Free and the Gibson EB3

Andy with his Gibson EB3 bass. Picture taken from the book Heavy Load: The Story of Free by David Clayton and Todd Smith. The bass pictured is an early example, most likely 1961 or 62, so Fraser most likely got this bass used. The scratchplate and handrest have been removed, giving a clean look - see a complete 1961 EB3 here.

FlyGuitars After leaving John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, you joined Paul Kossoff, Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke to form Free where you are associated with the Gibson EB3 electric bass guitar, can you remember what it was that particularly attracted you to use it?

Andy Fraser I was immediately at home with the EB3. First, it is small, as am I, so it was a perfect fit. It had extra frets up top, and you could never have enough extra frets for me, and with the extra pickup, one could get a wide variety of tones. I really felt one with that model. Was not happy to have it stolen!!!

FlyGuitars From when Free formed in 1968 to when the band first split up in 1971 did you ever use any other basses other than the EB3 for recording or live shows?

Andy Fraser I had an Epiphone, semi-acoustic - forget the model. Nice change of tone. Slight danger of feedback live, because of being acoustic, but a nice bass. EB3 was my main baby.

FlyGuitars Pictures show an Epiphone Rivoli

Andy Fraser Ah! Rivoli!! see you know better than me.

FlyGuitars What made you start using this bass and did you stop using the EB3 completely?

Andy Fraser It may have been when the EB3 was stolen, and before I found another one. After the last tour with FREE, in Australia, we were in such disarray, one of the temporary roadies disappeared - as did all the equipment, and we had much weightier things to deal with than worry about that. So not too sure what actual equipment was used later.. I do remember liking it though.

Andy with his Epiphone Rivoli. Picture taken from the book Heavy Load: The Story of Free by David Clayton and Todd Smith

FlyGuitars From a bass players point of view, you were surrounded by three strong musicians, what was it like to play bass in Free?

Andy Fraser One couldn't ask for more than playing with the likes of Rodgers, Kossoff and Kirke. Total masters in their field. Our confidence came from our total belief in each other. It was like a team of commando's where you knew we were all watching each others back. Sensitive to each others weaknesses and had the chemistry to always be able to fill in the gaps, pick up the slack - complete the whole. A real band / marriage in every sense.

FlyGuitars After Free split up you formed the band Toby with Stan Speake and Adrian Fisher and as far as I am aware there were no recordings of Toby released. This was the first band where you handled the lead vocal duties, how did you find being the singer and the bass player?

Andy Fraser It was a great learning experience. It was very hard! I didn't have much confidence or technique, but it was something I had to do - get my feet wet. (I have an unnatural fear of the water, by the way) but a will and determination to get me thru' some rather embarrassing moments. Having Paul Rodgers as a yardstick doesn't make it any easier, but I do like a challenge. As a songwriter, I knew I had to sing, so I had to start somewhere. It would have been very easy keep 'doing what I was famous for", join a supergroup maybe, become ridiculously rich, and artistically empty. As it turns out, Someone must have been watching over me all the time, and I have been allowed to follow my heart

Gibson bass guitars for sale

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Vintage 1979 Gibson The Grabber Bass

Dickinson, Texas, 775**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2862

The Vintage 1979 Gibson The Grabber Bass is a classic electric bass guitar known for its distinctive Grabber model. Made in the United States, this right-handed bass features a solid body in natural color, perfect for players looking for a timeless sound. With 4 strings and a solid construction, this vintage Gibson bass is a must-have for any musician looking to add a piece of musical history to their collection. Other features include a double-cutaway body, maple neck and maple fingerboard! ... more

Gibson EB-3 Mahogany Bass 1974 (D00099)

Ottawa, Ohio, 458**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2077

For your consideration, we are offering this 1974 Gibson EB 3 base. The guitar comes with a handmade hardshell case. Please consider this fine instrument for your collective base. The Guitar is in Used yet better than average condition. Guitar is fully functional and we believe it to be an original Guitar with no replacement parts. Guitar offers numerous settings to offer a variety of tone settings for the different styles of play. Thank you for your time viewing this list today and good luck to... more

Gibson EST 1964 / 1969 EB-0 Electric Bass

Chesapeake, Virginia, 233**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2000

