Short scale strings suitable for the EB2D bass Ernie Ball 2837 Slinky Silhouette 6-String Short-Scale Bass Strings (Ernie Ball 2837 Slinky Silhouette 6-String Short-Scale Bass Strings) Thomastik-Infeld JF324 Jazz Flatwound Short Scale 4-String Bass (Thomastik-Infeld JF324 Jazz Flatwound Short Scale) Rotosound RS77S Jazz Bass Strings Short Scale (Rotosound - Bass Strings - RS77S - Jazz Bass) Rotosound RS88S Trubass Standard Gauge Short Scale Strings (Rotosound - Bass Strings - RS88S - True Bass (Black Nylon)) D'Addario EXL220S Electric Bass Strings XL Nickel Super Light Short Scale (D'Addario EXL220S Nickel Super Light Short Scale) D'Addario EXL160S XL Regular Short Bass String Set (D'Addario Bass Strings Nickel Wound Short Scale - Regular) Fender 5250XL Short Scale Bass Extra Light Strings (Fender short scale Nickel Steel roundwounds)

The Gibson EB2D was introduced in 1966, at a time where bass sales were rising rapidly. EB2D signifies double pickups: the EB neck humbucker of the regular EB2, and an EB mini-humbucker towards the bridge.

By 1968 EB2 sales had peaked and the hollow-bodies were losing ground to the solid-body EB0 and EB3 basses; to be phased out completely by the early seventies. 1968 saw the shipping of exactly 700 EB2D basses, 461 in Sunburst, and 239 in Cherry. This was Gibson's top of the line bass at the time, and their most expensive. Recommended retail price was $470, compared to EB2: $425; EB3: $365, EB0: $259.50, Melody Maker bass: $227.50.

Other hardware is essentially the same as equipped on other EB basses: the Gibson two-point tune-o-matic bridge with chrome cover, and under-bridge mute, and Kluson 538 machine heads. But note the rather interesting design on the scratchplate. Gibson did not use it for long, or seemingly on many basses, as example are comparitively uncommon.

The Gibson EB-2D has a very varied tonal palette; from the super deep rumble of the choked neck pickup, to the punchy mids of the bridge pickup. Listen to the 1968 Gibson EB2D soundclips.