This is 6 years old but I'll comment anyways. I own the Gibson SG and Epi EB-0. The Gibby oozes quality in its feel and tones. The Epi is pretty good and costs about 1/5th as much. I gig the SG with confidence and practice with the band using the Epi. The Stagg I heard here has occasional tones that are outside of my preference. I rate it the same as the EB-0. It was a good video to showcase these instruments.
Interesting review, Johan. I have the Epi myself, which I've turned into a piccolo bass (D'Addario 32-65 nickel roundwounds). The Stagg had a great vibe to it! Would be good in a Punk band. These basses are useful for playing much more than Cream or Free riffs.
I went to my local cobbler (shoemaker) and had a 'folk' style strap made; it goes right to the headstock, with a sliding loop around and a padded shoulder piece. Any guitar can be balanced. You'll get teased, but have the comfort.
I'm not really very knowledgable about basses and the tones you can get from them, but I instantly fell in love with the Stagg. So much snap and honk, tons of mojo. And that bridge pickup? Sweet! The Gibson was like the opposite - very warm and creamy, also sounding great but there was no "wow" factor involved ;)
I would have liked to hear the Epiphone EB-3 compared to the Gibson EB-3/SG bass, especially since the Epi has the longer 34" scale of a standard EB-3. I've recorded with an Epi EB-0 and I found the sound didn't really need a bridge pickup but the Epi EB-3 has a set neck and the Epi EB-0 has a bolt neck, so the comparison could have been a bit more balanced if the Epi EB-3 was used for this test. Nonetheless, this is a GREAT comparison. Thanks!
Scott Campbell EB-3 is supposed to be short scale. The Epi is really an EB-3L. The Epiphone Elitist EB3 made in Japan is the closest to a Gibson EB-3 the brand has offered.
I’m 68 years old and I’ve had a Gibson bass in my gear most of the years since high school. Currently I play an EB-2c. Their biggest issue is the big humbucking PU sounds muddy. To get around that don’t turn the bass up over 7 1/2 or 8. Let the amp do the work and don’t have the amps bass control set to high. I’ve used tube amps, mostly fenders the whole time. Currently a brownface B’master.
Thanks for the great review! I have an Epi EB0 "Limited Edition Custom Shop" in a satin finish which I really dig. I had a early '70s Gibson EB3 for a while years ago, but didn't play it a lot over other basses, but man the Epi is great.I started playing on a no-name extremely short-scale EB3 :) It had a 25" scale I think, ha. So I've had much EB love in my life :) cheers!
Great shootout. I always loved the tone and playability of the EB basses. I had the opportunity to play one at band practice for 30 minutes. My only problem with the SG shape is the comfort. These basses kill my shoulder. I'm 6"2". The strap button (in my opinion) is in a lousy place. The bass leans forward when playing it. I would love if Gibson would put the strap button recessed into the tip of the upper horn.
I bought an Epiphone EB 0 7 years ago. The action was wuch too high so lowered as much as I could. Much more playable now. Sounds awsome on a Ampeg Micro VR.
Thanks. Just a few comments. The Stagg sounded like the 'bridge' pickup was selected (with its characteristic treble presence) while the Gibson and Epiphone sounded like the 'neck' pickup was selected - with the slightly muddier bottom characteristic. It would have been nice if the pickup selection, levels, etc. had been specified and the fundamental permutations thereof had been demoed instead of simply a 'one size fits all' demo that fails to illustrate the range of responses available with the two very different sounding pickups.
Nice shoot-out. I was surprised how well the Stagg held it's own against the Gibson. The Epiphone obviously wasn't as versatile as the Gibson or Stagg, but it didn't sound bad. Between the Gibson and Stagg it's tough to pick between the two. On one hand I prefer a USA made Gibson, but I thought the Stagg cut through better. It would be nice to see how the Stagg holds up against a real Gibson EB-3 from the 60's or 70's.
+buddhamus Thanks, I think the Stagg holds up really well against an original EB3. There were some great units and some not so great units back then. Cheers
The Gibson had the the richest bottom end to my humble ears. I must say, it's also the player and what you played,(and where it was played on the instrument) the sustained notes at the beginning of the passage really showcased the bottom end tone, it is a bass after all! a lot of guys play as fancy as possible on these demos, but the less you play the bigger you sound.. Way to go sir. That's the best demo for this bass I have seen yet. Great player.
The epiphone sounded bit more tame, warmer. The gibson had more of a bite to it. I liked the stagg overall, it had the mix of both the epiphone and the gibson
Timfine I play a Gibson SG bass. Previously I had a Epiphone SG. They both tend to nose dive if you don't hold onto it. The Epiphone was way worse than the Gibson. I really love the Gibson and have gotten used to it. I think it's worth it.
Great video!!! And nice little jam too! The Stagg sounds a lot like my Ibanez lawsuit SG eb-3 copy, I also own the Epi eb-0. Even though very similar, I think they all have their own distinctive sound. Thank you for posting this great video!
