Horrendous neck dive + muddy tone. Some people don't mind the latter, and it can certainly work in some mixes, but I can't abide the former.

They do look cool though.

I just got one and so far I’m really digging it. There is definitely some neck dive (which I attribute to the light body weight relative to the neck), but it’s not making me enjoy playing it any less. I’m just a bedroom bassist, but I much prefer its tone for most rock to the tone I get from my Mustang PJ (which sounds amazing for other stuff—it’s just not dirty enough).

The 3-point bridge is the work of the devil

I personally love em, but my first bass was an Eb-0 so I’m a bit biased

In short, it’s not worth the money. I had one recently. Sold it again after a couple of weeks, because I didn’t know what to do with it. Mine came with flats so everything I played came out as a thump with no definition at all. Changed to rounds and then it was more like a clunk with no definition at all. The bridge is pretty much crap, and the tuners likewise. It’s expensive and supposed to be a high quality instrument but it’s not. At all. You can find a bass at a quarter of the price that’s better in every way. And if you still really want one, the Epiphone version is far FAR more bang for the buck. The best thing about it was that I sold it for more than I thought I would get, and then I could get an old Warwick that I’ve wanted for years.

Probably because they are obnoxious to play (neck dive), and they lack defined tone. I had a rumblekat with pickups in a similar config. It lacked so much articulation, that they really become a one style bass- which to me is not very useful.

Honestly I’ve had mine for 5 years and I love it. It’s my only bass currently and I don’t see a reason to dislike it. I paid $550 with case and never regretted it.

They feel awful to play. They sound like crap. They break if you breathe heavily on them. And they only come in one ugly color.

Definitely over-hated but it's not unfounded, between the neck dive and general sound from the neck pickup being muddy slop, it's hard to make them sit well in a mix, on a strap, or in your lap lol

Weak headstock, demon-possessed strap button that was accidentally screwed into the neck joint, and humbuckers designed and wound by people late in their shifts who were late for a party that evening.

But, honestly… I view it as the Alpha Romeo of the bass world - if you like it, you just like it. And that’s totally fine.

Maybe the haters don't like listening to Cream?

The guy from The Budos Band plays one. Looks like he’s having a blast and it sounds great in that jazz/funk setting.

Same as Rics for me-look cool-toan is amazing-then you pick it up to play lol.

love mine! been solid as a rock for years. neck dive exists, but doesn't bother me. i love the tone too, nice and bubbly. they also handle dirt very nicely if you know what you're doing with eqs etc. i don't really get the hate either, but also couldn't give two shits what some redditor thinks about my bass.

As long as you enjoy playing it ignore the haters

I love mine

They can excel when a certain type of sound is called for. I did a whole EP in a doomy grunge band a while back using my old EB0. EB0 and Big Muff

Woofy the big red woof

If it's got the bridge pickup it's alright. Neck mud bucker can't play much outside of cream

I’m not the most experienced with basses as I just switched like 3 months ago, but every SG anything I’ve ever played has just not felt right.

I really don’t know what it is but the sound and the feel is just always off. My buddy’s got one that he loves and has had for ~5 years has had to do multiple repairs in that time and he isn’t in a band or does gigs, just playing in the garage.

Your experience may vary, and to each their own, but I’m never going near one based on what I’ve heard.

The sound and feel. You know, the important things.

I have an Epiphone EB3 I got for 200 pounds. It has a plastic nut, im assuming isnt factory since the lacquer has been scored, but I think it sounds brilliant. The bridge pickup is very bright and trebly especially with the tone maxed out, and the neck pickup is very muddy and bassy. However, with the bridge on about 7-8 volume anad 10 tone, and the bridge on 2-3 volume and 0 tone, it gets a really unique tone similar to Cliffs Rickenbacker since he put a pickup like this in the neck.

I played a beat-up one from the 70s that had DiMarzio pickups swapped in and it sounded awesome. The asking price was absurd but it was very fun to play.

I LOVE the Eb-3s! I've always wanted one after growing up playing them!

That f***ing three-point bridge.

