The EB3 is the "Big Brother" of the EB0 and again a true design classic. Few basses are as easily
recognized as the Gibson EB3.
Launched in 1961, with a launch price of $285, the 1960s EB3 was very popular with the British bands of the late 1960s; Jack
Bruce (Cream), Andy Fraser (Free), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Trevor Bolder (David Bowie), Glen Cornick (Jethro
Tull), Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) and Chris White (Zombies) all used the EB3 as did many others in the sixties and seventies.
Today it still used by bassists such as Jared Followill (Kings of Leon), Mike Watt (Iggy and the Stooges).
The EB3 had a solid mahogany body, 30½ inch scale, mahogany one-piece neck with rosewood fingerboard (1961-71). It differed
from the EB0 in having two pick-ups-the same Humbucker at the neck plus a smaller pick-up at the bridge and came with a varitone
switch for four distinct tones - including an incredibly bassy choked neck-pickup sound, often referred to as 'mud' by EB3
fans and detractors alike. Two variations were the "split-head" in late 1969 to '72, and the Long Scale (full 34 inch length)
in 1971.
In late 1971, the EB3 had a major redesign. Necks became maple, the main pickup was moved
from the neck to mid-body and circuits redesigned, largely to obtain a brighter tone. The 1960s EB3 was a small bass, being
only 30½ inches scale and weighing a mere 3.7 kg compared to 4.6 kg of a 1970s EB3.
