• Solid mahogany body • one piece set mahogany neck • rosewood fingerboard • 30 1/2 inch scale • two humbucking pickups
A Gibson EB3 bass from the peak year of their production, built at Gibson's main plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA; one of the last basses produced whilst Gibson was still under the ownership of CMI.
The 1960s EB3 was very popular with the British bands of the time. Jack Bruce, bass player with Cream had a very distinctive style which was closely associated with the short scale EB3s he played. The sixties instrument was characterised by its one piece mahogany body and neck, and comparatively small body (only slightly larger than a same-period SG guitar) and of course its sound. Peak production was from 1969-1971; around about 2000 guitars shipped each of those years. It was a still popular instrument in the early seventies (examine a 1972 model here) but sales fell rapidly during 1973-4.
The instrument pictured is quite typical for its vintage; large neck humbucker and bridge humbucker, two point bridge with mute and bridge cover and Kluson 538 'elephant ear' tuners. Typical 1969 neck joint, and type 2 cutaway*. Weight 3.7kg.
Gibson had been using the tune-o-matic two-point bridge on all EB basses for a year or so; early examples still had the more centrally located hand rest, but they were quickly replaced by the chrome bridge cover, as shown here. The late 60s EB basses had thinner necks than the early 60s basses; this one is 1 1/2" at the nut, compared to 1 3/4" of some of the earliest EB3s.
Position 1: neck pickup with tone choke
Position 2: bridge pickup only
Position 3: both pickups
Position 4: neck pickup. Listen to some soundclips of this bass here.
The bridge pickup on an EB3 is very different tonally to the neck pickup - many players find the neck a little too boomy, and the bridge a little too thin, preferring a blend of both pickups.
The 1969 EB-3 had series 1 circuitry
Sound Clips
The clips below demonstrate this bass in all four varitone positions, both with direct input and through a vintage B15 amp. The choked setting (varitone position 1) is perhaps a bit too strong when amplified - the intense vibrations can rattle apart old amps, and certainly cause undesirable vibrations when digging in. When DI'd, though, the depth and roundness of tone is captured beautifully. Other settings work really well when amped.
DI only
The clips below were played on this 1969 EB3, with fingers rather than a pick. Recorded directly into an M-audio mobile pre soundcard - no amplifier.
Varitone position 1 - neck pickup with tone choke
tone turned to 0 - for the full dub experience
Varitone position 2 - bridge pickup only
Varitone position 3 - both pickups
Varitone position 4 - neck pickup only
Ampeg B15
These clips were recorded using a Shure SM58 microphone in front of a 1964 Ampeg B15 amp, with neutral settings (volume, bass and treble all on 5/10).
Varitone position 1 - neck pickup with tone choke
Varitone position 2 - bridge pickup only
Varitone position 3 - both pickups
Varitone position 4 - neck pickup only
* Gibson EB basses had subtly different cutouts small changes in the bevels as opposed to the actual size of the horns - there is no obvious way to name these differences, and no reference to them in any Gibson literature, so they have been described here simply as types 1-5. For a comparative look at the variations, see the EB bass cutaway page
Gibson EB-3 bass guitars for sale
Gibson EB-3 Cherry Mod 1969 Electric Bass Guitar Original Case Slotted Head Art
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"1973" Vintage Cherry "GIBSON EB-3" with OHSC Serial #056076 in Great Condition
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1967 Gibson EB-3 Vintage Short Scale SG Bass, 100% Original
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Glastonbury, Connecticut, 060**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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1960??s GIBSON Bass EB-3 EB-2 EB-0 Hand Rest Cover
Houston, Texas, 770**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$250
The cover features the iconic Gibson logo and is a great addition to any vintage musical instrument collection. Whether you are a seasoned musician or a collector, this hand rest cover is a unique and... more
Gibson EB-3 Bass Guitar 1967
Horncastle, LN9***, UNITED KINGDOM
£2950
1965 Gibson EB-3 Bass Guitar
Farnham, GU10***, UNITED KINGDOM
£3950
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
Gibson EB 3 CASE 1971 - passend für NUR GESCHLITZTE SPINDELSTOCK-Version
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£399
* 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
1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€399
* 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
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CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
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Gibson 1963 / 4 EB3 Solid Body Bass Guitar
Leigh-on-Sea, SS9***, UNITED KINGDOM
£1900
No evidence of routs, earth cable through small hole in the top to link to bridge otherwise general evidence of playwear
Controls are not original - varitone switch is
All brightwork tuners etc original. Comes with non original hard case
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Fernandes Burny REB-65 - Kopie EB-3 SG Bass - Original Gibson Bass Modern Case
Berlin, 13***, GERMANY
€750
Er wird mit einem neuen original Gibson SG Bass Modern Hardshell Case geliefert
Das japanische Vertriebsunternehmen Fernandes Co. Ltd. hatte zwei Gitarrenmarken, Fernandes für die Kopien von Fender-Gitarren und Burny, für die Nachbauten von Gibson-Instrumenten
Fernandes Co. Ltd. war einer der größten Gitarrenhersteller Japans OHNE eigene Fabrik
Die Instrumente wurden ausschließlich für den japanischen Markt angeboten und ... more
Gibson Standard SG EB-3 Electric Bass Guitar 1969 Cherry Red with Case
Ennepetal, 58***, GERMANY
€1950
1969 Gibson Standard SG EB-3
Cherry Red / Gloss
w / Epiphone EB3 case
Made in USA
Ich spiele kaum noch Bass, sondern nur Gitarre und verkaufe deshalbmeine
Gibson EB3 Bassgitarre mit Epiphone EB-3 Koffer.
Es handelt sich um die Cherry Red als Shortscale Variante
. Die Gitarre wurde im Jahre 1969 im Werk Kalamazoo in den USA gebaut
Dieser Bass ist weltberühmt und wurde unter anderem von (natürlich) Jack Bruce(Cream),
Andy Fraser (Free), Bill Wyman ... more
1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€444
* 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
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more
1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - Made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£345
* CASE ONLY !
* interior has stains
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* worn but solid
* check all pics
... more