Gibson EB / EB-1 Bass

Solid body guitars and basses really took off in the early 1950s. Fender launched the Precision in 1951, with Gibson launching the Electric Bass, or Gibson EB bass in mid 1953. It shipped until 1958, being renamed EB-1 once the EB-0 and EB-2 models were added to the line. Gibson artist, Les Paul, chose the body style:

"This was one of the first electric bass guitars Gibson made. I was responsible for the violin shape"

"It all came about (the electric guitar bass) from me playing my E string on the guitar as a bass using my thumb - this proved it could replace a stand up bass and Leo Fender & lots of others picked up the idea"

Unlike the Fender, the Gibson was short (30 1/2") scale; but this was far from the only difference. The body was small, and finely sculptured; carved from a single piece of mahogany, with a mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard and a lovely translucent finish. These two basses could not be more different.

This is how the bass was described in the 1955 Gibson catalog:

Leading combos and orchestras are adding new resonance to their rhythm sections with the Gibson Electric Bass, the perfect compliment to any musical group.

The carved top, violin-shaped body of the Electric Bass is of solid mahogany; the mahogany neck, with the famous Gibson adjustable truss rod construction, has 20 frets and is joined to the body at the 16th fret. The scale length is 30 1/2 " and offers a full range of deep resonant tones. An important factor in the outstanding performance of this instrument is the Gibson designed metal bridge, adjustable for height and string lengths.

Conveniently located tone and volume controls have easy to set, numbered, clear plastic knobs; individual Kluson nickel plated pegs have white plastic buttons; the powerful Alnico magnet pickup has brown Royalite cover.

The dark mahogany of the body and neck is accented by a double black purfling stripe on both the top and bottom of the body; the rosewood fingerboard has pearl dot position markers. Equipped with an adjustable end pin and also, an adjustable leather strap - the Electric Bass can be played in either a standing or guitar position; sized for ease in carrying and handling , The body is 19" long, 11 1/2" wide and 2" deep.

The Gibson EB bass shipped for just five year between 1953 and 1958, with 526 basses produced. The model was reissued between 1970 and 1973 with just 473 basses shipped. See the detailed shipping figures below.

1954 advert for the original Gibson Electric bass, featuring Dave Reiser

The original EB bass had a single single coil pickup - quite atypical for a Gibson bass. But when the model was reissued in 1970, it was fitted with the same EB humbucker as fitted to the EB0, EB2 and EB3; and still in the neck position. You see plenty of these basses with an added bridge pickup, but they never left the factory that way.

The EB single coil bass pickup was designed and built by Gibson engineers Walter Fuller and Seth Lover. According to Fuller, the coil had 250000 turns, and was so large, it had to be rotated to fit in the pickup route, explaining why the polepieces were along one edge, rather than centered (as quoted in Duchossoir's excellent Gibson Electrics: The Classic Years)

"By having them on the edge we got, you might say, the advantage of that much difference in the positioning of the coil. We [later] got more action from the polepieces in the center, but with the adjustable polepieces on the back edge of the coil like that, we got a little brighter tone than we did with them in the centre"

In an interview with Seymour Duncan, Seth lover adds:

Seth Lover: "I can remember when I was working on the first bass pickup, the non-humbucking bass pickup--Wilbur Marker came in there each time I would get one ready and he would try it out--”that’s better than the other, but not quite right,” so we would make some changes and go on - wind up another. We finally go to the point where you had to stop--you could have gone on forever and never been exactly perfect. But, now we had some very good years there. When I can begin to hear the differences I make certain tests - I can hear the differences between them, and then when they would corroborate what I could hear, then we knew we were getting somewhere."

Seymour Duncan: "How did you figure out the number of turns for the type of frequency - if you put too many turns on, when do you start loosing your high end?"

Seth Lover: "Well, I was just simply using # 42 plain enamel magnet wire. I put as many turns as I could satisfactorily fill the space available. And that’s where we stopped right there. "

The Gibson EB-1 Reissue

The EB-1 was reissued in 1970, with a price tag of $395 - $5 more than the EB3, and $70 more than the similarly equipped EB-0. Actually production started in 1969, with publicity material appearing that year, though shipping figures suggest none left Kalamazoo until 1970. It was described as follows in the 1970 Gibson catalog.

Versatility! that's the best way to describe this outstanding electric 'violin shaped' bass. Play the EB-1 the conventional way - in horizontal position. Or use the telescopic stand, and perform with the instrument in an upright position.

March 1970 advert for the reissued EB-1 from Guitar Player magazine

1970 was the single most popular year for the Electric Bass, with 404 instruments shipped that year.

Gibson EB shipping totals

	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958		1970	1971	1972	1973	total
EB	105	125	127	65	79	45						546
EB-1								404	65	2	2	473

Well known users of the EB/EB-1 Bass include Little Richard's bassplayer, Olsie Robinson (bass currently owned by Bob Daisley - see it here), John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, Felix Pappalardi, Dave Kiswiney and many more.

Gibson EB-1 bass guitars for sale

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Gibson EB-1 Violin Bass Electric Bass w / Original Case SN: 810964

Lafayette, Indiana, 479**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4899

HH139 Vintage Gibson EB-1 Violin Bass Electric Bass w / Original Case SN: 810964. Please be aware that the guitar has some spots where there's extra holes in the body crazing crackling on the Finish and some of the Gibson and the crown have come off over time. Guitar may need some work handle on case one side has popped off also exterior case has some peel up of the black around the edging as well as one strip down the neck. Please see pictures ask any questions you may have before buying. If ... more

1969 Gibson EB-1 Bass

Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4190

Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1969 Gibson EB-1 bass in its original finish. It has a great playing neck with great frets. It's all original and 100% complete with the exception of the extendable peg for the bottom. I period correct Gibson hardshell case for a different model, but fits well, is included. This bass looks great with some nicks + dings, light finish checking, some belt buckle wear, a small crack in the upper corner of the plastic... more

USA GIBSON EB BASS Guitar Bridge Tailpiece STUD Post Set Vintage Parts

Plano, Texas, 750**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$149

Steel construction, Chrome finish, Normal vintage wear with patina, some driver marks, threads are Good,   ORIGINAL GIBSON PARTs, See pics for dimensions. THANKS for looking!
... more

Gibson 1960s EB Bass Tuner Small Plate Nickel Chrome Left Side Rivoli Rick 3000

Cass City, Michigan, 487**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$75

This listing is for Gibson 1960s EB Bass Tuner Small Plate Nickel Chrome Left Side Rivoli Rick 3000
Please refer to all photos for more details as they are the best part of the description. Photos are of the actual item that you will receive. Gibson 1960s EB Bass Tuner Small Plate Nickel Chrome Left Side Rivoli Rick 3000


Description
Our SKU: 10485026
Item Brand: Gibson
Item MPN:
This listing is for Gibson 1960s EB Bass Tuner Small Plate Nickel ... more

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