Gibson EB2 Early 60\'s, Predates Chrome Pickup Cover Collector For Sale

This is a \"pre- chrome pickup cover\" Gibson EB2 bass in sunburst.I\'ve owned this excellent example since approximately 1977 or \'78. The wood is in fine, not \"perfect\" vintage condition. There have been some parts substitutions, made long ago and meant to turn this bass into a better player. The original banjo tuners have been replaced by Schaller chrome units, and the original bar-style bridge has been changed out to a Gibson two-post model with adjustable saddles. The spacing of the mounting studs had to be changed to fit this bridge. This job was done by John Gray of Champaign, IL, who was tops in the area at the time. Only one more modification: the push-button Baritone tone control has been changed to a two-position rotary pot that snaps into position. I didn\'t take the pots out to see date codes.I was told this bass is a 1959 model by the person I bought it from. It is possible that the original pickup with the offset pole pieces was changed out for one with poles across the middle, as it has now.Certainly, this bass originally had a brown or black bakelite pickup cover. See the photo, the early-style \"flat, thick material\" metal cover I\'m holding,  which is an original, pre-1965 or so Gibson part, has a much different screw hole spacing, and there are no extra cover-mounting holes in the top. Similarly, there are clear marks on the back of the peghead showing the impressions and original screw holes left from the banjo tuners this bass came with. I think the Schallers use one of the original holes, so that original-style tuners could be re-installed. Only the Schallers are included in this sale; the originals are long, long gone.The volume and tone knobs still bear most of their lettering, and are 1962-1970\'s \"reflector\" knobs, while the changed-out knob for the baritone control is a 1955-1960 \"bonnet\" knob, which leads me to suspect one of the original early knobs was used for the replaced baritone switch, while then-new taller \"reflector\" knobs were installed in order to have matching volume and tone controls that also were close in appearance to the baritone control.Unfortunately, the orange Gibson label is gone from inside the body, so the serial number is unknown. There is no ink-stamp factory order number that I can see inside the treble-side F hole. So, we have an interesting mix of evidence as to date of manufacture. I\'m looking for more information and will add any I find. According to a respected online reference source, the features of this bass show it to be made between 1959 and late 1960.Most important, in my opinion: there is a corner of the peghead overlay chipped off, but otherwise, there is no sign whatsoever that the peg head on this bass has ever been cracked or broken off. No repairs are visible, no dark-shaded finish meant to conceal repairs, no nothing, and the instrument stays in good tune-- indicating there are probably no hidden cracks that affect tuning stability.  Nor are there other damage problems that I can see, looking closely: only a little surface crack at the output jack, very minor, and no binding separations (the binding is beautifully aged and in fine shape), with one area inside the lower cutaway that is bare of body finish, but no looseness. There is a minor bald spot on the back, where the body wood is exposed but looks to me to be undamaged or very nearly so.There is plenty of wear to the finish on the back of the neck, and some light wear on the fingerboard, with the frets showing definite but very light wear, as I\'ve tried to show in the photos.This bass was played plenty during others\' ownership, and was obviously handled carefully. The peghead? Accidents happen!No case. This bass will be very well packed. Insurance, tracking, signature services will be in force for this special item. UPS Ground or USPS shipping, please. I had to put an estimate in for . Accurate charges intended, given buyer\'s location.Thank you.

On Nov-24-14 at 22:51:26 PST, seller added the following information:

I found a number I took down many years ago, which appeared on the orange label that was originally in the bass:S-7 859-23. This FON (Factory Order Number) denotes an instrument made in 1959, according to online source.I also had the serial number written down. That has disappeared.