1969 EB-1 Reissue.... Real of Fake??

[Grog]

I notice this on eBay, The tuners seem wrong or changed, the bridge has been changed, the pinstripping is missing, has it been refinished? Is it a total fake? The neck & headstock seem to be as they should, the neck joint even seems correct. I have bad vibes........... any opinions? $5,000.00?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIBSON-EB-1-1969-Violin-Bass-/150703562366?pt=Guitar&hash=item2316a1de7e

[Dave W]

Price is insane even if it's 100% legit.

I've seen Japanese EB-0/EB-3 copies with a similar non-compensated bar bridge. Those Schaller or Schaller copy tuners aren't original to an EB-1 reissue. No pinstriping. Crooked 1967 s/n when these didn't come out until 1970. No Made In USA although there may have been some early 1970 reissues without it. I can't say it's a fake but there's certainly enough to raise suspicions. If I were interested, I'd want an independent in-hand appraisal.

[Grog]

It almost looks as if there is no pitch angle on the headstock also, tough to tell with these pictures. I've seen a few fake EB-0's 3's in past years on come up on eBay, been in the family for years. The seller doesn't take it well when you tell them they have a fake........... I've never seen one of these before...

[godofthunder]

The bridge is Japanese for sure, The top looks to be to dark, maybe refined at some point? the back looks right construction wise and the grain of the mahogany is Honduran.

[Dave W]

The back of the headstock does look like real mahogany. I'd like to see a closeup of the neck joint and of the grain on the back of the body.

[EvilLordJuju]

yeah, I agree with Dave, definately overpriced whatever.

I have seen some really good EB1 copies, so would be very cautious - having said this I can't see anything definately wrong.

I'd want to see pots, wiring loom, under pickup cover, and know the distance between those bridge posts.

Oh, and a $3750 price reduction.

[Grog]

A few pictures for comparison......




The bottom 2 are of my bass.