Epiphone EB-0

I got my Chinese-made Epiphone EBO in late August or early Sept. of 2005. In Jan. of 2006 the pickup went microphonic. Now I need a new pickup. I bought the package, 'cause that's all the music store had. So I got the tuner, which I have yet to use - it's probably not as precise as the tuner I already had; it came with a strap, which was really kinda on the short side; it came with a pick (I might have used that); and it came with a little amp. I've been playing bass since 1969, and I bought this bass 'cause I'm in a Jack Bruce/Felix Papparlari kind of phase, so turning up the little amp all the way and ripping out some distorted Felix and Jack stuff was fun. However, the amp is a practice amp only, unless, for some reason or another you might have a really, really low volume gig and want to play guitar through a little solid state amp. I used the bass on alot of gigs from 9/05 to 1/06 and most everybody seemed to like the sound of my Fender Music Master better. I will never buy another Epiphone product because of the shoddy workmanship evidenced by the microphonic pickup. I hate changing pickups. However, in all fairness to Epiphone: if you like fixing things, this bass is for you.

When it was working it sounded just like Cream or Mountain, and I even used it on some traditional blues gigs with my Ampeg B12, or my Traynor YB1. Now, of course, since the pickup went microphonic, I cannot use it in a professional setting.

When I took it out of the box the control knobs were broken. That was ok, 'cause the music store gave me some Gibson controls, which look better. I like the red color.

As stated above, the pickup went microphonic after four months. During that time I used the bass constantly and it went all over the eastern seaboard. I never used it on a gig without taking my Fender, just in case.

I would not avail myself of the warrenty, since they would probably just stick in another cheap pickup that would probably go microphonic just like the first one. I'll get a Gibson replacement pickup.

I've been playing since 1969, guitar, bass, and in the '80s I started on harmonica.
I like the color.

2005 Made in China Model.
Twenty Frets.
Laminated Nato Mahogany Body.
Volume & Tone.
One Big PHAT Neck Humbucker C/W Chrome Cover.
I have replaced the Stock Epiphone Sidewinder Humbucker Pickup with a Vintage Gibson EB-O 60's Humbucker.......a Massive Difference in Thump with the Gibson Pickup. It Meters Out at about 27.0 KoHms versus 5.0 KoHms for the Sidewinder ! The Tone is now Fuller, Warmer, Fatter & The Bass now Possesses a Much More Powerful Sound, Reminiscent of the Original EB-O's.
Neck is Solid Nato Mahogany.
Finish is a Quality Cherry Red, a Little See-Through on the Neck but Solid on the Body.
"SG" Body Style, Very Classic Reissue of the Original Gibsons.
Beefy, Fully Adjustable Steel Bridge, Standard on a Lot of the Epiphones and even the High-End " Elitist Gibson EB-3 Reissue.
Schaller Gibson-Style Tuners...Work and Look Great.
30.5 " Short-Scale Neck, Slim & Fast with a 1.5" Nut Width.

Huge Warm, Full, and " PHAT " Rock & Blues Sound with Vintage Gibson Humbucker. However, the Sound tends to Not Be the Cleanest. The Best Results are Achieved when the Volume and Tone Controls are Turned Up Max. & then the Amplifier Volume is Slowly Turned Up. The Amp has to be carefully EQ'D to the Bass. The Bass Pickup is so Hot that it will Over-Drive the Pre-Amp on an Amplifier Quite Easily.
If used with a Big Amp, this Bass will Knock Walls Down !

I had to Set Up the Bass again as the Action was Too High for My Liking.

Already has been used at an Open Stage Setting.

Good, Solid Hardware and Strap Buttons.

Finish appears Durable and Should Last.

Dependable. Adjusted Truss Rod with Ease.

Only ever Dealt with Music Store that Sold the Bass to Me...they are Terrific !

I Believe Warranty is One Year.

I have Played since 1969. I also Own a Fender Bronco Bass, Hartke Kickback 10 120 Watt Bass Combo, Fender BXR25 25 Watt Bass Practice Combo, Rolls Mini-Mix 51 & Phono Pre-Amp System.

If Stolen or Lost, I May Replace.

I Love the Classic "SG" Look, the Color, the Fast Neck.

I think it's a Tad Heavy at 9 & 1/4 Lbs ( Vintage EB-O's were Light at 6 & 1/2 Lbs. )

I May Upgrade to a Dimarzio Model One Humbucker, which is a Lot Cleaner Sound & can be Switched from Series-Parrallel for Increased Mids.

Overall, if You don't have ( or want to Spend ! ) Big Bucks for a Vintage Original Gibson EB-O, get One of these and Upgrade the Pickup.

2004 I think. Made in China, which made me look at it pretty hard.
Its an EB-O. You should already know. If not read the other reviews.

