Gibson EB-0F - Rare Fuzzy Gibby?

Barklessdog · February 13, 2009, 09:11:29 AM

Not quite Fuzzy but...

godofthunder · February 13, 2009, 09:35:16 AM

I love that ! I got the whole story on that bass from the owner.

Dave W · February 13, 2009, 09:47:17 AM

A Viking? Looks more like it was inspired by Bender from Futurama. And he was built in Mexico.

godofthunder · February 13, 2009, 12:11:41 PM

He goes by Rumblethump at Talk bass, here is the story of the carved EB bass above. Thanks for the compliment!

"Man I love that Bass ! You see artisan carved EB0's EB3's from time to time, that is one of the nicest ones I have seen. When they pop up on ebay I bid but i have yet to win one. Very cool bass !"

The story behind it, was originally a 68 EBO cherry red. I loved its playability, acoustic tone, and weight.
Not so much, the tone of the mudbucker and the POS bridge. The E string would never intonate until I installed the Badass Bridge. Also in 68 finding a bass amp to handle it was tough. Until I got an acoustic 360 in 71. Still it wasn't cutting with the band so I had the rear EB3 pickup installed along with a 3 way switch and vol tone pots. This helped, but when I installed the Dimarzio with the in and out of phase switch the amplified bass started to really sound like the acoustic tone I love.

Around 1970 I was at the Alameda Flea Market and met Mike Chapman. He was displaying a SG guitar and a Jazz bass he had carved. I asked him how much to do my bass? Unbelievably he said $80. We got together on what I wanted (I'm a cancer, can you tell) When I went to pick it up I was floored. He put more than 80 hours of carving into it! He took the stock pickguard and carved it to fit perfectly between the seaweed. Being a poor musician at the time I still was able to get him 2 tickets for Beck Bogart and Appice at Berkely Community Theater in gratitude of the awesome work.

Mike use to be the Park Ranger on the ship Balcutha an old sailing ship in SF Bay. He then transfered up to Russian River. I've heard he has passed away but I haven't been able to find any more about him. I know he carved guitars for many Bay Area musicians. Mine was one of his first 3.
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Barklessdog · February 13, 2009, 12:14:55 PM

The bass has crabs.

eb2 · February 13, 2009, 12:15:15 PM

Bay Area.

godofthunder · February 13, 2009, 02:57:03 PM

Oh well joke all ya want I still love it.

Saf · February 13, 2009, 05:28:02 PM

Love that carved EB. Do you have any larger pic op it. Looks Awesome!