All fairly similar sounding as you pointed out. It's a pity you didn't have a 60s or 70s Gibson EB -0/3 bass as well for testing, the neck pickup being a proper "mudbucker" unlike the modern ones which are essentially TB+ (Thunderbird/Les Paul etc.) pickups with an mudbucker cover. I think that would have sounded quite a bit different ;)
I am still playing my Epiphone Les Paul special bass and happy with it. A lot of the bass tone comes from the player, not the instrument. An average bass player will not sound better on a Gibson compared with an Epiphone with a good player. Practisce hard and often and you too can be a good player on any instrument.
+Johan Segeborn -- Great comparison Johan. Regarding the Stagg copy bass, I've found that rolling the tone down a little greatly enhances the tone, especially because older basses get a bit more fret buzz due to non-level frets. Old basses usually need a set up. Many Japanese EB3 copy basses sound great. Would be interesting to hear the Stagg compared to a vintage Gibson EB3; my guess is very similar.
Had a Gibson EB3 early 70's. Not surprized the Stagg is as good or even better. Play with a three chord rocknroll song in the background and see if it has a tone that will blend or cut through when needed. I had to really flog my Gibson to get enough presence, but no graphics or compressors on bass amps those days.
keith ruddell Thanks! Those are great sounding basses, that I actually never have had the oportunity to try. is the jazz bass pickups on the 302? Cheers Johan
Big single coils are found in the B302. Many people consider those pickups the second best ever used in Guilds behind BiSonics. As I recall the bass sounds mostly like a Gibson of course because it's all mahogany. Also, the clean top end of a J and open midrange qualities of a Ric. They're highly underrated vintage basses and easy to find inexpensive. The bass works for nearly any style as long as dark colors are welcome. The only reason I got rid of mine was because at the time I didn't have a need to own both a B302 and a Starfire.
greetings Sir Johan, all 3 electric bass guitars sounds different from each other. my personal favorite is the Stagg cause it has that Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) sound which i prefer, but they all look beautiful & sound great! thanks so much for this shootout comparison video presentation. cheers!
The reason why the stagg neck pickup sounds so good is because it’s a single coil pickup 🤘rated at 9.5k which is made by maxon/Greco, look under the pickup cover if you don’t believe me. These “japanbuckers” pickups are one of the best kept secrets from the era, better sounding and engineered than Gibson. Greco and any other sg type bass from Japan will have this pickup, it’s also on Greco Rickenbacker basses.
I recently got hooked on EB3 and bought a vintage early 70s Japanese Electra 2261 Tritone, and its even cooler than that Stagg. Instead of a pickup selector it comes with a 3 way varitone switch and a bridge mute for even more tone options. It sounds similar to the Stagg I think this particular model was based off of the 1969 EB3 model, cause it has an ashtray over the bridge, and the bridge mute feature. But not even the real Gibsons had a varitone like that. It was the only one for sale on the internet at the time, at least the immediately accessible internet. Really really happy with it, but the neck has been giving me some issues. It is a very used instrument so its not really that much of a surprise
I love Gibsons but I have to say the Stagg sounded much better - more volume, more clarity, more sustain, more punch. Would definitely cut through the mix more in my opinion. (Wonder what pickups those are - take them out and put them in the Gibby ha ha)
what about vintage Ibanez EB3 ,from lawsuit era- early 70's..where will you put this version,between ,in the middle ,maybe similar to... ??? Thanx & cheers
on it's own the Epi sounded good and maybe can be modded to be great, the Gibson was classic muddy yum if that's your bag and it is mine, the Stagg's mids stood out and probably is the most useful overall and likely can be muddied up to taste whereas clarity is hard to impose on a dark bass. I'll take all 3!
I've grown to love short scale basses, and got a good buy on an Epi EBO which was practically new. I loved the neck, and the action was nice & low on this particular bass. But the only sound I could get out of it was a lifeless, flat tone with absolutely no balls whatsoever. I ended up selling it. I don't know who's idea it was to stick the sole pickup all the way up to the neck, but it doesn't work for me. If the PU was placed in the center like the P bass, I'm sure it would sound much better. I now have a Squier VM Jag SS. Much better bass IMO. BTW, it's great to see someone else who has an appreciation for SS basses. Would like to see a lot more vids on them, so keep up the good work!
dude, i hope you can help me. I'm deciding between the jag and the eb0. don't you think that playing with a pick and putting some flats to the epi it would sound better and more pronounced? would a eb3 be better than the eb0 as it has a bridge pickup to balance the muddiness? thanks ahead
+Matt Henry Yes. I had an Epi EBO with even round wounds with a pick is too muddy and lacks balls. The Gibson EB3 is better, and the Epi EBS sounds a lot better with the bridge PU, BUT...the EPI EBS is a standard 34" scale bass, unlike the Epi EBO, which is a 30" SS like the Jag. The squire Jag SS might be your best bet. You can even upgrade the PU's to SD 1/4 # ers. I'd recommend going to GC and playing the Gibson SG, Epi EBO, and Jag SS. Who knows. you might want to shell over the extra $$ if you really like the sound and quality. Also, Ibanez makes a 28.5" scale you can check out also. BTW, Brice makes a 30" 5 string Bass which is supposed to be pretty nice for around $325. It has Dbl Humbuckers, but you cant try it out. Rondo Music has it.