I played a Gibson EB-O 30 years ago. I fell in love with it. Always wanted another. Gibson quit making them a few years ago. Not going to pay a grand for an SG reissue. I've heard many different tales about Epi. Humbuckers. This one sounds fine. I love the sound. An orginal Gibson pickup may sound better, but I like this one. I did switch to flat wounds because I like them, I am use to them, and they are much easier on the fingers. (Diadero Chrome) The volume and tone controls seem to work fine. Tone adjustment seems to be a fairly wide range. Maybe my eardrums still work properly.

The bass seems to be made very well. The fit and finish is very good. I did find one flaw in the wood work, a tool mark, but you have to look for it. The action may be a little high for some. I don't find it too high for me. The intonation was a little off, but was very easy to fix. No string rattle. The "E" string does make a tuner act a little spastic. I tried 3 differnt tuners. One couldn't figure out if it was sharp or flat. The other tuners also seemed to have a little trouble, but with much better results. I'm old enough to remember when there weren't any tuners you could carry around. You used your ears! FYI: Never tune down! Go down and tune going back up. You'll find it works much better.

I think the Epiphone is made very well. Its study, and should last a long time. That is unless you just beat the crap out of it. You should check the tightness of nuts, and screws once in a while. Its a guitar not a baseball bat. Anything that vibrates like a bass guitar will loosen things, unless glued, or you use loctite. Its not the guitar's fault if you let a pot get loose, and you twist off the wires. I would not hesitate to us this EB-O, live, with no backup.

I emailed Epiphone with a question about my EB-O. I got a quick responce, and a satisfactory answer to my question.

I've been playing a long time. Started at 17,(36 years ago)put it down for a number of years, and picked it up again. If it were stolen, I would find the guy, shoot him, and get it back. If he damaged it, I would shoot him twice, and buy another. I like the EB-O. I've always had a soft spot for it. I don't dislike anything about it. Maybe I'm easy to get along with. FYI; Don't let anyone tell you what's a piece of junk, or a great guitar. Find a way to play it. Find out what you like, and can be happy with, and buy it. Don't pay too much attention to what other people think about your decision. Everyone has an opinion, all a little different, a good experience or bad. Get what "you" want.

this your basic SG body bass simple and to the point one large single side-winder pick up one tone and volume control short scale neck has schaller licenced tuners mahogany wood body in a nice gloss black finish made in indonesia in 2003 bought used for $125.00 in mint cond neck is thin and fast even though it is not a jam bass just a simple hold the groove bill wyman axe bought just for fun to back up my mim fender p-bass it is well made for the $ so i see no reason for all the petty complaints ive read no it is not a bass for all types of music it is short scale remember forget slap and pop

this is not the same sounding pick up found on vintage gibsons basses typical of budget asian made axes the pick up is weak thin noisey and muddy why is it usa pick ups sound better? i dont know the tone control useless i guess i put in the dimarzio replacement pick up someday too bad emg bartolini and seymor duncan dont make replacement pick up for thi bass hint hint there will be a lot of these basses lying around someday come on you guys make some $$$

the bass i got was set up "perfect" as perfect can be with this bass i had to resolder the input jack which came loose and put in a star friction washer so it wont come loose again this also happened with a fender i had the tuners seem to work fine being schaller licenced the frets are excellent and well done on this bass even though there is some string buzz which is a common problem on budget axes hey! its not a $2000.00 pedulla what do you expect? excellent paint job

this is great gigging bass if it suits your music style -dont plan on doing larry garham or flea stuff but ex- beatle sir paul would have a good time making this axe sing like his hofner bass this bass is lightweight and confortable to play idid move stap button for better balance this bass is well built and well painted

i will give this bass a fairly high rating being what it is i like the way it looks and feels even though i am a full time full scale "fender" p-bassist i like using it for fun and a change of pace playin that old time rock n roll gibson is putting out a eb3 reissue of this bass but its going to cost you a grand and they are too cheap to put in a crown inlay in the head stock but i bet it wont play that much better than this bass but it will be a 'gibson'

Same EB-O features as described by everyone else, so I'll skip this. Mine is cherry red and made by the Chinese in 2004. I put Flat wounds on this because I like them.

I play rock/jazz/other, I generally like the big boomy sound, it is pretty cool - however it is an odd thing if you try to play stuff that you wrote for or on a normal bass - it's just not gonna sound "right". I am playing this thing through a Genz-Benz GBE 210 combo with no effects.

