The Gibson EB2 was a fabulous looking bass, and this example is no exception. Being a really early example it has a number of features that set it apart from EB2s built in other years: the banjo tuning keys, early single coil pickup, and lack of baritone button.
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. See Gibson EB-2 shipping data. 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


Gibson EB-2 basses for sale
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
1959 Gibson EB-2 Bass
Loveland, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$8695
1967 Gibson EB-2C Bass fabulous special ordered EB-2 in "Sparkling Burgundy" !
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$6495
1958 Gibson EB-2 1st year Museum Quality 100% original its 1 of a kind & Minty !
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$9995
Vintage Gibson EB2 Bass pots Wiring Harness
Asheboro, North Carolina, 272**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$350
1964 Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar with Hard Shell Vintage Flight Case
Chantilly, Virginia, 201**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$5200
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
Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar
Anderson, Indiana, 460**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$5790
1968 Gibson EB-2D 2 Color Sunburst Electric Bass Guitar
Hollywood, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$6900
Feel free to ask me any questions
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Gibson EB-2 1967 Sunburst Bass 335 Semi Hollow
Bari, 70***, ITALY
€4900
Gibson 1964 EB-2 Used Electric Bass Good Condition
Widnes, WA8***, UNITED KINGDOM
£3457
Vintage Gibson 1966 EB-2 Hollowbody Bass Guitar with Sunburst Finish
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B***, CANADA
C $3850
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.
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1959 Gibson EB-2 Semi-Hollow Electric Bass in Sunburst, with Hard Case (Used)
Birmingham, B18***, UNITED KINGDOM
£5500
- Frets: Good condition, no issues.
- Hardware: All original.
- Electronics: All original, no issues.
- Finish: This Guitar is in Very Good condition with minimal wear through age and previous usage
* Hard Case included.
* Please note all of our USED / EX-DISPLAY Guitars & Basses are checked, tested, cleaned and set up professionally by our Luthiers before dispatching. All of our Used Guitars come ... more
Greco SAB120 Bass guitar 1980s (Gibson EB2 copy)
Cheltenham, GL52***, UNITED KINGDOM
£1016
Obviously, it's a very good copy of a Gibson EB2 semi - acoustic bass, with the exception that it is a long, 34" scale rather than the 30" of the original. ... more

1958 Gibson catalog, the first to include the EB2 bass















