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Gibson EB-3 Natural Finish headstock

Gibson EB-3 Natural Finish headstock
« on: October 12, 2009, 05:52:07 AM »
I am in the process of restoring my EB-3 which is stored in our stock room several years ago. I got this from a friend (a filipino) who studied junior high during his youth in Bahrain then an american (or mexican) friend of his gave him the bass before he left the country. Well anyway, I noticed that the headstock of the EB is on natural finish, the crown and logo inlays were there but on natural finish? Kinda different and I researched on google for any EB3 that has the same kind but end up as none. Any ideas about this? The serial of my EB is either 780193 or 700193 (as I can hardly read it). I'll post the pics later tonight. Thanks!

jules

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Natural EB3
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2009, 01:07:39 PM »
Hi and welcome

The natural wood on the headstock is holly, and would have been painted black originally.

Gibson did make a few (49) natural EB3s, but these had natural bodies too, and no crown (just the Gibson motif)

Redoing the black is quite feasable, although getting the shape of the letters and crown perfect may take some time. Very much worth doing though.

Jules

eb2

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Gibson EB-3 Natural Finish headstock
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2009, 04:31:32 PM »
Respraying the headstock face is probably the most frustrating part of refinishing a Gibson bass.  Be patient, don't drink a lot of coffee before you start, and have good masking tape and a fresh Xacto blade.  Good luck.
boom

Gibson EB-3 Natural Finish headstock
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2009, 07:36:42 PM »
this will be going to be hard for me, i don't know if i'll do it or i will just let it be that way. kinda wierd stuff but thank you guys! will still be thinking about it within this week.

Gibson EB-3 Natural Finish headstock
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2009, 11:57:01 PM »
EB-2, who do you recomend to refinish a bass in the Minneapolis area? I have a EB0-F with a bad refin that I would like to restore to origional specs someday. I've been thinking of checking out Hoffman's.

eb2

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Gibson EB-3 Natural Finish headstock
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2009, 03:04:52 PM »
I luckily haven't needed to do much refinishing of the hiring out kind.  Hoffman is certainly a place to at least find out what they could do or it would cost.  When I need work done and it is of the critical nature, I go to Barry Densch.  His website is here:
http://www.frets.biz/
I don't know how much refinishing he does, but I would trust his recommendation.  He has done work for me that I have been very happy with.  He does work for Homestead Pickin Parlor, but the site is for him directly and he works out of his house.  He used to do work down in Chicago years back.

I do know that one of the guys who works at Rockler on Lyndale is an ex-Gibson employee.  I forget his name, but if you pop in you could see if he does stuff or has a referral.  When I do one-off refin stuff for myself I get supplies there (and Woodcraft).

I also would ask around to see who else is in town.  The guys at TwinTown, especially Andrew, are good guys and have a great amp tech they use.  The guy who runs Encore seems to be a decent guy as well.  He is a good source for parts and talking stuff, plus good coffee up the corner.  Then there is always Willie's.  I tend to look at them as a hair below Gruhn and Mandolin Brothers in the nosebleed pricing world, but again for balance I would at least call them and get an estimate.

And if you are feeling adventurous, you can ask around on ReRanch.  I have gotten a lot of heads up advice there.  There may be a few souls doing stuff around here that can do it.  I have re-sprayed Gibson red before ( I would never do it as a gig for somebody ) and the process is not impossible with a simple Preval unit or three.  I don't offer that as an option if you never have done it.  Besides, if our weather of the last week is holding steady, you won't be able to open a window around here for a few months!  

I would be curious who you do work with though.  I am finding the project/beater/damaged end of the market to be the only stuff that is reasonable and the only way to find stuff slipping through the cracks anymore.
boom

Gibson EB-3 Natural Finish headstock
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2009, 05:55:24 PM »
Thanks EB-2, I've been putting this off for years, but I believe it is worth refinishing due to the few that were produced. I don't believe in refinishing in most cases, but this had a bad refin when I bought it. I'd like to get someone who will refinish it in Nitro, without messing up the face of the headstock or sanding off what's left of the serial number. Thanks again for all of the good options!! 8) 8)

 

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