Now here is a beautiful and rare example of the Gibson EB-3 bass, in custom order Pelham Blue finish. In the 1960s Gibson custom finish instruments were available in limited quantities; unlike Fender custom colours, which were widely promoted, Gibson custom colours were a rarity, and certainly not pushed. There is no mention of custom finishes for EB basses in the 1965 price list; only for Firebird guitars and Thunderbird basses. It us not known how many Pelham blue Gibson EB3 (or Gibson EB0) basses were shipped, but there were certainly not many. The total number of EB-3s shipped in 1965 was just 339. See Gibson EB3 shipping totals. In June 1965, the Gibson EB-3 was listed at $337.50 in the US (zone 1).
This bass is totally 1965: early-style wide control spacing, and bell knobs, yet chrome hardware: EB humbucker at the neck, and a mini humbucker at the bridge. Chrome-plated bar bridge with string mute. Like all EB-3s, controls are two volume, two tone and a four position varitone switch in the middle. Note also, the last remnants of silvering peeled from the bridge pickup surround. This would have been one of the last basses produced with this wider control layout. In the second half of the year, a new, closer arrangement was introduced, allowing a common control route for all SG guitars and solid body EB basses. Compare this to a later 1969 EB3 with narrow-spaced controls and plain surround.
This was about the time that Gibson first used the second version bar bridge with curved arms. This still worked with the same mute as shown.
Pelham Blue finishes often turn green as the sunlight yellows the clearcoat. Areas protected from sun by hardware tend to show more original colouration. In this image with the scratchplate removed, the true Pelham colour remains. The reverse of this guitar had a large sticker at one point, and this has prevented the yellowing on the reverse of this bass, see below.
The control cavity is still the larger irregular style - later in 1965 this would be changed to the symmetrical shape far more familiar to the majority of Gibson solid bodies ever since. This is the type 1 EB3 circuitry (see schematic) used by Gibson until 1971. This clear photograph allows us to read the potentiometer codes. One is marked 1376529. This tells us that the pot was made by CTS (code 137) in the 29th week of 1965 (more about Gibson bass pot codes).
All pictures are courtesy of Craig Boehme who sold this instrument on Ebay for a little over $3000 in June 2005.
Gibson EB-3 bass guitars for sale
Vintage Gibson EB3 Bass Guitar
Upper Sandusky, Ohio, 433**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2477
... more
Gibson Slothead EB-3 1971 - Cherry Fretless Bass w / Original Gibson Case
Huntington, Indiana, 467**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1500
This bass is an absolute monster and sounds incredible! I don't know for sure (I kinda doubt it) that this would have come from the Gibson factory as fretless. However, whoever did the job has done it professionally and it looks great!
The electronics work perfectly and it has that classic "double bass" tone in the first position!
There is some bow in the neck. The truss doesn't ... more
Gibson EB3 Bass Vintage
Edmonton, Kentucky, 421**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1990
GIBSON 1966 BASS CHROME PICKUP COVER LARGE HUMBUCKER EB-O EB-2 EB-3 EPI RIVOLI
Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$59
There's nothing worse than not having a cover for that big Gibson bass humbucker. It's one butt-ugly pickup without it! This is correct for late 1965 thru 1970 EB-O, EB-2 and EB-3 models as well as 1969 & 1970 EB-1 basses. It will also fit Epiphone Rivoli basses. This version has the small-head mounting screws (4 are included but just not shown). Gibson changed the height and the position of this cover in 1970 and enlarged the mounting screw holes. It's in great shape ... more
Gibson EB-3 Cherry Mod 1969 Electric Bass Guitar Original Case Slotted Head Art
El Segundo, California, 902**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3500
... more
"1973" Vintage Cherry "GIBSON EB-3" with OHSC Serial #056076 in Great Condition
Riverside, California, 925**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3795
Used Gibson 1970 EB-3 Slotted Headstock Short Scale SG Bass w / Case
Weymouth, Massachusetts, 021**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2599
Epiphone EB3 Bass Bassgitarre Gibson SG Style aktiv Hipshot
Ilmenau, 98***, GERMANY
€290
Mahagoni-Body mit eingeleimtem Mahagonihals.
Sidewinder-Humbucker Hals-Pickup, Mini-Humbucker Bridge-Pickup.
Der Bass ist modifiziert mit einer Hipshot Supertone Brücke sowie einer 3Band-Aktivelektronik von Yamaha. Beide Modifikationen eröffnen klanglich und technisch völlig neue Möglichkeiten, kein Vergleich zum Originalzustand!
Besichtigung, Antesten, Abholung, Versand sowie Barzahlung, Überweisung oder PayPal-Zahlung sind ... more
1971 Gibson EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - Made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£345
* CASE ONLY !
* interior has stains
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* worn but solid
* check all pics
... more
1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€444
* CASE ONLY !
* strap that holds case open=GONE
* bottom and top are loose =need reglueing
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* check all pics
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more
1971 GIBSON EB 3 SLOTTED HEADSTOCK BASS CASE - made in USA
COLOGNE, GERMANY
€399
* CASE ONLY !
* interior has stains
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* worn but solid
* check all pics
PLENTY of PARTS for SALE
ATTENTION! OVER 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
... more
1971 Gibson EB 3 HÜLLE - passt NUR SCHLITZKOPF Version
COLOGNE, GERMANY
£399
* CASE ONLY !
* strap that holds case open=GONE
* bottom and top are loose =need reglueing
* tolex has rips
* all latches are working fine
* check all pics
* SOLD AS IS - NO RETURNS... more
Gibson EB-3 1965 - Cherry Red JACK BRUCE CREAM
Doncaster, DN6***, UNITED KINGDOM
£5499
Internally / Externally Original
Mahogany body / rosewood fretboard
Humbucking pickup in the neck and mini-humbucker in the bridge
Four-way rotary pickup selector switch
Condition 8 / 10
Case
ALL ... more
1963 Gibson EB-3 Bass ex Bob Daisley (Rainbow, Black Sabbath)
Doncaster, DN6***, UNITED KINGDOM
£7999
We are happy to offer the following from the personal Private Collection of The Blizzard Himself that Being Bob Daisley whom is Heavy Rocks most distinguished and respected of all Bass Players and Songwriters, details as follows
History
The history and career of Bob Daisley is Legendary and has been one of the main contributors to the sound, look, style of the following Iconic Hard Rock artists some of which are as follows:
Rainbow - Black Sabbath - ... more
Gibson EB-3 Bass Guitar 1967
Horncastle, LN9***, UNITED KINGDOM
£2950
Gibson EB-3L 1973 - Vintage Bass Guitar, Long Scale - Original Hard Case - Rare!
Meadow Heights, VIC, 3***, AUSTRALIA
AU $4895
Long Scale 1973 model bass guitar with original hard case
All pictures supplied with the auction are of the actual item for sale, and indicate its condition
This vintage Gibson is in good playable condition with a clean fingerboard and neck, good fretting and fully functional tuners. This model is fitted with a drop-D tuner (adjustable) which functions well. The pickups and wiring appear original, are operational, and it sounds superb. It has been fitted with a set... more