The Last Bass Outpost

Yeah,

My father picked up Led Zep III when it was released.  It was a fun record for a seven or eight year old with that rotating dial in the sleeve.  Didn't take long to wear the rivet out.  I was interested in that wierd bass and it took 25 years before I found one from my first experience seeing one on that record cover.  Still have the original record and the EB-1 is a prized possession that sounds and plays way beyond what you would expect an early fifties bass should. 

Reid

They are great sounding basses. I picked up a Supreme version in December based on the good reviews form members of this forum.  Plays and sounds fantastic.  Quality wise was very good except for one significant escape from the factory.  Three of the four screws mounting one of the tuners were never installed.  Still, possibly the best short scale bass Gibson has ever built.

Reid

Has anyone looked at the current prices for new ES-335s  List from $3k to $4k and sell for $2.3k to $3k.  I wouldn't expect a EB-2-RI to sell for significantly less.  A new and improved Epihone Rivoli RI may make more sense, but the original RI's weren't a huge sales success.  Guild and Dearmond didn't have much luck, sales wise, with their offerings, but their RIs seem to be commanding bigger money, second hand, than the Rivoli RI.

I suspect if they are going to replicate or semi-replicate "vintage" basses, it will be the models that are valued more than a new bass will sell for.  SG-RI survives as it's tone is so much more versatile than an original EB-3.  Vintage TB prices justify building new semi-replicas.  EB-2-RI is unlikely as the price of the vintage models is not high enough.  An EB-1 RI is a possibility as the originals are selling for obscene money now.  And 1970's model basses are not selling for enough money to justify reissues.

Reid

Gibson missed their chance doing a Jack Bruce Reissue EB-1.  That is a short scale solid body bass icon!  They could use the same pickup as the SG RI, 460 Schaller bridge and working tuners and they would have a great sounding bass.  And they could do a few carved maple top variations  and double pickup versions for "GOWs"

Reid