1978 Gibson EB3 Bass (White)

In the late 1970s Gibson produced a number of white EB3 basses. Like every Gibson EB3 produced since their inception in 1961, they were built at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, MI, USA. All were short scale (30 1/2 ") and due to their small numbers are one of the least seen EB3 variants. They were only produced from 1976, and lasted until the model's demise in 1979. The finish made no difference to list price though; in May 1978, the EB3 was priced in the US at $589.

White EB3s made up just under 9% of total short scale EB3 sales in the time they were available The shipping figures are as follows (further EB3 shipping totals here):

This example is in fine condition. All photographs on this page were kindly provided by Paul Rose.

The late seventies EB3 is identical to earlier incarnations; the bass did not change in design between 1973 and 1978. This bass is fitted with two pickups, an EB neck humbucker and a mini-humbucker at the bridge. The bridge itself is the Gibson three-point introduced in 1973, covered with the same bridge cover used since 1968.

The scale of this bass is 30 1/2"; short scale. Long scale (34 1/2") EB3 basses were still available at this time, but they only shipped in very small numbers. Short scale EB3s were always more popular. Just like all EB basses post mid-1972, this bass has a mahogany body, a maple neck and the fretboard is rosewood.

The maple neck is set (glued) into the mahogany body. The control cavity on these maple necked (1972-79) EB3 basses is angled differently to the 1961-71 instruments. Compare this to a 1971 Gibson EB3.

The EB3 had two pickups; an EB humbucker at the neck and EB mini-humbucker at the bridge. The varitone switch has four positions
Position 1: front pickup
Position 2: back pickup
Position 3: both pickups in parallel
Position 4: front pickup with midrange notch.

This bass is one of the last built, and as such uses the eight digit system still in use by Gibson today. The serial number easily dates this to 1978 (7xxx8xxx), however the word SECOND signifies this to have had some minor flaw at final inspection. Machine heads are open gear Schaller BMs; rather similar to the Kluson 538 keys used on EB3s in the 1960s, but with the Gibson name on each key, and a wider string post.

Headstock, with a simple silk-screened logo, and bell-style truss rod cover. This one has been fitted the wrong way round - though this makes no difference to functionality. Note the lack of any headstock inlays. Tuning Keys are Schaller BM.

Segment of EB3 info sheet produced by Gibson in 1978 (see the full EB3 controls)

An interesting feature of this guitar is the word SECOND stamped on the back of the headstock. This was Gibsons way of identifying an instrument that had failed to reach the required standard; usually due to a finish defect. Sometimes a number 2 was used instead. These defects are often very difficult to detect, especially in a vintage instrument that has dents and chips from years of use.

The serial number uses the new 8 digit system introduced in 1977. 70938065 tells us that this bass was stamped on the 3rd April 1978 (day 93), at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant, and was the 65th instrument stamped that day.

The late seventies EB3s were the same as the early seventies ones; once the three-point bridge was added in 1973, the design remained unchanged. Have a look at the EB3 in it's last catalogue appearance in the 1978 Gibson catalog.

The circuitry is unchanged since 1972, and the four position varitone has the same settings as described in the 1978 EB3 control description sheet

The controls are a volume and tone for each pickup, and a four-position varitone. You can listen to some EB3 soundclips here.

Gibson EB-3 bass guitars for sale

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* worn but solid
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