1969 Gibson EB-0 bass

• Mahogany one-piece body • One-piece mahogany neck • Brazilian rosewood 20-fret fretboard • Gibson EB humbucker pickup • 30 1/2 inch scale length

A superb example of a Gibson EB0 bass from the peak year of their production; one of 3018 shipped in 1969 (see EB-0 shipping stats). This one is in Gibson's famous translucent cherry finish, showing (especially on the reverse) plenty of mahogany grain patterning. The finish on this example has faded to some extent, and in more extreme examples can lead people to believe their guitar to be stained with a walnut rather than cherry finish. Walnut was another finish option first offered in the late 1960s, but was noticeably darker still - and a look under the scratchplate will usually reveal the original finish colour; it is primarily sunlight after all that causes the colour change. Have a look at a less faded 1960s EB-0 in cherry finish here.

This is a fantastic rumbly bass.. masses of low end and incredibly easy to play. This is a function of the heavily wound pickup, positioned right up against the neck, the choice of mahogany and rosewood, with set neck construction, and the short (30 1/2") scale. Naturally these basses require short scale strings - and although any type will work, they sound best with a decent set of flats.

Late 60s Gibson EB-0 features

Notice the thin neck (on the back of the headstock), inlaid Gibson logo and solid headstock with crown inlay. Two point tune-o-matic bridge with chrome bridge cover and EB humbucker without surround, positioned directly at the end of the neck. This bass has Japanese-made closed gear tuning keys usually seen on the Melody Maker, and Kalamazoo KB bass, but also found on some EB0s, and even a few EB3s in the late 60's.

Determining a shipping date

According to published Gibson serial number information, the number stamped onto the reverse headstock of this bass (802***) was potentially used in 1966, 1969, and maybe two or three more times in the early 1970s. A little knowledge of body styles, heel joints and components suggests a 1969 bass, as do the potentiometers which are dated the last week of December 1968. Finally the lack of 'MADE IN THE USA' stamped below the serial number rules out anything beyond very early 1970. 1969 was Gibson's most successful year with the EBO - 3018 basses were shipped; 1000 more than the previous best, 1965.

The 1969 zone 1 USA price for the Gibson EBO bass was $275, whilst the EB3 was $390.

The Cherry finish on early EB basses tends to turn a more orange with exposure to light, but late sixties EB's tend to turn a reddy brown, as can be seen here. This bass is fitted with typical 1969 body components: EB humbucker (with narrow, tall, chrome cover), two point bridge (that could be intonated!) with mute, bridge cover, witch hat control knobs. Gone is the old handrest, and bar bridge - compare this to a 1966 EB0.

The joint where the body meets the neck, or heel varied over the course of EB bass production - this style is quite specific to 1969. Have a look at some other heel joints here.

Humbucker pickup with tall, narrow chrome-plated cover - compare this to the wider, shallower cover of a mid-sixties EB bass.

The EBO has one volume and one tone control. It has witch-hat knobs with position pointers. The output jack is front-mounted, although a year later and they were positioned on the body side - see a 1970 EBO.

EB humbucker pickup. The cover is chrome-plated, as opposed to the nickel, and is taller yet narrower than the earlier mid-sixties basses. Compare this to a 1966 EB0 with an older 'wide' pickup. This is just the cover of course, the pickup itself is unchanged.

By the following year however, the pickup was given a black plastic surround, and was spring-mounted in order to raise or lower the pickup within it's housing. This obvious improvement stayed with the model for the rest of it's period of manufacture. See a 1970 EB0

This bass is fitted with a two-point tune-o-matic bridge with under-bridge string mute, and chrome bridge cover - this is quite in contrast to the old bar bridge seen on EB bass just a year or so earlier.

The saddles are made of a plastic called Delrin. The mute is operated by pulling the handle on the left away from the bridge, which pushes the felt upwards against the strings. One drawback of this bridge design is the proximity of string anchors to saddles; the string windings are actually going over the saddles on this bridge, which is obviously undesirable. Compare this bridge with the previous version fitted to a 1966 EB0.

This EBO bass has a one-piece mahogany body and one-piece mahogany neck. This bass is fitted with closed-gear tuning keys manufactured in Japan, as opposed to the more often seen tuners by Kluson or Schaller. These were used on some EB basses in the late 1960s - though more often seen on the Kalamazoo KB, and Gibson Melody Maker basses.

The serial number (read more about Gibson serial numbers here) was stamped on the back of the headstock, usually above the tuning keys. Serial numbers were often re-used, especial in the mid-late 1960s and early 1970s, so drawing conclusions about an instrument from this alone can be problematic. Just a year later all instruments were also stamped 'Made in USA', which tells us that this is a sixties bass. See a 1970 EBO for comparison.

Mid-late 1960s EBs had an inlaid Gibson logo with centered crown inlay. But in 1969 the logo had no dot on the letter i. Compare this headstock with an earlier EBO to see the difference; 1966 EB0.

