Gibson EB3L restoration overview
This project started in 2004 when I bought an EB3L custom bass on ebay from a seller in Canada. The bass had few original features - no original parts except tuning keys and no logo, serial number or original finish. The serial number was gone and no pots to date it.
To compound matters the bass was poorly packaged and arrived in the UK broken in two. The finish, despite being non-original was rather well done, and in rather good shape. The holes for bridge-posts, under-pickup height adjustment screws, bridge cover and mute had all been filled - the various holes could all be seen through the translucent cherry finish.
On closer inspection, the fretboard had been replaced, and was the incorrect length for the original bridge position (the twelfth fret was not halfway between the nut and bridge position), and the truss rod tip snapped of. This was clearly going to be a big job!
So the first question was what to do... restore? customise? sell-on?
As can be seen (left), I decided to restore this bass, and i'm very pleased with the result. The majority of the work was performed by a Andy Viccars of Andy Viccars Custom. You can have a closer look at the restored bass, plus listen to sound clips - or stay on this page for more about the restoration itself
EB-3L Neck repair
Thankfully this was not going to be problematic - the break was clean, with no lost chippings, and with a large surface area to glue. A relatively easy job. The completed repair can be seen below. Note the cracks are barely visible (1). The mahogany looks very light in colour - the sign of a new break. The surface tends to darken as time elapses.
Truss rod and fretboard
To restore this bass to its original specifications and hardware, the fretboard would require replacing. Why the original board was replaced with a shorter one is not clear, however the neck below the board demonstrated why it was removed. The rod itself had been moved a couple centimetres towards the headstock - the circular anchor and its old location are evident below (2). The image of the other end of the headstock (right) shows a small amount of wood has been removed around the tip, again to compensate for the broken rod. Neither of these adjustments are critical - the function, and adjustment of the truss rod is not affected, however the mounting of the plastic cover is, because the screw hole was in the removed wood - the previous owner had clearly been using a non-original three-screw mounted cover instead.
The above image also shows the humbucker screw recesses (3). The pickup of this period was the height-adjustable EB humbucker which had a screw in each corner, deeper than the humbucker route. These had been filled, and required unfilling before mounting the pickups. One other point of note - the pickup route is stamped in large lettering 'EB3L'. This is the last trace of original finish (and its still there!).
Time for the finish
Once the fretboard was replaced, and the bridge post holes re-drilled the next step was the refin. According to shipping figures, the EB3L was launched a year after the long sale EB0L, in 1971. 331 were shipped in cherry, 279 in walnut. The EB3L initially had the split headstock, which was changed to a solid headstock around 1972 (see a solid headstock EB3). So, in all probability this bass was from 1971, or perhaps early 1972.
Both walnut and cherry are translucent finishes, and depending on the severity of a repair, cracks can be seen through the finish. in this case the neck repair is not the problem - the cracks run along the grain and are barely noticeable anyway. The area around the bridge is different. The two largest filled holes are from the posts of the original two-point bridge, the smaller holes come from the under-bridge mute and a bridge cover - both of which have been repositioned - and some extra unexplained holes.
These modifications can be hidden with a solid finish. Despite the colour information from shipping figures, I have seen two seemingly original split headstock EB3Ls finished in ebony, and the EB0 is listed as being shipped in this colour in '71. I decided that ebony was the colour to go with
The Gibson logo
Gibson bass headstocks had always been made with a black overlay inlaid with mother of pearl (with the exception of the melody maker which had a decal). When Gibson launched the split-headstock EBs, they were the first basses not to feature an overlay. They still used a mother of pearl logo, but a very thin (less than 1/2 mm) and slightly translucent. It was simply glued to the headstock, whatever its finish.
An original logo was the hardest part to track down for the restoration of this bass. In fact I had to wait until another EB3L came up - ironically enough a rare black EB3L, refinished red, then white. Removal of the logo is easy. First you need to remove any lacquer from the decal and surrounding area, Then keep wetting the area with hot water to loosen the glue and it should just lift off.
The image to the right shows (i) the logo attached to the parts-bass, (ii) the logo once removed (showing remnants of the original black finish) and (iii) the logo attached to the restoration bass
Reassembling the bass
Most of the parts for this bass appeared on ebay between mid 2004 and early 2006. Some parts are quite hard to find, or are snapped up as soon as they are listed, and I did buy another broken short scale 1971 EB3 in order to get a wiring loom with accurately dated pots (both short and long scale EB3s have the same circuitry). This was a different bass to the one listed above - both basses will be restored eventually!
In 1971-72 some Gibson pickups had the word Gibson inscribed on them. By no means all though, and although a nice touch, they are not essential. These are quite difficult to come across, but eventually they came up (separately) on ebay, and I bought them especially for this project. I was still waiting for the logo at this time, so I was in no urgent rush. Other than the inscribed cover, both pickups are identical to plain-covered versions of the same period
Parts used include height adjustable EB humbucker, mini humbucker, two-point bridge with cover. Schaller M4-classic tuning keys, witch-hat knobs
Gibson EB3 bass for sale
"1973" Vintage Cherry "GIBSON EB-3" with OHSC Serial #056076 in Great Condition
Riverside, California, 925**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3795
1969 Gibson EB3 Bass Guitar- 100% Original with Original Case
Glastonbury, Connecticut, 060**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3700
Gibson EB-3 Cherry Mod 1969 Electric Bass Guitar Original Case Slotted Head Art
El Segundo, California, 902**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3500
... more
1967 Gibson EB-3 Vintage Short Scale SG Bass, 100% Original
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3200
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 EB-3 SG Short Scale Bass Vintage 1969-70 Refinished / Modified
West Chester, Pennsylvania, 193**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3000
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
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
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
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 Bass Guitar 1967
Horncastle, LN9***, UNITED KINGDOM
£2950
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
... more
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
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
€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
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
... 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
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
... 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
£345
* CASE ONLY !
* interior has stains
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* worn but solid
* check all pics
... more
