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1958 Gibson EB-2 bass

Gibson bass guitars | EB-2 main page | 1958 Gibson EB-2

• Maple top, backs and sides • One-piece set Honduras mahogany neck • 20-fret rosewood fretboard • Gibson single coil EB pickup • 30 1/2 inch scale

Model: Gibson EB2
Year: 1958
Scale: short, 30 1/2"
Pickup: 1950s EB single coil bass pickup
Body: Laminate maple top and back, maple rims. Approx dimensions 19" long, 16" wide, 1 3/4" deep.
Neck: One-piece Honduras mahogany, set neck. Rosewood fingerboard.
Frets: 20
Hardware: Nickel plated. Bar bridge, Sealfast banjo tuning keys.

The EB2 bass was announced in February 1958, making it's print debut a month later in the 1958 Gibson catalog. Basses didn't ship from the Kalamazoo plant for several more months; the year's total was just 96 instruments - 90 in Sunburst (as shown here) and 6 in Natural. The 1958 US list price for this bass was $267.50, compared to $282.50 for the Natural examples.

The EB2 was effectively a bass companion model to the ES-335, but had several features of Gibson's existing bass model, the EB bass. Both were 30 1/2" scale (and therefore require short scale strings), with a one-piece mahogany neck and were fitted with the reverse-facing Sealfast banjo tuners. Like the fore-mentioned 335, the EB2 was a hollowbody bass, but with a feedback-reducing maple center block running the length of the instrument.

Most EB2 basses were equipped with the powerful Gibson EB humbucker, but only the earliest, from 1958 and early 1959 have the original EB bass single coil pickup and no baritone switch. The pickup has it's pole pieces along one edge (rather than down the center), the plastic (Royalite) cover is black rather than the brown of the EB. Controls are very simple, just a single volume and tone, topped with gold bell knobs.

Images courtesy of frettedamericana.com

1958 Gibson EB-2 bass 1958 Gibson EB-2 bass
1958 Gibson EB2
The vast majority of 1958 EB2s had Gibson's Sunburst finish; 90 out of 96. It was was fitted with the same hardware as the EB: single coil pickup and bar bridge without mute.
1958 Gibson EB2
The reverse side of the EB2 body is also bound, and has the same three-tone sunburst as the front. As can be seen the black extends into the guitars neck, though this soon fades into natural mahogany.
1958 Gibson EB2
Headstock detail with inlaid Gibson logo and above-center crown motif. Like the bridge and pickup, the banjo-style tuning keys are also as-fitted to the EB bass.
1958 Gibson EB2
Reverse headstock detail. The EB2 had a one-piece Honduras mahogany neck. The serial number is on the label within the bass' sound hole rather than on the reverse of the headstock
1958 Gibson EB2
The controls on the 1958 EB2 are in a tidy row with the output jack: volume, tone, jack.
1958 Gibson EB2
The body is bound front and back, though there is no binding on the neck.

Gibson EB-2 basses for sale

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1965 Gibson EB-2 Bass a very special ordered EB-2 in a factory Argentine Gray !

1965 Gibson EB-2 Bass a very special ordered EB-2 in a factory Argentine Gray !

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8995

The Gibson EB-2 Bass was invented in 1959 & made famous by many players. This example is oh-so rare & very special ordered by its 1st owner & is 1 of the coolest special ordered EB-2??s from 1965. Its beautiful slightly faded original ??Argentine Gray?? custom color finish is what this is all about & its so frickin rare. Its 1 of only 2 of this color known to exist. Its 1 piece mahogany neck feel delicious. No volute nor Made in the USA stamp. She??s got a perfect orange label ... more
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Vintage Early 1960s Gibson EB-0  /  EB-2 Bass Bridge Mute

Vintage Early 1960's Gibson EB-0 / EB-2 Bass Bridge Mute

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$175

Vintage Early 1960's Gibson EB-0 / EB-2 Bass Bridge Mute
Very Good Condition Sold by a mom & pop music store in Brooklyn NY
... more
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1968 Gibson EB2D Bass with Hard Shell Case

1968 Gibson EB2D Bass with Hard Shell Case

Bridgeport, West Virginia, 263**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3700

This Gibson EB2D bass is in very good condition. We listedit as "very good" because of the neck repairs, but if not for thatissue, it probably could be considered "excellent " The best we candetermine, the bass is a 1968. The pots are clearly marked 1967, and the dateranges for the bass is 1966-1969. Also has the mini humbucker in bridge. Itappears they only made 2000 of these with the mini humbuckers throughout theentire 60's. It has had the common repair where the headstock meets the neck, and... more
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1967 GIBSON EB2-C: MADE IN KALAMAZOO, MI (WITH ORIGINAL HARD CASE) (HA2037500)

