Strange EB-0 on Reverb

[Alanko]

https://reverb.com/item/10931087-gibson-sg-bass-eb-ebo-project-luthier-1965-1966-1967-heritage-cherry

So this guy is up on Reverb. Looks like an EB-0 with two additional controls and a hole for a pickup selector switch. In the electronics cavity there appears to be a choke as well.

I'm guessing the wiring is modified as the insulation is many different colours. The ugly common ground blob doesn't look factory original either.

Did somebody spoon the best of an EB-3 into an EB-0?

[Pilgrim]

Someone has done ugly things to the fretboard and the headstock. If the body didn't look better than the neck does, I'd think that bass had been under water.

[Alanko]

It looks like '10' is impressed into the end of the fretboard using stamps?

[Dave W]

It looks like '10' is impressed into the end of the fretboard using stamps?

It does. I don't remember seeing that before on an EB-0.

Someone has done ugly things to the fretboard and the headstock. If the body didn't look better than the neck does, I'd think that bass had been under water.

It does look like water damage. May have been in a flood and never properly dried. I'd guess the fretboard looks worse b/c it was unfinished.

Restoring to anything like it was originally would cost far more than it would be worth. $750? Tell 'im 'e's dreamin'!

[westen44]

I probably like EB-0 & EB-3 basses better than most.  But I'd actually feel sorry for any sucker who paid anywhere near $750 for that.  Just the headstock itself looks like it has been through some kind of war. 

[Pilgrim]

If that neck is still straight and not warped, it would surprise me.

[Alanko]

Has the guts of an EB-3 been transplanted into the bass, or is something else going on?

[Grog]

If that neck is still straight and not warped, it would surprise me.

The truss rod nut has been screwed in upside down. That could bee a sign that the neck is out of whack & un-adjustable.............

[Granny Gremlin]

Has the guts of an EB-3 been transplanted into the bass, or is something else going on?

Not exactly - that is not an original choke (could be a 60s one with the faraday shield removed - never looked inside one due to sealed; the later unsheilded ones looked different).  It's probably noisey as heck since it is not sheilded and not dual coil humbucking like later ones.

[amptech]

Not exactly - that is not an original choke (could be a 60s one with the faraday shield removed - never looked inside one due to sealed; the later unsheilded ones looked different).

Might even just be a big paper cap. Nothing odd at all about this bass, just a tired EB-0 with added tone controls. A road worn cherry perhaps?

[slinkp]

I am very puzzled. What is the point of adding a second set of pots and drilling for a (missing) switch when there's still just the one pickup?  There's no route for a second one.

[Dave W]

I am very puzzled. What is the point of adding a second set of pots and drilling for a (missing) switch when there's still just the one pickup?  There's no route for a second one.

Could have something to do with whatever that terminal is next to the empty hole, I can't figure it out.

[clankenstein]

Could almost be middle and bass controls from a Ripper circuit,but what it is is a MESS!