Gibson Electric Bass Model Info
• EB-1
• EB-2, EB-2N, EB-2D
• EB-6
• EB-0, EB-0F, EB-0L
• EB-3, EB-3L
• Thunderbird II
• Thunderbird IV

1953 EB-1 specs:

Model introduction.

1958 EB-1 specs:

Discontinued.

1970 EB-1 specs:

Re-introduced with humbucking pickup with poles across the middle, chrome pickup cover, chrome bridge cover, black bonnet knobs, standard right-angle tuners, rectangle case.

1972 EB-1 specs:

Discontinued.

1960 EB-2 in Blond (with 1964 pickup
cover installed). This unit has banjo
tuners and a Baritone push button.

Model: EB-2, EB-2N, EB-2D
Available: spring 1958 to 1972
Gibson's second electric bass, replaced the violin-shapped EB-1. ES-335 style thinline body with double rounded cutaways, "f" holes, stud bridge/tailpiece combination, single bound top and back, 30.5" scale, crown peghead inlay.

1958 EB-2 specs:

Model introduction. Dot fingerboard inlays, one humbucking pickup with poles closest to bridge side, black plastic pickup cover (a few early ones with a brown cover), banjo style tuners, sunburst or natural (EB-2N) finish.

1959 EB-2 specs:

Baritone pushbutton added. May 1959, some with black finish.

1960 EB-2 specs:

Pickup poles across center of pickup. Cherry red finish available starting in March 1960. Right angle tuners started in late 1960.

1961 EB-2 specs:

All EB-2 models discontinued.

1964 EB-2 specs:

EB-2 re-introduced. Metal pickup cover with poles across middle, string mute, small block fingerboard inlays, sunburst finish only.

1965 EB-2 specs:

Cherry red finish available late 1965.

1966 EB-2D specs:

Double pickup version available. One standard bass pickup in neck position, smaller pickup in bridge position.

1969 EB-2 specs:

Walnut or burgundy finish optional.

1972 EB-2 specs:

All EB-2 models discontinued.

Model: EB-6
Available: 1960 to 1966
The six string version of the EB-2. Tuned an octave below standard guitar tuning with guitar string spacing. ES-335 style thinline body with double rounded cutaways, "f" holes, crown peghead inlay, right angle tuners with plastic tulip shaped buttons, 30.5" scale, dot fingerboard inlays.

1960 EB-6 specs:

Model introduction. One humbucking guitar pickup, sunburst finish.

1961 EB-6 specs:

Solidbody SG style double pointed cutaway body, 2 humbucking pickups, larger metal tuning keys, cherry red finish.

1966 EB-6 specs:

Discontinued.

Model: EB-0, EB-0F, EB-0L
Available: 1959 to 1979
one humbucking pickup, neck joints body at 17th fret, 30.5" scale.

1959 EB-0 specs:

Model introduction. Dot fingerboard inlays, cherry red finish, slab mahogany double cutaway body with rounded points (like 1959 Les Paul Junior), banjo style tuners, black plastic-covered pickup with poles closest to bridge side.

1960 EB-0 specs:

Pickup poles across middle of pickup.

1961 EB-0 specs:

SG style, sharp pointed double cutaway body with beveled edges, right angle tuners.

1962 EB-0, EB-0F specs:

Metal covered pickup, string mute. EB-0F introduced with built-in fuzztone (available until 1965).

1969 EB-0L specs:

34.5" scale length introduced.

1971 EB-0 specs:

Walnut finish optional. Black finish also available (until 1975).

1973 EB-0 specs:

Natural finish optional.

1979 EB-0 specs:

All EB-0 models discontinued.

Model: EB-3, EB-3L
Available: 1961 to 1979
Solid mahogany SG style double pointed cutaway body, 2 humbucking pickups (large neck pickup, smaller bridge pickup), 4 position rotary tone switch with pointer knob, string mute, neck joints body at 17th fret, 30.5" scale, dot fingerboard inlays.

1961 EB-3 specs:

Model introduction. Black plastic pickup cover on bridge pickup only, handrest between pickups, crown peghead inlay, solid peghead, cherry red finish.

1962 EB-3 specs:

Both pickups have metal covers.

1969 EB-3 specs:

No handrest, metal bridge cover, sloted peghead, no crown peghead inlay. EB-3L available with 34.5" scale (available until 1972). Natural finish optional (available until 1973).

1972 EB-3 specs:

Solid peghead, crown peghead inlay.

1976 EB-3 specs:

White finish available.

1979 EB-3 specs:

Discontinued.

1964 Tbird II Bass
with reverse body style.

Model: Thunderbird II
Available: 1963 to 1969
Companion to the electric solidbody Firebird I guitar, 34" scale length, dot fingerboard inlays, right angled tuners all on bass side of peghead, one metal covered pickup with no visible poles, two knobs, sunburst finish standard (custom colors available).

1963 Thunderbird II specs:

Introduced with reverse body style (treble side horn longer than bass side cutaway horn), neck through body style construction.

Mid 1965 Thunderbird II specs:

Non-reverse body style (bass side horn longer than treble side cutaway horn), glue-in neck.

1969 Thunderbird II specs:

Discontinued.

Model: Thunderbird IV
Available: 1963 to 1969
Companion to the electric solidbody Firebird III guitar, 34" scale length, dot fingerboard inlays, right angled tuners all on bass side of peghead, two metal covered pickups with no visible poles, four knobs, sunburst finish standard (custom colors available). Same as Thunderbird II but with 2 pickups and 4 knobs.

1963 Thunderbird IV specs:

Introduced with reverse body style (treble side horn longer than bass side cutaway horn), neck through body style construction.

Mid 1965 Thunderbird IV specs:

Non-reverse body style (bass side horn longer than treble side cutaway horn), glue-in neck.

1969 Thunderbird IV specs:

Discontinued.

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