Gibson SG Reissue 4-String Bass

June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor 


Have you got your heart set on a small, slim, lightweight bass guitar that is versatile for all kinds of music, but particularly shines when used for classic rock? If you love listening to the bass lines in those flowery old songs from the sixties or the thumping beats of the seventies, then you’ll be interested in the Gibson SG Reissue 4-String Bass.

Gibson has been making electric guitars and basses for a long time. In the 1959, they released a solid body bass with a classic cut rounded body. This bass guitar, called the EB-O, with it’s cherry finish, short scale, slim neck, and humbucker pickup at the neck, was a favorite with the early rockers of the sixties. David Knights, bassist for the band, Procul Harem (Remember “Whiter Shade of Pale”? Mmmmm - that brings back memories!) played the Gibson EB-O. This bass guitar peaked in popularity in 1969. It had a higher priced cousin called the EB-3.

The good news is, you don’t have to hunt the vintage guitar purveyors or the pages of eBay to find one of these classic vintage babies. That is because Gibson has reissued this model. In fact, they are quick to point out that it is the fastest bass guitar they make. The new version has a few updated features, such as an additional mini-humbucker pickup at the bridge. It’s got a little higher price, too, since the original ran about $350 back in 1970. (Those were the days, huh?)

The SG Reissue has a mahogany body and neck, creating a warmer, rounder sound. The scale is short, 30.5 inches, with 20 frets. It has a slim neck, which is only 1 5/8 inches wide at the nut. The small size makes it easy to move fast, and smaller hands would certainly appreciate this. The neck pickup is a vintage-style (of course!) TB Plus Bass Humbucker. At the bridge it has another pickup, a bass mini-humbucker.

The SG Reissue retails for $1879. It’s a favorite choice of anyone wanting a light-weight rock bass with a great sound and short scale. If you play classic rock from the sixties and seventies, the SG Reissue will not let you down. Try it with flat wound strings for a good, thick sound. Another neat thing about playing a SG Reissue at your gigs is that it’s not what everyone else is playing. It’s available in either a sharp-looking heritage cherry red sunburst wood grain finish, classic white or ebony. The hardware is a crisp chrome color, and the controls are vintage looking top-hat shaped.

One of the few negative comments that has been made about this Gibson bass guitar is that it only has one tone control knob. Some bassists report that the tone knob doesn’t seem to do much, especially at loud volumes. It does have separate controls for the two pickups, so you can adjust them separately for just the sound you want. The neck pickup is good for thick, fat sounds, and the mini pickup at the bridge can be adjusted to bring out the higher, crisper tones.

Another consideration is that if you get it in the colors, the lacquer paint is thick and can be an issue in how fast you can travel that fretboard. Also, make sure you’ve got an amp that works well with this bass, as the quality of your amplifier will make a big difference in the sound of the bass.

Here are the specs on this fine bass guitar.

  • Mahogany solid guitar (SG) rounded body 4-string bass guitar
  • Slim mahogany neck, 1 5/8 inches wide at the Corian nut
  • Short, 30.5 inch scale length
  • 20 frets with dot inlays
  • Three-way adjustable bridge
  • Chrome plated hardware
  • Shamrock tuners
  • Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
  • TB Plus Bass Humbucker pickup at the neck
  • Bass mini-humbucker at the bridge
  • Separate volume controls for each pickup, for a total of two volume controls
  • One tone control knob
  • .045/.105 gauge round strings
  • Black hardshell case with charcoal gray plush lining and silver “Gibson USA ” logo
  • Available in Heritage Cherry or ebony.

For more information about the original EB-O and it’s higher class sister, the EB-3, check out this page at gibsonbass.com. To see some really nice pictures of classic Gibson bass guitars from the past, check out this page from rocknrollvintage.com.

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