EB-0 Mod

copacetic · October 24, 2012, 01:56:48 PM

I have a pretty much mint '69 EB-0 that I have rarely ever touched. I had been thinking of selling it one day putting it towards something I really want(ed). (Maybe the new G-3). However after just taking it out of the closet a few weeks ago, I have grown to really like it's playability, neck and look to ...get a little more in the sound department. Yesterday, I went over to a friend's place and played his '66 EB-3. Now I want to add a pickup that will blend better the mud and the tone than the EB-3 does. Has anyone here made that mod with a pickup that will blend better than that original setup? I am not adverse to positioning the pickup more towards the mid position if necessary. I have a Gibson Supreme with the maple top and mahogany back (bass of the month some years ago. I know Uwe has one also) but that is b asicly a TB+ and the rear pickup on that one is nothing to write home about either. Anyone?..

nofi · October 24, 2012, 02:08:56 PM

no.

clankenstein · October 24, 2012, 02:13:03 PM

i have an eb 4l with a 66 mudbucker in the neck position and a 66type thunderbucker in the bridge position which gives me all the tonal range i need.from dub throb to edgy clank.they blend very well i reckon.the mudbucker is set back from the fretboard some in the 70s manner.the thunderbucker is larger than an eb3 rear pickup though.

4stringer77 · October 24, 2012, 02:19:19 PM

You could add one of these.
http://www.allparts.com/Bass-Humbucking-Pickup-Bridge-p/pu-0419-010.htm
but I wish you wouldn't. The other thing you could do is get an EB3 and take the mudbucker tone choke out of the signal path.

Basvarken · October 24, 2012, 03:06:34 PM

If it really is a near mint that has been sitting in a closet for ages, I'd leave it as is. It'd be seriously losing its value if you do.

copacetic · October 24, 2012, 03:33:39 PM

Yes, I was thinking the same too. But really there are so many EB-0's out there and near mint and some pretty road worn their value does not vary too much. If I get the EB-3 I stiil would do the mod to the rear pickup. With mine I can control the placement.

uwe · October 24, 2012, 05:15:16 PM

I have an EB-0L (the one the NRA doesn't allow at its conventions because "not guns shoot basses, people do") that I coupled with two additional TB Plus - has worked like a dream. Dialing the mudbucker in is like dialing in an active subwoof. I also have aseventies EB-0 that has an RD Standard stacked humbucker added in the rear, that kind of combines with the mudbucker like the two pups of a Ric 4001/4003 do. And finally, I went the other way and added a mudbucker to one of my two SG-Z - in general I do not collect for fins, but, alas ... - with their anemic "Z-pups", that has finally given the implant specimen some low frequency beef.

On your Supreme you might think of turning the rear pup around so that the pole pieces/screws face the neck and not the bridge. Easy, non-invasive and adds some beef. Done it on mine just for the heck of it.

Dave W · October 24, 2012, 07:30:17 PM

Quote from: copacetic on October 24, 2012, 03:33:39 PM
Yes, I was thinking the same too. But really there are so many EB-0's out there and near mint and some pretty road worn their value does not vary too much. If I get the EB-3 I stiil would do the mod to the rear pickup. With mine I can control the placement.

There's not as much variation in actual dollars because they're not as valuable as an EB-3 to begin with. Your near mint unmolested EB-0 will always be worth more than a modified one or a beater.

I can see modding one that's already been damaged or modded, like Uwe's gunshot EB-0L. If you really can't live with yours as is, IMHO it's better to sell it to someone who wants an original one. Then buy yourself a beater and mod it.

eb2 · October 24, 2012, 10:49:05 PM

QuoteIf it really is a near mint that has been sitting in a closet for ages, I'd leave it as is. It'd be seriously losing its value if you do.

QuoteI can see modding one that's already been damaged or modded, like Uwe's gunshot EB-0L. If you really can't live with yours as is, IMHO it's better to sell it to someone who wants an original one. Then buy yourself a beater and mod it.

Do no harm.

drbassman · October 25, 2012, 05:18:56 AM

I'd sell it and buy an EB-3. No harm, no foul. Modding a vintage unmolested bass has few fans here. We're such purists!

godofthunder · October 25, 2012, 06:16:47 AM

Years ago I'd mod just about anything, these days with a vintage piece that is unmolested I'd leave it alone. Either look for a beater or buy a EB3. Just my 2 cents.

uwe · October 25, 2012, 06:39:07 AM

"Years ago I'd mod just about anything ..."

Yeah, I saw some examples.

chromium · October 25, 2012, 08:58:18 AM

Another alternative to increase the tonal options is to add series/parallel switching to the mudbucker. You or a tech could lift out and save the original harness in case you ever want to revert the bass back to stock, and build/install a new harness with the switching capability.

I did this to my '69 EB-0, and while it offers nowhere near the same result as adding a pickup, it still made an appreciable difference.

Details and sound samples here: http://www.hillscloud.com/2011/06/1969-gibson-eb-0-pickup-coil-tap-and-series-parallel-modification/

(please note, however, that I ended up selling the EB-0 and keeping my '68 EB-3

)

Dave W · October 25, 2012, 09:43:03 AM

Quote from: chromium on October 25, 2012, 08:58:18 AM
Another alternative to increase the tonal options is to add series/parallel switching to the mudbucker. You or a tech could lift out and save the original harness in case you ever want to revert the bass back to stock, and build/install a new harness with the switching capability.

I did this to my '69 EB-0, and while it offers nowhere near the same result as adding a pickup, it still made an appreciable difference.

Details and sound samples here: http://www.hillscloud.com/2011/06/1969-gibson-eb-0-pickup-coil-tap-and-series-parallel-modification/

(please note, however, that I ended up selling the EB-0 and keeping my '68 EB-3 )

Joe, I listened, and while you can hear a slight difference soloed, I wouldn't call it an appreciable difference. Nothing like having a bridge pickup.

I still say let it be.

chromium · October 25, 2012, 10:37:15 AM

Quote from: Dave W on October 25, 2012, 09:43:03 AM
Nothing like having a bridge pickup.

If its any sign of my preference, I've kept the EB-3 and EB-2D

As weedy as those bridge mini-buckers are, they do help add a lot of definition - especially live. All the EBs sound nice to me in low-volume settings, but live they are kind of a bear to EQ IME. I'm getting the hang of it, though, and I do like the sounds that I can get from them once dialed in. Fun basses!