ORIGINALLY PRODUCED: 1958-61
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Archtop semi-hollowbody, 4-string
BODY: Maple faced 4-ply top, twin cutaway, bound with f-holes
NECK: Mahogany, glued-in, 20 jumbo frets
SCALE LENGTH: 775mm (30.5-inch)
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with white dot inlays
HARDWARE: Chrome, 4-saddle bridge, Kluson rear facing ‘banjo style’ tuners with plastic keys, single saddle bridge/tailpiece
PICKUP: Single humbucker, black faced with screw type adjustable pole pieces initially to one end of the pickup then moved to the centre
CONTROLS: Volume, tone and baritone tone switch
FEATURES: Black laminated plastic floating scratchplate,
FINISHES: Natural and sunburst mostly although Gibson’s classic cherry red did appear occasionally
COMMENTS:
Introduced as the bass version of Gibson’s popular ES-335 guitar the EB-2 has a narrow neck with a 38mm nut and substantial depth.
Although semi-hollow the body construction features a large central core that makes it heavier than it looks and gives it a neat combination of solid and acoustic bass sounding elements.
The baritone switch appeared about 1959 and was originally a push button but soon became a regular switch. The banjo tuners disappeared during 1960 to be replaced with the more common sideways ‘elephant ears’ open gear design.
The rather basic bridge/tailpiece offered little adjustment values and originally the strings were anchored over a foam strip to offer damping. Like all early basses they were supplied with tapewound strings so the bass had a plummy but substantial thud of a sound.
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