Dude...this thing is one great, steaming, pile of made in China crap. Neck color is darker than the body. Tone knob does nothing. Tuners suck. I even took them apart and lock-tited them up and they still slip. Intonation? Good luck. Especially with your E string. ****Tip: I used a road brake barrel nut (available at any bike shop), placed outboard of the bridge and ran my E through it. This makes your E-string effectively a 1/2 inch longer, allows you to add just a touch more tension on the E and quiets a little bit of the buzzing. Wow this bridge is a piece o' shite! Also, as another reviewer mentioned, this thing is impossible to tune, you hit the string and check your tuner - the levels swing up and back, all over the place! Like the neck is flexing or something. This thing is so not set up like a Donkey's nutsack. Neck body joint joint looks like it was put together by apes - after they'd smoked a joint.

Can't get it intonated properly, won't stay tuned, but other than that, this thing will be around forever, it's a solidly cobbled together piece o'junk. Would I depend on it? To do what, suck? Yes. I would depend on it to reliably suck.

Got it from a guy who has now admitted that he also thought it sucked he got it new last January. Limited lifetime warrantee, not sure what Epi would do. I have contacted them w/tech questions and they pretty much sucked.

I have been playing for 5 years. I wish I had asked "Johnny, tell me straight - are you selling this because it sucks?" If it were stolen I would not replace it. Sadly, I love the way it looks and sometimes I love the fat boomy sound it makes (right after I tune it, for that 10 minute window before it let's go). Basically, I would strongly advise against buying one of these things. Now that I have one, I always check music stores to see how others are set up - much to my surprise most are even worse than mine! These things are such poop.

Korean, Ebony, as I see it #000..0103 off the line.
The same passive HB ad T/V pots as all the others.
Bought used as a backup and is now the main axe.
9 for features, as this bass makes the most of its minimalism.

This is a rock bass. Hard and heavy, but light as it gets for an instrument. Very full, dark sound -> its all mahogony. Almost ate the practice amp (Peavey Microbass) alive, handles the Crate BX-50 (ok amp) or a Peavey TNT 160 (great amp) just fine. Upgraded V/T pots and wiring made it more useable. Bought as a backup for my Charvel ATX bass, but is now the main gig bass. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking...better than my Army Timex!
DOD Milkbox comp -> FX42B EQ -> DOD 250 OD ->Ibanez CF7 chorus/flange -> FX 96 analog delay sounds great

Third owner, came set up perfectly.
slight buzzing in drop-D, but nothing audible through any amp.
Finish is very very deep.
Came upgraded, not noisy.

Gigs great. Made it through plenty.
Beer, sweat, and everything else hasn't damaged it a bit.
No hardcase, but gigbag will work for this monster.
Moved the neck strapbutton to the lower neck screw, helped very much with the balance problems.
No truss adjustments needed, that's why is says Gibson on the rod cover!

Epi has been fantastic to deal with.
Warranty? Why?

This is no student bass at all. Very unappreciated.
I would buy and mod another one in a heartbeat if stolen or lost.
Lays down a great bass line for the guitarists to wank over.
Been playing guitar for 12 years now, bass for 8.
Looks great on stage.

SGs always scared me. I love it.

This is an update to a previous review...I've now owned this bass for 5 years, and I have since defretted it. At the time of my last review I was a high school student who had not matured on the instrument very much, and looking back I would now rate the instrument somewhat unfavorably in its fretted state...for the price, perhaps not, but the muddiness and generally stale tone was almost unforgivable. It is a fun bass...not a do-it-all bass. However, I defretted it (wood putty to fill in the slots, several coats of tung oil to seal and protect the fretboard) and slapped on a set of Fender nylon tapewound strings, and I have been in heaven since. Its a jazz monster. For such a cheap bass, its ideal for trad jazz. Perhaps it doesn't look appropriate, and maybe it doesn't exactly replicate the tone of an upright (nothing does except an upright), but it has that warm, woody thump of one. Compared to a fretless Fender Jazz Bass, this one may be less inclined to do Jaco-esque soloing, but for grooving with a combo, this one is much nicer. Holds down the low end even as you travel up the neck...something, consequently, that is made much easier due to the short scale. It sings, not in the nasal, mid focused tones of a fretless Jazz, but in this rich, throaty tone...very warm. Warmth oozes out of this thing. It no longer is a great rocknroll bass, but I'd stick to my Ric for that anyway these days. For jazz, this beautiful groove machine is my tool of choice. As a fretted bass, its a period-piece that has some vibe appeal for me but would not be used frequently due to a general mud factor. As a fretless bass, it is restricted to (non-smooth) jazz, but it rules that genre (at least in the sub $1000 market!).

Made in 2003, 20 frets, one big ass pickup, volume and tone controls. The finish is nice and shiny- just the way i like it. It's got locking tuners that have a picture of a gorilla on them. go figure. i stuck my penis in the control cavity and blew a load.

