Gibson Introduces A 5-String Bass

Five-String EB Bass makes its debut   19-Jun-13

Gibson says that their EB bass has been a trusted favorite of rock, blues and pop players since the early '60s, so it's only natural that it should form the foundation of a new five-string.

A spokesperson told us, "The Five-String EB Bass from Gibson USA morphs the original EB's SG-inspired body into a rounder offset-double-cutaway design crafted from premium tonewood, yielding supreme playing comfort coupled with greatly enhanced resonance and sustain. Add a pair of newly designed EB Bass pickups with push-pull coil taps and a rock-solid Babicz Full Contact bridge, and the Five-String EB Bass is ready to lay down the rumble or purr with sweetness--and anything in between. It looks great, too, in your choice of Vintage Gloss Natural or Vintage Gloss Fireburst, in genuine nitrocellulose lacquer, with unique tortoiseshell pickguard."

Here's the details from Gibson:

Body and Neck
The Five-String EB Bass's massive foundation lies in its solid Grade-A ash body and glued-in maple neck. Ash has long been respected for its open, resonant tone, and lends itself perfectly to a rich, versatile-voiced bass. A glued-in solid Grade-A maple neck adds punch and clarity, while adding superb playability with its rounded profile that measures 0.800" at the 1st fret and 0.900" at the 12th. Its unbound genuine rosewood fingerboard follows the full 34" scale length, and carries 20 medium jumbo frets, all easily reached by the playing hand thanks to the Five-String EB Bass's new offset double-cutaway styling. Up at the other end, a five-string take on the traditional Gibson headstock is backed by a subtle volute for added strength.

Pickups and Electronics
The Five-String EB Bass's broad sonic range and gut-thumping power comes from an incredible pair of new EB Bass pickups designed by pickup specialist Jim DeCola. These units blend genuine Alnico V rod magnets with proprietary winding methods and other materials for an impressively versatile performance, taking you from thundering rumble to silky purr on demand. Blended as desired via independent volume controls and a master tone control, they're wound for warmth and clarity in the neck position, and a hotter, punchier tone in the bridge position for maximum rumble--or blend infinitely at will to create your own sonic brew. And just pop up the push-pull switch on either pickup's volume control for brighter, tighter single-coil sounds.

Hardware and Plastics
A sophisticated, highly engineered Babicz™ Full Contact® bass bridge feeds these incredible pickups with the optimum clarity and sustain, while being easily adjustable for perfect intonation--completing a new Five-String EB Bass that looks and feels entirely "classic," yet offers a versatile contemporary performance that every modern bassist will appreciate. Quality Grover™ sealed-gear tuners provide optimum tuning efficiency. The Five-String EB Bass carries a stylish plastic tortoise pickguard, a traditional bell truss-rod cover, and black Top-Hat knobs with silver Volume and Tone inserts.

Cases and Coverage
Each Five-String EB Bass includes a Gibson hardshell case and owner's manual, and is covered by Gibson's Limited Lifetime Warranty and 24/7/365 Customer Service.

Features

• Grade-A Ash body with SG-inspired double cutaway design
• Grade-A maple neck with rounded '50s profile
• 34" scale Rosewood fingerboard with acrylic dot inlays
• New EB Bass pickups in the neck and bridge positions
• Quality Grover™ sealed-gear tuners with 20:1 ratio

Pricing and Availability:


$1,932 msrp

More information:

• Five-String EB Bass