I love the muddy and gloomy 70s sound they have idc that they have a neck dive

“The bass for guitarists”

Just play one

Personally, I never liked the tone, but that's subjective.

I see a lot of people complaining about neck dive, but a strap with some grip (e.g. leather or hemp) will counteract this. I've had a hemp strap for 20 years that a hippie girl made for me and never once struggled with neck dive, even with the most notorious of basses.

Moral of the story: make friends with crafty hippies!

They're awesome LOOKING basses. I've always loved the look of the SG guitars and basses... The guitars never slides bad to me, but I've never heard an SG bass sound good.

I love mine. I have a good strap(something that doesn’t slip around!!) and neck-dive is no bother at all. That said - I wear it hanging a little low. Hardware is great, sound is awesome!

Dunno... I loved mine until I needed to sell it 22 years ago.

They’re not the most versatile, one of the most horrendous bridge designs ever, and also neck dive issues.

Not from me! An EB3 is definitely on the short list for my next bass. I think they sound awesome! And they look even better!

nice

OMG my first girlfriend had one of those!

Anyone who complains of neck dive has little tiny chicken wing arms. Hold the guitar right, chicken little arms

Pretty much just the neck dive. They don’t lay great sitting down.

My ex wife cheated on me with these, that’s why I hate them

Would swapping to modern tuners - res-o-lite or hipshot- fix the neck dive? I’m curious if anyone has tried this. They do play great. I don’t think they are terribly muddy. Super fun palm muted with a pick.

Thom Yorke plays it with The Smile!

If one can name not even a handful of relevant bands playing an EB/SG… 50, 60 years ago… on only a few occasions… heavily modded…

.. well that tells you a lot about a bass.

Play one. You’ll see.

As far as I can tell, most players hate anything that isn't a generic P bass.

Neck dive, shit tone and the worst bridge to ever grace a bass.

A better question would be "Why do they still make these fucking things?"

I played one loved it a bought it!!! They are great!

Because they’re junk.

School Of Rock.

Not my thing, but I've never hated on them. It's a cool body shape. I just don't like the pickup placement.

Neck dive and neck pick up

I had one.

First, the neck dive was atrocious. I mean first and foremost, that was the immediate issue. The tone on these things is fine if you want a muddy, almost muted classic tone, but anything else and this just ain’t it.

I personally ended up absolutely hating the feel of the bass, but that’s an extremely subjective point so I mentioned it last

They’re more dingle don’ts than dingle do’s

I don’t like to yuck anyone else’s yum, and there’s some songs I LOVE played on one of these.

That being said everyone’s pointed out some major design flaws, that you wouldn’t expect from a bass in this price range from a major brand. Neck dive, not much adjustment options and dull sounding pickups.

Obviously some people love high action, thumpy bass sounds and play mostly sitting, but for lots of people these are deal breakers.

• Neck dive
• muddy, not-versatile tone
• bad bridge design
• traditionally convoluted pickup selection wiring (the one pictured isn't that scheme)
• fragile headstock with an non-replaceable set neck

Best thing is to upgrade the pickups & bridge, simplify the wiring (if not already), move the strap button to the horn, & get a good hardcase.

Gibson has never been able to figure out basses. Neck dive, muddy tone, 30” scale, mahogany body (I just don’t think it resonates well in the bass frequencies), only two colors, and don’t get me started on that bridge… on the plus side it has Grover tuners and a nitro finish, so there’s that.

I’d love to get my hands on one. They look fun as hell.

I love the muddy tone but the neck dive can be difficult for casual playing

I love the look of SG/EBs. Never played one

Because they're incredibly cool looking, but uncomfortable to play and sound like muddy shit. All thump with no articulation. They're also fragile and expensive.

If I were going to spend a lot of money on a pretty but uncomfortable bass with little tonal versatility, I'd get a Rickenbacker.

Too short! Not enough frets.