+bflo1000 I just saw a Chris novak ebbs pickup and really brightens the tone of the eb0. I guess it would be a choice. Where I live, the jag is almost two times the price of the epi eb0. maybe flats, pick and someday changing the pu's would make a difference
I really like the Gibson the best, but the Stagg is a good number two. The Gibson you play on the video has a far better sound as the old EB-3 with the old mud bucker. The Epi sounds darker in my opinion, not as fat as an old EB-0, but the best sounding one is my one 2014 SG special bass in Chocolate satin :) Very nice sounding without thick finish. Again a nice and helpful demo, Thanks Johan !
+Henry Franssen i seriously doubt gibson made a good job on this gibson "SG" reissue. It doesnt even have the old 90s baritone that everyone loved about this bass. Also the pickups are both measured under 10kohms which is pretty weak compared to the old EB3 which was called back then. (eb3 instead of sg) At least the build quality is amazing and they gave it a fair price tag compared to other gibson products.
+Jim Dragon I played a few months on a Gibson SG Bass, the tone was very nice and no weak output at all and the sound was better to juse for different styles than the old EB-3 also a nice weight and nice neck. But after searching for a few years i buyed a Wal Pro Bass like i had in the late 70's. IMO nothing can compare to this bass.
Being a passive bass, the output is fairly low, at least compared to a bass with an active pre-amp, such as my Stiletto Elite 4. The cheaper double EMG HZ's are blow it out of the water volume wise (duh!). But this can be remedied by a DI pedal or even maybe just by tweaking the volume.
Hi Milo, I have never tried a faded SG bass but usually the difference between high and low end variants of the same model is wood and build quality. The quality control is higher on high end stuff, but sometimes cheap variants turns out world Class as a result of luck
Johan Segeborn i see, but in Gibson.com foruns says that is just paint finish, and have dots markups just like in the epiphone. But the wood and others specs are the same. I bought one, and i will play it in the weekend, i'm so excited ahhaha
These are probably very similar in sound and playability. Cosmetic differences. And the faded looks like an EB bass should. Tell me how you like it when you get it! Cheers Johan
I've also heard that QC is worse on the satin ones. But I've also heard they're a great value. They are quite a bit cheaper, but scratch & dent easily.
I'm tied between the Epiphone and Stagg, but ultimately I'd choose the Epiphone cause of how low the price is. They are all beautiful sounding basses though
My EB-3, Gibson, had a 4 position selector that allowed me to work the sound to get what I was playing at the time Gospel to Heavy metal.....3rd bass in lifetime, after Gibson fire-bird before Fender Jazz leading to Gibson Les Paul recording(favorite) yee-haa I haven't found a post on my favorite yet (Les)
+Johan Segeborn The longer scale Firebird worked me while I was learning (started playing at 13), it was kinda stiff but extremely responsive. The pickup went out after 2 years and I wasn't able to replace it with a similar one. The better players I encountered rocked it like you do. The EB-3 had a shorter scale and suited me better with the 4 position selector because I was also learning the on the 1st of my 6 string Les Goldtops. When I got to the Recording Les Triumph it was awesome. I loved the short scale, phase shift, hi-lo, 3 position selector, and pickup selection. To me at 26 years, perfect stage play on any venue, outside live, or closed session with direct box through fender recording amp (440 watts) it was fantastic!!!!. Like the Black Beauty Fret-less Wonder you were playing in another vid, one of Gibson's many better productions. I have a limited Money Bass I play now that is also short scale and a limited Les Goldtop with mini humbuckers. sry so long, feel free to edit
I did some work for a band (1970s) bass player had a Gibson Les Paul®™ bass. It sounded great. Saw one for $300.00, wish I could have bought it. Would like to try a Fender Precision®™ short scale.
Didn't they change out the pick ups of the new Gibsons, and Epiphones as TB Plus Humbuckers instead of the original Sidewinder Humbuckers, so they are not as bright, and not as low anymore?
To me the Stagg had more upper mids, the Gibson more low end extension and less upper mids ( compared to the Stagg ) and the Epiphone was kind of middle of the road... no upper mid boost and no low end extension. Still, not a bad sounding bass. Might be easier to tucked into a mix. IDK
IMO Stagg wins, very punchy sound, I think it would cut nicely through the mix. You can hear that its an old japanese instrument, it sounds a bit deeper in comparison to the newer ones. Great playing as usual :) Cheers !!
the Stagg was so much better sounding to me that i had to wonder if you were using the same settings on each bass. Almost a 3D sound compared to the mud of the EBO and a nice but murkier EB3. Ratings: Stagg 10 EB3 7 EB0 2 thanks!