The one-piece neck and solid headstock. Gibson EB necks were thinner at this stage than they had been in previous years; this one is just 1 1/2" at the nut, compared to 1 3/4" of the earliest EBOs.

The EB0 illustrated in the 1970 bass catalog is very similar to the model shown above, although the EB3 in the same catalogue is a slotted headstock model; and by the time the catalogue was released most if not all EB0s being shipped had the newer slotted headstock.

Below: In it's original case, with gold plush lining.

Gibson EB-0 bass guitars for sale

Flyguitars.com is funded by its visitors. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. For more info see terms and conditions.

Vintage Early 1960's Gibson EB-0 / EB-2 Bass Bridge Mute

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$175

Vintage Early 1960's Gibson EB-0 / EB-2 Bass Bridge Mute
Very Good Condition Sold by a mom & pop music store in Brooklyn NY
... more

EPIPHONE by GIBSON EBO BASS

Fort Wayne, Indiana, 468**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$225

Absolute Mint condition This would be a great Christmas present for the professional or aspiring rock bassist

. This Epiphone by Gibson EBO Bass is a solid body guitar with a beautiful cherry finish. The instrument is designed for right-handed players and features a 4-string configuration. The neck is made of cherry and has 20 frets. The fretboard is made of rosewood, which gives the guitar a smooth and comfortable feel.

The body is made of mahogany, which is a durable ... more

1959 1960 GIBSON EB-0 Slab Body BASS PICKGUARD USA

Houston, Texas, 770**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$250

Early slab body pick guard . Cut a little to fit replace pickup. Just a shave off it
... 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

Vintage 1968 Gibson EB-0 Bass Guitar 5 String

Dayton, Ohio, 454**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1200

This vintage Gibson EB-0 Bass Guitar is a true gem for any musician. With its customized 5 string design and powerful sound, it's sure to impress any bass player. The guitar has been well-maintained and has a beautiful finish that shines under any lighting.

The brand speaks for itself, with a reputation for quality that Gibson has built over the years. This electric bass guitar is perfect for any music style and is sure to make a statement in any band. Whether you're a ... more

1971 Gibson EB-0 Bass Walnut w / OHSC

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1395

1971 Gibson EB-0 In Walnut Finish
This Bass Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Repaired Headstock As Shown
Finish Shows Some Cosmetic Playwear Including Small Dings, Marks, And Scratches Throughout
Original Hardware And Electronics
Made In Kalamazoo, MI
Mahogany Body And Neck With Rosewood Fingerboard And Dot Inlays
Original Humbucker Pickup In Neck Position
Original Frets Low But Playable
30 5" Scale Length
1 ... more

Gibson EB-0 1970s Short Scale Bass

Flower Mound, Texas, 750**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1499

For Sale is my 70s EB-0. The finish is an aged heritage cherry. Beautiful. It plays great and the humbucker packs some serious punch. It's strung with tape wounds which make this a thump machine. It has a 3-way switch which switches between different tone caps. Super handy for tweaking tone. No breaks in the neck, frets have life left. A great bass. Comes with a gig bag. I'll pack it nice and safely
" Crafted in the United States the Gibson EB-0 embodies a classic era of bass guitar design.... more

1969 Gibson Bass Guitar EB-0

Arlington, Indiana, 461**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1500

1969 Gibson Bass Guitar EB-0... more

Gibson EB-O Electric Bass Guitar 1972 Walnut Kalamazoo Short Scale Humbucker

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 089**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1700

Not Being A Bass Maven, The Specs On This Is The Closest That I Could Find Online So Don??t Hold Me To Every Single Detail. First Off I??ve Had This Bass For A Long Time & Used It Sparingly. It??s Been Kept In A Case & Is In Great Condition. Plays Good, Sounds Awesome, Electronics Are Quiet, No Frets Buzz & Really Has No Issues. Seems Like It??s All Original So Let??s Get Into The Details
Gibson 1972 EB-O Mahogany Body(Walnut Finish), 3 Piece Maple Neck w / 22?? Short Scale 21 ... more

1970 Gibson EB-0 Cherry Finish Electric Bass Guitar

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1895

1970 Gibson EB-0 Cherry Finish Electric Bass Guitar
Located At IVG Burbank
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Cherry Finish Shows Some Dings And Playwear
Added Single Coil Pickup
Mahogany Body And Neck
Rosewood Fingerboard
Weight 7lbs 8oz
Nut Width 1 514 "
Neck Depth At 1st Fret .82 "
Neck Depth At 12th Fret 1 00 "
No Case. One May Be Purchased For An Additional Fee (Please Inquire)
Made In USA
... more

Vintage 1968 Gibson EB-0 Short Scale Electric Bass w / Case, Setup SN: 5674

Denton, Texas, 762**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1900

This is a Vintage 1968 Gibson EB-0 SG-Style Short-Scale Electric Bass w / Single Humbucker, Original Case, Professional Setup SN: #5674!This bass's serial number is #955674 This particular bass weighs 7 pounds 12 2 ounces The pictures are of the actual instrument for sale
If you have any information regarding this bass, please send us a message and let us know! We've tried our best, I promise, to make sure everything we've put in this listing is true and honest! Having said that, this ... more