PREOWNEDGIBSON EB-0 ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR
EST. 1964 / 1969, FEATURING RARE FIND, SLOTTED HEADSTOCK
COMES WITH ORIGINAL CASE! INSIDE OF CASE COND. IS FINE, HOWEVER THE EXTERNAL SHAPE OF THE CASE IS POOR. LOTS OF TEARS AND ATTEMPTED FIXES
THE GIBSON ITSELF IS IN FAIR SHAPE, SOME DINGS AND WEAR FROM USE. ITEM IS AS PICTURED ABOVE. MESSAGE WITH ANY QUESTIONS!
* FEDEX SHIPPING ONLY *NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE LOWER 48 STATES *
... more

Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar

Anderson, Indiana, 460**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4790

Double cut a way Sun Burst Serial Number is 408061I purchased this bass in the sixties. I am the original owner Has been played very little. Has original strings except "G " Original hard caseOriginal cordHippie strap includedEXCELLENT CONDITION
... more

1981 Gibson Victory Standard Bass Silver

Westland, Michigan, 481**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1800

The 1981 Gibson Victory Standard Bass is a classic electric bass guitar known for its solid silver body color and durable construction. Made in the United States, this 4-string bass guitar exudes a timeless appeal with its Gibson brand pedigree and standard series design. Perfect for musicians looking for a reliable and high-quality instrument to accompany their band or recordings, the Gibson Victory Standard Bass continues to be a sought-after choice for bass players seeking a vintage yet ... more

1972 Gibson SB-350 Cherry Vintage Short Scale SG Bass w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2200

Up for sale, a 1972 Gibson SB-350 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original chipboard case. This rare, short-lived Gibson bass was only produced from 1972-75, one of four basses introduced as slightly more affordable variants of Gibson??s EB platform. The SB-350 was on the upper end of the range, featuring a pair of SB humbuckers and a 30 1 / 2?? scale length. This first-year example has been upgraded with a Hipshot SuperTone bridge and a set of Schaller ... more

1963 Gibson EB-0 Cherry Vintage Short Scale SG Bass, 100% Original w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3600

Up for sale, a 1963 Gibson EB-0 in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Introduced in 1959 in response to declining sales of the EB-1, the EB-0 originally came with a Les Paul Junior style body, quickly superseded by the SG style body in 1961, boasting a shorter 30 1 / 2?? scale length
Featuring solid Honduran mahogany construction and a rosewood fretboard, this EB-0 weighs 7lbs 13oz. The famous ??Mudbucker?? pickup ... more

Vintage Gibson L-9S The Ripper Bass Natural 1974

Brookfield, Wisconsin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1999

Vintage Gibson L-9S The Ripper Bass Natural 1974
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR AN IN-HAND DESCRIPTION
A truly wonderful solid body bass offering fabulous tone & texture. Very comfortable to play & quite resonant, delivering rich dynamic tones. Professionally set up & ready to play straight out of the case
Cosmetic Condition: Cool vintage vibe with good honest play wear typical of its age - various nicks, chips, dents & dings; surface scratches & ... more

1972 Gibson EB-4L bass guitar long scale; excellent used condition

Birmingham, Michigan, 480**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2500

Gibson EB-4L (1972)
$2, 500
ConditionUsed - Good " The Gibson EB-4L is a rare, 1970s electric bass guitar featuring an SG-style body, a long 34 5-inch scale, and a unique "Super Humbucker" pickup with four coils and a 3-way tone switch, designed to marry features from the EB-0 and EB-3 models. Introduced in 1972 and sold in moderate numbers through 1973, it was a short-lived but distinctive instrument known for its versatility "The ??L?? stands for long scale (34½??) ?? most of Gibson??s ... more

VINTAGE 1981 Sunburst Gibson Victory Artist Series 4 String Bass Guitar w / Case

Interlochen, Michigan, 496**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1620

Vintage 1981 Gibson Victory Artist Series 4-String Bass Guitar ?? Sunburst Finish ?? w / Original Case & Manual
Up for sale is a rare vintage 1981 Gibson Victory Artist Series bass guitar in a beautiful sunburst finish. This model was part of Gibson??s early ??80s ??Victory?? line, designed for versatility and modern tone
Year / Model: 1981 Gibson Victory Artist Series (4-string)
Finish: Classic Sunburst
Pickups: Professionally upgraded with custom EMG pickups (not original) ... more

Vintage Gibson Victory Artist Bass Guitar 1982 Candy Apple Red with Case #2205

Robertsville, Missouri, 630**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1850

