Back in the 1990’s, I briefly owned a Gibson EB-O that has the open, angled headstock (like a classical guitar) and the tuners were heavy and faced the rear. I loved how it played and sounded. I dropped it one day and the sheer weight of the headstock decapitated it.

@TheMusicianTom

Жыл бұрын

If the headstock falls off you know it’s a genuine Gibson

@phipschi4255

Жыл бұрын

@@TheMusicianTom genuine gibson quality 👍👍👍

@miloellis191

Жыл бұрын

A short horror story

@Sven.Bornemark

Жыл бұрын

The head on mine fell off too.

@thefool2007

Жыл бұрын

@@Sven.Bornemark mine fractured too badly and was irreparable. Just a pile of wood and wires at that point.

I Kind of like it a lot…the muddy tone rules! With a distortion this bass will sure be the king of stoner rock..great review as usual! All the best from Chile!

@poopsock7991

7 ай бұрын

Same, as someone who plays punk, growly muddy butthole tones is everything I want!

“Neck diving into a puddle of mud” brilliant description!

My first bass was an Epiphone EB-3. For all the "fancier" the set neck felt, if you think you had neck dive issues with the EB-0, try the long scale variant! Needless to say, I don't have this bass any more, nor do I have any regrets in moving it on.

Have this bass for close to a year now. With excellent setup, this has done wonders for my EB-0. This is my go-to bass now and have been neglecting my P and J basses. But still an excellent and honest review as always, Lobster! Keep it coming man! Thanks!

this is the kind of bass that builds character, it definitely has a funky tone! if i had a kid that wanted to learn to play bass I would consider something like this.

@gffn7316

10 ай бұрын

its my first bass its super fun

Most honest bass reviewer on KZread. Love this channel.

A few months ago, I was watching one of your reviews and you said that the bass you were testing was "muddy" (can't remember which it was). And I thought 'man, imagine if he thinks that's muddy, what would he say about an EB-0?". And here we are. What a time to be alive.

Brings back memories too for me as dad purchased one of these for me as my first bass too all those years ago.. All the best 👍

I was literally begging and waiting for this review.... THANK YOU!!

i've got one and love it to bits - sounds great in recordings, unique tone - "caviar to the general"

One of the first bass guitars I ever tried was an old Gibson EB-O in my high school band room. Never owned or tried one since. Always liked the look. Good review on this Epiphone version but Woah! That neck dive!

Hello bro'r Lobster, I understand & totally respect you're opinion, but I LOVE this classic Epiphone EB-0 electric bass guitar. It was also my first electric bass of it's kind but with different vintage bridge similar to the 60s Gibson with an arched plate cover in the middle & different tuning machine heads with cover made in Japan by TOREDO. My lovely Abuela (Grandma) purchased the instrument in a local mom & pop Record Shop for $79.95, half a century ago which I no longer own. For me this Epi EB-0 (which I also own) sounds & plays like a bass guitar suppose too, without the Bells n Whistles. I'm just Old School! I absolutely enjoy all of your bass guitar videos along with your buddy Bully Thakidd. Take care bro & keep lobstering!!

I have one of these and I really love the sound. Nice and chunky.

Bought one cheap 25 years ago still using it on sessions now best £20 I ever spent.

I actually love the stock tone :)

My first bass was a 1969 EB0. It's 7 years older than I am. I still have it. The headstock has been repaired twice. Still has the bridge cover and the string mute. Mine has much smaller tuners than I normally see on these basses. I assume they are the original tuners, they do say Gibson on them anyway. The worst neck dive I have experienced so far is the Squier P-Bass owned by the church I play at.

I recently bought one of these because I am addicted to that tone. Sorry Lobster! And I love the neck and the pickup placement. But the brdge is a total PITA, that strap mount position is a disaster, and avoiding buzz is tough. Love your reviews!

