Image: Mr.Fingers, CC BY-SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Gibson EB-2
| Category | Strings (semi-hollow electric bass) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | bass guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q5559317 |
Overview
The Gibson EB-2 is a semi-hollow electric bass built on the same body shape as the . Introduced in 1958 to coincide with the launch of the ES-335 family, it offered a warm, resonant alternative to the solid-body basses then dominating the market. With a single humbucking pickup and a 30½-inch scale, the EB-2 has a focused, woody voice well suited to jazz, blues, and warm pop tones.
Origin & History
Gibson released the EB-2 alongside its broader push into thinline semi-hollow electrics in the late 1950s. It went through several production runs — discontinued briefly in the early 1960s, reintroduced later that decade with two-pickup variants (the EB-2D), and finally discontinued in 1972. Players including Jack Bruce of Cream and Felix Pappalardi of Mountain were associated with the EB-2 during the late 1960s, giving it visibility in early hard-rock contexts where its semi-hollow body delivered a distinctive thump.
How It’s Played
The short scale and wide neck make the EB-2 comfortable for players coming from upright or short-scale instruments. The single humbucker delivers a fundamentally heavy, somewhat dark voice — the instrument’s “baritone” switch on later variants rolled off treble for an even darker tone. The semi-hollow body adds resonance and a slightly looser feel, particularly on lower notes, distinct from the tighter response of solid-body Fender basses.
Cultural Significance
The EB-2 sits within the family of late-1950s and 1960s Gibson basses that pursued a different sonic philosophy from Fender’s Precision and Jazz Basses — warmer, more rounded, and shaped by archtop heritage. It is a defining instrument of Jack Bruce’s late-1960s recorded sound.
Related Instruments
- – solid-body successor with dual pickups
- – Gibson’s later premium bass
- – the matching guitar
- Gibson Les Paul Bass – another Gibson bass approach
- – another semi-hollow short-scale bass of the era
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the EB-2 a hollow body?
Semi-hollow, with internal chambering and a centre block.
Who played one famously?
Jack Bruce of Cream and Felix Pappalardi of Mountain, among others.
Image: 1964 Gibson EB-2, photo by Mr.Fingers, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).