Gibson EBO Bass Guitar

[@terrencethorn9237]

A music store owner in Lansing, Michigan once described the sound of a Gibson bass as "the sound of a 50 pound marshmellow hitting the sidewalk from a second floor window". That was in 1975. I'm not making this up. I will remember his opinion as long as I live. - But then, I'm just a drummer, still ..........

[@petebobcat4910]

A mint EBO is a fair few dollars worth of kindling!! from my Gibson book there are various bridge types from a fender screw down type to a stop bar tailpiece bridge.!! good luck Dave!! and happy new year....

[@PeekaPeep]

Those Hipshot replacement bridges for the vintage-style Gibson basses are actually pretty darn good from what I've read up on, so good in fact that Gibson should've been using them as their official stock bridge on ALL their main brand models as well as their budget-friendly Epiphone line for that matter. As for the one on that long-scale EB-0, I noticed it was poorly installed (badly aligned with the body) and upon closer inspection doesn't appear to be properly built to spec for this particular model anyway. Looks like somebody forgot to do their homework prior to getting the original bridge swapped out, lol... ;-p

[@HBSuccess]

Hey Dave - have worked on a bunch of EB basses over the years - the neck angles were all different - from dead flat to about 5 degrees back tilt. NO consistency. It's no wonder an aftermarket bridge isn't working. I'd just look for one of the original (junk) stamped bridges on eBay

[@RaceAgainstTheFall]

Your vids are always so much fun to watch man.

Happy New Year to you, Dave.

[@willford8475]

In the seventies. a bass player friend of mine told me the Gibson EBO/EB3 basses sounded good in the shop but were terrible live at a gig. They were GOOCHES!

[@TheDarinAmes]

It's a gooch! I love it! Dave, you're the man. I wish Dave Letterman started a Late Show guitar Tech segment starring you.

[@DavidJohnston_deadhat]

The bridge that came with my gibby SG base was a POC. The hipshot bridge was a huge improvement and definitely not too high. I had to lift them up quite high to get the right action.

[@J8D2]

The whole 3 point thing never processed with me. It's like they wanted the least amount of bridge to body contact possible.

[@TaralgaBushAdventure]

They used to have the two-point bridge, but saw that string tension over time was tipping them forwards, so the single front point was added for stability. They didn't worry about intonation too much until later.

[@DavidJohnston_deadhat]

I put a hipshot bridge on my Gibby SG bass and it was a huge improvement.

[@timhorton7399]

You have to change the bridge ( you don't want to do any routing, you have to remember re-sale). Maybe look at Schaller?

[@inevitablecraftslab]

Looks like the second capacitor is missing from the tone circuit. Also i would take off material from the saddles not the base.

[@alfredotorres2376]

Happy New Year Dave good show man home Chicago

[@Von-Wilhelm]

I have this exact bass, except that I put a Badass II bridge on it, which really worked.

[@zeegary]

Pardon me for sounding thick, but surely the critical height is that of the roller and not the height of the saddle? Having said that, the bridge on this example is plainly wrong; it's falling off the edge, lol. Loved the video.

[@Chilling4Shillings]

Hipshot makes great products, Chances are that bridge wasn't designed for that particular guitar, can't blame hipshot because somebody put the wrong part on that guitar

[@izzysantiago978]

I agree!!

[@justintreweek7755]

hipshotproducts.com/collections/bass-bridges/products/supertone-gibson-bass-replacement-bridge it doesn’t say it’s not for an eb.

[@PeterWasted]

Dave, Any chance of removing metal from the underside but taking off MORE at the front? That might get the saddles low enough as they are near the front.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

jep definitely. take a file and grind of a few millimeters of the saddles bottoms

[@SynthesizersForPeace]

sounded really nice

[@gregg4164]

Yes the original 2 point bridges where just as high. These are much better than the originals but string height is , was and always will be a problem for that bass. This bridge works well on the Epiphone basses because they have bolt on necks and then you can shim the neck to get the proper angle and string height but not here.

[@Azonche]

I was debating on putting one of these on my rd artist..backed out of it Im happy with they way it sounds now..yea its a hipshot

[@timothycmasterson]

Those basses are so odd in general. It's actually the longer 34.5" scale 'EB-0L'. They get the extra length by positioning the bridge further back on body. I'm surprised that they are poorly aligned with a design like that.

[@ironmanmachine]

What about the old "pick under the neck" trick?

[@davidbradshaw659]

a friend had one like that except the pu was twice the size, never seen another pick up like that. also, you had to hold the neck or it would sink down to your feet like there was a brick tied to the headstock

[@overdriven77]

not sure why people hate these so much..........I'd really like to have one!

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Nice bass very informative about the bridge

[@michaelbeaudo6761]

Must be a really early eb0 because i own one and from all the ones ive seen the new ones take a special 3 bolt bridge thets a little closer to the neck.

[@frankperricone2065]

I have a 66, the original bridge is a 2 bolt to adjust height

[@DaCostaGuitars]

Would shaving the bottom of the bridge plate aid the bass?

