Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I think they moved the big-bucker back away from the end of the fingerboard in '72. Mechanically, the biggest annoyance on the bass Frode found is the two-point bar bridge. It was their first bridge where the intonation could be adjusted (which was good) but it isn't very stable. There are two big metal post/socket gizmos set into the body. The bridge itself sits on these posts somewhat loosely and floats close to, but not necessarily down on the body to make room for the mute underneath the bridge. Small set screws are supposed to lock the bridge in the level position. They often don't hold, so you set the thing up, tighten the set screws and a week later the bridge has tilted up in back from the tension and has raised the strings back there about 1/8". You can see this bridge tilt on this pic of my '67 EB0 (though over the years I've made a few rather major modifications to the bass and there's not a hell of a lot of EB0 left, as you may notice).





Gibson later went to a 3-point bridge, which doesn't tilt. Unfortunately, the big holes bored in the body for the improved bridge are in a different place, so if you want to switch bridges, you have to figure out how to plug two holes about 1/2" in diameter that will show (I've been pondering this one for quite a while....more knobs???) The newer bridge has big hook-shaped things on the casting which grab their posts, so it's pretty easy to tell the difference.

The necks on these basses are pretty stable over the years and pretty fast. The sound was great back in the days when we all had a pair of 15" JBL D140's and plenty of power, but it was back when folks thought that bass should be more felt than heard and definition wasn't as desirable as it is today. Most recording engineers hated them because even with all the treble cranked up the sound was still pretty muddy and boomy and they couldn't do much with it (that's why there is a Precision pickup under my handrest and stereo wiring). The EB3 with the added bridge pickup was better than the EB0, but it still wasn't very crisp by today's standards, especially back when everybody used flats.

I get a big kick out of people spending $1,000-$1,500 for an old EB and treating them like they were something special. Back then, they were a decent, fairly inexpensive bass, and that's about it. Most people who bought them did so because they couldn't afford a Fender, Ric or other top of the line instrument.

Frode, that's an EB3L. Personally I don't like them very much, to say the least. The mudbucker is the absolute opposite if a Ric sound. It's a Sidewinder pickup, designed by Seth Lover (same guy who designed the big neck humbucker for the Fender Telecaster Bass Mk II). It was designed in times when bass amps did not have much real bottom without farting out. With today's bass amplification, I doubt the need for a pickup with that range.

The EB3L has all the downsides of the EB2 (look for headstock repairs, they tend to crack), only it has more neck dive.

They do look great, though.

Thanks.

Lot of useful information.

Lars: I´m selling my Gibson SG guitar to afford the white 4003. Someone offered me the Gibson EB bass in trade for the guitar.
The guitar is a tony iommi signature where the neck did loosen from the body on the way from the factory in 2003.

So I´m a little confused. Someone please tell me what to do

Don't trade for the EB, sell the SG and put it toward what you really want, the RIC!

I second that!

Just come in on this thread. The pick ups appear to have "Gibson" embossed on them (it's hard to see clearly in the photo), if they do it is a 1970 to 1972 as these were the only years that Gibson embossed the pick up covers on humbuckers.

Looks like its been retro-fitted with those big, heavy Schaller tuners. They work nice, but add weight and the possibility of a weaker headstock from drilling the larger holes.

Peter: The pick ups has the Gibson logo. But I can´t figure out about the serial number 744661. It´s most likely a 70/72model according to the dudepit and Gibsons serial number decoder.

But I´m still thinking about that amazing white rick with BT:-)

Gibson serial numbers in the seventies make no sense at all (neither did Fender come to that). You just have to look at all the features. It will have a big volute on the back of the neck (came in in 1970 and gradually got smaller over the following years) "Made in USA" stamped on back of headstock - again 1970 onwards. Serial number 700000 onwards were used from 1970-1972 (Gruhns Vintage Guide).

Although I really love Gibson basses, I think you would be more happy with the Rickenbacker, Frode. At least for playing. The EB-3 would work fine as a decoration on the wall...

I have had a few EB basses over the years, they are a great bass for guitarists to play - as long as you like the sound, which is probably as far away from a ric sound as you can possibly get!

Jeff, I think the tuners are original - they are the kind used by Gibson on that era EB's.

It is a '66 or '67 by that ser # unless it has "MADE IN USA" impressed in the back of the headstock. Then it is a '70, '71, or '72. If anyone is interested I have the complete Gibson decoder in a PDF file.

You can't just go by the serial numbers.
The PU placement and the logo embossed on the PU cover tells more. And the shape of the pickguard. I'd say '73 (or later).

Excuse me Peter, if you are positive that the logo was on the PU ONLY in '71 and '72, then it's probably a '72.

But it says in the Gibson Les Paul Book (Bacon&Day) that "the logo was phased out during the 1970's" (page 41).