The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Highlander on August 10, 2012, 05:23:02 PM

Title: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Highlander on August 10, 2012, 05:23:02 PM
This place does not do bargains...

(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/GIBSON-EB-0-BASS-1959-VINTAGE-GIBSON-BASS-/00/s/NjMzWDQ0MQ==/$(KGrHqZ,!lYE8FV4bhCNBPHsET8L0!~~60_3.JPG)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIBSON-EB-0-BASS-1959-VINTAGE-GIBSON-BASS-/390452556588?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5ae8c9332c (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIBSON-EB-0-BASS-1959-VINTAGE-GIBSON-BASS-/390452556588?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5ae8c9332c)
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Dave W on August 10, 2012, 06:38:52 PM
There's a Make Offer button, Ken. Use it.  ;)
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: uwe on August 11, 2012, 02:50:01 AM
Two of my basses, no, wait, three have those. Tuning with them is a chore and hurts your fingers after a while. And the pull kills them eventually, they were not made for bass.
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Lightyear on August 11, 2012, 09:23:39 AM
Quote from: Dave W on August 10, 2012, 06:38:52 PM
There's a Make Offer button, Ken. Use it.  ;)

Yeah, go ahead!  We all know that marriage is way overated!  Besides, you do have a nice, comfy shed to move into! :P
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Grog on August 11, 2012, 09:26:21 AM
My '59 EB-2 had banjos with shrunken plastic buttons. The tuners were loose & didn't stay in tune. I bought a set of '60s nickel Firebird tuners & used the buttons off of them. That stiffened everything up & they work about as good as they can.................
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Dave W on August 11, 2012, 06:43:10 PM
It's unusual to find any 50+ years-old Gibson with its original plastic (bakelite?) buttons, whether it has banjo or conventional tuners.

IIRC the banjos had a pretty low gear ratio and are difficult to turn with higher tension strings.
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Highlander on August 12, 2012, 06:43:37 AM
Make an offer...! Bid...!!! :o

The shed would not be a suitable hiding place... :mrgreen:
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Grog on August 12, 2012, 07:38:51 AM
The EB-1 came with white plastic (bakelite?) buttons, I've seen NOS sets for sale thet looked good yet. My EB-2 had pearloid buttons, & they were in rough shape. The cheaper EB-0 as pictured above, came with nickel buttons. I went that way because I could find originals and it was fixed for life.
Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: dadagoboi on August 12, 2012, 10:05:02 AM
Quote from: Grog on August 12, 2012, 07:38:51 AM
The EB-1 came with white plastic (bakelite?) buttons, I've seen NOS sets for sale thet looked good yet. My EB-2 had pearloid buttons, & they were in rough shape. The cheaper EB-0 as pictured above, came with nickel buttons. I went that way because I could find originals and it was fixed for life.

As stated in the listing, they are replacements.  Originals had cream colored plastic buttons.  I replaced mine with Schallers in '65 ASAP after buying my '60 EBO.  I misplaced the original banjoes sometime in the '90s.  A set sold a few weeks ago for around $200 on Ebay.  '59-'60 EBOs are going for as little as $800 in OK shape.  Usually 3 or 4 of them on Ebay and not a lot of interest.

Title: Re: 1959 EBO with banjo's
Post by: Highlander on August 12, 2012, 01:46:51 PM
For me it's all about the date - one day I'd like to own an instrument the same age as me - finances prohibit that at present, but I'd love to own one of these or an EB2...