suitable for an EB0 or EB3 bass guitar. It has the characteristic gold/yellow plush lining so associated with 1960s Gibson guitars. Two EB bass cases were available for the EB3 in 1961: case 540, plush-lined faultless case (1961 price $60), and 329 plush-lined archcraft case (1961 price $26.50).

Gibson EB-3 bass guitars for sale

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Gibson EB-3 Cherry Mod 1969 Electric Bass Guitar Original Case Slotted Head Art

El Segundo, California, 902**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3500

Beautiful stunning EB three Gibson guitar Bass original case, one lady owner, left as found 1970s i??ll let the Pictures do the talking or the playing ! Enjoy laurence & sally of StorageWars and baggage battles currently www roundthebend tv
... more

Gibson EB-3 SG Short Scale Bass Vintage 1969-70 Refinished / Modified

West Chester, Pennsylvania, 193**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3000

vintage 1969-70 Gibson EB-3 SG Short Scale Bass. Refinished. Does not include a case
The varitone switch has been modified / replaced with a 10-position switch. The original "1 2 3 4" poker chip is missing. The bridge cover is missing, and those holes were filled (likely at the time of refinishing). Pot Code 1377018 indicates CTS (137) and 18th week of 1970. Wiring appears original but likely resoldered at some point. Original Schaller machines. Original pickups
Logo and Crown Inlay are ... more

1969 Gibson EB3 Bass Guitar- 100% Original with Original Case

Glastonbury, Connecticut, 060**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3700

One owner, bought new in 1969 from Quigly Music in Kansas City with original Gibson Case. One small strap rub on back with minor finish scratches on back as seen in photos.... more

1967 Gibson EB-3 Vintage Short Scale SG Bass, 100% Original

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3200

Up for sale, a 1967 Gibson EB-3 in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with a padded softshell case. Introduced in 1961 and crafted at Gibson??s Kalamazoo factory, the EB-3 features a short 30 1 / 2?? scale length, mute-equipped bridge, dual pickups, and gloss Cherry nitro lacquer finish
Described in the 1967 Gibson catalog as ??the ultimate in an ultra thin, hand contoured solid body Gibson Electric Bass, ?? the EB-3 sports solid mahogany construction with a ... more

GIBSON 1968-7O SLOT-HEAD EB-O EB-3 BASS CASE BLACK TOLEX RED LINING VERY CLEAN!

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$349

FREE USA SHIPPING!
(for a limited time)
This month The Bass Palace will be listing 15 to 20 vintage cases from The Swami's own personal collection. Most of these are in primo condition and some are actually NOS. There are even some seldom-seen ones to be offered. These are the cream-of-the-crop if you are looking for a case worthy of your own special instrument. As an intro I am offering FREE shipping to the lower 48 thru 11 / 15 (a $40-60 savings)! But make no mistake, once the sale ... more

"1973" Vintage Cherry "GIBSON EB-3" with OHSC Serial #056076 in Great Condition

Riverside, California, 925**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3795

Here we a have a Pre-Owned Excellent Condition 1973 VINTAGE GIBSON EB-3 BASS. I Just put it through the Shop to make sure everything is up to snuff. I am very meticulous when it comes to my gear, I baby my stuff. Everything is in perfect working order. I just had it completely set up with brand New FENDER FLATOUND 45-100'S so it plays wonderful. Truss Rod is in good working condition Neck is Straight action is perfect. (I like the action low) so it set perfect and plays like a dream. All the ... more

Gibson EB 3 CASE 1971 - passend für NUR GESCHLITZTE SPINDELSTOCK-Version

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£399

1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA :
* 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

Gibson EB-3 Bass Guitar 1967

Horncastle, LN9***, UNITED KINGDOM

£2950

The Gibson EB-3 is a bass guitar introduced in 1961 and discontinued in 1979. It was produced at Gibson's plant in Kalamazoo, MI It features a slim SG-style body, a short 30 5" scale, and two pick up's (a large humbucking pickup in the neck position and a mini humbucker pickup in the bridge position). The electronics include a four-way rotary pickup selector switch (for Series 1 basses: neck pickup with midrange notch, bridge, bridge and neck with low end rolled off neck pickup, neck pickup with... more

1965 Gibson EB 3 BASS PICKUP RING USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£129

bridge pickup ring ONLY
... more

1965 Gibson EB-3 Bass Guitar

Farnham, GU10***, UNITED KINGDOM

£3950

Available now is this 1965 Gibson EB3. One of only 339 shipped in that year, and one of even fewer that made it this side of the pond
The EB-3, widely known as the classic Cream bass, was used and made most famous by Jack Bruce from blues-rock pioneers 'Cream' around 1967 onwards. He had a few of them over that time period, but his main and most photographed instrument was a matching '65. The spacing between the control knobs was changed in 1965 to match the guitar line, so only a percentage... more

1970 Gibson EB 3 BASS NUT USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£99

NARROW 42 mm version
... more

1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€399

1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA :
* 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
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
... more

1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - Made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£345

1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA :
* CASE ONLY !
* interior has stains
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* worn but solid
* check all pics
... more

1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€444