1961 Gibson EB3 Bass
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In 1961 the EB3 debuted in it's popular pointed wing body shape for a price of $285. It included a large black bakelite four pole humbucker pickup with surround at neck butt plus a second four pole nickel mini-humbucker pickup with surround near the bridge. It also included a four position tone selector switch and four silver top/black bell shaped knobs including numbers, metal position pointers but no volume/tone words.
Other 1961 Gibson EB3 characteristics: Pearloid inlaid Gibson logo on headstock with the "i" dot disconnected from the "G" and open "o", pearloid crown inlay above center on headstock, two screw plastic truss rod cover with no model name, Kluson clover riveted tuners with slot head screws, unbound rosewood 20 fret board with pearloid dot fret markers, short scale glued in neck, black/white/black/white pickguard, curved ebony thumb rest under the G string, chrome hand rest, nickel bridge with hex intonation screw at each of the two mounting poles, strings mute, potentiometers, input jack on body front, strapholder on body back, four screw plastic controls access cover on body back, molded black Tolex case with no logo, gold hardware and yellow interior.
Gibson shipped a total of 132 EB3's in 1961. For 1961 serial numbers see the "Gibson Serial Number Chart". For more precise dating cross reference the serial number with the instrument's potentiometer codes.