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1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch

jules

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1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« on: October 12, 2010, 11:10:39 AM »
An interesting EB3 came up on ebay locally recently. It as poorly listed, so didn't get much attention at the time. I naturally went to see it, but couldn't quite stretch to getting it... but Graham / Rumblekat (from this very forum) decided to go for it.
 
The lady selling was an ex-employee of Simms-Watts (who were based in Bletchley, like Marshall) - it had been her husbands (who perhaps also worked there)
 
It is a nice early one... no case and a few parts swapped out. Apparently it was taken to John Birch in the 1960s for the work - and he left his decal on the back of the headstock. He's put an intonatable bridge on, and perhaps changed the tuning keys (they are changed, but who knows who by)
 
Check these pics. More pis and soundclips to follow on fly guitars over the next few weeks/months. The colour has lasted superbly, and the headstock is unbroken! Don't drop it Graham.

jules

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1961 eb3
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2010, 11:14:00 AM »
And heres some pics of the previous owner (also called graham) getting down with it

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2010, 12:44:34 AM »
Thanks for posting those pics Jules. Having now had it restrung right handed I've been using it at rehearsals the last couple of weeks and it sounds awesome through my '74 Marshall JMP head. I now have my dream bass!

G

http://www.motherlodeonline.co.uk

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2010, 07:31:06 PM »
Cool bass is this a really rare Black pickup EB-3?


If so you rarely see these at all. Good find.

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2010, 12:56:10 AM »
The neck pickup cover is black now but originally would have been painted silver. You can see the silver paint on the inside of the cover.

G

http://www.motherlodeonline.co.uk

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2010, 10:06:50 PM »
Are any of you still interested in a bass like this... If so I have one for sale....
« Last Edit: November 16, 2010, 10:09:27 PM by Mudcat »

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2010, 08:40:35 AM »
Made lefty? How?
Because of the bridge, or...:?
cheers!

jules

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how left?
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2010, 10:37:31 AM »
Well obviously the nut was changed, but yes, the main thing was a John Birch replacement bridge - intonatable of course
 
There will be better photos on flyguitars.com when I get to doing some close ups.

bob2

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2011, 12:37:27 AM »
I'm just a simple minded, although harmless yank, I've no idea who John Birch is or was but I keep seeing his name pop up all the time concerning Gibson basses. Can someone enlighten me?

jules

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Who is John Birch?
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2011, 01:08:37 AM »
John Birch is a luthier who was famous for working on Gibson guitars and basses. The reason you'll of heard of him so much in Gibson bass circles, is he worked on Jim Lea (of Slade) 's EB3.
 
He added an extra pickup in between the neck and the bridge. Here it is (but being played by Dave Hill)
 

 
Later, after this was stolen Jim Lea used a similar looking bass built by John Birch.
 

 
But he did a lot of work for a lot of guitarists including Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Brian May, Dave Hill, Jim Lea, Gerry Shephard and Roy Orbison - heres his wikipedia entry: John Birch

bob2

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2011, 01:53:41 AM »
That was a great history lesson. It's guys like John Birch that really innovate what we as players do. It's nice to know he passed his innovation on before his death so we'll always have it. Thanks for sharing that with me.

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2011, 11:20:30 PM »
Thanks for "12 bar in A" clip Jules,made my day...

jules

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1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2012, 12:47:48 AM »
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1881[/ATTACH]

This is the bass now - all 'improvements' reversed. And it plays and sounds great. I've got a page about it here 1961 Gibson EB3 and some sound clips through three 15" valve amps: Ampeg B15, Gibson Atlas IV and a WEM Dominator Gibson EB3 soundclips

WAB74

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2012, 05:11:19 PM »
Those soundclips are great. Anyone who says the EB3 is a one-trick pony hasn't played one

1961 EB3 made lefty by John Birch
« Reply #14 on: February 13, 2012, 12:00:15 PM »
Nice restoration Jules!! Are you selling the John Birch bridge perchance? :)

 

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