I have a 1971 Aria EB3 that sounds similar to the Stagg.nice bass. I also have a 1971 Gibson EB3L. Very nice also, but two completely different things! That Epi didn’t do much for me :/
I bought the Epiphone EB0 and then put a bridge humbucker in it to turn it into a short scale Epi Eb3 - as the Epi EB3 are long scale - great demo's of all the basses and it shows there is not a lot between them all.
Hi Johan, cool shootout ! Do you think modifying a EB-0 by moving back the side winder like Gene simmons did (seen in vintageguitar site), similar To the stingray, would je worth it? THANKS, and keep rocking!
I liked the Gibson best. I thought it had the best sound all around. The epi sounded thin, the stagg sounded good, but didn't knock me out like the Gibson. I liked the sound of the open E on the gibson
4:10 Stagg vs. Gibson: The Stagg is mean, growly, muddy, raw. When you switch to the Gibson the tone loses *something* in oomph and growl. The Stagg really beats out the Gibson. It has that little extra "Cream" on the cake, if you know what I mean. 4:10 is where you hear it.
+Johan Segeborn -- I agree with you. I wonder if the character of the Gibson pickups will change with age. What I like about the original EB3 style basses is the rude and aggresive tone. That same bass line you played just sounded so much better on the Stagg. The Stagg sounded like an Outlaw or Pirate and the Gibson sounded like a Gentleman with a cup of tea. Both great basses though. [I love your videos!]
You're right. That's where I noticed it to. The vintage Stagg has a true side "mudbucker" that sounds much more like a vintage EB3. If you have over a grand to spend, then get the vintage Gibson EB3. The only problem is it's a one trick pony. The new SG has a lot more definition, & is capable of a wider range of sounds. That's why Fender really dusted Gibson in bass sales during that era. Some people say that the SG sounds better with flats. I like mine with my regular gauge (107 on E string) nickel plated rounds.
Where can you pickup that Stagg bass? I think it's a very impressive bass. Have you heard the Epi EB-0 with the Dimarzio Model One pickup swap? I wonder how that would compare.
The biggest problem with the single pu EBO is the pickup position. All the way up to the neck is the worst, unless you want to try to get a low, flat, standup bass kind of sound (which absolutely sucks for rock lol). If you don't like that, I would stay clear of the the EBO, unless you want to make a project bass out of it by carving it up & adding another pickup. It would be insane to pay a luthier to do it. You'd be better off buying an actual Gibson.
People would often point to the bridge pickup and set neck being the big difference with the epi eb3, but in my experience it's the long scale which makes it the most solid sounding EB in a mix (it is actually a reissue of the EB3L, and has a very Jazz Bass style neck).
So if you were going into a recording studio, which bass would you take to record with? I'm sure not that clinkity clanking Stagg. Great vid by the way. Good day sir. :)
Wow I hoped the Epiphone would have sounded better in this comparison. Guess I better save my pennies and dish out the extra for a Gibson. The Stag sounds great and I could only tell it apart from the Gibson on a couple of the riffs.
I might be getting a Woodward bass this spring. It'll be a 32"scale SG made by a guy who used to work in Gibson's custom shop. They are making guitars out of reclaimed wood from the Detroit area.
If I could have the neck tone of the Stagg with the bridge tone of the Gibbo with the price of the Epi I'd be a happy, happy man
I must not be the only one who loves when you can feel the bass' vibration
+Diz Jaeger No, I love it too. Cheers!
Johan Segeborn svensk?
That Stagg sounds killer!
Yeah, those lawsuit instruments can be great
Epiphone EBO very underrated..
Yeah, some of the MIJ lawsuit basses are good copies...and bargains. Others suck. You almost have to play them B4 buying.
@@nealdew71 I have the SG, and had the Epi, but got rid of it fast. No sustain or balls to the sound.
This is 6 years old but I'll comment anyways. I own the Gibson SG and Epi EB-0. The Gibby oozes quality in its feel and tones. The Epi is pretty good and costs about 1/5th as much. I gig the SG with confidence and practice with the band using the Epi. The Stagg I heard here has occasional tones that are outside of my preference. I rate it the same as the EB-0. It was a good video to showcase these instruments.
Great DEMO! Great sound of all three BASS! Thanks! But I love Gibson SG bass!
+Sergey Kirillov Thanks Sergey, Cheers!
a very nice Video - I love the Gibson SG EB Basses
Thanks! I’m glad to hear that!
I like the sound of all three.
+Robert Sexton Thanks Robert
I don't know...but for my sound, the epiphone win. good video Johan appreciate.
Thanks Rick! Glad to hear that.
For whatever reason I would choose Epiphone. For the forementioned nonexisting reason I always liked the more scooped-out sounding basses.
+Márk N. Mészáros (GniQQ) Thanks Márk :-)
I love all of these Basses! I would just get them all!
The Epihone seems to lose this shootout due to lack of volume, clarity and some tuning problems. The Stagg kills it IMHO.
