Just bought a Gibson EB3 any recommendations on setup and strings?

Question

tis definitely a gibson

Answer 1

Nice!

I am envious -- all I have is my Ibanez SR200.

Dude, since you probably spent well over $1000 for it, why not spend an extra $50 and have a luthier set it up for you??

I have my regular luthier setup all my guitars (and bass) and keep them in good working order.

Just look up "luthier" or "guitar repair" in the yellow pages. Anyone you pick will be absolultely thrilled to setup the EB3 -- they will treat it like a baby, and you'll have a great sounding bass when they are done with it.

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Answer 2

EB3 - Isn't that an Epiphone? Anyway, check if the neck is straight and adjust that if necessary. Then raise the string height so you don't get buzzing on any string. Then check the intonation - using a tuner, check to see if the notes at the 12th fret match the open note. If it's sharp, adjust the bridge saddle for that string back (towards the bottom of the bass) if it's flat - move it up. You'll have to keep re-tuning and re-checking. You need some experience to do all this, and you really have an old Gibson, you might want to take it to a pro who has insurance - an old neck can crack.
Strings depend on what music you'll be playing - "Round Wounds" will give you a bright attack, but you can roll off the treble if it's too much. "Flat Wounds" will give you a more acoustic, string bass kind of sound. GHS and Fender have always worked for me. If yours is one of the 60's short -scale Gibsons you might have to do a search for short-scale strings - they're out there, but not common.

Answer 3

GHS Boomers for strings, those sound SO good on electric. Setup? A Hughes and Kettner head on top of a 4x12 Avatar cab.