I owned a long-scale Epiphone EB-3 for some time. It has 34 inch scale (same as Fender) and two pickups, so playability and tone are not bad. I cured the neck-dive like this: 1. Move strap button to upper horn. 2. Install Grover light-weight tuners (they're expensive!). 3. Get a wide strap with a rugged/rough backside that doesn't glide so easily agains your shirt. The result was quite good! I would suggest getting an EB-3 and perform the above changes. THEN you will have a cool looking bass with great sound and useful usefulness!

with flats a pick and a careful hand, an eb-0 can really sing!

thats a very good bass that sounds like what its suposed to sound like, not every bass should have a preamp and 8 knobs.I found that it does classic rock stuff and reagge stuff very well, its a classic tone that you wont get from your 150$ preamp HB bass, also the net and frets will be better than the HB.

I honestly would recommend checking out the Epiphone Viola Bass. I used to own one and absolutely loved the tone and playability

@AnnoyingOrange420

Жыл бұрын

I’ve played a few in store and they sound and fell really great, very powerful tone especially given the reputation of other violin style basses. Also the acoustic resonance is nice, it’s almost loud enough for light practice unplugged. Nothing like the EBs, all of which I’ve played have felt terrible and sounded ok

@LordGeyBoi

Жыл бұрын

@@AnnoyingOrange420 The big problem with the eb basses is the neck. Weirdly enough next time you see a viola try doing some slap bass on it with both pickups on! I played a bunch of slap on my viola and I loved it

Thanks for yet another awesome demo and review video on this bass, I just saw this bass available online here in the Philippines and have always considered to get a short scale bass once I have enough on my savings, if you were to compare this Epiphone EB-0 vs the Squier Classic Vibe Mustang bass, which of the two would you prefer or advise?

Great review, thanks!

As a big fan of The Animals, I love the sound of the mudbucker pickup and this bass is the easiest and cheapest way to get that sound (that I'm aware of anyway). I think these are really cool basses if you like the sound and the short scale playability. Definitely not the most versatile bass and it won't be everybody's jam.

I took one of these and turned it into a piccolo bass and haven't been too disappointed. But it is for sure because of "the look".

Love this bass

Awesome Lobster🎸《☆》U know your way around the SG Pretty Good & it shows in them fancy runs✌🏼😎☮

A great beginner's bass for punk and grunge. It's not balanced by weight, but this is helpful when learning. Use this bass for a year or two and then move on to the EB-3 which Lobster probably also hates. Or, if you can afford it, go over to Gibson EB 3 or EB 0 - good enough for Jack Bruce of Cream.

What a funny toned instrument. Your picking is much improved and finger proficiency. The EB3 is hopefully a bit better in the tone department.

When I saw Cream, jack Bruce was playing the 2 pickup version. The gain on his amp was so high I couldn't tell what the bass sounded like because it was all roar.

Great honest review as always lobster! What do you think would make this a better bass? Definitely hipshot but as far as electronics goes?

I'm maybe strange but I love the tone of that bass! I have the Gibson one and I must admit neck dive is awfull :(

@joemomma3988

Жыл бұрын

Move the strap button behind the top horn easy fix

@eileenscat

Жыл бұрын

Strap-locks are a really good fix. It is always worth the investment to have an instrument with a heavy neck with one of those. Better safe than sorry.

Despite Lobster advisement, I am making one of these bad boys my next project. Replacing tuners and bridge w black chrome Hipshots (ultralites for tuners) and taking out the mudbucker/ routing in a guild bisonic in the bridge. Getting a custom pickguard to cover the mudbucker hole, will return with results!!

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

I'm right there with you! We have an upcoming mod series upgrading the bridge, tuners, and testing out two different pickup replacements in the EB-0. MODcember is upon us :)

@spauldingcinema9607

Жыл бұрын

@@LowEndLobster Hell yea! Can't wait Lobster!!

I like the way it sounds There, I said it.

I love my EBO. The model one pickup , Hipshot Supertone. GHS Precision Flats through any of my bass rigs sounds awesome . I may go to HIPSHOT tuners later but a wide leather strap I’m good .