[@OzziePete1]

I think if you want to improve the tone aspect of the circuit, you may consider getting a Q Filter for Bass guitar from Wilde Pickups. That might wind back some of the mud?

[@Terry3Gs]

That bass would make me want to break out a bassline of black Sabbaths N.I.B. That said yeah if that is a actualy 72 (year before I was born) might be hard to find a replacement part. I also noticed when on the tail end of that video not shure if you also seen dave bud but the position of the bridge actualy isn't even installed parallel to the body.

[@williamhenshaw8650]

I love EB-0 basses, nothing sounds like them. I play a '67 most of the time. When I want a different tone, or to be more exact a variety of tones, I play my Mosrite. I used to have one of these EB-0s with the pickup moved back and hated it, they sound different and the neck feels weird. As for this bridge, you need to get an original Gibson. Not too hard to come by.

[@HeadfirstHumanity]

Try a Badass II bridge

[@eddivision15]

Just found your channel last week and it is a lot of fun stuff! Wondering since you've worked on so much stuff, if you were going to build a bass what pieces of hardware would you put on it? Bridge, tuners, pick-up(S), etc. Even though it would be very easy to recess that bridge into the top :) I suppose a correct bridge is the answer.

[@RolandMillington]

Thanks for the clarifying about the roller saddles. I didn't see those on the first video. If this wouldn't have had adjustable roller saddles, would you recommend shaving those saddle slots?

[@jiggs1998]

it looks to me like the bridge is back too far as well, have you checked the scale length? not that it really matters, it'll still be too high.

[@paullemesurier8188]

Dave, if it were my bass, and had no historical or significant monetary value, I would recess the bridge into the body a little. It would streamline the appearance, and would take some of the strain off of the screws holding the bridge. The bridge didn't look exactly straight, so any alignment issues could be corrected at the same time.

[@BassBusMusic]

That still leaves the same problem with string access at the back of it though.

[@paullemesurier8188]

***** It looks like there's room for adjustment on the saddles, you could open the recess all the way off the tail of the guitar to allow access for string install/removal. I'd score the finish around the bridge with an exacto, then take out 1/8 to 3/16 deep and square it out to the tail end. A little coloured lacquer to hide the work and it would look factory. I can't figure out how to do it from my phone, but I'll explain it better from home later on.

[@n8milliken]

you would recess the bridge into the body rather than just buy a different bridge? the bridge on it isn't stock, so there's no reason to keep it. it sure sounds like a lot of work when a swap out is so much easier.

[@paullemesurier8188]

If you're working on your own gear, my way is free.

[@bnolsen]

shim the neck pocket to angle the neck down. Done that before with a bridge that bottomed out.

[@wingracer1614]

Can't. It's a set, glued in neck, not a bolt on.

[@tootall11211]

replacement bridge seems like the only reasonable thing to do. I wonder, why did that bridge get put on it in the first place when it obviously doesn't work worth a damn? A Fender style bridge would let you lower it a lot.

[@wingracer1614]

Because that bridge was actually made for that bass and is the correct aftermarket replacement part and a good option. The problem is the bass itself. The neck angle is wrong and probably sucked with the factory bridge as well.

[@markknight6445]

Mush and less mush. 🤣 I did laugh out loud.

[@redbuzzardbass]

I was gonna say fart and wet fart, but same diff.

[@timothymckane6362]

"Well, Hipshot needs a shot in the head." -- Dave 2014

[@plinkbottle]

Looks ;like a mid 70's one. they shifted the pickup back from the neck, for more presence Goes better that position than the EB3 with 2 pickups, I recon

[@the_nondrive_side]

Headshot bridge. Notch the wood. Add a lipstick near the bridge and switch the tone to a volume pot... Well the ones closer to the neck it's more of a necessary thing.

[@flip3213]

happy new year jigga flex

[@71bassg]

stick a gibson bridge back on it there not the best but hey the action may be better ,i had an eb3 quirky! but if theres one thing i cant live with its neckdive and thats what it had sadly so i got rid of it i did try a victory for a while quite liked that very heavy though

[@Bluebuthappy182]

Could you take material off the guitar itself so the bridge sits into the guitar body. Mind you do you want to do that, seems a lot of work.

[@jcastle123]

what's the screw on the side of the bridge? put in some EMGs

[@walkrandomly]

Could the neck angle be adjusted to compensate for the bridge being too high?

[@possibly8180]

7 years too late but uhh, it's a set neck

[@MrStu9459]

Yep I vote for a Different bridge or better still sell it & buy a Fender P Bass...:)

[@BarneyFife00]

How about taller frets? :)

[@DICKSLEXIA]

Have a great 2014 Dave :)

[@FeldwebelWolfenstool]

...wow...bought one for $200 in 1974 from McTamney's Pawn on Queen St.E....memories of MUD. The sound of mahogany MUD.

[@sd3falco]

Can't agree with that one. I love my SG bass. It's a totally different animal from my Jazz bass. I go back and forth between them depending on my mood :)

[@michaelgibson4523]

I'm a little upset you didn't do the peace sign at the end dave all in all though nice bass, shame about the action though!

[@murrayschrader1737]

That bridge is gooched!

