Case for a short-scale gibson

[Mediocre Polymath]

My dad's EB-3 recently developed a fault with its pickup selector, so he dropped it off with me to fix. That was easy enough (taking apart the rotary switch and bending some worn internal components back into shape) but while it's been in my house, I've had an opportunity to properly take a look at its case, and I've realised this is in an absolute state.

 

 

My dad bought the EB3 secondhand in like 1975/76, and the shop threw in a cheap fibreboard case that he's been using ever since. It's got mojo for days, but it also has rusting hardware, completely dessicated padding, and angle brackets screwed into the corners to hold it together. I also suspect it was made for a Mustang bass or something more like that, as it doesn't support the neck at all.

 

Does anyone make a short-scale case that would work with an instrument like this? It's a proper mid-1970s Gibson so the headstock is massive and quite steeply angled.

 

Bonus picture of "The Count" in his velvet-lined case.

[Obrienp]

I’ll be interested to see if somebody comes up with an answer for you. I don’t think there are many short scale cases around. There are some gig bags available and some folks have had success using guitar gig bags for SS bass (Gator Jaguar for instance). There seem to be hard cases for some semi-acoustic basses like the Epiphone Rumblekat and the Guild Starfire but I’ve not seen one for a solid body bass.

[Mediocre Polymath]

Yeah, it looks like Epiphone make an EB-3 case, but they're rare as hen's teeth and from what I can see online they're designed to fit the EB-3L as well, so they have about 15 cm of empty space above the headstock with a short scale EB-3.

[BigRedX]

13 hours ago, Mediocre Polymath said:

Yeah, it looks like Epiphone make an EB-3 case, but they're rare as hen's teeth and from what I can see online they're designed to fit the EB-3L as well, so they have about 15 cm of empty space above the headstock with a short scale EB-3.

 

However Epiphone also make an EBO case which is short scale.

 

And if you wanted it to say "Gibson" on the case you could look at their cases for the SG bass.

Edited October 29, 2024 by BigRedX

[Obrienp]

2 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

However Epiphone also make an EBO case which is short scale.

 

And if you wanted it to say "Gibson" on the case you could look at their cases for the SG bass.

I couldn’t find the EBO case on the Epi website but the SG bass case is on the Gibson site: https://www.gibson.com/en-GB/p/Hardshell-Case/ASBASSCASE-ORG/ASBASSCASE-ORG. Just short of £260! Probably worth it for that EB-3 though.

[Dan Dare]

If it's short scale, would a guitar case do the job? Obviously you couldn't use a shaped one, but as long as it is of sufficient length, it should work. Measure it and see what's available.

[Mediocre Polymath]

22 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

If it's short scale, would a guitar case do the job? Obviously you couldn't use a shaped one, but as long as it is of sufficient length, it should work. Measure it and see what's available.

I think that might work if it was a more sensibly design short scale, but Gibson EBs have big bodies and a huge headstock so sadly no. I think the Epiphone EB0 case is probably the best shout. It doesn't exist according to Epiphone's website, but Thomann apparently have them in stock.

[bigthumb]

Do Gear 4 Music do them? I’m sure I’ve seen suitable cases for short scale Gibsons when I’ve been looking for cases to suit a long scale one. Thomann perhaps? 

[vbance]

I got one from bax...it's an Epiphone for the sg bass but my shortie fits snug... they also do the Gibson version for more dosh but sometime have a good price reduction.

Here's mine. and you can see the room at the top....bass stays in place as the body is a snug fit...also there's plenty of room for the headstock angle. Just fold a duster up under the body, just to increase the angle a bit more but I'm just being extra careful. 

 

 

[vbance]

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/bass-guitar-cases-bags/epiphone-eb-3-long-scale-bass-hard-case-black?srsltid=AfmBOooZaSQ2slx4Xf8RZCZouRQYKt8hle7PhLPqfD1EFjCvna5s4Ek_