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1972 Gibson EB-3L bass

Gibson bass guitars | EB-3 main page | 1972 EB-3L

• Solid mahogany body • 3 piece maple neck • rosewood fingerboard • 34 1/2 inch scale • Two humbucking pickups

Model: Gibson EB-3L
Year: 1972
Scale: standard long, 34 1/2"
Body: Solid mahogany body. 12 3/4", wide 16" long 1 5/16" thick. Overall length 44 5/8"
Neck: Three-piece set maple neck. Unbound rosewood fingerboard.
Frets: 20
Width at nut: 1 5/8"
Weight: 4.3kg

The Gibson EB0 and EB3 were redesigned in 1972: gone were the mahogany necks and slotted headstocks (see a 1971 Gibson EB3L) - replaced with a thicker three-piece maple neck (the width at the nut increased from 1 1/2" to 1 5/8"), with larger headstock and a volute. The body wood was still mahogany, but they were significantly thicker: 1 5/8" compared to 1 1/4" of the preceding version, and the neck pickup was repositioned closer to the bridge.

The redesign was partially intended to strengthen weak necks: headstock breaks are very common in mahogany-necked EB basses, and maple, especially with a volute is much stronger; and partially to improve tonal clarity. The less-defined thump, inspired by the upright basses of the 1950s and 1960s were nowhere near as desirable in the 1970s. Listen to the 1972 Gibson EB3L soundclips on this site.

Differences between the EB3L and EB3 were minor (see a 1972 Gibson EB3)- naturally a longer neck (total body length is 44" compared to XXX" of the EB3) and a repositioned bridge. The fretboard of all long scale SG style basses of this period had one less fret (20) compared to 21 of the short scale basses, though this is not mentioned in published descriptions of the time. All other dimensions are unchanged.

1972 Gibson EB-3L bass
The redesigned 1970s Gibson EB-3 is first shown in the 1972 catalogue

Notice the two point bar bridge with cover. Three point bridges were not in use until 1973, but these were slightly upgraded from older versions, in having metal saddles. The machine heads are Schaller M-4-S.

This is one of 268 Cherry EB3Ls produced in 1972 (See Gibson EB3 shipping data) - compared to 530 shortscale Cherry EB3s. In total 1355 EB3 and EB3Ls were produced in 1972.

The 1972 EB-3L had series 2 circuitry with some changes from earlier EB3 basses.

1972 Gibson EB-3L bass body detail
The 1972 new EB bass design was significantly different from preceding versions. Looking at the body: a new scratchplate design and the neck pickup significantly repositioned towards the middle of the body, for greater tonal clarity. Long scale EB basses of the early seventies had 20 frets compared to 21 of their short-scale siblings.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass body detail
The mahogany body, with glued in three-piece maple neck, and control cavity cover. This bass is a great example of how Gibson's nitrocellulose cherry finish can fade to brown. The colour differences on the woods from front to back can clearly be seen; the cherry finish has remained vibrant cherry-red over the maple, yet has faded to a duller brown on the mahogany body. Cherry basses can easily be confused with Gibson's Walnut finish, available at the same time.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass body detail - neck humbucking pickup
The EB3L bass pickup is the same humbucker as the short scale EB3. Note the Gibson logo engraved into the chrome cover - this was fairly common around 1971-1972.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass body detail - witch hat volume and tone knobs, output jack and chicken-head selector switch
Witch-hat knobs with position markers (volume and tone for each pickup), and four-way varitone switch with chicken head knob.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass body detail - bridge cover, and the bridge humbucking pickup
This bass is fitted with a two-point tune-o-matic bridge with metal saddles, and chrome bridge cover. Note the engraved Gibson logo on the Gibson mini-humbucker.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass bridge detail, in this case the 2 point bridge, and the bridge humbucking pickup
Four-way varitone switch with chicken head knob. The varitone switch on the EB3 offers some quite distinct sounds; have a listen to the EB3L audio clips on this site.

The varitone positions are as follows:

Position 1: front pickup
Position 2: back pickup
Position 3: both pickups in parallel
Position 4: front pickup with midrange notch.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass body detail
The EB3L was available in both Walnut and Cherry. This Cherry finished bass is worn (back of neck) and faded (body), and in places (the front especially) look almost like a faded Walnut finish.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass. The serial number is at the top back of the headstock
Typical Gibson set (glued) neck joint, and five ply scratchplate
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass headstock with Gibson logo and crown inlays
As of 1972, the Gibson bass headstock was larger, with a simple silk-screened logo. It is unusual to find a not-slotted headstock EB bass with an engraved truss rod cover, but a few, like this early maple-neck EB-3Ls, were fitted with them. Tuning Keys are Schaller M4S.
1972 Gibson EB-3L bass rear headstock detail
The neck design changed in 1972: firstly maple, rather than mahogany, was used, it was wider and it was given a volute for the first time. Note Schaller M-4-S tuners, serial number, and MADE IN USA text.

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