Interesting review, Johan. I have the Epi myself, which I've turned into a piccolo bass (D'Addario 32-65 nickel roundwounds). The Stagg had a great vibe to it! Would be good in a Punk band. These basses are useful for playing much more than Cream or Free riffs.
+Reinemachefrau Thanks, they are indeed very versatile.
Gracias Johan...muy buena comparativa
that Stagg sounds surprisingly good, i bet it would sound amazing with some flatwounds and a pick
Thanks :-)
Love it Johan. I have a Gibson sg bass myself. I have been wondering how a epiphone sounds in comparison. Now I know. Thanks.
I went to my local cobbler (shoemaker) and had a 'folk' style strap made; it goes right to the headstock, with a sliding loop around and a padded shoulder piece. Any guitar can be balanced. You'll get teased, but have the comfort.
kenokid Yeah, that train has left the station for me so I'm all for comfort.
Hi Johan. Your videos are so useful. Thanks a lot for your time.
victorgayou Thanks Victor, I'm very glad to hear that, Cheers Johan
I'm not really very knowledgable about basses and the tones you can get from them, but I instantly fell in love with the Stagg. So much snap and honk, tons of mojo. And that bridge pickup? Sweet!
The Gibson was like the opposite - very warm and creamy, also sounding great but there was no "wow" factor involved ;)
***** I agree. The Gibson is the better instrument but the Stagg has tons of character.
Thanks.. saw the epi eb3 in a local guitar shop.. after 30 plus years of playing guitar it made we want to pick up a bass..far too cool
+Rob D Cool man, then the EB basses is a great choice, since it's closer to a guitar in scale the P, T and T-basses. Cheers
Hi Johan, I have a friend holding a very nice Burny copy of this one for 400 aud..so it was great to come across this review.
chris pollard Cool, there are some hidden treasures out there, man :-) Cheers
I would have liked to hear the Epiphone EB-3 compared to the Gibson EB-3/SG bass, especially since the Epi has the longer 34" scale of a standard EB-3. I've recorded with an Epi EB-0 and I found the sound didn't really need a bridge pickup but the Epi EB-3 has a set neck and the Epi EB-0 has a bolt neck, so the comparison could have been a bit more balanced if the Epi EB-3 was used for this test. Nonetheless, this is a GREAT comparison. Thanks!
Scott Campbell EB-3 is supposed to be short scale. The Epi is really an EB-3L. The Epiphone Elitist EB3 made in Japan is the closest to a Gibson EB-3 the brand has offered.
THANKS for the info! I have an EB-3 I need to a little work on to get it working.
If i would have the choice it'll be the Stagg... wonderful dirty vintage sound...
+modesu1 Thanks, I like that one too
I’m 68 years old and I’ve had a Gibson bass in my gear most of the years since high school. Currently I play an EB-2c. Their biggest issue is the big humbucking PU sounds muddy. To get around that don’t turn the bass up over 7 1/2 or 8. Let the amp do the work and don’t have the amps bass control set to high. I’ve used tube amps, mostly fenders the whole time. Currently a brownface B’master.
Wow you setup rocks, impossible see this kinda of vintage gear in Brazil...
Thanks for the great review! I have an Epi EB0 "Limited Edition Custom Shop" in a satin finish which I really dig. I had a early '70s Gibson EB3 for a while years ago, but didn't play it a lot over other basses, but man the Epi is great.I started playing on a no-name extremely short-scale EB3 :) It had a 25" scale I think, ha. So I've had much EB love in my life :) cheers!
Great shootout. I always loved the tone and playability of the EB basses. I had the opportunity to play one at band practice for 30 minutes. My only problem with the SG shape is the comfort. These basses kill my shoulder. I'm 6"2". The strap button (in my opinion) is in a lousy place. The bass leans forward when playing it. I would love if Gibson would put the strap button recessed into the tip of the upper horn.
Eric Reicher Thanks and I agree, the strap is very irritating. Cheers! Johan
I bought an Epiphone EB 0 7 years ago. The action was wuch too high so lowered as much as I could. Much more playable now. Sounds awsome on a Ampeg Micro VR.
Thanks.
Just a few comments. The Stagg sounded like the 'bridge' pickup was selected (with its characteristic treble presence) while the Gibson and Epiphone sounded like the 'neck' pickup was selected - with the slightly muddier bottom characteristic.
It would have been nice if the pickup selection, levels, etc. had been specified and the fundamental permutations thereof had been demoed instead of simply a 'one size fits all' demo that fails to illustrate the range of responses available with the two very different sounding pickups.
Cool video. I always enjoy your reviews bro.
Nice shoot-out. I was surprised how well the Stagg held it's own against the Gibson. The Epiphone obviously wasn't as versatile as the Gibson or Stagg, but it didn't sound bad. Between the Gibson and Stagg it's tough to pick between the two. On one hand I prefer a USA made Gibson, but I thought the Stagg cut through better. It would be nice to see how the Stagg holds up against a real Gibson EB-3 from the 60's or 70's.