Just wondering what it would take to turn this bass into something like a 3 to 4 claw bass now. I'm guessing new bridge, tuners, new neck pickup and maybe routing for an extra pickup.

i have this bass currently and i haven’t been playing for very long at all yet i think it does the job it needs to as of rn

These aren’t half bad with a DiMarzio Model One tbh. My dad had one of the original Gibsons, he loved it. We found an older modified one with a DiMarzio and he was a big fab

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

Planning a mod for this ;)

@skraegorn7317

Жыл бұрын

@@LowEndLobster excellent! Though I’d also recommend sticking some flatwounds on there. Mubuckers really sing with flats.

@musicshade9049

Жыл бұрын

@@skraegorn7317 Really! I woulda figured flatwounds would make it even muddier.

@emaheiwa8174

Жыл бұрын

@@musicshade9049 +1. Hard for me to think otherwise

@frankjuster8726

Жыл бұрын

@Skraegorn immediately replaced the stock pick up ( terribly microphonic ) with a dimarzio dp 120 and d'addario chromes after modifying the the bass to a lefty ...huge improvement .

Well I was considering one on Craigslist, but I guess you talked me out of it. I really do want to get a proper SG bass with a mudbucker someday, but ideally one that sounds good and has that bridge pickup. Greetings from Vermont.

Is this bass worthy to mod? Would be interesting to see if something like switching the pickup or maybe even adding a pickup will make any difference. This was a very interesting episode! Looking forward to that video about these style of bridges. I’m having issues with my Epiphone thunderbird

@Mat_Gomez23

10 ай бұрын

A dimarzio mudbucker would sound sick!

Nice video. I totally don't need this bass but I really did those looks. Plus I see some use for a muddy bass. You're totally right that they look good though. I wouldn't buy new but if I come across a clean used one cheap ($100) I am totally in. Those 3 point bridges are a pain. A different take on that bridge is the bridge used on the Guild B302 and B301 basses. The Guild bridge is better but still not as good as a regular flatmount type. Totally off the subject of this review, if you ever get a chance to review an old Guild B302 I think you'd like it. Totally different bass with great sounds.

I bought a walnut colored SG bass. I love it despite the neck dive and the muddy sound. The bass is a stark contrast to my Sire V5 (with Tom Brantley pickups). I was going to put a hipshot bridge and their licensed lightweight tuners on my original SG bass, but that bass suffered a tragic accident (don't ask). It was replaced by another that came with a Babicz Bridge. I now have an extra bridge and tuners :-(. Any suggestion for possible replacement pickups? Curtis Novaks seem to get good reviews but cost about what you paid for that bass.

@doctorhugocat

Жыл бұрын

Try DiMarzio Model 1....I like mine.

For a beginning bass player this bass and it's neck dive issues would more than likely put young players off the bass. I see lots of these for sale on the used market. You manage to get some reasonable licks out of it Lobster.

It would be fun if you could find a second hand bolt on Epiphone SG guitar neck, redrill the headstock for 4 lightweight wilkinson tuners and put some piccolo strings on it. That would probably help with the neck dive :)

bought the EB-0 for my first ever bass and I thought the bass sound bad until I saw this video. It's just me that sucks with bass. I need to start practising it again I guess.

what's the consensus on the epiphone eb3? I'm struggling between choosing that and a thunderbird

Hey Lobster! What's the listed color of the 5 string G&L there? Pharoah gold? Metallic Tangerine? On the SG, does a strap help the dive? Would it be better if the strap button was on the upper horn?

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

I believe it's the metallic tangerine. Great color. A strap really doesn't help, though placement on the horn might improve things. If you want a chuckle and don't know the story yet, check out our NAMM 2021 (not 2022, that's not out yet) live stream video where we talk about the hilarious 'solution' product to the SG strap placement issue... and how it spectacularly failed in front of our eyes.

I've had one of these for years - I almost parted with it, it was my "worst" bass, but then a friend took the frets off, and good lord, I'll never give it up!

I'd love to see you review an original Gibson version. You mention that you've heard that they're better, but honestly, I've always heard the exact same criticisms you mention here directed towards those basses.

