Gibson EB-3

Introduced in 1961, the EB-3 (based on an earlier model, the EB-0[1]) was one of the bass guitar equivalents of the popular Gibson SG. It was produced at Gibson's plant in Kalamazoo, MI.[2] It featured a slim SG-style body, a short 30.5" scale, and two pickups (a large humbucking pickup in the neck position and a mini-humbucker pickup in the bridge position). The electronics consisted of a four-way rotary pickup selector switch (for Series 1 basses; neck pickup with midrange notch, bridge, bridge and neck with low end rolled off neck pickup, neck pickup with choke) and volume and tone knobs for each pickup. The standard finish was cherry red (like the SG guitar models), though EB-3s were also produced in other finishes such as Polaris White, Pelham Blue, Walnut, and Ebony. By the time production ceased in 1979, a total of 14,167 instruments had been built.[3]

The design of the EB-3 changed several times during the 1960s. In 1962, the black plastic cover on the neck pickup was replaced by a metal one. Around 1964-5, the nickel-plated hardware was replaced by chrome-plated. Around mid-1965, the wide control spacing from the early 1960s was reduced, giving all SG guitars and basses the same size and shape control cavity. Around 1966-7 the neck was replaced with a thinner one; the unadjustable bar bridge was replaced by a fully adjustable one with a nylon saddle for each string; the string guard was removed; a bridge guard was introduced and the knobs were replaced with the witch-hat design. In 1969 and 1970, the headstock was replaced with a slotted one (similar to those on most classical guitars), with tuning keys mounted at ninety degrees downwards behind the head. In 1972, the neck pickup was moved closer to the bridge, and maple with added volute instead of mahogany was used for the neck. In 1973 the 3-point bridge was used. In addition to the Gibson EB-3, a long-scale (34") model called the EB-3L was introduced in 1969[4] for players who preferred the longer scale of most Fender basses.[1] The EB-3L long-scale variant was discontinued in 1972,[5][6] and the EB-3 itself in 1979.[1]

From the late 1980s until 1998, Gibson cooperated with Epiphone in Japan to produce for the Japanese market an EB-3 under the brand Orville by Gibson, named after the company's founder Orville Gibson.

Gibson currently produces a model called the SG Bass which is very similar to the EB-3, but with only a single tone control and no Varitone switch.[7] Epiphone produces a more affordable EB-3 with a 34" scale (similar to the EB-3L), but the Varitone switch has been replaced by a simple pickup selector.[1][8]This version, along with the Epiphone EB-0, was discontinued in early 2020, when the whole Epiphone lineup was reinvented.

Jack Bruce with an EB3 Bass in concert

• Trevor Bolder played an EB-3 with David Bowie's Spiders from Mars band in the early 1970s.[9]
• Jack Bruce switched from a Fender Bass VI to an EB-3 before the recording of Cream's Disraeli Gears (1967).[10]
• Glenn Cornick played an EB-3 for most of his last two years with Jethro Tull (1969–70).[9]
• Bob Daisley played an EB-3 on Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and on many other albums.[11]
• Andy Fraser of Free also played an EB-3.[9]
• Rik Fox [12]
• Jermaine Jackson of the Jackson 5[9]
• Jim Lea played an EB-3 in Slade during their most successful period in the early 1970s.[9]
• Pete Quaife of The Kinks sometimes used an EB-3 from May 1966 until his departure from the group in April 1969 along with a Rickenbacker 4001. His replacement, John Dalton also played the EB-3.[13]
• Mike Watt of Minutemen and fIREHOSE plays a heavily modified ’69 Gibson EB-3.[14][15]
• Chris White of The Zombies played an EB-3 as well.[9]
• Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones favored an EB-3[9] together with an Ampeg Dan Armstrong Plexiglas bass for most of The Rolling Stones Pacific Tour 1973, and an EB-3 for the entire The Rolling Stones European Tour 1973.
• Doug Yule played an EB-3 in The Velvet Underground.[16]

Epiphone EB-3 in Short Scale 30.5" and dot inlay albeit in limited quantities