This bass guitar plays great and plays smooth. To my knowledge everything is original except for the volume / tone knobs themselves and the toggle switches. This bass plays great and has incredibly nice sounding electronics. The electronics give you a large variety of tones. Being a 1982 bass guitar, it does have a decent amount of scratches, indentions, and finish checking. This is all just cosmetics and doesn??t affect how it plays. This bass plays well and also comes with the original hard ... more

2024 Gibson Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird Ebony 4 String Bass Guitar With Case

Lewiston, Maine, 042**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1826

This guitar plays very nice and comes with the original strap and hard shell case!!! There are some dings and dents as you can see in the photos of this listing.
Stock # J78010770-NK / 10 13XZ
A New Signature Bass Model From Rex Brown
Multi-instrumentalist Rex Brown is well-known for his work with legendary metal bands Pantera and Down, and his hard-rocking solo album, Smoke on This?? His new Gibson Rex Brown Signature ... more

Signature Gibson Les Paul Hallow Body Bass

Newark, New Jersey, 071**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7000

The Signature Gibson Les Paul Hallow Body Bass is a high-quality electric bass guitar designed for right-handed players. Made with a solid mahogany body, this 4-string bass features the iconic Gibson Les Paul model, known for its superior sound and craftsmanship. Handcrafted in the United States, this bass is a versatile and reliable choice for musicians looking for a professional-grade instrument. With its signature brand, high-quality materials, and expert construction, the Gibson Les Paul ... more

02 Gibson Thunderbird Bass Guitar Right Handed W / Hrd Shell Case LOCAL P / U OHIO

Dublin, Ohio, 430**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1450

This bass sounds amazing. It has neck through the body for incredible tone.
I have to call it used but it is like new without a scratch that I can see. It has Grover tuners and comes with an authentic Gibson hard shell case
LOCAL PICKUP IN THE CENTRAL OHIO AREA ONLY!!!... more

Vintage 1973 Gibson SB450 Bass

Fort Lee, New Jersey, 070**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1400

The Vintage 1973 Gibson SB450 Bass is a classic electric bass guitar known for its iconic design and high-quality craftsmanship. This right-handed guitar features a solid Alder body, perfect for producing rich and powerful tones. With its 4-string configuration, it is ideal for bass players looking for a versatile and reliable instrument. The Gibson SB450 model is a sought-after choice among musicians who appreciate the vintage sound and feel of a well-made bass guitar.... more

Gibson EB Bass Guitar

Galveston, Texas, 775**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$899

Sunburst Gibson - made in USA - 2013 electric EB bass guitar. Hard shell case included. A real workhorse and an extremely versatile bass. The pictures tell the story. It is a 12 year old bass that has the expected belt wear that a 12 year old bass would have. Otherwise, it is in perfect condition with no tuning or intonation issues.... more

Vintage Gibson EB2 Bass pots Wiring Harness

Asheboro, North Carolina, 272**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$350

6 pots and 2 jacks
... more

1980 Gibson Grabber Bass (Natural, OHSC) ?? All Original

Salt Lake City, Utah, 841**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2699

For Sale: 1980 Gibson Grabber Bass ?? Natural | Original Hard-Shell Case
Up for sale is a vintage 1980 Gibson Grabber Bass in its classic Natural finish, complete with the original Gibson hard-shell case. A true product of Gibson??s bold ?70s / ?80s design era, this bass delivers the punchy, versatile tones that made the Grabber a favorite among rock and punk players
This instrument is marked ??second?? on the back of the headstock ?? a common Gibson factory practice in the ?70s and ?80s ... more

Gibson 70s EB-3 WALNUT Used Electric Bass

Union, New Hampshire, 038**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1275

The Gibson 70s EB-3 WALNUT Used Electric Bass is a classic right-handed solid wood electric bass guitar with a 4-string configuration. This vintage model, known as the Les Paul, was made in the United States and features a solid brown body color, making it both visually appealing and high-quality in terms of sound and playability. With its durable construction and iconic design, this guitar is a popular choice among bass players looking for a reliable and timeless instrument.... more

GIBSON VICTORY STANDARD BASS GUITAR - RARE

Saint Petersburg, Florida, 337**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1550

GIBSON VICTORY STANDARD BASS GUITAR - Serial # 81831614 - 1981 - Monday July 2nd - Nashville TN - Production # 614, beautiful guitar, professional players guitar, the case was made by Quest

... more

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