|
|
 |
  |
|
 |
|
|
The EB0
|
|
|
|
The EB0 is a true design classic and was Gibsons most popular bass, making
up almost a third of all solidbody bass sales.
While the two pick-up EB3 was mainly used by major names such as Jack Bruce
of Cream, Andy Fraser of Free and Glen Cornick of Jethro Tull, the single pick-up EB0 was mainly popular with the
garage, blues, soul and church bands of the 1960s and 70s, although users included David Knights of Procol Harum,
Felix Pappalardi of Mountain (who gave his to Jack Bruce after a concert, carving "to Jack, xxx Felix" into it) and Jermaine
Jackson of the Jackson Five. The price difference between the two was not large; in 1970 the EB0 was $350 compared to $410
for the EB3.
The short scale (20 frets on a 30.5 inch neck) and mahogany throughout made
for a quick playing bass with a heavy sound from the Humbucker pick-up that was popular with the blues/rock movement
of the late sixties, and which led to it being called the "Mudbucker". A true design classic it still looks as fresh as it
did in 1961.
Click on a photo to see a larger picture or to go to a page with more photos |
|
|
| Dennis Lojeski (1944-1996) in 1961 |
|
|
The first version of the EB0, produced in 1959 and 1960, was also known as the Les
Paul Junior, shown below. This particular bass has "banjo tuners" and was owned by Dennis Lojeski, whose
1961 College photo is above. He was the sole owner until his premature death in 1996. Dennis is the upright bass player
with Elvis Presley performing "C'Mon Everybody" in the 1964 film,Viva Las Vegas, which you can see at
Click here to see more photos of this superb bass
Dennis's brother, Ed Lojeski, played piano on this number, and was Elvis's vocal coach, but can
only be seen fleetingly at the back of the band if you look very carefully! Ed has since served as musical director for numerous
movies and TV films as well as becoming one of the leading choral arrangers/directors in the business today. See
Ed Lojeski Biography 1
Ed Lojeski Biography2
1961 EB0 (above) - The first year for this body style. Note the
black cover to the single Humbucker which was only used in '61&'62. The handrest is mid-body, as is the case for all EB
basses until late 1967, and the body and neck are both single pieces of mahogony with 20 frets to the neck, as were all EB
basses until 1970.
|
|
|
Above, an early 1967 EB0 complete with handrest, type2 bridge with wider mounting arms and the felt
mute, operated by sliding the handle at the base of the bridge.
A late 1967 EB0 (above). The handrest was moved in late '67 to become a bridge cover. The bridge is
now the "two point" bar bridge that allows separate intonation of the strings. On the pictured bass the tuners are the "closed
gear" type (as they are on the early 1967 model shown above) normally fitted to the Gibsons Melody Maker and Kalamazoo models.
Gibson is reknowned for inconsistencies in hardware and serial numering!
Above- a 1964 EB0F (Fuzztone) - extremely rare as there
were only 64 made that year, and 265 in total!- Click on the photo for more pictures of a 1963 and this 1964 EB0F!
Click on the link below to view a 1961
EB0 on You Tube
1961 EB0 on YouTube
SOUND CLIPS:
to hear an EB0, click on the links below:
1964 EB0 (round wound strings, treble and vol pots positioned at 9/10)
1970 EB0
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Another 1961 EB0. The handrest has been removed, which is often done as it can interfere with playing
styles. Note the pearl inlaid Gibson crown logo high on the head. Both 1961 and the 1963 EB0s pictured have the first
nickel bar bridge with thin mounting arms. A later version with wider arms was used 1965 to 1967.
A 1963 EB0 with nickel Kluson tuners. Note that the inlaid pearl crown logo is situated above the
headstock centre (it moved to mid-headstock in late '63) and, as is often the case as they interfered with some playing
styles, the handrest is missing.
Above, a 1964 EB0 complete with hand rest. Note that
the Crown on the head is still positioned high on the head! , Click on the photo above to see more pictures.
This is a 1970 "split head" (and also fretless) model. The split-head was introduced very late
in 1969, and lasted through to 1972 when the EB0 and EB3 were both subject to a major redesign. In 1970 the neck was changed
to a 3 piece mahogony design with 19 frets, until the 1972 redesign.
Above a 1973 EB0. In 1972 the EB0 was substantialy redesigned from the earlier models. The
body is far heavier and while it is still mahogony, the neck is now 3 piece maple with 21 frets. The maple neck, and moving
the Humbucker pick-up to mid body, were both intended to produce a brighter sound. A shorter pick-guard was fitted and Scaller
M4-S tuners. In 1973 these were changed to Schaller BM, and a better, 3 point, bridge was fitted, as in this example. Note
that the bevelled edge so apparent in earlier models has gone, resulting in a flat body
Below a 1969 EB0 - still showing the bevelled edge which was lost in the 1972 redesign.
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total EB-0 numbers produced: 20844 |
|
1959 |
1960 |
1961 |
1962 |
1963 |
1964 |
1965 |
1966 |
1967 |
1968 |
1969 |
|
123 |
342 |
535 |
815 |
681 |
1133 |
2006 |
1660 |
1676 |
1350 |
3018 |
|
1970 |
1971 |
1972 |
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
--- |
|
2896 |
1681 |
930 |
1408 |
384 |
95 |
55 |
36 |
14 |
6 |
--- |
See more Gibson Basses, available for sale, at www.gibsonbassstore.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