I've never been a Gibson/Epiphone fan, and this definitely did nothing to change that! I actually found the sound of it kind of weirdly appealing, but there's no way I'd buy a bass for that sound. I'm wondering if it sounds the way it does because it works well through distortion/effects and is intended for that, or if it's just crap. Maybe both. I also think (?) I was noticing some pretty significant fret buzz around the 5th to 7th frets and it almost felt like the muddy tone is deliberate, to disguise the sound of shoddy fretwork!

if you added high mass bridge, lighter tuners, and a strap with more grip, such as raw leather, you’d still have some severe neck dive. i played one a few months ago at a guitar shop, and fell in love with the feel and sound. i personally really dig the tone, and i’m probably going to pick one up, but it’s definitely going to need the strap button moved to the horn

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

We have a mod series for this coming in December with bridge and tuner upgrades and two different pickup upgrades as well. Stay tuned :)

@j-pastel-yellow

Жыл бұрын

@@LowEndLobster i look forward to seeing what you do with it. sg basses are flawed, but still really rad, and have crazy mod potential

This shows me the problem with KZread bass videos, because I was loving the sound of that bass (when the tone was on about 50%). It sounded great through my supermarket brand earbuds as I watched on my phone. Living somewhere where the only basses I could try before buying are Squiers and SX; it's really a crapshoot as to what I'm going to think about the tone when I get to plug in any basses I've bought online. Still, at one claw, I won't be taking a punt on this one.

Interesting. That bass appears to lack everything. Its muddy, certainly. But it also somehow manages to sound thin. Not certain I've heard another bass with that combination.

First bass I ever bought! It was inexpensive and I figured learning on a short scale was the way to go but boy was I wrong. Didn’t like it at all and almost gave up on learning bass, then I sold it and got a Squier VM Jazz instead and the rest is history lol

I have one I bought about a year ago. Through an Acoustic B450, you can really shape the tone better than that. In all honesty (and yes, I understand how you do your amp setup to balance the playing field, as it were), you can produce a nice 70s tone when finely adjusted on the amp. I will defend these basses. Yes, they need a bridge pickup…. High end would be appreciated. That, we’ll agree.

@alessandrogouveia2268

Жыл бұрын

I have one of those, how Would YOU Set It at your amp? More bass, more treble? What are your specificstions?

@MasonMorris_RadioSaladStudios

Жыл бұрын

@@alessandrogouveia2268 Tweeter on, frequency sweep on at 4, first three low frequencies on the EQ at 6-7, other high frequencies at 7-8. I am also running newer roundwounds. Tone at the guitar at 10.

i had one of these very briefly like 20 years ago. Kept it for like a week :D

That's a pretty nice sounding bass, warm and not harsh or gnarly at all...

It’s called a bass, not a treble. Sounds great in many contexts. Sounds beautiful with flats and a pick

@riogrande163

Жыл бұрын

Indeed, Jack Bruce had a Gibson one, these basses seem to work best in a power trio.

@IanThatMetalBassist

Жыл бұрын

Flats and a pick, with a little bit of overdrive for taste. Or fuzz if you really wanna go for it

@hakar743

Жыл бұрын

@@IanThatMetalBassisttried it into an orange guitar amp, sounds too good

@michaelm2308

11 күн бұрын

Seconded. Flat wound, pick, bit of palm muting for crispness or bit of fuzz for weight, very underrated instrument.

Fun review. Fun pajama bottoms.

How big is the pickup cavity on the EB-O? I'm wondering if a fair amount of the cavity would still be exposed if I replaced the mudbucker with some TV Jones pickups and their mounting plates. Or do you think I'd have to cut my own mounting plate? Whadda yuh think? Bad idea? :) Thanks for the reviews! ::EDIT:: Just saw your EB-0 mod series... was hard for me to gauge exactly how big it is, but definitely bigger than I thought :)

You think this is better or the fender squire Jaguar ?

I put a bridge pickup in mine, along with a twin diode fuzz mod.

This is a wonderful bass with mot that bad a neck dive and Epiphone is a great brand for beginners, so to all of starting musicians out there in the world. The struggle is real to find a decent, affordable, and quality instrument when everybody wants to sell or own a gibson and that the last thing u have to say is that this channel was the reason i bought this bass.