+buddhamus Thanks, I think the Stagg holds up really well against an original EB3. There were some great units and some not so great units back then. Cheers
The Gibson had the the richest bottom end to my humble ears. I must say, it's also the player and what you played,(and where it was played on the instrument) the sustained notes at the beginning of the passage really showcased the bottom end tone, it is a bass after all! a lot of guys play as fancy as possible on these demos, but the less you play the bigger you sound.. Way to go sir. That's the best demo for this bass I have seen yet. Great player.
Stagg sound good
Thanks!
Haha så mystisk du blir frammåt slutet med silhouetten. Fattas bara att du förvrängt rösten haha.
Bra jämförelse! Tack
The epiphone sounded bit more tame, warmer. The gibson had more of a bite to it. I liked the stagg overall, it had the mix of both the epiphone and the gibson
***** Thanks, Yeah that's a good description. Cheers Johan
Excellent! It would be great to make a review with the new ones as EB bass 2017 and 2018.We really appreciate it; therefore, thanks a lot johan.
This is making me want a Gibson SG bass. :P
Timfine Glad to hear that :-)
I played one at my local guitar center today, and I loved it. My only issue with it was the neck dive. Have you found that to be an issue?
Timfine I play a Gibson SG bass. Previously I had a Epiphone SG. They both tend to nose dive if you don't hold onto it. The Epiphone was way worse than the Gibson. I really love the Gibson and have gotten used to it. I think it's worth it.
S De Falco Thanks! I will keep that in mind. Would you recommend buying one used?
Sure, why not....if it feels right . One of the best basses I ever owned I bought used for 200 dollars.
The price of 1970s Stagg will be killer too.
+Manel Ramodne Yeah, I got it for 200 bucks. Cheers
Great find!
Great video!!! And nice little jam too!
The Stagg sounds a lot like my Ibanez lawsuit SG eb-3 copy, I also own the Epi eb-0. Even though very similar, I think they all have their own distinctive sound.
Thank you for posting this great video!
gilpi552 Thanks, Glad to hear! Many of those early copies are surprisingly good! Cheers
All fairly similar sounding as you pointed out. It's a pity you didn't have a 60s or 70s Gibson EB -0/3 bass as well for testing, the neck pickup being a proper "mudbucker" unlike the modern ones which are essentially TB+ (Thunderbird/Les Paul etc.) pickups with an mudbucker cover. I think that would have sounded quite a bit different ;)
Johan they all have big fat bass sound I like it , wish I could play one.
I am still playing my Epiphone Les Paul special bass and happy with it.
A lot of the bass tone comes from the player, not the instrument.
An average bass player will not sound better on a Gibson compared with an Epiphone with a good player.
Practisce hard and often and you too can be a good player on any instrument.
Neck Pickup Winner: Epi, Gibson, Stagg. All very good.
* The Stagg actually sounds more like Jack Bruce's bass (very vintage sound).
Thanks!
+Johan Segeborn -- Great comparison Johan. Regarding the Stagg copy bass, I've found that rolling the tone down a little greatly enhances the tone, especially because older basses get a bit more fret buzz due to non-level frets. Old basses usually need a set up. Many Japanese EB3 copy basses sound great. Would be interesting to hear the Stagg compared to a vintage Gibson EB3; my guess is very similar.
Had a Gibson EB3 early 70's. Not surprized the Stagg is as good or even better. Play with a three chord rocknroll song in the background and see if it has a tone that will blend or cut through when needed. I had to really flog my Gibson to get enough presence, but no graphics or compressors on bass amps those days.
Need a PIO cap in that Epi and I’d be surprised if it didn’t liven up. I agree with you, though. Great comparison! Cheers!
Cool man thanks for the share! The Gibson and Stagg reminded me of a closed woolier version of my Starfire.
some qualities of a Guild B302 I once had as well
keith ruddell Thanks! Those are great sounding basses, that I actually never have had the oportunity to try. is the jazz bass pickups on the 302? Cheers Johan
Big single coils are found in the B302. Many people consider those pickups the second best ever used in Guilds behind BiSonics.
As I recall the bass sounds mostly like a Gibson of course because it's all mahogany. Also, the clean top end of a J and open midrange qualities of a Ric. They're highly underrated vintage basses and easy to find inexpensive. The bass works for nearly any style as long as dark colors are welcome. The only reason I got rid of mine was because at the time I didn't have a need to own both a B302 and a Starfire.
I always liked Roto 88 tapewounds on EB-3s to bring out their natural wooliness.
Love my eb3, pure bass great with fuzz.
greetings Sir Johan, all 3 electric bass guitars sounds different from each other. my personal favorite is the Stagg cause it has that Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) sound which i prefer, but they all look beautiful & sound great! thanks so much for this shootout comparison video presentation. cheers!
torn mask Thanks, Geezer Butler have been a favourite for over 30 years!
Johan Segeborn But Geezer was a Fender P man LOL.
I have the epiphone and have to say it Rock's on a great budget. .
