So I bought a Gibson bass again

[Dave W]

I wouldn't place it that close to the bridge. IMHO that's the weakness of the EB-3 bridge pickup.

[ajkula66]

I wouldn't place it that close to the bridge. IMHO that's the weakness of the EB-3 bridge pickup.

Curious I am on what you consider "that close" ? How far would you place it from the bridge ?

[ilan]

I have tried slightly different locations. The one where the space between the pickup and the bridge is about the same as the width of the pickup ring sounds good to me. If I rout, it will have to be in the exact spot of a real EB-3L, and I will ask here for exact measurements. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to look at it.

The stock bridge pickup itself is not very impressive, at least upside-down. If it fails to impress after it's properly installed, any suggestions for good drop-in replacements?

[Pilgrim]

I have tried slightly different locations. The one where the space between the pickup and the bridge is about the same as the width of the pickup ring sounds good to me. If I rout, it will have to be in the exact spot of a real EB-3L, and I will ask here for exact measurements. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to look at it.

The stock bridge pickup itself is not very impressive, at least upside-down. If it fails to impress after it's properly installed, any suggestions for good drop-in replacements?

There's always the Dimarzio Model One. Meant to be a mudbucker replacement but a bit more civilized...unless the rout size is different.

[Dave W]

Curious I am on what you consider "that close" ? How far would you place it from the bridge ?

I'd place it close to the middle position, but that's just my own preference.

[amptech]

The stock bridge pickup itself is not very impressive, at least upside-down. If it fails to impress after it's properly installed, any suggestions for good drop-in replacements?

I have tried a couple of the import/allparts bridge pups, not too impressive. Best was a EY-Pickups Firebird pup.
A few years back I did experiment a lot with winding more powerful drop-in pickups for the bridge pos. Over winding stock
allparts (and putting in more powerful magnets) was ok but not too much better, I wound a huge singlecoil lying down (like the first
gibson singlecoil) that was also ok and looked like stock , but the best was a mini sidewinder, with poles in the middle. That one became
punchy and loud, a bit less trebly but with more 'full' tone. I think I have one or two left - the only problem was that it took too long making them, and having poles in the middle it did not look stock.. If the market was bigger...

I'd place it close to the middle position, but that's just my own preference.

Agree; I once had a stock EB3 (but with allparts bridge pup) and put in another allparts bridge pup into my EB0F, which has a bridge pup route a bit farther from the bridge. I could swear it sounded less thin in the EB0F, but then again the test was not carried out in a lab environment.. The EB0F tend to sound best whatever I compare it to

[Dave W]

Agree; I once had a stock EB3 (but with allparts bridge pup) and put in another allparts bridge pup into my EB0F, which has a bridge pup route a bit farther from the bridge. I could swear it sounded less thin in the EB0F, but then again the test was not carried out in a lab environment.. The EB0F tend to sound best whatever I compare it to

Your EB-OF was routed for a bridge pickup? Surely not factory routed.

[amptech]

Your EB-OF was routed for a bridge pickup? Surely not factory routed.

No, I routed it for bridge pickup - that I placed a tad closer to the middle of the body.
When I bought it, someone (70's or 80's) had routed it for a slanted J pickup  and refinished in a thick poly red with a purple hue.
And, worst of all - they put a three pointer on the poor thing!

So I refinned with proper nitro, put in a proper pickup and of course got a bar bridge for it

[Dave W]

No, I routed it for bridge pickup - that I placed a tad closer to the middle of the body.
When I bought it, someone (70's or 80's) had routed it for a slanted J pickup  and refinished in a thick poly red with a purple hue.
And, worst of all - they put a three pointer on the poor thing!

So I refinned with proper nitro, put in a proper pickup and of course got a bar bridge for it

Well done!

Hopefully you used a sledgehammer on that three pointer! 

[amptech]

Well done!

Hopefully you used a sledgehammer on that three pointer! 

I made a two point mold, so now everything that annoys me is melted and cast into perfection. Then I look at it, and say 'how do
you feel, you're a bar bridge now'

[Dave W]

I made a two point mold, so now everything that annoys me is melted and cast into perfection. Then I look at it, and say 'how do
you feel, you're a bar bridge now'

Can you fit Neil Young into the mold? 

[amptech]

Can you fit Neil Young into the mold? 

Hey, don't insult the mold!
At least it has some degree of intonation! 

[Dave W]

Hey, don't insult the mold!
At least it has some degree of intonation! 

Excellent point!

[ilan]

A friend and vintage Ric collector has played my slot-head EB-0L the other day through his vintage (and totally awesome) SVT (both cabinets) and after 30 seconds said, I have to get me one like this.

[Dave W]

A friend and vintage Ric collector has played my slot-head EB-0L the other day through his vintage (and totally awesome) SVT (both cabinets) and after 30 seconds said, I have to get me one like this.

But of course!