Due to technical issues, I had to play one of these (with a paisley strap) at a misfits tribute band show. Sound was fine, but it was humiliating if you're trying to look like Jerry only.

Bought an olive sg bass a few weeks ago. Love it, but it hums hard with my svt.

That was painful to watch and listen too. Do you think the tone would improve if the pickup was moved closer to the bridge more like a P Bass? Your review was spot on.

Honestly if you put a hipshot bridge on it, hipshot lightweight tuners, and an original 30k output mudbucker like what the original 60's basses did, you'd have a great little thump machine. The only issue with this is that the mods easily exceed the original cost of the bass, oh well.

Have you thought of reviewing a Jay Turser Vintage Series jazz bass? I own one and it is the best playing jazz bass I own out of all the jazz basses that I play.

These are an acquired taste. I really like mine.

I always liked the look of sg’s, wish they could make a good one for a reasonable price

@McShooty_

Жыл бұрын

Epiphone sells a set neck version with a bridge pickup and SG Standard cosmetics for $400ish USD. Maybe think about it if you really want this style of bass.

needs a single coil in the bridge to blend?

I kinda wonder if these basses would sound better if the pickup was in the Stingray "sweet spot" instead of hugging the heel of the neck.

I think you need to see it as a utility bass. I have one made in Indonesia. I strung it with some La Bella black nylon strings and play it exclusively with a pick. It suits the "oldies" sound I'm looking for. I would not use it to play funk style or slap, though.

I solved the neck-dive with a little (£5) trickery on my EB-3 (long scale/set neck). I also replaced the bridge. The nut width is even narrower than my Fender Jazz. All in, it's a really fun & great sounding bass when paired with a good pre-amp. Disclaimer: I wouldn't want an EB-O. Especially a bolt-on, single pickup.👎

I'd love a higher-end version with a reshaped/rebalanced body. I love the mudbucker tone, but hate the short scale of the Gibson SG basses, I want that 34". Maybe with a Novak pickup in the neck.

@phipschi4255

Жыл бұрын

the epiphone eb-3 bass has a 34", not a higher end version at all but at least that's going for it. and i think neckdive wouldnt be so bad if you moved the strap button to the headstock

Any thoughts on pickup grade?

For very little more, you can get the Epiphone EB-3. This has the same SG-style body, bridge, scratchplate and headstock, so the basic look is the same. But - crucially - it has a second pickup and the associated controls, with independent volume and tone for each pickup and a 3-way selector. This means a much wider range of sounds, and brighter tone from the bridge pickup. It's also a standard 34" scale instrument, which helps to reduce the 'mud' still further. Of course, you will still have to deal with neck dive and the peculiar 3-point bridge. I can't really see why the EB-0 style is still produced. It was a poor design from the outset, and tonally it's a relic. It was created before modern bass styles, and unlike Fender's basses it isn't flexible enough to adapt. There are many superior modern short-scale basses. This is a very fair and honest review.

I had one as a kid . Pair that with 2 - 15" , short scale , neck pickup , flatwounds and you have a have a MUD SLIDE ! Instead of EB-O , just call it ZERO ! This and the EB-3 were affectionately known as Gibson FART Basses ! On short scales , Scott Whitley gets some great sounds out of his SWB-PRO . With EMG's and Roundwounds . Most people don't realize that Stanley Clarke uses an Alembic SHORT SCALE ! He also has it mixed with a guitar amp for top end . Most people would only dream of getting Stanley's tone live .

With the tone full on this bass sounds like an upright. BTW, For fun, U could have give a comparing viewpoint against the Epiphone Embassy Pro. Thx Lobster.

ahhh sounds like 1967 all over again. It has its place I've owned one. I remember when they were 149.00 at GC. these has its place for the right mood.

Great PSA but I have to ask, why did you buy it if it's so bad? Do you plan on replacing all the electronics so ti sounds good?

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

I bought it to relive my youth and how terrible it was haha. I do plan on modding it though!

It’s got an old school cool factor but I’d but a Gretsch instead if I had a need for this style bass.

