For about 40 years, this
nearly mint 1967 Gibson EB-2 stayed in a
basement alongside a Sunn 200S amp rig. |
Introduced in 1951, the
Fender Precision was very
popular with bassists due to
its easy amplification and portability.
Gibson responded by
launching its own Electric Bass
model in 1953. The Electric
Bass was a violin-shaped solidbody
with one single-coil pickup
in the neck position.
By 1958, Gibson released its
second bass guitar, the EB-2.
This bass shared its double-cutaway,
semi-solid design with the
ES-335 (also unveiled that year).
The EB-2 retained the single
neck pickup of the Electric
Bass (renamed the EB-1) until
1959, when it was upgraded to
a humbucker. This model was
briefly discontinued in 1962,
but was restored to the lineup in
1964 when ES-335-style guitars
were most fashionable. While
the bass was previously only
available in sunburst or natural
finishes, by 1965 cherry red
also became an option. A two-pickup
model was also offered
starting in 1966.
The 1967 EB-2 bass featured
here is labeled EB-2 DC (“D”
for double pickup and “C”
for cherry). Its characteristics
are typical of that year, and
they include right-angle tuners
(which replaced the original
banjo-style tuners in 1961), a
push-push switch to add treble
(added in 1959), a bridge mute
(1960), and a metal neck-pickup
cover (which replaced the
original black plastic cover).
The original owner purchased
this bass new in 1967
along with a brand new
Sunn 200S head and bottom
(equipped with two 15" JBLs).
It must have made a thunderous
roar in his basement, where it
remained for the next 40 years
in nearly mint condition.
Detailed Information on
Gibson EB-2 basses can be found
in
Gibson Electrics—The Classic
Years, by A.R. Duchossoir.
Though the EB-2 made its debut
in 1958, this instrument’s cherry red finish
wasn’t an
option until 1965. In 1960, the EB-2
began sporting a foam-covered bridge mute.
Serial number 897004 is a beautiful
example of late-’60s semi-hollow bass design.
Right-angle tuners replaced the EB-
2’s original banjo-style tuners in 1961.
Dave ’s Guitar Shop
Dave Rogers’ collection is tended
by Laun Braithwaite and Tim Mullally
and is on display at:
Dave’s Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
davesguitar.com
Photos by Mullally and text
by Braithwaite.