EB3L Balance

s1ack3r · Newbie Alert Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 2

I have an original 1972 EB3L which is truly the coolest thing I've ever played. I still need to get the electrics sorted (someones done BAD things in there - only the first two positions work correctly) but otherwise it's a serious axe for my stoner rock stylings. Only problem is it has THE worst balance I've ever felt on a bass, they weren't joking when they said its neck heavy! Anyone out there got any good ways to try and sort this out? I'm thinking a lump of lead in the electronics cavity at the moment! Extra weight isn't an issue for me (I'm tough... Wink

I just need some way of adding the weight (or taking it!) somehow!

Anyone????....

Beowulf · Growing Lion Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 876

That's the single biggest reason I don't play Gibson basses. I can't stand neck-dive.... at all.

The problem lies in the fact that the body is relatively small and light-weight. People talk negatively about long-scale Fenders, claiming that they "feel like a giant slab of wood", but that just gives the instrument greater ergonomics. With Gibsons, the body needs to be heavier in order to counter-balance the neck.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and try adding weights to the body cavity. Also, the strap button being on the back of the instrument instead of the upper bout is ALWAYS a recipe for nose-dive. If there's a way to drill a new hole in the upper bout and move the screw from the back to the top, that can only help. Of course, for this procedure, I'd turn to a licensed repair shop. That's not something I would try for myself if I were you.... but it might be worth a shot looking into it.

MackemGeezer · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 5:26 am Post subject:

Worst neck dive? You can't have played the Epiphone EB3 or T-bird. Wink

I don't think my 72 EB3L is that bad compared to the Epis, a high friction strap (leather) should help...

s1ack3r · Newbie Alert Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 2

Wow, a TBird is worse?!! I'm amazed, I'd never played Gibsons until I found my EB3L and nothing else is so heavy at the neck that letting go crashes it to the floor. Especially bad since I have a habit of letting the beast go when I'm in between songs at a practice session.... HOW can a TBird be worse!? Nothing like the sound though, I've just strung mine with rotosound flats, that's SERIOUS amounts of bass, I had to back the EQ off on my amp, and I NEVER do that!

Matthias · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 4:41 am Post subject:

hehe ... ever tried out a 12-string Smile

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RD79 · Tadpole Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 27

Thats not true at all that all Gibson's have neck dive!
I know the RD, Ripper/Grabber/G-3 do not and are some of Gibson's best sounding basses. The Non Reverse Thunderbird has less neck dive that it's sister reverse. I bet Victories and LP's do not have neck dive.

True The EB & Reverse Thunderbird do, but it is the pain we bare to be different in a Fender driven world! Ha!

http://www.eclecticbass.com/bass.html
http://www.hootpage.com/hoot_gallery-thudstaffs.html
http://www.livenirvana.com/equipment/krist.php
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gibson_thunder · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:27 pm Post subject:

bob gollihur`s got some beautiful rippers... once upon A time when I had my website, he allowed me to put em in the gallery... dems some sweet axes, to be sure...
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