Gibson Classic SG Bass

This reissue model is a simplified version of the old EB-3: fretted, neck humbucker, bridge pickup, all passive, V-V-T controls. The neck is fast and allows ready access to the 19th fret.

This instrument leans heavily toward fat frequencies but can be tamed with proper EQ-ing. I favor the neck pickup at 6+ with the bridge pickup at 2-5, but that's because I play blues, classic rock, etc. You can sound like Jeff Berlin if you really want to on this instrument.

Excellent factory setup, albeit with odd string gauges: .45-.53-.66-1.00. The bridge pickup was way too close to the strings, but that was easy to fix. This is a fast-playing, wide-ranging bass.

This bass seems pretty solid to me.

No experience, no comment.

I'm very happy with this instrument. Being a Jack Bruce devotee, how could I not be?

2006 model. Same specifications as all other Gibson SG Reissues. Cherry finish.

For the record, I am used to a more Fender/MusicMan type of tone. The SG was quite a bit different, but still good. Unlike the brighter and more defined tones of many other basses, this bass sounded warmer and deeper. This was a great bass for loud groove playing, many styles of rock, and anywhere where the lower register of notes needs to be 'felt.' The neck pickup provided a very boomy, bassy tone. The bridge pickup approached the sound of a Ric bridge pickup, but a bit quieter and with a more 'organic' tone to it. I found no hum or other noise issues.

It played pretty well, but needed a slight truss rod adjustment when I got it. No biggie. The neck feel was very nice and the fret work was above average, but not awe-inspiring. The tuning machines, nut, and bridge work great and do exactly what they should do. However, I had to do my own little modification to the bridge to allow the strings' end windings to not go past the saddles. I used 4 old Fender strap buttons to lengthen the strings behind the bridge.

A high point for me was its durability. It was one of the sturdiest, most solid basses that I've played. Sometimes you can just feel when an instrument (or any product) has the ability to take a bit of abuse...this is one of them. The body-to-neck glued joint felt very solid and strong. All of the hardware appeared near-bulletproof. The neck and bridge did not need adjusted very often; it stayed in tune very well and never gave any mechanical problems. The nitro finish is another great characteristic of the bass. It lets the wood breathe and allows scratches to be buffed out. The whole bass will last a very long time.

I didn't receive a case with this bass, but should have. I can blame the store for that one. However, Gibson refused to help me out with the purchase of a replacement case. They just wouldn't sell me one or point me in the right direction for finding one to purchase!

Here is the bottom line with an SG Bass: it is a well-made, great-playing, unique-sounding bass. If you are used to a Fender-ish bass tone, then the SG will sound quite a bit different to you. Only you can decide if the difference is good or bad. Personally, I like its one-of-a-kind tone and find it to be very useful for live and studio playing. The best piece of advice that I can give is that you should definitely try before you buy this one. I don't think that most bass player would be disappointed with the SG, but should experience one before throwing-down the cash!

This review is for the Gibson SG bass re-issue. New in 2007. The bass is a beautiful cherry over mahogany with short scale, slim neck, humbucker neck pickup and a really punchy bridge pickup. 2 volumes and 1 tone control, grover open tuners. This is a passive bass and has a set neck.

I think the sound of this awesome machine is truly fantastic. I run a 2x10 Behringer 450w and 1 x 15 cab. You get a thick, warm, open sound from the humbucker neck pickup ( think Jack Bruce-Cream) it's almost an upright bass sound, but it is so smooth its scary. The bridge pickup is without doubt the most awesome, punchy pickup I have heard on a bass. It has an attack that is unique, clear and defined, it is one of those sounds that once you hear, you could identify it on any track you hear. I love the sound of this pickup..the notes almost 'pop' as you fingerpick. With the 2 pickups blended you get a full, warm tone, still maintaining the 'pop' of the bridge pickup...awesome. I play funk, jazz, soul and surprisingly this bass can do this really well. It has been used by many famous users thru the years who played blues, rock etc so shows it's versatility. I appreciate that you could not dial in a really modern, zingy active sound, but I did not expect to with this bass. If that is the sound you are craving, then is not the bass for you...but then you knew that anyway, right?

