1962 Gibson EB-0, Cherry

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 second year example from 1962 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 has some fading to its original Cherry Red finish and natural playing wear but has suffered no breaks or repairs. The two Centralab pots are dated late 1961 and the bass is in good condition with a later 1970's Gibson hard case.