Conference napalm::guitar

    I have a Gibson EB-6 which I purchased sometime around 1965 and
    was considering selling it but had no idea of it's value. It's
    in excellent condition and has a hard shell case. Only thing
    it needs is new strings. Do any of you guru's out there have
    any idea of it's value, so that when I go to sell it I don't
    get ripped off?
    
    Thanks,
    Charlie

    RE: -.1
    
    Most Gibson basses are worth very little money because most players
    do not like the sound.  Also most models were short-scale, which
    is no longer in vogue. Therefore, unlike the currently trendy "vintage"
    instruments like Strats, Teles, 335s, Pauls, P-basses, the Gibson
    basses have not attracted much collector interest and are therefore
    sleepers price wise.
    
    Some prominent exceptions are the Thunderbird basses, the *original*
    EB0 and EB1 basses with the plastic pickup covers and "banjo" tuners
    and the EB6, which is about the rarest Gibson bass, and the only
    one I've never seen.
    
    Question: is it based on the SG solid body style, the ES-335 semi-hollow
    body style or something totally different?
    
    
    The value: Maybe someone else is a Gibson expert, but based on what *other*
    Gibsons go for, and the rarity of it, I would guess maybe $5-600. 
                             
    Where are you located? If in MA I'd love to come see it just out
    of curiousity.
                                  

    Since this is kinda turnin' into the Gibson Bass note...
    
    I own a Gibson EB4-L long scale bass. Since the time I bought it
    brand new 15 years ago I've *never* seen or heard mention of this
    particular model. It's an SG body type.
    
    Anyone with any info?
    
    Thanks,
    Edd

    Re. .0 I still have most of the items listed for sale, and am dropping
    the prices to stir up some interest. 
    
    	The Fender showman cab has been marked down to 75.00 (firm price).
    Again, this cab is empty, but would make a great cabinet for guitar,
    bass, or keyboard players. 
    
    	The Boss chorus has also been marked down to 75.00.
    
    	Make me a reasonable offer on the others items. 
    
    	The reason I'm selling is because I'm trying to assemble a small
    	P.A. system for acoustic work. I may be willing to trade for
    	some other item if it is something that I can use. 
    
    						Mark Jacques,
    						home: 617-852-7323
    						work: dtn 296-5409
    						outside #: 480-5409
    

    Re: -.3
    
    I used to have a catalog that showed the EB-4L.  At the time, Gibson
    was making "new" versions of the entire EB line.  The EB-0 and EB-3
    were available either short or long-scale (with an L suffix).  The
    neck humbucker was moved further down the body (perhaps to achieve
    a more Fenderish timbre?).  The EB-4L used a new "Super Humbucking"
    pickup, also mounted mid-body which if I remember correctly, had
    staggered pole pieces, Edd?  One volume, one tone and a mystery
    tone switch, right?  This was made from about 1972 to 1974, maybe.
    
    Introduction of the Ripper series killed off all the EBs except
    the EB-3 which was retired from the line around 1980.
    
    A quick Gibson bass rundown:
    
    EB-1
    The original, violin body, one humbucker at the neck, one volume, one tone. 
    Original model was built from about 1954 to 1958.  Reissued with
    tune-o-matic bridge in 1969 (this is the one Felix Pappalardi used
    in Mountain).  Original models had black plastic pickup covers,
    banjo style tuners, and peg that attached to the lower strap button
    for "upright" use!!!!  Reissues had chrome pickup covers, normal
    guitar type tuners.  Notorious for incredibly *low* sound.  Legend
    has it that the bass pickup had more windings on it than any other
    model ever made (lots of windings=loud but no high end).
    
    EB-0
    Intended as a budget model.  Earliest one circa 1958 used Les Paul
    Jr. double cutaway body, EB-0 pickups and hardware.  Circa 1961
    went to SG body style, chrome pickup, normal tuners.  Long-scale
    option avaiable circa 1970.  Slotted, classical-guitar style headstock 
    also available briefly circa 1970. Discontinued circa 1974.
    
    EB-0F
    An EB-0 with on-board fuzztone circuit.  Circa 1965.
    
    EB-2, -2D
    Originally introduced around 1958, using ES-335 style body.  Earliest
    ones used EB-0 pickup, banjo tuners.  Circa 1961 went to chrome
    pickups, added a two pickup (-2D) model as well.  In addition to
    volume and tone controls, a "bass/baritone" pushbutton was provided,
    function unknown (a high-pass filter perhaps?). Discontinued circa
    1970.
    