[@DriveCarToBar]

I see two options. One is to recess the bridge into the body and sell it for a crazy markup because it's an old Gibson. The other is leave the bridge alone and sell it for a crazy markup because it's an old Gibson. Take the money you made and get a Schecter.

[@SwingingCreeper]

Is it really HipShot's fault? I think the person that decided to buy it and put it on without taking measurements would be the culprit here.

[@skeleon246]

What year is that thing?

[@flip3213]

72 i think cause it says gibson on the pickup

[@stevenhall8762]

For anyone having problems with the bridge , I put a gotoh bridge in mine and it is much better. Cheers !

[@johnsilver552]

Do you know if Gibson makes EB-0 basses with dual humbucker pick-ups anymore?. Like what this dude got. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6O5fn-VqbB5esk I wonder why I don't ever see too many of these, only the single pick-up model which isn't quite as heavy sounding.

[@zanegallop]

John Silver The Gibson made model is known as the EB-3, and it has two pickups. The EB-0 was introduced as more of a "Student" model and as a result had simpler electronics with one pickup, but there are modded EB-0s out there that have an extra aftermarket pickup/set.

[@brocklanders6172]

Just go with a Badass II and be done with it. I put one on an Eastwood Ampeg copy and now it barks when I say so.

[@RedElephantStampede]

These basses (and I've tried a million of them) have way too much mud if used for more conventional tones. However, run through a guitar amp, say, an old Marshall plexi or Hi-Watt they sound like a freaking bulldozer (ala Jack Bruce), God rest his soul.

[@latioswarrior]

Or like cliff burton he put the pickup on his rickenbacker and he used a marshall and it can be found on his solo called anesthesia with whiplash which he can be seen playing his rickenbacker with a marshall

[@OzziePete1]

04:10 Ha ha, mush & less mush. The pickups weren't called 'mudbuckers' for nuthin'!

[@JanSkrzetuskiHerbuJastrzebiec]

I have Epiphone version of EB0 is good bass

[@jcastle123]

try a fender bridge

[@RastaSaiyaman]

This bass would be perfect for a reggae player, all low end and MOJO.

[@woodyh4650]

You would think I work for ESP. You can get almost any style of guitar or bass to suit your budget, and dollar for dollar it's some of the best quality this 40 year old guy has seen.

[@fluffyskunk]

Its look like Gibson EB4L to me and the replacment bridge is from EB0, so thats why it does not fit..

[@LJSMusic54]

EB4L had a superhumbucking pickup with tone selector switch, this does not. It looks like an EB-OL

[@rasmillion]

Such a sound Oft imitated never duplicated, I’d never get one E string sounds like a fart

[@aronhallam6449]

I think the bass sounds alright, it's too twangy for me with tone on full.

[@TheChef470]

Firewood......

[@acoustics450]

Just take your valuable heirloom '60s vintage EBO and mill some wood out from under the bridge to drop it down! Lol! (Are you serious? Yep!) The '70s BADASS 1 bridge has the same problem, it's like a frickin' door step, too thick...What do you want? Show or go? I just mill the fu*kers out & play on my basses! Lol! They still look good, that's what they are for.

[@randallparker8477]

Gibson bass bridges. Link: www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/bridge/

[@jaylamb380]

Looks backwards. If you google Hipshot Supertone Bridge Gibson you'll see what I mean. I'd say it's the wrong model for the bass.

[@gregg4164]

Jay Lamb No, that would be the correct model for that bass. They only have 2. a 2 post and a 3 post. the problem is the set neck angle on that bass. As was stated before they where very inconsistent and in this case not much can be done other than try to find any type of bridge that will work.

[@isawlindsey]

It's a bass and it's gooched. Throw it away and buy a guitar. Happy New Year Dave.

[@abassplayer4life]

Looks like you will need a wood routing tool. Something maybe like a....... CHAINSAW.

[@williamgarrett9479]

take some wood from underneath the bridge

[@rajakhalil4628]

Gooch St.'s in better business than Wall St.

[@blackberryblossom]

I love the look of that bass, I´m a fan of Jack Bruce, but the tone of this thing just sucks.

[@richardsears1919]

Mushbass.

[@JazzyBass]

Buy a cheapest Epiphone and rob the bridge off it. It's cheaper

[@hamishr2367]

Too bad. .it's kinda pretty lookin

[@vox1003]

shaveing the bridge, way to much work, swap it out

[@TomTobin67]

Wow! That sounds like shat.

[@shaalis]

Great video. But man, what a horrible guitar design.

[@dezziwood555]

Crap bass with no tone. Good firewood. Another person tried to improve their bass with an aftermarket part and failed.

[@MrJed50]

Gibson has never made a decent bass. Every one I have ever played sound like mush. Their PU's are garbage.

[@patricktrites3381]

why!!! why bother that bass is worth nothing and has tone. I would tell buddy to go to the store and pick up a Jpan bass that would sound better and play better for less money than repairing Pete Agnew's trash

[@johnyork5138]

Gibson never made a good bass.

[@chipmuellemann7901]

One of the worst basses ever made!

[@johnyork5138]

Gibson never made a good bass.