Vintage 1966 Gibson EB-0 Bass Cherry

Tarzana, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1995

Vintage 1966 Gibson EB-0 Bass Cherry
Up for sale, here's an incredible Player's grade Original 1966 Gibson EB-0 short scale Bass in its original Cherry finish with a really cool Mojo and patina
7 2 Lbs, 30 5" scale with low serial # 320XXX, which indicates it could be even late '65 but because of the bridge we can consider ir 1966
When it comes to "Player's" instruments, it means you're gettin a true vintage guitar that has been really well played for years from diverse stages to ... more

1969 Gibson EB-0 one owner bass with original custom hard sided case.

Patchogue, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2000

1969 Gibson EB-0 one owner bass with original custom hard sided case. See pic of original owner with the bass in the early ?70s ! Both the bass and case show wear from decades of use. There are scuffs, scratches, dings, and dents as you would expect. There is a split in the headstock that extends for approximately 7 inches, see photo. Electronics appear to be untouched all original. As shown in pic, date code on pot reads 6833, so bass was built in late 1968 or possibly early 1969. Serial number... more

Gibson Classic 1966 EBO Bass Guitar

Adrian, Michigan, 492**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2100

This is a rare and collectible 1966 Gibson Classic EBO bass guitar in a stunning red color. With its 4-string configuration, this electric bass guitar is perfect for any musician who wants to make a statement. The Gibson brand is known for its quality and excellence, and this Classic series bass guitar is no exception. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting out, this bass guitar is sure to impress. It's perfect for playing a wide range of musical styles and is ideal for both live ... more

Gibson EBO Bass Guitar 1967 solid wood cherry finish made in the US with case

Lebanon, New Jersey, 088**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2100

This Gibson EBO Bass Guitar is a rare gem for any musician. Crafted in the US in 1967, this solid wood guitar features a cherry finish that shines under any lighting. With its 4-string configuration and electric bass type, it's perfect for any right-handed player looking for a high-quality instrument The guitar comes with a case, making it easy to transport and protect while on the go. Its brand, Gibson, is well-known for producing top-of-the-line guitars that are both durable and powerful. This... more

Vintage 1967 Gibson EB-0 Short Scale 4 String Bass - Cherry - Don Storck Custom

Edmond, Oklahoma, 730**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2500

Awesome bass. Original electronics and hardware. Still has the string dampener and it works! Great tone. This is a two-owner guitar from Oklahoma City. It was played lovingly by its original owner, Don Storck, from the time that he purchased it new by in 1967 at different gigs over the years. It has earned its wonderful patina from years of playing, and it looks great. It has all the expected finish checking that you would expect to see on a guitar of this vintage. The second pick guard was ... more

Gibson EB0 Bass 1968 Sparkling Burgundy Rare Factory Finish OSC

Manville, Rhode Island, 028**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2500

This a Rare Factory Custom Finish. Sparkling Burgundy. Thebass is in nice shape Unfaded deep Burgundy color & very light horizontalchecking The bass is all original but has suffered a crack to its controlcavity. The crack has been repaired & touched up. See photos Still a greatbass that plays great & sounds like an EB0. Great looking rare bass. Comesin original nice shape soft shell case
... more

Gibson EB-0 BASS with Slotted Headstock 1969 - Cherry

Jackson, Michigan, 492**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2795

Another New Arrival!
We offer a RARE Slotted Headstock Gibson EB-0 Bass Guitar "Short Scale" S / N: 928316 which I believe makes this a 1969These had what they called "Mudbucker" pickups which sound much fuller and deeper than your standard pickups. They sound really cool!I understand that these short scale basses are easier for guitar player to pick and play. I have to agree It all works as it should This Bass has seen to use but is just honest playing and not abused. Check out the pics and ... more

1965 Gibson EB-0 Short Scale Bass Guitar w / Original Case READ DESCRIPTION

Missoula, Montana, 598**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2796

Bass has some finish cracks all over the body. See pic 4, I??ve tried to capture it. Very common for its age. No major blemishes, but not mint condition. Mute still works great, all original pickups still sound like they did in the 60s.

I have the original case, but it wasn??t easily accessible at the time of posting. I may have updated or would be happy to add pics if a serious buyer wants them. Case is in rugged condition.

Thanks. Please ask questions before bidding. ... more

1963 Gibson EB-0 Vintage Short Scale SG Bass Cherry w / Mudbucker, Case

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

$2800

Up for sale, a 1963 Gibson EB-0 in perfect working order, 100% original save for a refret and carved bone nut, and complete with a hardshell case. Introduced in 1959 in response to declining sales of the EB-1, the EB-0 originally came with a Les Paul Junior style body, quickly superseded by the SG style body (like the example seen here) in 1961. Lightweight at 7lbs 7oz with solid mahogany construction, this bass delivers pure, fat low-end thump courtesy of the famous "Mudbucker" pickup. The rich... more

Find more vintage guitars for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co