Explore The Gibson Bass Collections

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Gibson Bass Guitar is a high-quality musical instrument that has been around since the dawn of rock and roll. Most of the present models are based on designs from the 1950s to the 70s, when Gibson developed many of the best-selling bass guitars ever created.

Some examples are the Tunnelbird’s ultimate rock basic and the genuinely unique RD Artist. The semi-acoustic and Gibson SG bass models are also highly regarded. They may not be like the 1960s EB3, but they are still top-quality instruments made by skilled artists using excellent materials and hardware.

Gibson manufactured bass guitars in 1953, beginning with violin-like bass. It reflected Gibson’s spirit. They said guitars should be big jazz boxes and bass guitars should be upright and acoustic and also said they were opposed to Gibson’s solid-body guitars.

Fender had a solid-bodied bass in a relatively hot climate, and solid-bodied models are surprisingly popular. Gibson’s bass was shaped like an upright – a bass with a retracting pole for a bass to play upright.

Explore The Gibson Bass Collections

Vintage Gibson bass guitars

Contrary to Fender producing only a few basses but continuously over 50 years (Fender Precision, Fender Jazz basses). The results show considerable variation across all Gibson’s basses from look to build, electronics, and eventually sound. It has extended and short-scale basses. A model with fixed necks, bolted necks, and through-body necks. They have mahogany, maple, and alder bodies. Several pickups have single coils or humbuckers available.

EB-3

The Gibson EB-3 bass guitar was a favorite of bass players throughout the 1960s and 70s. Its low, growly tone is recognizable and easy to play. It was used by many bass players, including the Kinks’ Pete Quaife and Chris White of the Zombies. In the early 1970s, the EB-3 was also favored by Rolling Stone Bill Wyman. Other notable players who preferred the EB-3 included Tom Evans of Badfinger, Glen Cornick of Jethro Tull, and Trevor Bolder of Spiders from Mars.

The EB-3 bass was first introduced at the Summer NAMM show in 1961 and ended production in 1979. It was played by many famous bassists, including Jack Bruce, Felix Papilardi, Chris White, and Andy Fraser. The EB-3 went through several configurations, but the standard color was white. It was the most popular model for almost 18 years.

In the early seventies, the EB-3 went through a significant redesign. The neck was made of maple, the pickups were moved to the top and bottom, and the underbridge mutes were phased out. These basses have a pronounced tone, which makes them an ideal choice for heavy, dirty rock bands.

The Gibson EB-3 is among the most popular and versatile bass guitars ever. Its design is reminiscent of the bass guitars that Jack Bruce played with Cream in the ’60s. Jack Bruce first learned the bass on an upright before switching to a larger, six-string Fender Bass VI, which is tuned an octave below a standard guitar.

Gibson EB-5

gibson eb bass 5 string natural

The EB-5 production bass guitar is designed to give bassists a full range of sounds. It is a streamlined instrument with a swamp ash body and maple set neck. It is equipped with dual humbuckers and passive electronics. Its scale length is 34 inches, and it has 24 frets. Its 21-inch radius fretboard requires long fingers to play it comfortably. It has chrome hardware and a red satin nitro lacquer finish.

The new Gibson EB bass guitar has a unique body style that draws inspiration from the Gibson SG. It is also different from other basses bearing the EB moniker. Among other things, it has pickups and a unique vibe. It was designed by one of the two most prestigious manufacturers of electric guitars, Gibson.

The Gibson EB-5 production bass guitar has a modern look. Its body is based on the Gibson SG model and is equipped with dual EB humbucking pickups. It also has a Babicz full-contact bridge that allows maximum resonance between the strings and the body, producing robust, clear tones. Its neck is made from maple and has a rosewood fretboard.

The EB-0 has been around since the early 1960s, but its peak year of production was 1969. During this period, cream-style blues rock was on the rise. Jack Bruce is renowned for playing an EB3 bass. Although only a few significant artists used this model, EB3’s tonal range made it famous for garage, blues, and church bands.

The EB-5 has many benefits, including an additional pickup in the bridge position and a 5-ply pickguard. This model is also known as the Orville by Gibson model. Its unique look is a distinct advantage, mainly when playing in crowded venues. It is a versatile instrument for any genre of music.

The guitar’s finish is matte, giving it a soft, matt feel. This finish is perfect for gigging bassists, as it won’t glare under stage lighting. It also looks great in photographs. A sunburst neck is a classic choice for bass.

The EB-5’s neck design also makes it easy to adjust the pitch. It has a seven-string configuration and is tuned EADGBEA. Its lower six strings follow the standard intervals of a six-string guitar. In addition, the guitar has a fretless design.

CMI

CMI Vintage Gibson bass guitars were once used by the Yardbirds bassist Samwell-Smith. The CMI Vintage Gibson bass guitars were discontinued in 1969 but briefly resurfaced in the 1970s, featuring two pickups.

The mid-1960s through the 1980s saw the consolidation and sale of the two major guitar manufacturers to faceless corporations. In the process, the industry experienced a sea change. Gibson and Fender were bought by unnamed corporations that ran both commercial and customer-led businesses. While this undoubtedly benefited consumers, it also limited innovation among guitar makers.

In 1994, Gibson executives implemented several changes to turn the company around. The company had a compound growth rate of 30 percent since 1986. Sales were only $10 million in 1986, but by 1993 and 1992, Gibson had already reached $50 million. As a result, the company was able to expand into new areas.