    EB-3
    The top of the EB line.  Introduced circa 1961, SG body style. 
    One EB-0 neck pickup, smaller humbucker at bridge, two volumes,
    two tones, four position varitone/pickup selector.  This is the
    one that Jack Bruce used in Cream and is probably the best known
    Gibson bass.  Longscale and slotted peghead available as for EB-0.
    Neck pickup moved down body circa 1972 as mentioned above.  Dropped
    around 1980.
    
    Thunderbird
    Introduced around 1963.  Two models, II (single pickup) and IV (double
    pickup) as companions to Firebird guitars (which had models I, III,
    V and VII).  Around 1965, the through-body neck and "reverse" body
    were dropped in favor of glued-in-neck.  Discontinued around 1968.
    Thunderbird IV reissued with tune-o-matic and RW&B bird decal on
    pickguard for US bicentennial in 1976.  Gibson has recently announced
    availability of model IV reissues this year.  Only Gibson basses
    available in "custom" colors a la Fender.
    
    Ripper/Grabber/G3
    An attempt to make a more Fenderish bass in the 70's.  These three
    have long scale necks, maple fingerboards and vary in pickup
    configurations. Grabber has one, movable pickup, Ripper has two
    plus varitone switch, G3 has three pickups.  Available from about
    1973 to 1980.
    
    RD
    Very brief series from Gibson around 1977 to early 80's.  Two pickups,
    "reverse" styled body, glue-in necks.  Artist model had on board
    compression and active EQ.
    
    Victory
    Fenderish bolt-on neck bass available from 1980 to just recently.
    Standard model had one angled pickup while Arist model had second
    bridge pickup plus active circuit a la RD.  Artist also available
    fretless (first factory authorized fretless model, I think).
    
    Les Paul
    Offered from around 1970 to 1980.  Two low impedance pickups,
    short-scale neck, preamp on-board.  Earliest models called Les Paul
    Recording Bass, some changes made (??) and the bass was renamed the
    Les Paul Triumph.  Similar to the unpopular Les Paul Recording guitars.
    
    Les Paul Signature
    A wierdo...a 335 styled hollowbody with a gold top, one low impedance
    pickup.  Avaiable in mid 70's.  There was a matching twin pickup
    guitar.
           
    EB-100, -200, SB-250/350/450
    A line of cheap basses circa 1972.  SG style bodies, some short
    scale, some long scale, one or two plastic cover pickups, volume
    and tone controls mounted to plates (some metal and some plastic)
    rather than to wood. These came and went in one or two years.
    Similar to the SG-I, SG-II, SG-100, etc. guitars.
    
    EB-4L, EB-6
    Where this note all started.
                                                     
    As far as resale of these goes, except for the T-birds and the old
    EB-1s these are real sleepers.  EB-0s and -2s often go for under $200 and
    I remember seeing a Les Paul Signature a few years back on Music
    Row in NYC for $295.  EB-3s can command over $300. An original T-bird
    from the 60's can go over $1000, non-reverse models and reissues
    probably around $5-600.
    
    BTW although I always lusted over a cherry-red slotted head EB-3
    I have never owned a Gibson bass although my first bass was a Guild
    Madeira EB-3 knockoff.  Guess who was a Jack Bruce fan....
                                    

    Gheesh, this guy's HOT!!
    
    You nailed the description right on the head!
    
    ... right down to the staggered pole pieces.
    
    Edd

  RE: .2 [AQUA::ROST]
        
    >Question: is it based on the SG solid body style, the ES-335 semi-hollow
    >body style or something totally different?
    
    Well, don't know what a ES-335 semi-hollow body looks like [but
    I thought _everybody_ knew that!] however it is a thin hollow body
    style, with 'f' holes and double cutaway in a sun-burst finish.
    It has a single pickup with single volume and tone controls. What
    did you mean by 'short-scale'?
    
    >Where are you located? If in MA I'd love to come see it just out
    >of curiousity.
     
    I live in Princeton, Ma. and would be willing to show it to you
    anytime.
    
    Charlie                    

    re: -.7
    
    For those who hear these terms bantered about and are unfamiliar:
    
    ES-335 is a Gibson guitar which is semi-hollow (has a maple block
    inside), double cutaways and f-holes.  This body style was used
    on other Gibson instruments, as well as competitors, thus the term
    "335 style".
    
    Short-scale on a bass refers to a scale length (bridge to nut) of
    30".  32" is called medium-scale and 34" is called long-scale. 
    

