1961 Gibson EB-3 Bass

This is a beautiful 1st year produced example of the exactly “Cream Era” Gibson EB-3 bass, pretty much identical the primary one used extensively by Jack Bruce from 1966 into the mid-70s. These expensive double pickup EB basses were made in fairly small quantities from 1961 into the mid-1960s but most examples that surface now are the later ’60s and early ’70s models, when they were produced in much greater numbers — at least partially due to the popularity of Cream ! Those are fine instruments in their own right but have numerous differences from the “Bruce-spec” ones like this ! The two humbucking pickups (large at the neck, small near the bridge) are controlled by a 4-way rotary selector, giving a much wider range of tone than the common EB-0 with just a single “Mudbucker” at the neck position. The control knobs are in the “wide spaced” configuration seen prior to 1965; that year the choke in the cavity was re-angled to create a spacing consistent with other Gibson models allowing use of a universal template for routing the control cavity instead of a specific one for this fairly low-production model. The 30 1/2″ scale neck is chunkier than later examples, with a noticeably wider nut than those made after mid-late 1965. While the early Gibson EB-3 has a certain classic status it is a fairly uncommon instrument; only a few were shipped in 1961 compared to over that of the single-pickup EB-0 that year alone. One reason is it was a very expensive instrument; the list price in September 1964 was $350 plus $72 for the deluxe hard shell case; that was considerably pricier than even a Custom-Color Fender Jazz Bass ($293.47) and just under Gibson’s own long-scale Thunderbird IV ($370). Of course Bruce is the most famous EB-3 user, and much of the classic Cream output and his early solo work features the darkly aggressive sound of the Gibson at full throttle. His most identified personal instrument was made in 1965, likely just a few months after this one. While traditionally perhaps not to every players’ taste, this style EB-3 is the only bass with the exact sound, look and feel for “homemade Cream” This is the nicest “Bruce-Spec” EB-3 we have had; the cherry finish retains a nice rich, dark hue, checked only slightly with only some light fading on the back of the neck. The instrument retains all the original fittings and hardware including the handrest and fully functional mute assembly. The pickguard is fully intact with no splits or popped corners. There is some light typical wear to the plating, especially to the chromed plastic treble pickup ring. The frets show no wear and the fingerboard looks unused.