What are the odds of seeing two EB6's on eBay?

[ilan]

What are the odds of seeing two EB6's on eBay?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-1960-EB-6-Bass-Near-Mint-/150747684728?pt=Guitar&hash=item2319431f78#ht_710wt_1139
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-Gibson-EB-6-6-String-Bass-/160721856022?pt=Guitar&hash=item256bc4e616#ht_9633wt_1139

[Dave W]

That is unusual. Both beautiful.

For something so rare, these sure seem to come up fairly often (in either the solid or semihollow versions). Makes you wonder.

Note the first one is a zero feedback seller.

[leftybass]

30 years ago, in a shop in Austin, I played a solidbody doubleneck EB-3/EB-6, it was sweet.

[ilan]

For something so rare, these sure seem to come up fairly often (in either the solid or semihollow versions). Makes you wonder.

My guess is they are bought for their beauty and rareness, and then when the novelty effect wears off, the owners are left with an expensive but not very practical instrument, and sell.

Anyway that is what happened to me with both a 1960 Dano 6-string bass and a Fender VI. But I have never played an EB6.

[Barklessdog]

My guess is they are bought for their beauty and rareness, and then when the novelty effect wears off, the owners are left with an expensive but not very practical instrument, and sell.

Anyway that is what happened to me with both a 1960 Dano 6-string bass and a Fender VI. But I have never played an EB6.

Agreed, collector instruments. Ever here of any professional musician using one regularly?

[eb2]

That is what I have said about them for years - when the dust settles, you have an expensive thing you don't play too often.  That is why 90%+ of them are in great shape, too. Many of the ES bodied ones got snagged for their PAFs.  That one that Ry Cooder f-ed up has been floating around for years.  I recall when they going rate was $2-3k, and couldn't do it.  I paid $600 for my 62 Fender VI, and brought that out of the house for one gig. 

I recommend a Digitech Whammy.

[hieronymous]

I only know of one artist that used one (a Bass VI, not EB-6) as his main bass - Rob Babbington, who replaced Hugh Hopper in Soft Machine.

As fond as I am of these instruments (Bass VI-style 6-string basses in general), I'm beginning to recognize that they inhabit an in-between status between guitar and bass. Not necessarily a bad thing - they're fun, and I certainly play different stuff on my MIJ reissue, plus I love the look! A double-neck Gibson with 6-string & EB-3-style like the one mentioned would be awesome! But of course, how much would I actually use it? But when has that ever stopped me!  

[leftybass]

I played a J.Jones Longhorn Bass VI and a Fender VI as my only basses in one band in the early 90s.

[Chris P.]

The guy from the Shadows did a lot with a Bass VI and in Holland there's a bass player from a band of the singer-songwriter Spinvis who almost only uses a Bass VI. They do excist!

In the seventies there was a guy from the same place as Rob/Basvarken who got famous by playing one.

[Basvarken]

Hank the Knife 

The VI is still his main instrument

[saltymonkey]

Jet Harris was the bass player from the Shadows who later formed a duo with Shadows drummer Tony Meehan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIUaxPycB7I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2UAaXp7BlQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EZsfT_zGi0&feature=related

[uwe]

My guess is they are bought for their beauty and rareness, and then when the novelty effect wears off, the owners are left with an expensive but not very practical instrument, and sell.

Anyway that is what happened to me with both a 1960 Dano 6-string bass and a Fender VI. But I have never played an EB6.

Ah, Ilan, how you can read my mind! To really use mine to its full possibilities, I'd have to play it more. It's more of a transformation from 4-string than to 5-, 8- or even 12-string. And basically you have to adjust to playing baritone guitar and your bass arrangements have to suit that. So it's not an instrument to swap for one song just for the heck of it.

But I'm not selling mine!

[ilan]

There's a nice Phil X demo on Fretted Americana's Youtube channel. This bass actually sounds good! Anyway better than the EB2 I once had. Probably the PAF making the difference.

[Barklessdog]

It would be great for Metal

[uwe]

Have fun overpowering the double bass drum with it or even getting heard!