1959 GIBSON EB0 BASS

1959 Gibson EB0 Bass

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In 1959 Gibson launched the EB0, a mahogany slab body short scale bass in Cherry finish. The shape resembled their Les Paul Special model guitar. It had one large black bakelite four pole humbucker pickup at neck butt and banjo type plastic tuners that faced out the back of the headstock.

Other 1959 Gibson EB0 characteristics: Pearloid inlaid Gibson logo on headstock with the "i" dot disconnected from the "G" and opened "o", pearloid crown inlay above center on headstock, two screw plastic truss rod cover with no model name, unbound rosewood 20-fret board with dot fret markers, short scale glued in neck, single layer six screw black plastic pickguard, two black bell shaped knobs with numbers and metal position pointers, nickel bar bridge with a hex intonation screw at each of the two mounting poles, input jack plate on body side, strapholder on body back, two screw plastic oval controls access cover on body back, potentiometers, capacitor, light brown molded chipboard case with gold hardware and crimson interior.

Gibson shipped a total of 123 EB0's in 1959. The serial number consisted of five digits, ink stamped on the headstock back. The first digit "9" specified the year, then a small space followed by the four digit production number. For more precise dating cross reference the serial number with the instrument's potentiometer codes.