The reputation of Gibson's stuff is legendary. I was not disappointed. This was my first Gibson bass and the materials are top notch, the finish is too. The action was set perfectly for me, low enough to be easy to play, but not too low to make the neck too 'touchy' and sensitive. No faults found here.

This bass will, and does, stand up to live playing. I also sweat a lot and this bass gets wet after a long gig ! It has had a knock or 2 with no problems, but I do honestly look after my gear so I cannot see it (fingers crossed) suffering any serious abuse, but with the quality of the materials and Gibson's obvious care in assembling this bass, I think it would survive a big fall. I have never needed to adjust anything....and I do use it without a backup. If i were to be ultra-critical, the set-neck would worry me more than anything else if it suffered a very heavy drop.

No dealings had, so cannot comment

I have been playing bass for 17 years. I played guitar before for 6 years. Iam glad I made the switch to bass. I have not picked up a guitar since. I own a relic fender precision bass(fabulous), a warwick streamer (totally different but equally fabulous), a fretless washburn acoustic and play through either eden or behringer rigs. If it was lost I would get another....no hesitation. If it were stolen I would very much like to meet the thief and persuade them to return it to me ;)

I love the weight, short scale, feel and sound of this bass. I adore the bridge pickup tone. I looked at a Rick, another fender and the gibson les paul bass before buying this. Iam glad I chose this, because the neck is super sleak and thin...a very surprising bass that plays really fast. I can play super-fast tempo walking jazz lines on it..it surprised me. There is nothing that I hate about it...for a modern active sound, as I said previously, this is NOT your bass, but I dont think anyone would expect that from this Gibson. If I could change anything ? well I dont crave it, but it would be interesting maybe one day to fit a middle pickup on it ! who knows. I hope this review will be of use to somebody who is thinking about this bass. My advice...go play one, buy one...you will find it to be a very competant bass for a lot of styles of music, and also very very nice and fast to play.

2006 reissue sg bass usa.
short scale, mahogany,set neck, grover tuners, large neck pickup, small bridge pickup.

Not an exact replica. Someone said it best when they said its like a cross between an ebo and eb3. I don't know if gibson had a model sg bass before or not.

sounds dark or bright, depending on how you set the tone and pickups.
sound great.

Action was way high, almost not playable. Had the store fix it so I could try it out. No real flaws anywhere, but not perfect. serial # is stamped in the wood so lightly that I can barely see it. a few sharp frets,etc.

As long as I can keep the headstock from hitting the ground it should last a lifetime.

this is my only gibson. it's way fun and I love it. I'm too young to have grown up listening to jack bruce, so when people say its a great Cream bass, it means nothing to me. But Mike Watt plays an old eb3 (heavily modified) Athough he dislikes these basses in stock form, I just had to have one, kind of a tip of the hat his way.
Anyway I wanted one when they first came out, but a little too price heavy for me. Then I found this one at a store dicontinuing thier gibson line. kind of a novelty, if you like them, you like them.

1942

Sounds like a fart at a chess match or golf match, take your pick.

Good action. my hand does get stuck in places though!

About as durable as a soft turd in a punch bowl.

I called them about the tuners and they told me to go fuck myself!

I am adding this in reply to my gibson sg bass ser# 14364 i have e mailed gibson and they reply whithin 3 working day (thanks gibson ). david osbourne at gibson wrote me and said that the 5 digit seral# on the sg bass it was made in early 1961. they had 5 and 3 digit seral# on it in that year and the model number is eb-3 because it is shaped like an sg the les pauls round cutaways are the eb-0 models... ( IF ANYONE READING THIS HAS A 5 OR 3 DIGIT SERAL # ON THEIR BASS PLEASE E MAIL ME I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE ......... THANKS WEN ....)

STILL SOUNDS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

TE FINEST ACTION AROUND....

SEE OUTHER REVIEW

LIKE I SAID I EMAILED GIBSON AND THEY RESPONDED WITH IN 3 WORKING DAYS .... THANKS AGAIN DAVE .....

