Gibson EB-0 Refinished White c.1966-'69 Short Scale Electric Bass Guitar

This is a Gibson EB-0 short-scale electric bass guitar in, which has been Refinished in a White colour. Initially introduced in 1959 in response to the declining popularity of the EB-1, the EB-0 was positioned as a more budget-friendly option for bass players, with its stripped back electronics helping to keep the retail price around $240- equivalent to around $2500 today. The bass remained in continuous production until 1979, and was a very popular instrument amongst musicians of the day, notably being the bass Jack Bruce used with Cream during their Disraeli Gears era.

Pre-1969 Gibson serial numbers are notoriously poor tools for determining the manufacture date of an instrument. Naturally featuring a set-neck construction, the body & neck are Mahogany, whilst the fingerboard is Rosewood. Due to the production era, it is likely that this is Brazilian Rosewood. Nickel hardware is fitted, as well as the custom made ‘60s Mudbucker’ humbucking pickup, wound by Rob Williams Luthier, replacing the original Gibson ‘Sidewinder’ pickup. This is wired to master volume & tone controls.

The Mahogany neck plays very well, with a profile that might be described as a rounded, tapered shape which feels somewhat like a ’D’ in the lower register and transitions to more of a ‘C’ as you climb the neck. This sits very comfortably in the hand and encourages ergonomic thumb positioning across the register. The short 30.5” scale length is perfect for those with smaller hands or guitarists moonlighting as bass players. Certainly, the neck feels highly manoeuvrable, with the gloss finish to the rear further assisting with smooth navigation of the fretboard. The Rosewood is supremely pleasant under the fingers and adds a touch of luxury to the playing experience.

The Rob Williams custom wound ‘Mudbucker’ humbucking pickup delivers a thick and powerful tone, with smooth rounded lows, clear and open mid range and a sweet treble response that captures the attack and aggression of your playing. The pots feel nicely responsive, allowing you to dial in your perfect tone with ease, whilst the simplicity of the controls ensure that you can stay focussed on your playing whilst still offering comprehensive control of your tone. This is certainly a special bass that has been favoured by many musicians through the wonder years of the 60’s and 70’s and onwards, this bass allows you to plug into history.