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New EB day

Norton

Active member
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
137
Been keeping an eye out for a MkI Eb3 for a while and finally found an original unbroken one from '62 to add to the collection. Unfortunately, it was a smokers bass so a deep clean will happen this weekend. I'm hoping that as I gently clean the tar off the neck pickup cover what's left of the original silver coat will start to shine again. I'll also need to track down a correct early 60s TRC since the one it's sporting now is a later replacement.

Anyway, thought some of you would like to see the dirty pics...




 

Grog

Active member
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
562
Nice!! It should clean up great! Looking forward to seeing it after you work it!
 

Norton

Active member
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
137
Thanks for the comments all. I couldn't wait for the weekend so last night I started testing different gentle cleaners on the bridge pickup ring. The pseudo-chrome finish Gibson applied to the plastic covers is known to wear away fairly easily so I didn't want to risk anything too aggressive. I ended up with a highly diluted citrus based cleaner that seemed to nicely soften and breakdown the years of smokers tar buildup and other gunk without affecting the chrome. After about 4 hours or gentle application with a q-tip I was able to get some pretty decent results.

Before:





After:





Next I'll start tackling the neck pickup cover. I can tell by looking through the layers of crud that the chrome is already fairly worn but I hope to be able to preserve everything that's left of it.
 

Grog

Active member
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
562
Looking good! It has 58 years of stories to tell.....
 

Norton

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Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
137
I started cleaning the neck pickup cover but the finish was getting too thin so I decided to back off so as not to destroy whats left of it. It's a few shades lighter but I'll live with the tobacco tint I guess. In the mean time I started cleaning up the case. No candy was included but there was a previous owners purchase receipt from 1969:



I wish that's what I paid!
 

garywright

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
Haha ..I’m sure that $75.00 was only the final payment and not the full price :) ..btw, will you be able to post a video so we can check out some true vintage thumpin
 

Norton

Active member
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
137
Well it took a couple weeks but I finally had some time to finish the clean up. Virtuoso cleaner did it's job and brought the cherry back to a point where I'm happy. I also managed to track down a correct TRC and swapped for a set of knobs that hadnt lost their reflectors like the originals. Sounds amazing too, if I get a chance I'll make a recording to share. It's definitely got that EB3 Thump!



 

Norton

Active member
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
137
Haha ..I’m sure that $75.00 was only the final payment and not the full price :) ..btw, will you be able to post a video so we can check out some true vintage thumpin

You would hope it didn't lose over 3/4 it's value in 7 years! My theory was he had a trade in but it could well have been payments. Its always fun to find things like this in a case though.
 

garywright

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
Well it took a couple weeks but I finally had some time to finish the clean up. Virtuoso cleaner did it's job and brought the cherry back to a point where I'm happy.

I can see why ..I love this shot :salude
 

Grog

Active member
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
562
Came out nice! Not many survive with the hand rest & mute (with original felt).
 

garywright

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
15,583
Well it took a couple weeks but I finally had some time to finish the clean up. Virtuoso cleaner did it's job and brought the cherry back to a point where I'm happy. I also managed to track down a correct TRC and swapped for a set of knobs that hadnt lost their reflectors like the originals. Sounds amazing too, if I get a chance I'll make a recording to share. It's definitely got that EB3 Thump!



Norton ..how ‘bout a thump’n vid 👍
 

Tollywood

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2022
Messages
394
That’s an incredible bass. I love seeing the before and after photos. You did a fantastic job cleaning it up. The smokers tar looked so filthy, but I imagine that his lungs are even worse off.
 

Joe Desperado

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
1,871
If that is a 62, shouldn’t the pickup cover and bridge ring be black plastic? Those look spray painted silver.
 
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