SB-400 heads up

[amptech]

On ebay.

I still follow SB-300 on ebay, I look for a project at a good price. Unfortunately, this one here
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-SB300-gibson-bass-guitar/132780262718
looked like a candidate, but I suppose it's a SB-400 as it looks like it has a long neck, and bridge all the way down.

I guess many of you guys here like the 400?

[Dave W]

That does look like an SB-400. Even if it turns out to be working, that's a lot more than I'd pay for a stripped bass with no logo.

[uwe]

Dave is a great fan of the SB family - he has often opined on their remarkable sound!

[Dave W]

Dave is a great fan of the SB family - he has often opined on their remarkable sound!

Remarkable isn't the word for it.

To be fair, I've only played one, an SB-300. That was enough for me. Tone like hitting a wet cardboard box.

[uwe]

Dave must have had a duff one with possibly dead strings. Actually, the 300/400 series especially (with the meek-looking guitar pups), has a very sweet and clear single coil sound, airy, but not whimpy, clear, but not sterile. Jazz Bass lovers that want a bit more ooomph wouldn't be appalled.

[Dave W]

It's been close to 20 years, too long ago to remember the strings or much of anything other than the lifeless tone.

[ilan]

Tone like hitting a wet cardboard box.

That exactly was my first impression of an EB0, in a Denmark Street shop some 30+ years ago. I've learned since that it was accurate.

[Dave W]

That exactly was my first impression of an EB0, in a Denmark Street shop some 30+ years ago. I've learned since that it was accurate.

In that case, we're using the same term to describe basses that are almost exact opposites.

The SB-300 I played was clear in tone but low in output and had almost no sustain. Lifeless. An EB-0 is muddy, high output, unfocused unless you use some radical EQing, and has tons of sustain since it will drive any amp into overdrive at all but the lowest setting.

[westen44]

In that case, we're using the same term to describe basses that are almost exact opposites.

The SB-300 I played was clear in tone but low in output and had almost no sustain. Lifeless. An EB-0 is muddy, high output, unfocused unless you use some radical EQing, and has tons of sustain since it will drive any amp into overdrive at all but the lowest setting.

A totally accurate description of an EB-0.  When playing one, pets, small children and fragile objects need to be kept at a safe distance.  Depending on the volume and, of course, what it's being played though, it has the capability of shaking the foundations of the earth. 

[FrankieTbird]

The SB-300 I played was clear in tone but low in output and had almost no sustain.

That's pretty much what my EB-4L was like when I first got it.  It now sports a mudbucker.

[clankenstein]

I have a Mudbucker in my eb4l too ,also a thunderbucker as well.Small sounding it is not.Love to try an sb400 but unlikely here in NZ.

[ajkula66]

A totally accurate description of an EB-0.  When playing one, pets, small children and fragile objects need to be kept at a safe distance.  Depending on the volume and, of course, what it's being played though, it has the capability of shaking the foundations of the earth. 

You should experience my EB-0L which is strung BEAD. I always warn those about to try it out that they may end up being on on dialisys for the rest of their lives...

[westen44]

You should experience my EB-0L which is strung BEAD. I always warn those about to try it out that they may end up being on on dialisys for the rest of their lives...

It sounds like it can double as both a musical instrument and a weapon.   

[Dave W]

A totally accurate description of an EB-0.  When playing one, pets, small children and fragile objects need to be kept at a safe distance.  Depending on the volume and, of course, what it's being played though, it has the capability of shaking the foundations of the earth.

I may have mentioned this before. About 1996-97, fooling around with my old slothead EB-0L after a gig, a neighbor made a noise complaint. Cops came and thought there was a party with a loud boombox b/c the awnings over my front door and windows were literally moving up and down. Nope, just me, the bass and my Mesa rig. 

You should experience my EB-0L which is strung BEAD. I always warn those about to try it out that they may end up being on on dialisys for the rest of their lives...

I can imagine!

I had my EB-0F for part of the same time as my EB-0L, the longer scale was noticeably clearer but had just as much boom.

[westen44]

I may have mentioned this before. About 1996-97, fooling around with my old slothead EB-0L after a gig, a neighbor made a noise complaint. Cops came and thought there was a party with a loud boombox b/c the awnings over my front door and windows were literally moving up and down. Nope, just me, the bass and my Mesa rig. 

I can imagine!

I had my EB-0F for part of the same time as my EB-0L, the longer scale was noticeably clearer but had just as much boom.

I've had the police come many times during band practices, but never when I'm just playing alone.  When it's just me, I usually don't turn up much.  That's a funny story, though, and it isn't hard for me at all to imagine how that happened.