The history of CMI Vintage Gibson guitars dates back to 1948. It is the oldest vintage guitar brand in the world. The company is a leading manufacturer of guitars, basses, and accessories. Its name is also synonymous with quality. Its brand appeal stems from its vintage design.

Production Gibson bass guitars

Gibson’s original Electric Bass was a 1953 Electric Bass or EB. Les Paul influenced this generation never far away: this was one of Gibson’s first electric bass guitars. My role as a violin shape was primarily due to me using the E string in an electric guitar bass with my thumb to play. EB2 and EB3 followed soon after the Thunderbird bass, Melody Maker bass, and finally, the Les Paul bass.

1967 Gibson Melody Maker Bass

1967 Gibson Melody Maker Bass

The 1967 Gibson Melody Maker Bass is a vintage electric bass with a single-cutaway body, Grover tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge, stop tailpiece, dual humbucking pickups, and Kahler tremolo system. The Melody Maker also came in Flyer/Pro 2 models. The Flyer/Pro 2 featured an Explorer neck and dual humbuckers.

Les Paul Melody Maker

The Les Paul guitar is a popular instrument that comes in different models. The Melody Maker is one of them and has a unique design, a slimmer body, and an exceptional finish. It also has a specific type of pickup that produces a particular sound.

The EB-0 bass was introduced in 1959 as a response to the declining sales of the EB-1 bass. The EB-0 had a mahogany body and neck and was manufactured until 1961. In 1962, the Melody Maker was replaced by the SG. The bass underwent several changes during the 1960s, such as switching from black plastic to metal pickup covers and chrome hardware.

The serial number is usually on the neck between the tuning machines. If the serial number is six or less, it is probably an older model. In the 1990s, Gibson started reusing this serial number scheme for reissue guitars. If you want a reissue guitar, the serial number will be displayed on the body.

SG Melody Maker

The 1967 Gibson Melody Maker Bass is a rare and beautiful vintage instrument that Gibson made. Although it is designed similarly to the EB-0 bass, it was a student model with a smaller production run. This particular bass has a mysterious serial number, but its pots date back to 1966. The seller first sold it in 1966, but it has since been refinished and no longer has its original pickguard.

The Melody Maker bass was released in two variations: the single-cutaway and the double-cutaway Melody Maker. Both feature a mahogany body and humbucker pickups. The EB-0 and Melody Maker feature a classic, warm tone. The latter model has a single humbucker, while the former has two. The EB-0 and Melody maker share the same hardware, including a single-stackable Les Paul headstock.

The 1967 Gibson Melody Maker is in excellent condition and comes with its original case. It is finished in the custom Pelham Blue color finish, which is extremely rare. The guitar plays beautifully and has a high-quality vibrato. The body is narrow but comfortable to play with. It shows some wear but is in excellent condition considering its age. It has only one significant repair, a crack on the lower about.

The 1967 Gibson Melody Maker Bass had a single-cutaway body, a tune-o-Matic bridge, and a stop tailpiece. The bass also came in black with a unique ebony fretboard inlay in heart inlays. The neck was rosewood, and the pickups were single-coil or double-coil.

SG Standard Bass

Artists

Stanley Clarke’s Alembic Signature Standard with Bigsby Vibrato

The Alembic Signature Standard guitar with Bigsby vibrato is a tribute to Stanley Clarke, one of rock’s most iconic bass players. Clarke used this guitar on the cover of his 1992 album “I Wanna Play For You” and on the track “School Daze.” Alembic, a company making custom instruments since 1932, created a signature model of this guitar in his honor.

This guitar has two pickups, adjustable saddles, and a bridge. It also features a mother-of-pearl inlay on the fretboard. It has four pegs on the headstock, and the guitar’s top bears the manufacturer’s logo, featuring a cloud on top, a hand reaching down, a dragon’s body, and a stylized alembic.

The guitar features a nine-volt battery, an active mid-boost (+25 dB) preamp, and TBX circuits. It produces crystal-clear, clean tones and huge, overdriven sounds. It also has a push-pull midrange pot and can be plugged into a high-gain Marshall amp.

This guitar is an excellent example of how a vintage Gibson bass guitar can look. Its double-cutaway body is solid wood with hollow sides underneath the F holes. Its shape helps reduce feedback, making it perfect for jazz and blues.

Gene Simmons’ Axe

The Axe Vintage Gibson bass guitar from Gene Simmons is an axe-shaped instrument with a black axe head and painted silver blade. Its mahogany body produces a heavy, crisp sound. It features a rosewood fretboard and an EB6 four-string bridge.

The guitar comes with a Mighty Mite MMJB-R pickup with bright and clear tones. You can adjust the volume and tone using the toggle switch. The guitar features Simmons’ signature on the headstock. This guitar is available at an incredible price. This is the guitar if you’d like to play like Gene Simmons.

The Axe Vintage Gibson bass guitar was custom-made by bass maker Steve Carr for Gene Simmons. Its body and scale are concise, which makes it easy for Gene Simmons to play. The guitar was never used live, but it’s seen in photos of the rock icon. The bass was also used on the “Time Capsule” album cover by Lita Ford and several Kiss songs.

Gene Simmons has signed with Gibson. His signature bass model is called the G2 Thunderbird Bass. It features a Reverse Thunderbird body and headstock and powerful T-Bird pickups. It also features a bound ebony fretboard with reverse split diamond inlays. A Hipshot Mini-Clover tuner keeps the strings in tune while the Hipshot Bass Bridge anchors the other end of the strings.

Find the best pickups for your Gibson Bass

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