+Brandon Hupp yeah it's great value!
Most Favourited gutar...i love it
That Stagg really stood out. Compared to the others how does it play? I know nothing about that brand.
MAGNIFICANT basses
Proper low end better with flats
The reason why the stagg neck pickup sounds so good is because it’s a single coil pickup 🤘rated at 9.5k which is made by maxon/Greco, look under the pickup cover if you don’t believe me. These “japanbuckers” pickups are one of the best kept secrets from the era, better sounding and engineered than Gibson.
Greco and any other sg type bass from Japan will have this pickup, it’s also on Greco Rickenbacker basses.
Help! im overdosing on EB bass! quickly please send the Stagg to this unfortunate starving bassist here in Argentina! ; )
+mac163 hahaha, you cant overdose on EB man. Never too much EB :-)
I recently got hooked on EB3 and bought a vintage early 70s Japanese Electra 2261 Tritone, and its even cooler than that Stagg. Instead of a pickup selector it comes with a 3 way varitone switch and a bridge mute for even more tone options. It sounds similar to the Stagg I think this particular model was based off of the 1969 EB3 model, cause it has an ashtray over the bridge, and the bridge mute feature. But not even the real Gibsons had a varitone like that. It was the only one for sale on the internet at the time, at least the immediately accessible internet. Really really happy with it, but the neck has been giving me some issues. It is a very used instrument so its not really that much of a surprise
Stagg sounds the best! I think the pickup must be wound a lot less than the pickup on the other two.
Hi Alan, actually it is hotter than the other two strangely enough with all that treble
Johan Segeborn Must be a different gauge of wire otherwise the inductance would kill all the highs. An amazing bass either way!
Cool video man, thank you!
How about Jedson SG? Is it possible to make a test video of it?
Is the stagg short scale??
Welcome to my world Johanes my bro ;)
I love Gibsons but I have to say the Stagg sounded much better - more volume, more clarity, more sustain, more punch. Would definitely cut through the mix more in my opinion. (Wonder what pickups those are - take them out and put them in the Gibby ha ha)
what about vintage Ibanez EB3 ,from lawsuit era- early 70's..where will you put this version,between ,in the middle ,maybe similar to... ??? Thanx & cheers
+Dejan Stojanovski It sounds similar to this Stagg and to the old Gibsons. Cheers!
It does. I had one. The intonation was off on the one I had though.
on it's own the Epi sounded good and maybe can be modded to be great, the Gibson was classic muddy yum if that's your bag and it is mine, the Stagg's mids stood out and probably is the most useful overall and likely can be muddied up to taste whereas clarity is hard to impose on a dark bass. I'll take all 3!
I've grown to love short scale basses, and got a good buy on an Epi EBO which was practically new. I loved the neck, and the action was nice & low on this particular bass. But the only sound I could get out of it was a lifeless, flat tone with absolutely no balls whatsoever. I ended up selling it. I don't know who's idea it was to stick the sole pickup all the way up to the neck, but it doesn't work for me. If the PU was placed in the center like the P bass, I'm sure it would sound much better.
I now have a Squier VM Jag SS. Much better bass IMO. BTW, it's great to see someone else who has an appreciation for SS basses. Would like to see a lot more vids on them, so keep up the good work!
dude, i hope you can help me. I'm deciding between the jag and the eb0. don't you think that playing with a pick and putting some flats to the epi it would sound better and more pronounced? would a eb3 be better than the eb0 as it has a bridge pickup to balance the muddiness? thanks ahead
+Matt Henry Yes. I had an Epi EBO with even round wounds with a pick is too muddy and lacks balls. The Gibson EB3 is better, and the Epi EBS sounds a lot better with the bridge PU, BUT...the EPI EBS is a standard 34" scale bass, unlike the Epi EBO, which is a 30" SS like the Jag. The squire Jag SS might be your best bet. You can even upgrade the PU's to SD 1/4 # ers. I'd recommend going to GC and playing the Gibson SG, Epi EBO, and Jag SS. Who knows. you might want to shell over the extra $$ if you really like the sound and quality. Also, Ibanez makes a 28.5" scale you can check out also. BTW, Brice makes a 30" 5 string Bass which is supposed to be pretty nice for around $325. It has Dbl Humbuckers, but you cant try it out. Rondo Music has it.
+bflo1000 I just saw a Chris novak ebbs pickup and really brightens the tone of the eb0. I guess it would be a choice. Where I live, the jag is almost two times the price of the epi eb0. maybe flats, pick and someday changing the pu's would make a difference
+Matt Henry Really? In the US the Jag is only $180 new. Less on sale, and even less used. I definitely prefer it to the EBO sound-wise.
BTW, I just solved all of my problems by shelling out money for a used Gibson SG.
The ear will prefer the loudest sound, ie the Stagg..... hard to compare with such a volume contrast.
I really like the Gibson the best, but the Stagg is a good number two.
The Gibson you play on the video has a far better sound as the old EB-3 with the old mud bucker.
