1961 Gibson EB-0 - Cherry

Model Overview

Debuting in 1959 the Gibson EB-0 was intended as a replacement to the violin shaped EB model, which had experienced a decline in sales since its introduction in 1953. Like its precursor the EB-0 featured a solid compact mahogany neck and body and 30.5” scale length. Initially resembling the slab Les Paul Junior body style the EB-0 was then changed in late 1961 to reflect the sharp double cutaway aesthetics of its six-string solid body counterpart; the new Les Paul/SG. Equipped with a single Gibson humbucker positioned close to the neck the EB-0 shares tonally the same thud and huge low end as its big brother the EB-2 but in a more compact and nimble-playing chassis.

This first year example is one of the earliest shipped dating from 1961 and has a black Royalite pickup cover, a feature of the EB-0 that changed to nickel plated brass over the subsequent years. It also has nickel-plated hardware which would be replaced on the model by chrome-plating around 1964/5 in line with Gibson’s other instruments. The bass still retains its vibrant original Cherry Red finish and has no breaks or repairs. The two Centralab pots are dated mid-1961 and the bass is in very good condition with its original deluxe yellow-lined Lifton case.