C OTHER REVIEW .......

this is a gibson sg bass i don't know what model # if any .
i think it is very old because the ser# is 5 digits all the one's
i have seen are 6 and 7 digits ??? ser# 14364 ..(if any one has any info on dates and numbers please e mail me thanks..)it has 20 frets(rosewood) one piece very super light!!!!the lightest bass i ever played when i got the bass some dumb ass painted it red with house paint and a brush the pick up did not work good so i stripped it bare tung oiled , routed out and put a carvin double stacked humbucker in it now it is great ......

i lay bass tracks every now and then on clients recordings and for my own scratch tracks this bass rocks the sound and tone of this small scale bass is un real.. threw amps ,mic or direct it always sounds great this bass sounds like the low notes of a piano very smooth but punchy with no effort very quiet after the carvin pick up was in stalled

this thing was a mess when i got it in 1987-88?? but it played good so i bought it the bridge is stock the saddels are plastic .i should replace the plastic to metal to help sustain but it still sounds good like it is i don't know how the bridge sets on the body its like magic no screws going into the body to hold it there ?? but it never moves the one piece neck had some cracks at the heel but i fixed them with no problems the action is great on this thing really low with NO BUZZING anywhere its a beautiful thing ...

i have played this bass live on stage for a while back in the late 80's early 90's but i dont do that much bass anymore only for in the studio once in a while (to busy with guitar and recording)but this bass would be great for the road but i would not like to do any gig without a back up ( for alt tuning ) 1 high and 1 low .. this is a very playable bass...you can do long sessions with it with ease (due to its light weight)

never tried to contact gibson about the age and how many were made ...if any one has info on dates or how to read the ser# please e mail me at boberoc@juno.com thank you

i have been playing 4 15-20 years i run a studio for music bands and shoot videos and sound tracks for pro skaters and bmxers i have and go threw tons of gear for bass ,guitar . recording ,,amps mic's preamps eq's all to find the best sounding goodies out there if i were a bass player full time or thats all i played this would be one of them i have also a fender p ,and a yamaha bass the gibson is better then both of them there are some really nice bass guitars on the market now days but it would still take years and years of playing it like a madman to get the neck feeling the way this gibson is "broken in" the bottom line this bass is great.... if any one has any info on dates on ser# 14364 please e mail me at boberoc@juno.com thank you

this bass is actually a work of art. Made from mahogany this super light bass tends to give little flex under the strings. It features two seperate pickups and tons of options. With twin tone and volume controls and a dial with different tones, this bass has a few options.

sounds very good and clear. Very low tone for its stature though. Also is not very good for a slapping tech on behalf its lack of midrange.

its mahagony with a nice clear finish. Action is awsome and makes for impressive hammerons during solos. Also about it's size. it is much smaller than a normal bass, and infact, about the size of some of the larger guitars. But its small size makes big sound. and plus with the kick ass styling of the sg

I use it for shows all the time, although it doesn't mix with my wah too well. plus mahogany tends to be very tough.

they have support

great for its size and it looks hella cool too. plus it is no eb1050 so it is actually almost one of a kind now.

Gibson SG 1965-68 Gibson USA 20 frets 4 strings Volume Tone 1 huge pickup Thumb rest a string mute Cherry red Jumbo Frets, Rosewood Old stlye neck If you get an original case than you had a well maintained guitar, cases break. For its time it was cutting edge.

Despite the shorter neck this bass produces a very low sound, at times articulation is not noticable. It would be great for reggee, 70's rock, blues, and some jazz.

I cannot tell you how well it came out of the factory. My model is between a 1965-1968 model SG, Im the third owner. I have heard from friend that they came out of the factory a bad design but i cant belive that. I think any instruments should be serviced after purchase.

The SG design has a flaw that everyone who has ever played one knows about. The wieght on the SG's are dispurced unequaily, when strapped on dont let go of the neck it will drop. The neck is the weakest part of this instrument.

I own a entry level ibanez that i had been playing the hell out of. The Gibson had a shorter neck and was very punctual after a fret job.