It sounds awesome. I plug it into my home stereo and into my friends car stereo at the same time. He's got a subwoofer, and it's really really loud. I intend to gig that way. He will drive his car on stage and I'll plug in and play. I'm cool.

The bass was set up like a donkeys nutsack. I used a drill and drilled holes thru the fingerboard so air can move through and keep my hands cool. I play some really intense music and I'm a badass- things heat up quickly. Then I poop in my pants.

This bass is the bomb yo. I play my hiphop gigs with it plugged into my pals car and it kicks hizzass. The truss rod was stripped so I pulled it out and stuck it in my peehole. Ouchie. It burns mama, it burns.

I've been prankcalling their customer support line and drove one woman to suicide.

I've been playing for about an hour today and I'm convinced that I'm the best bass player alive. The best I say. I own so much gear- I'm all tricked out with the rad stuff yo. I love this bass. I drank a glass of my own pee because this bass told me to do that. Crazy huh? Have fun rocking and swallowing your own turds.

I think it was made in 1999, It was made in Korea and set up in the factory in U.S.A. It has 20 frets, 4 strings. 1 Volume, 1 Tone. It also has a monster Sidewinder humbucker pickup. The neck is made out of Mohagany, and the finish is a beautiful solid Ebony. It also has a three point bridge/tail piece. Non locking tuners but it feels like it though, always in tune. It came W/ Nothing. Just the bass in the box and a warrenty pamphlet. This is my dads bass though so he used an old Gibson case he had for his EB-3 that got stolen in th '70s, He bought it cause it was cheap and it played like his old EB-3. Now My Friend Kyle uses it for gigging in my band.

It suits all styles, rock, punk, ska, anything. It sounds beautiful on any amp even my little Peavy. Its Great for live. ext. It sounds Awsome all together.

It was set up at the factory but we didn't mind, still sounded good.

It can Really withstand LIVE playing. The hardware is very good. The strap buttons are very tight, the back one also helps hold on the neck along w/ 3 other bolts. We can really depend on It, never fails. Ya we use it on gigs w/ out backups all the time.

Nope didn't need to.

I am a guitar player not bass. I Have a Cruise by VMI Strat, Im getting an Epiphone SG. I have a Groove percussion drumset (never use it,lol) and alot of other stuff im too lazy to type here, like amps. It does have a pretty big nik on the back and a scratch on the top of the neck but that was because it was on a guitar rack at some ones house and it swung back and hit the brick wall in back of it, lol, but that can be touched up with some Gibson Ebony Touch up Paint. Um...thats like all and stuff.

I got it new for Christmas in 2001, so i guess that was the year it was made, unless it sat around in a warehouse somewhere. Bolt-neck copy of a Gibson, red finish, short-scale, one large humbucking pickup, tone and volume, adjustable bridge. Judging it against it's bigger brother, the EB-3, it doesn't have a lot of "features," and I wouldn't mind having the option of two pickups, so I'll give it an eight.

Low and boomy, perfect for old blues, R&B, reggae and rock. I don't know why they bothered with a tone control, I don't really notice a difference. You can't can't get a real "high-fidelity" sound out of it, so it probably wouldn't work for slapping or more aggresssive styles. It's a good "thumpers" bass, good for holding down the bottom without a lot of fancy acrobatics.

Set-up was fair from the factory. Actually I should probably get it professionally set-up, since I've never beeen able to get the intonation right after I changed strings. A professionally made nut would probably help too. With the original strings it played fine. I was playing out 3 or 4 times a week when I first got it, and the finish has held up well to sweat, beer, etc. There may be some flaws in the finish but I'm not going over a $199 bass, particularly one that didn't cost me anything, with a fine-tooth comb, ya know?

This was my main gigging bass for about a year, and it held up pretty well, except for the aforementioned intonation problem. I stopped playing it out because I've never been able to get it intonated right with the new strings, despite working on it quite a bit. Also, the neck feels more "flexible" than I seem to remember when I got it. That and the intonation problem may be related. Do you suppose I just wore the thing out? Anyway I'm gonna give it a seven, pending on whether I can figure out theis intonation situation.

Never dealt with 'em. I worked at a guitar store that carried Epiphone (not where i got the bass) and their warranty service seemed as good as anyone else's.

I've been playing 17 years and own a Fender Jazz bass, Rickenbacker 4001 copy, Dearmond starfire, and a Baldwin Jazz bass. I bought the dearmond because I wanted a bass that had the same sound as the EB-O but was better built. I wish Epiphone had a set neck version of this bass. I tried their set-neck EB-3, but the long-scale made it too neck heavy. If this was stolen or lost I'd try to buy an original Gibson EB-O or the new Epi elite EB-3 with the short scale neck.