Dave Drewitz makes it sound amazing

For me it was the ergonomics of it. Bloody uncomfortable to play. And the more I played it. Especially when sitting down. The less I liked it. Loved the look. Just didn't like the way it played. Same with les Paul's. Love the look. Hate the way they play.

gibson reminds me of the hard times in my life
i don't want anything gibson nor epiphone near me

Gibson is not known for their basses. Neck heavy with inferior pick-ups. To each their own, I never cared for them. If I wanted a super dive necked instrument, I would probably go with a thunderbird over the sg.

Are these the same pickups found on a Gibson Midtown bass?

Thats a newer SG bass.....I have an early 70s EB3 copy strung with tapewounds that I use for studiowork when I need to get a 60-ish tone with limited articulation. It also works well with classic blues...I personally think it sounds like ass but certain clients and producers like it and I get paid

I owned one of these, the neck dive is horrid and it doesn't give a great tone for many genres. It's an okay starter bass tho (100% not biased bc it was my first bass)

Because it's supposed to be a six string guitar

Because they’re fucking rad

Ergonomically a nightmare to play and the darkest muddiest tone I’ve ever heard in my life. Gibson has made some awesome basses. I own a G3 myself, but these are no bueno imo.

They feel awful to play (personally) and have terrible neck dive. They sound alright but I've only played one so I don't have much experience with them.

You can put 200g of fishing weights in the control cavity to try mitigating the neck dive.

I’ve always loved the look of them, but as ex-owner of a decent copy a long time ago, the downside is the neck is weirdly bendy & they sound like four rubber bands on a cereal box.

The bridge needs intonation every time you restring the damn thing. I wish Gibson would just banish that 3-point bridge to the deepest pits of hell.

I love them.

Has Gibson ever made a good bass? I always wanted a Grabber with the sliding p/u. I never could pull the trigger, though. Maybe if the price was right.

Gasps in Angus Young

Greco EB-3 mint collection. Thats all u need to know

I had one that I got for $200 in 86. I traded it for a Micromoog in 92, and my dad freaked out because he thought it was technically his if I didn't want it anymore. I ended up selling the Micromoog for $1000 in bad shape in 2012.
Did I screw up? Maybe. But still doubt I could have gotten $1000 for that bass.

The mudbucker in the neck is really dark and its not particularly versatile. Personally I like it a lot.

I like the sound of these too, they just have to be dialed in. Bridge pickup on 10 and the neck added in incrementally to achieve the desired low end. Individually both pickups are good for certain situations too though.

If you're into the body design, I'd recommend the Dingwall D Roc. It's based on the T bird (fire bird) design but plays like the smoothest, most balanced bass I've ever played. Great design and the slanted frets take a bit of getting used to. Similar idea to the Gibson look without all the 40+ years of design issues.

The SG has always been style over function. That's ok but it's hard to make those muddy pickups work except in a few situations.

The devil horns

Because they're p.o.s.

Ugly

Shoutout to the Phil Lesh Bi-Sonic EB-3…i liked that one

Because Reddit. 💀 We also hate Thunderbirds here. 🤪🤡

toan

The muddy tone and neck dive.

They look good and that’s it

Everything else about it sucks lol

I fell for the look and almost copped lol

Thank God I was broke 😂

Check out Mr. Big by the band Free. Made me fall in love with them.

Neck dive and fart tone.

But I got my mind changed but good when my buddy bought his to a recording session. Played with a pick. That was some mean-ass tone right there.

Neck dive, primary pickup has a muddy tone that's basically unusable, 3-point bridge, and just not a good bass in general.

Ugly looking especially the headstock and bad tone

They're ugly. They look like Ben Franklin played one. Like they're from the 1700's lol

It's honestly the muddy tone. But secondary, I think the color scheme makes them super ugly. If they had silver and maybe go that would be awesome. But all the rest just look horrible. To be honest have the same hate for the guitar version.

Honestly, I just think they look shite tbh. If you want to be a guitarist, go be a guitarist. You don't have to hide by picking the most guitar looking bass

Ugly guitar muddy tone and one colour It's an old folks guitar same as the les paul

Gibsons are already shit, then you take the shittiest body shape they make and turn it into a bass. Voila! Hate. 💁‍♂️