Help Converting my Epiphone EB-0 to an EB-3???

[hbomb76]

I've got one of the first released EB-0 basses from the late 90's that I've never had the heart to unload regardless of her battle scars and imperfections, and my only complaint is that while I really dig the Sidewinder/Mudbucker tone, we all know it's not the most versatile (especially when applying it to a mix of classic and modern music and recording direct). I really wanted to get an Elitist EB-3 or the current Gibson "SG Reissue" bass (anyone else have a hard time calling it an "SG Reissue" lol), but until my first son turns 18 and I can kick the child support drain every month I really can't justify spending $1300 on a bass (I am, after all, primarily a guitarist who just needs a bass occasionally). So I'm wanting to try to do something a little adventurous and unpredictable (for me anyway).

What I am thinking is trying to convert mine into a 2-pickup model. I found a dealer on eBay who sells a cool replica bass mini-HB bridge pickup, and I just thought maybe I could route the bass for the new pickup (I'm pretty handy with the Dremel, after all), add in a 3rd pot (since apparently the SG Reissue bass has 2 volumes and a tone) or switch (leaving 1vol/1tone) and voila! I could probably rig the switch scenario without a whole lot of trouble since I've done my own wiring and pickup swapping in my guitars for years, but I'm not sure that's the route I want to go yet, even though it'd probably be the simplest. Anyone know how I could wire it with the 2 vol/1 tone/no switch (or 2 vol/2 tone/no switch) arrangement with the proper results? I'll admit bass electronics aren't my forte (never had to really DO anything aside from fixing the occasional bad joint), so I'm in the dark. And I don't read schematics, and I can't find a photo of the innards of the SG Reissue bass or diagram anywhere that can assist me. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!

H-Bomb

[sniper]

i can relate to all you have said.

IMHO the bridge pup in an EB3 has always been a little bony (to cop a description from Uwe). maybe a small addition of said pup or another would bring out the sound you could be looking for. i know an EPI Mudbucker sounds different than a Gibby Mudbucker.

i would suggest try a few changes in pups and resistors.

Artec makes a mudmaker pup that sounds basically pretty close to the old Mudbuckers or so i have read in here. a somewhat fuller range sounding pup might be what you are looking after for the bridge.

see this: 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260284546127&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016

it's used and cheap. the Artecs are for sale on the bay also for about 29.95$:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=350095148795&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=022

maybe the old pup you have is okay and just needs a partner.

Butch at bayou cable could make a loom pretty reasonable i would think if i had to recommend anyone for electronics but there are guys in here that know a lot about electrimiffications if needed, i am not one of them. google Butch, he will usually answer the phone during the day time.

might be the less expensive way to go.

be well

edit: heres another cheapy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280263367251&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018

[ramone57]

http://www.bayoucables.com/

Butch does great work, I've never heard anything negative about his operation.

[eb2]

If you are as handy with a soldering iron as you are with a Dremel, then installing a third pot is a cinch.  All you need to do is find a wiring diagram from a Jazz bass and copy that - 2 vols and one tone to the output jack.  Or if you want something a bit extra, using your two existing pot holes as a spacing template, route two more in, add a 4th for a toggle, and give it Les Paul wiring.  Which is what happened to many EB3s ultimately.  OR..keep the two holes, change the vol to a jazz bass/Danelectro stacked pot and have two vols in one space.  Brosnac's Guitar Electronics is the bible, and has all these wiring tips and diagrams (like cartoon illustrations for dummies like me ) out the yang.  You can find it on ebay, Amazon, order it at bookstores, and chances are you can get it like I did through the public library.

So many options...

I also suggest checking out the hot mini-humbucker pups from DiMarzio and Duncan as they will look EB3 correct, but have a bit more ooomph, and will blend in with the not-so-muddybucker a bit more usefully.

[godofthunder]

 Sounds like a fun project ! Though not short scale Epi's EB3 can be had for less than 250 off ebay a lot less hassle but may be not as much fun Epi went to a lot of trouble to make the new less than mudbucker, it retains the inherent tone of the original if not the overpowering mudslide. Good luck with the project !

[uwe]

To my ears (and I've only played a bolt-on Epi EB-0 quite recently), the Epi has plenty ooomph, but none of the bark/overdrive of an original mudbucker.