Gibson Eb3 Varitone Switch

Our design is vintage correct and a true notch filter.

Gibson eb3 varitone switch.

Launched in 1961 with a launch price of 285 the 1960s eb3 was very popular with the british bands of the late 1960s. Only two pot dates are legible. The varitone switch is wired back to front from 1960s and early. See the picture below for the difference in frequency response.

I have spent many hours testing capacitors and you will not find another switch that sounds this good. Going through the varitone control on my 1970 gibson eb3 it seems like there s a problem in the third both pickups on position. If i turn either down it turns off both pickups. In order for both pickups to work i have to have both volume controls all the way up.

It has been tested and works great. The linked pages give further detail of controls circuitry and components of gibson eb3 bass guitars circa 1961 79. It s similar to the gibson varitone switch in function. Big d varitone switch.

We use a quality 6 position switch that features five frequency settings in addition to true bypass. Each hand assembled component is wrapped in electrical tape to protect it from. My quality is second to none. This part was used on all gibson varitone circuit equipped guitars and basses manufactured during the late 1960s through the 1970s including.

Eb3 controls 1978 what the varitone and four pots actually do. One dates to 1973 and the other is 1974. Varitone switch sounds on eb3 reply 11 on. If you search the web others offer varitone switches but not at my price.

This sheet produced by gibson in the late 1970s describes the operation of an eb3 with series 2 circuitry see below. This unit was recently salvaged from a project grade 1969 gibson eb 3 bass guitar that was in the shop for a refinish and varitone removal as per owner request. May also work for ripper. Few basses are as easily recognized as the gibson eb3.

Eb 3 eb 2 es 345 and es 355. Gibson currently produces a model called the sg bass which is very similar to the eb 3 but with only a single tone control and no varitone switch. Jack bruce cream andy fraser free bill wyman rolling stones trevor bolder david bowie. The eb3 is the big brother of the eb0 and again a true design classic.

Epiphone produces a more affordable eb 3 with a 34 scale similar to the eb 3l but the varitone switch has been replaced by a simple pickup selector. Tone price and quality. This is an original gibson wiring harness from a 1974 eb 3 bass.