I am planning a renovation of my EB-3 - which has such a neck dive that I can't play it while standing for longer than 15 minutes because whole neck weight is sitting on the fretting hand. I'm thinking about throwing in some lightweight tuners, changing the pots and switch (maybe a cheap preamp one day) and maybe someday a Hipshot bridge

I have one. Traded an effects pedal for it. I use it for Bossa stuff. I have the one all the way off and lots of mids on my amp.

God, I really love the body on these. Hopefully I get to see some great bass builder to give their take on these...like schecter or maybe sandberg.

@TFEnright5

Жыл бұрын

Considering that Gibson just won a lawsuit against Dean guitars I doubt any major guitar maker is going to try to copy any of their basses

@TFEnright5

Жыл бұрын

Considering that Gibson just won a lawsuit against Dean guitars I doubt any major guitar maker is going to try to copy any of their basses

@Uroste

Жыл бұрын

@@TFEnright5 Umm Well Not The Exactly similar copy, but something that is their's, like what sandberg did with 48 bass. Off course if gibson starts crying, I can wait and hopefully see that carbage company die.

If nothing else, it looks awesome. sweetwater has them as well

It would benefit from Epiphone redesigning it with not only a decent bridge but moving the pickup from the neck to the middle like Gibson did with some of the early to mid 70s EB-0s

@possibly8180

Жыл бұрын

Seems to be a running trend when it comes to gibson-manufactures basses. They make great stuff like that, the victory, and the ripper/grabber/g-3, and pretty much forget that they even exist save for some very limited runs lmao

IMO, to make it work you gotta embrace the muddy sound and go for a vintage, fat tone. Add some dirt and you have a synth like sound.

Can you please review the Fender JMJ Road Worn Mustang Bass?

As far as the slap tone goes, definitely got a lot of thwack, not any amount of snap or bite to it. the whole bass is good for if you’re going after a very particular sound.

Does Gibson still make the EB-0?

A part of me really likes the tone. I think a band mix would eat it alive if they didn’t respect the bassist. I bet one of those Lucithand filter preamps could prove useful on such a beast.

@michaelmenkes8085

Жыл бұрын

You don’t need a lot of treble to cut through a mix.

@jonsidell3338

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelmenkes8085 Yes I do.

@michaelmenkes8085

Жыл бұрын

@@jonsidell3338 then you don’t know much about mixing bass

@jonsidell3338

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelmenkes8085 Thanks!

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

Michael, don't be a condescending dick to people in the comments.

There is no way I would get one of these over a Harley Benton

@johnhughes3796

Жыл бұрын

That would be the main problem today.

@johnhughes3796

Жыл бұрын

Very Marmite. Love it or hate it. I have a Chinese one. QC is poor, one the bridge posts had pulled half way out. Easy to play neck.

@mark6302

Жыл бұрын

@@johnhughes3796 ha "marmite"

Nice job, though I wish you had reviewed it bassed on what is, not what you wish it was. IIRC, the Stones bassist used one (a Gibson at least). To complain about neck dive on an SG bass is like complaining about the lack of nutrition in a Twinkie. Same with the mudbucker. You mentioned the frets, which is good review work. What about the taper/quality of the pots? The quality of the tuners? Btw, amazing playing.

Had one of these with the chocolate plastic pickup cover back in 65. Got rid of it because it kept blowing speakers out of my 2x12 Bassman. Wish I had it today....

Can't find it on the website.

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

Right? I was digging and didn't see it either. Very odd

I'm curious how much that additional pickup in the EB-3 and later would alter your opinion of this bass.

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

I've played a few EB-3s in my time (never owned one) and I have to say that tonally, I actually dig em. Ergonomically they're trash, the 34" scale neck does NOT do the balance any favors. However tonally I thought the second pickup added a bit of tightness to the tone. I'll try and snag one for review in the future!

@gooseabuse

Жыл бұрын

@@LowEndLobster they made a les paul dc that had that same electronics, might be to your liking.

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

Ah yes! I remember those. If someone wants to let me borrow one... :)

Mod project? Squeeze a P and J pickup in with a 3 band EQ?

Well that sucks lol. I got one to pick up learning again and can't get past the fret buzz. And the tipping is pretty bad...