Varitone position | Electronic description |
1 | Front pickup |
2 | Back pickup |
3 | Both pickups, wired in parallel |
4 | Front pickup, with midrange notch |
Gibson instruments in the 1970s often did not have the most intuitive of controls, especially when compared to their competitors; but this was integral to the broader tonal palettes for which they strived. Varitone equipped guitars had been part of the Gibson line since the 1950s, and the newer Norlin period guitars and basses were less intuitive still; many late seventies musicians were simply not getting the most out of their instruments! So it is no surprise that Gibson attempted to educate owners with printed material and even vinyl records. The following sheet (produced by Norlin in 1978) shows Gibson's description of series 2 EB3 controls. Older series 1 controls are similar, though not identical.
See also the equivalent sheets for the Ripper, G3, RD Artist and Les Paul Signature basses.
At this point the EB3 bass was right at the end of it's production - just 184 guitars shipped in 1978, compared to a peak of 2421 in 1973 (see the EB3 shipping statistics); the guitar pictured is in the rarer white opaque finish, only available between 1976 and 79.
Gibson EB3 bass for sale
1972 Gibson eb3 Bass Project, body husk, pickups and bridge parts squash yellow
Callicoon, New York, 127**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$800
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
Do you have an equivalent sheet for the Victory Artist bass # what the switches do # thanks how do I get a copy
Hi bassman85 - this series of info sheets was printed in 1978, some three years before the advent of the Victory bass series - the equivalent information appears on page 16 of the 1981 victory bass owners manual, which is reproduced here http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/gibson/catalogues/1981_Victory_owners_16.php