1967 GIBSON EB2-C: MADE IN KALAMAZOO, MI (WITH ORIGINAL HARD CASE) (HA2037500)

Harrison, Arkansas, 726**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2995

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1964 Gibson EB-2 Bass with Hard Shell Vintage Flight Case

1964 Gibson EB-2 Bass with Hard Shell Vintage Flight Case

Chantilly, Virginia, 201**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6000

1964 Gibson EB-2 Bass with Hard Shell Vintage Flight Case.

The Gibson comes with a stellar silver and gold very early flight case you could ship it overseas in that thing and I wouldn't be afraid. It came from a very high end Collection and is in extremely good condition and will not find one in better shape. Plays and sounds amazing, has the stock bass boost switch that gets super deep tones and a very very cool bass!!!!  It is so clean you can eat off of it!!! Jimmy page... more
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Gibson EB-2 1967 Sunburst Bass 335 Semi Hollow

Gibson EB-2 1967 Sunburst Bass 335 Semi Hollow

Bari, 70***, ITALY

€4900

Gibson EB-2 1967 Sunburst. For Sale Directly From My Private Collection! In Amazing Condition .The Headstock is without any scratches, Sounds Amazing With its original "Baritone switch " ! Original Case, Truss rod key, Case key and amazing Hang Tags! Body Semi Hollow with Laminated Maple Neck Mahogany Fretboard Brasilian Rosewood Pickup Original EB Humbucking Original and Perfectly Working String mute Original Case and Documents... more
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Vintage 1965 Gibson EB2 D *Museum Condition* Sunburst Bass Guitar w /  OHSC & Tags

Vintage 1965 Gibson EB2 D *Museum Condition* Sunburst Bass Guitar w / OHSC & Tags

Heanor, DE75***, UNITED KINGDOM

£5495

Vintage 1965 Gibson EB2 D *Museum Condition* Sunburst Bass Guitar w / OHSC & Tags
I??m THRILLED to announce the sale of a 60+ year collection coming through The Music Locker. This collection spans all decades from the 60s to the present day. They have been collected by a true lover of vintage. This particular guitar is one of the nicest guitars you'll ever find - in truly museum quality condition. It dates to 1965 and is the EB2 double pickup version, complete with the original case and ... more
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Vintage Gibson 1966 EB-2 Hollowbody Bass Guitar with Sunburst Finish

Vintage Gibson 1966 EB-2 Hollowbody Bass Guitar with Sunburst Finish

Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B***, CANADA

C $3850

Vintage Hollow body Bass

Vintage original 1966 Gibson EB-2 Hollowbody Bass in original Sunburst finish.
The tone is thick and warm.
All original, except for a missing metal thumb rest.
The finish does showcase some checking, and the original case is intact but worn.

... more
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RARE 1968 Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar In Sparkling Burgundy Metallic WITH HARDCASE

RARE 1968 Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar In Sparkling Burgundy Metallic WITH HARDCASE

Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12***, UNITED KINGDOM

£6500

An incredibly rare and beautiful example of a late 60s Gibson EB-2 bass (as played by the likes of Chas Chandler etc )

In a very rare factory-original Sparkling Burgundy Metallic finish. These finishes were done at the factory back in the day over the top of sunburst finishes if there were any imperfections, so these are pretty hard to find - especially in such great condition!

The finish does show signs of use and the usual checking / patina, as is to be expected of an ... more
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Vintage 1970 1971 1972 Gibson EB2D Sunburst Bass Guitar w /  OHSC *1970s* Ex JLR

Vintage 1970 1971 1972 Gibson EB2D Sunburst Bass Guitar w / OHSC *1970s* Ex JLR

Heanor, DE75***, UNITED KINGDOM

£2995


Vintage 1970 1971 1972 Gibson EB2D Sunburst Bass Guitar w / OHSC *1970s* Ex JLR
This beauty has been owned by Blues Hall of Fame artist Jimmy Lloyd Rea (Ex. Canned Heat & John Lee Hooker) for many many years, until the previous owner purchased it in a local auction in the USA. He was from Portland, Oregon. I then managed to buy it off of him and it now resides in the UK! It's a truly stunning and full of character early 1970s Gibson EB2D in original finish and complete with the ... more
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