Gibson EB-2 - Finally Cleaned Up and Restrung. Where can I get the switch?

[Amp360]

I poasted about this back in November. Long story short I bought it for an insanely low price at the Philidelphia show, which I would highly recommend anyone wanting to see some amazing guitars check out.

A good friend of mine (who I would imagine is probably a member here) came over last week and we did a shootout with about six or seven old Les Pauls and I let him check out some of my other guitars. We both agreed this one was cool, so I have been cleaning up and restringing some things I got but hadn't gotten around to fixing up (see my Stratocaster thread!).

This guitar was so covered in dirt I literally had to clean it with Murphy's oil soap and warm water about five times before all the dirt came off. Then I recrowned and polished the frets and conditioned the fretboard.

The neck is nice and straight, but the action is pretty high on the first fret right up. I don't think the nut is cut correctly because from the bottom of the slot to the fretboard there is a lot of room, so I'll have to take care of that.

Anyways, it was kind of intermitant when I got it but removing the harness (no unsoldering) through the f-hole and cleaning everything , first with a q-tip then with De-Oxit, has fixed the problem. The only thing is the baritone switch has had the shaft removed and doesn't do anything. I don't think I would ever use it, but it would be cool to have, so if anyone knows where I could get one I would appreciate it. I saw one on Reverb but it was sold and I checked Angela and a few other places. I would also like a pickguard, but a repro would be fine. WD didn't have one. Also, mute material suggestion?

Anyways, here are some photographs. I have about five other guitars I'm trying to finish up this week, so I may have some other questions as well. Thanks for the help as always!

*** Dislaimer - I realized I installed the part where the mute goes upside down and I also need to find some old screws for the neck pickup. There were wrong screws installed there.

 

[Amp360]

Recut the nut. Only took about twenty minutes but now it's much better! That guitar in the background that's about to fall down is my old Strat with rosewood I'm going to go through tomorrow

 

[Norton]

Looks really great - & I'm sure it has some smoky bar stories to tell! The checking gives it a ton of character, I've got a walnut one that has heavy checking like that. The switch is actually just a low-amperage 125V on/off lamp switch. Most were supplied by a company named Eagle (model is the 449P) Your best bet is to keep an eye on ebay under vintage lamp supplies and they usually go for only a few dollars. Just make sure you buy the push-button one and not the twist style. If you just want to get it up and going you can buy a modern equivalent at hardware stores.

 

[jb_abides]

Love this, enjoy.

 

[Amp360]

Looks really great - & I'm sure it has some smoky bar stories to tell! The checking gives it a ton of character, I've got a walnut one that has heavy checking like that. The switch is actually just a low-amperage 125V on/off lamp switch. Most were supplied by a company named Eagle (model is the 449P) Your best bet is to keep an eye on ebay under vintage lamp supplies and they usually go for only a few dollars. Just make sure you buy the push-button one and not the twist style. If you just want to get it up and going you can buy a modern equivalent at hardware stores.

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[zacknorton]

Love the EB2. hate the wiring scheme. Sidewinder pickups are weird to begin with, but when you add that inductor it's just too much. The inductor is always in the circuit too, I removed it from mine and I'd never go back.

 

[cincyguitar]

That sure is a cool looking bass !

 

[Amp360]

Love the EB2. hate the wiring scheme. Sidewinder pickups are weird to begin with, but when you add that inductor it's just too much. The inductor is always in the circuit too, I removed it from mine and I'd never go back.

I like the way it sounds but don't want to use the switch. Maybe I'll buy a new one and just fit the shaft there to fill the hole.

I don't see this replacing my Jazz, but I do see it being really useful for a lot of things the Jazz isn't the right thing for.

 

[Grog]

Nice!! Good job bringing her back! One thing I’ve noticed during years of watching eBay, Some amp foot switches came with the same switch. Both amps and guitars were built in Kalamazoo at the time & they must have substituted switch types in the footswitches occasionally. My ‘67 EB-2 that I’ve had for just shy of fifty years has a black plastic button on its switch. I think that it’s original.

 

[zacknorton]

I bet you'll find the bass even more useful without all the extra filtering.

 

[ElainaJohnson]

I poasted about this back in November. Long story short I bought it for an insanely low price at the Philidelphia show, which I would highly recommend anyone wanting to see some amazing guitars check out.

A good friend of mine (who I would imagine is probably a member here) came over last week and we did a shootout with about six or seven old Les Pauls and I let him check out some of my other guitars. We both agreed this one was cool, so I have been cleaning up and restringing some things I got but hadn't gotten around to fixing up (see my Stratocaster thread!).

This guitar was so covered in dirt I literally had to clean it with Murphy's oil soap and warm water about five times before all the dirt came off. Then I recrowned and polished the frets and conditioned the fretboard.

The neck is nice and straight, but the action is pretty high on the first fret right up. I don't think the nut is cut correctly because from the bottom of the slot to the fretboard there is a lot of room, so I'll have to take care of that.

Anyways, it was kind of intermitant when I got it but removing the harness (no unsoldering) through the f-hole and cleaning everything , first with a q-tip then with De-Oxit, has fixed the problem. The only thing is the baritone switch has had the shaft removed and doesn't do anything. I don't think I would ever use it, but it would be cool to have, so if anyone knows where I could get one I would appreciate it. I saw one on Reverb but it was sold and I checked Angela and a few other places. I would also like a pickguard, but a repro would be fine. WD didn't have one. Also, mute material suggestion?

Anyways, here are some photographs. I have about five other guitars I'm trying to finish up this week, so I may have some other questions as well. Thanks for the help as always!

*** Dislaimer - I realized I installed the part where the mute goes upside down and I also need to find some old screws for the neck pickup. There were wrong screws installed there.

I can't see those images.

 

[StillWannaRock]

I can't see those images.

Neither can I. Would love to see this bass!

 

[Amp360]

Oh, sorry about that!

And here it is cleaned up:

 

[StillWannaRock]

Oh, sorry about that!



And here it is cleaned up:

What a cool bass, and awesome collection! Thanks so much for the great photos!

 

[ch willie]

That is one fine looking bass.

 

[garywright]

love that beautifully faded color ! ..has a Gibson spray pattern with an epiphone royal tan-ish sunburst

 

[Vics53]

Love the old Ampeg in the photo. B15? Had a friend in the late 60's who had one along with an EB3 and an EB2.

 

[Amp360]

Love the old Ampeg in the photo. B15? Had a friend in the late 60's who had one along with an EB3 and an EB2.

Thanks. I don't know the model. I was in a little store called Empire Music and they had it in there. I think I paid $700 for it. When I got it home it had all the old parts (cord, caps) inside. Usually I run the head into a JMI cab, which is a copy of a Vox. It has an 18" greenback celestion. The JMI cab sounds amazing with it.

 

[renderit]

So, question.

I have heard that semi-hollow basses cancel our or amplify certain notes.

I have one that does not, but it is not a Gibson.

Is there any truth to that by your playing it?

 

[Grog]

My ‘59 EB-2 with the massive single coil & my ‘67 EB-2 both really emphasize ballsy low end tone. Not so good with the higher notes (unless you engage the baritone switch, then it gets thin). I think it has more to do with pickup & pickup placement than the semi-hollow factor. The Les Paul Signature bass is semi-hollow & has a much better balanced tone. Pickup placement in the sweet spot & being long scale makes a difference.