Roger2611 Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-1974-Fretless-Base-Guitar-/222045927062?hash=item33b2f7f696:g:VW8AAOSwzgRWxEoW Hi guys, came across this on Ebay this afternoon, to me it looks more likely to be a Japanese bass with a Gibson logo rather than a Gibson as I have never seen a Gibson with that pick up arrangement or control layout. Any of you Japanese specialists out there able to throw any light on it? I will contact the seller and raise my suspicions and will refer her to this thread, so please be sympathetic with your responses if it is not a Gibson bass Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 I'm sure I've seen a Gibson bass with that control layout. They did an SG guitar with a similar switch system on it. The neck pickup was definitely added afterwards & it looks like an old John Birch pickup to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Called an sb-450 but has had a few mods by the looks of it. One of the stranger 70's Gibsons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 It's an SB-300 which has been customised a bit (neck pickup changed, three point bridge added instead of the original which was rather flimsy with soft saddles, looks like it has been defretted and refinished) Optimistic price, considering it's not a particularly sought-after model and with the modifications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Yeah, it's an SB 300: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Replacing_Saddles_on_a_1971_Gibson_SB_300_Bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Knew it was an SB something 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No. 8 Wire Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Another one for the is it or is it not real? Could be a great deal to be had if you just wanted a player. Probably one you'd want to eyeball first. Seems awfully strange/unfortunate/convenient that the serial number is no longer visible. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-EB3L-long-neck-Bass-1974-custom-modified-1974-precision-pickup-added-/152001930660?hash=item23640565a4:g:7gUAAOSwYlJW13sQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 [quote name='No. 8 Wire' timestamp='1457371266' post='2997881'] Another one for the is it or is it not real? Could be a great deal to be had if you just wanted a player. Probably one you'd want to eyeball first. Seems awfully strange/unfortunate/convenient that the serial number is no longer visible. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-EB3L-long-neck-Bass-1974-custom-modified-1974-precision-pickup-added-/152001930660?hash=item23640565a4:g:7gUAAOSwYlJW13sQ [/quote] Legit. Just tatty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No. 8 Wire Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1457371337' post='2997883'] Legit. Just tatty. [/quote] Tatty? We call that roadworn now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Way over-optimistic price considering the condition, and not even the added John Birch pickup makes up for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1457364393' post='2997783'] I'm sure I've seen a Gibson bass with that control layout. They did an SG guitar with a similar switch system on it. The neck pickup was definitely added afterwards & it looks like an old John Birch pickup to me. [/quote] Neck pickup is John Birch - my Birch 'EB3' had similar pickups. 'Interesting' price in my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Definitely not MIJ, I concur that it's a modded/butchered SB300. I'm familiar with this order of Gibsons as our guitarist has the equivalent SG200 6-stringer - these were Gibson's mid-70s attempt at an entry-level range. From what I know of these, this bass is very, very overpriced. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilLordJuju Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) Also looks refinished IMHO - they were well built basses but with poor hardware. The pickups are a little thin (but if you find EB humbuckers too fat, you might prefer these) and the original bridge was pretty poor too. The SB30 is the shortscale (30") version of the SB400. An yes optimistically priced in that condition. Edited March 15, 2016 by evilLordJuju Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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