A couple years ago or so I picked up an Epi EB0 on Craigslist for $90. Great shape. Barely played. The stock muddbucker sounded bad IMHO though so I followed recommendations on here and replaced it with a DiMarzio DP120. Then I replaced the Treble cap with the 69’d shotke diodes. Sounds pretty damn good now. But I’m thinking about taking it one step further and throwing on a second volume pot and a bridge bucker. Any recommendations on how to do this, wiring and placement?
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I've only heard these Epis on videos but out of most of the mudbucker'd basses the lowly Epi EB-O comes off as the one most resembling the woofy fart of the classic late '60s imo. I'm hunting for an 0 and a 3 in hopes the Epi brings the goods, what were you expecting it to sound like vs what did you get vs what you got now?
I’m looking to get the Jack bruce tone from the live cream albums and his stuff with West, Bruce And Laing. I’ve got my rig just about there with the new pup and the Ampeg V-4b cranked. But I’ve read he really liked and utilized the bridge pup for bite. Mine doesn’t have one....yet.
that's interesting, I'd like to know more about JB's use on his Gibsons cos he and Felix are pretty much where I live and was hoping the Epi would be an asset in getting closer to those extreme sounds than my non-muddy basses do (and do v well into my apt. rig), but if you weren't happy with the stock PU then that leaves me at square 1 again... but I'll never be cranking an Ampeg mini beast either so there's that! lol
high points to you for carrying on the JB tradition
I'm curious about the mini bucker too, Andy Fraser got a great proto Jaco sound with his.
Don't be fooled, there are pictures of Mr. Bruce playing a second generation EB-0 at that time as well. And if you listen to him playing Dan Armstrong London bass during his solo career, he sounds just about the same.
Fraser also used an Epiphone Rivoli - another Sidewinder/Mudbucker-only bass - once his EB-3 got stolen. Then he moved onto Guild JS II after leaving Free for good.
Another pickup won't hurt but is not really necessary for that type of sound IMO.
Felix and Andy got killer tone too. I believe Felix helped develop that sound for JB since he was the producer. Can’t forget Tom Kriss too, first bass player for James Gang. He nailed that sound and Tim Boggert.that's interesting, I'd like to know more about JB's use on his Gibsons cos he and Felix are pretty much where I live and was hoping the Epi would be an asset in getting closer to those extreme sounds than my non-muddy basses do (and do v well into my apt. rig), but if you weren't happy with the stock PU then that leaves me at square 1 again... but I'll never be cranking an Ampeg mini beast either so there's that! lol
high points to you for carrying on the JB tradition
I'm curious about the mini bucker too, Andy Fraser got a great proto Jaco sound with his.
I’ll tell you this, when I run my EB0 thru my Sansamp VT Bass pedal with the gain cranked, the character knob set to SVT or Fliptop range, mid dimed, and my tone knob rolled back on my bass so the shotkes are fully engaged I get pretty dang close to JB’s tone. The only time I find it tough is up high on the fretboard. That’s where I think a bridge pup could help. Also the harder you pluck the more those shotke’s breakup. Such a good tone.
Andy sounds like he’s got the bass pot rolled right back on his amp. I gotta try that.
lol, yeah, partners in crime, but back then there was little choice and necessity (volume) helped invent a classic bass tone (distortion) the both of them used to great advantage. I'd like to have been there when those two discussed amps and basses cos they both went thru the violin and SG Gibsons straight into the heads for their trademark sounds right at the time when they were teamed up in the studio.
I may have never heard a SG bass played with a pick, that would drive the whole thing even harder, and might give you enuf treble edge with the neck PU. I luv the wide tonal difference between finger vs pick.
I too think he used the bridge pickup a lot, he also used La Bella light gauge flatwounds if that helps. I think his Marshall tube head also added a lot to his tone especially live. His sound on the WB&L stuff was unbelievable, to me that was the pinnacle of his sound and it sounds like all bridge to me. He also supposedly had a diode put in his bridge pickup circuit, you can buy harnesses for EB-3's with them. I bought one for mine but could never get it to work right.
I know for JB the big part of his tone is the shotke diodes and his fingers. He used fingers and played HARD.
I was about to say, my bass teacher growing up said that Jack had Jim Marshall modify is His EB-3 about 6 ways to Sunday to stop blowing up the amps in studio, I'm really interested to see how this project turns out, Jack was a huge influence on me and I may attempt something of this nature in the future when my GAS starts acting up.
Think some eb0s have more cavity space than others. I added a surface mount middle placed pickup (not skilled enough to route myself and local shops didnt sound confident). Ended up removing tone knob (didnt do much) and replacing it with 3 way switch.
Had thought about moving jack to skinny side of bass and using old jack hole for volume but didnt want to drill it myself. Both my pickups are single coil so not a whole lot of sound difference [expected more as design is very different - reissue guild bisonic vs surface mount gold foil]. Also play with tapes so not sure how they would sound with other strings.
Could follow epi eb3 or gibson eb0 path and put minibucker at the bridge. Not sure what brand best to get cream sound.
Had thought about moving jack to skinny side of bass and using old jack hole for volume but didnt want to drill it myself. Both my pickups are single coil so not a whole lot of sound difference [expected more as design is very different - reissue guild bisonic vs surface mount gold foil]. Also play with tapes so not sure how they would sound with other strings.
Could follow epi eb3 or gibson eb0 path and put minibucker at the bridge. Not sure what brand best to get cream sound.
Hey
I am a huge Jack Bruce Fan myself and want to "re"-create the tone out of an old Epiphone EB-0 that I have. Can you tell me what exactly you did to the wirering? ....I am not so familiar woth this but really want to try
Cheers
KARLI