PRODUCED: Initially 1961 - 1979

ORIGIN: USA

TYPE: SG shaped twin cutaway solid body with bevelled edge, 4-string

BODY: Mahogany

NECK: Mahogany set neck, 20 medium frets

SCALE LENGTH: 775mm (30.5-inch)

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood, pearl dot inlays

HARDWARE: Nickel-plated, single bar-bridge initially, Kluson open gear tuners

PICKUPS: Large humbucker and mini humbucker

CONTROLS: Two Volume and two Tone plus a four-position rotary control

FEATURES: Laminated black scratchplate, finger rest, chromed metal wrist rest, Crown inlay on black-faced headstock

FINISHES: Cherry Red, Ebony (rare), Natural (introduced in 1971), White (introduced in 1976)

COMMENTS: When the Gibson EB-0 was revamped with the new SG styling, the EB-3 was also introduced sporting an additional pickup, another volume and tone control plus a four-position rotary switch that offered instant tonal variation.

This gave the bass far more sound definition than any other Gibson at the time and it soon became their most popular model. As a consequence it also became their most modified and remodelled bass ever and it’s still going on today.

The initial plastic cover on the neck pickup was changed to metal in 1962. The single saddle bridge/tailpiece was soon upgraded to individual saddles and the earliest versions included a pull lever damper. Many different bridges have actually been used, metal wrist rests have come and gone, the neck pickup was relocated more centrally for a while during the seventies, 19 and 21 frets came and went, as did the inbuilt Fuzztone option.

During the period 1969 - 1972 bound rosewood fingerboards and a slotted (classical style) headstock were introduced. The EB-3L (1971-1973) offered a longer (34.5-inch) scale length and was available in standard cherry finish or white.