    RE: .8
    
    Thanks for the info. You've got me curious now, I'll have to measure
    it tonight. My guess is that it's a 'long scale', you really have
    to reach for the lower frets. Once I dislocated my shoulder trying
    for a low 'F' on the 'E' string [only kidding].

    Just in case anyone else plays a Gibson bass, DiMarzio makes a drop-in
    replacement for that big neck humbucker, recently voted "Best Pickup To
    Use As A Boat Anchor" and long-standing leader in both the "Magnet Weight"
    and "Number Of Windings" categories.

    The replacement is DiMarzio's Model One.  It drops in nicely, is black 
    instead of chrome, has eight-count-em-eight allen screw adjustable 
    polepieces, has four output wires and a ground so it can be wired series,
    parallel or single-coil, and it offers more treble response than the 
    original.

    Of course, a bass drum offers more treble response than the original.

    Anyway, I bought one and I like it.  It manages to retain most of the
    low-end response of the original while adding some much-needed high end.
    It doesn't make my EB-0 sound like a Fender, it's not a night-and-day 
    difference, but it is an improvement.  List price is currently $110 US;
    I paid $75.  You listening, Edd?  %^)

    Dave

    > You listening, Edd?
    
    I got all the treble *I* need simply by putting a set of round-wounds
    on in place of the black tapes I've been using for years.
    
    Of course, if you want to actually hear individual notes (as opposed to
    a sound like a pitched rumble) your mileage may vary...
    
    Gibson + tape + Ampeg (tubed, 2X15) = sound of butter.
    
    ;^)
    
    Edd

    A Gibson bass with *tape-wound* strings through an Ampeg amp?
    
    Talk about low end - I don't think my ears even go that low!
    
    Get an SVT and you can make freight trains jealous.  %^)
    
    Dave

    Maybe I *should* rework my pickup...
    
    I'll move it closer to the neck....
    
    Voila! Siesmobass!!!
    
    Edd

>    Voila! Siesmobass!!!
    
    Bwahahahaha!!!  Copyright that name!
    
    Hey, maybe you could send that thumbsucker out to Seymour Duncan or 
    somebody, and have him put more windings on it!  %^)
    
    Dave

    So, what's the story on these Les Paul basses that I saw on
    Gibson's web page?  They look, well, different.  There's also
    an Epiphone Les Paul bass for the budget-challenged among us.
    I think I saw one in passing by the Music One store in Billerica
    last week, but I wasn't sure at the time what I was looking at.
    
    Chris

    Gibson has never had a successful Bass Guitar from a sales/market
    share standpoint. Over the years they have marketed the various
    EBO/SG style basses, Thunderbird Basses (both reversed and non-)
    and a few Les Paul/Triumph/Recording basses during the 70's. 
    I believe the latest series of Les Paul Basses is based on the
    hope that the popularity of the Les Paul guitar will prompt a
    few people to buy the LP Bass. 
    
    I haven't tried one, so I won't comment on how good they are. 
    They look heavy. I believe they use some type of humbucking
    pickup. I've never heard a humbucking BASS pickup that I liked. 
    They may be great, but IMHO the only Gibson Bass I'm interested
    in owning is the reversed-Thunderbirds. The reissue of the Thunderbird
    is excellant, and I have seen these things selling cheap in the used
    market. If these don't get your' pulse racing, better have a coroner
    examine ya, cause you're probably dead.
    
    Mark

    I've seen several of these, played one.  They are a little on the heavy
    side, but surprisingly comfortable to get around on.  This one had some
    sort of active system, lots of different tones and an overall thick
    sound.  It would probably make a good 'rock' bass.
    
    The sunburst finish on the one I tried was UGHHH-LEEEE! though; the
    cherry and amber flame-top versions look a lot nicer.
    

    I saw a guy use a 5-string LP bass a few weekends ago. He said Gibson
    Custom Shop made it for him, and it's the same specs that some famous
    guy had them make. Also said it cost him an arm and a leg...and a nut!
    All I can say is that this guy sounded great! 
    
    I don't remember tha name of the band, but the guitar and bass players 
    looked like bikers/ZZ-TOP. Gnarley dudes but their rendition of Black
    Sabbath tunes drove the place wild.
    
    Larry

    
    
       I was just wondering if anyone out there can give me ANY info on a
    1984 Gibson Explorer bass?  I bought one recently and I love it !  But
    I've never seen another one.  Is it rare?  Is it worth much?  Any info
    would help a lot.  
                               Thanks,
                                           Christoph