The Epi sounds darker in my opinion, not as fat as an old EB-0, but the best sounding one is my one 2014 SG special bass in Chocolate satin :)
Very nice sounding without thick finish.
Again a nice and helpful demo, Thanks Johan !
Thanks Henry! Yeah Gibson did a good job on the reissue.
+Henry Franssen i seriously doubt gibson made a good job on this gibson "SG" reissue. It doesnt even have the old 90s baritone that everyone loved about this bass. Also the pickups are both measured under 10kohms which is pretty weak compared to the old EB3 which was called back then. (eb3 instead of sg) At least the build quality is amazing and they gave it a fair price tag compared to other gibson products.
+Jim Dragon I played a few months on a Gibson SG Bass, the tone was very nice and no weak output at all and the sound was better to juse for different styles than the old EB-3 also a nice weight and nice neck.
But after searching for a few years i buyed a Wal Pro Bass like i had in the late 70's. IMO nothing can compare to this bass.
Being a passive bass, the output is fairly low, at least compared to a bass with an active pre-amp, such as my Stiletto Elite 4. The cheaper double EMG HZ's are blow it out of the water volume wise (duh!). But this can be remedied by a DI pedal or even maybe just by tweaking the volume.
Hi, are you talking about the Wal pro bass go the Gibson SG bass ?
I think that the Gibson sounded the most balanced of the three. I would chose that one.
AscarinVin Yeah it has a very big sound.
Hello! Nice Video! Do you have any video with Gibson SG Bass Faded ? Or is the same sound of the Gibson EB3 ?
Hi Milo, I have never tried a faded SG bass but usually the difference between high and low end variants of the same model is wood and build quality. The quality control is higher on high end stuff, but sometimes cheap variants turns out world Class as a result of luck
Johan Segeborn i see, but in Gibson.com foruns says that is just paint finish, and have dots markups just like in the epiphone. But the wood and others specs are the same. I bought one, and i will play it in the weekend, i'm so excited ahhaha
These are probably very similar in sound and playability. Cosmetic differences. And the faded looks like an EB bass should. Tell me how you like it when you get it! Cheers Johan
I've also heard that QC is worse on the satin ones. But I've also heard they're a great value. They are quite a bit cheaper, but scratch & dent easily.
You are very good, sir.
the old Stagg hands down!
+Bush Mann Thanks! :-)
I'm tied between the Epiphone and Stagg, but ultimately I'd choose the Epiphone cause of how low the price is. They are all beautiful sounding basses though
+Kai Selmser Thanks, yeah it's great value
My EB-3, Gibson, had a 4 position selector that allowed me to work the sound to get what I was playing at the time Gospel to Heavy metal.....3rd bass in lifetime, after Gibson fire-bird before Fender Jazz leading to Gibson Les Paul recording(favorite) yee-haa I haven't found a post on my favorite yet (Les)
Hi Richard, I have never had an opportunity to play the Recording bass yet. How does it compare to the other Gibson basses?
+Johan Segeborn
The longer scale Firebird worked me while I was learning (started playing at 13), it was kinda stiff but extremely responsive. The pickup went out after 2 years and I wasn't able to replace it with a similar one. The better players I encountered rocked it like you do.
The EB-3 had a shorter scale and suited me better with the 4 position selector because I was also learning the on the 1st of my 6 string Les Goldtops.
When I got to the Recording Les Triumph it was awesome. I loved the short scale, phase shift, hi-lo, 3 position selector, and pickup selection. To me at 26 years, perfect stage play on any venue, outside live, or closed session with direct box through fender recording amp (440 watts) it was fantastic!!!!. Like the Black Beauty Fret-less Wonder you were playing in another vid, one of Gibson's many better productions.
I have a limited Money Bass I play now that is also short scale and a limited Les Goldtop with mini humbuckers. sry so long, feel free to edit
Cool, and it seemed like Les himself really liked the recording guitar since he used it frequently. Cheers
I did some work for a band (1970s) bass player had a Gibson Les Paul®™ bass. It sounded great. Saw one for $300.00, wish I could have bought it. Would like to try a Fender Precision®™ short scale.
I have en Epiphone eb-3 and I love it
There is a mint one on eBay at the moment 1998 Guitar Shangril-La 26-03-2021
Didn't they change out the pick ups of the new Gibsons, and Epiphones as TB Plus Humbuckers instead of the original Sidewinder Humbuckers, so they are not as bright, and not as low anymore?
Jeremy Ward Yeah, those are basically modern T-bird pickups in a big shiny chassis if I'm not missinformed.
To me the Stagg had more upper mids, the Gibson more low end extension and less upper mids ( compared to the Stagg ) and the Epiphone was kind of middle of the road... no upper mid boost and no low end extension. Still, not a bad sounding bass. Might be easier to tucked into a mix. IDK
IMO Stagg wins, very punchy sound, I think it would cut nicely through the mix. You can hear that its an old japanese instrument, it sounds a bit deeper in comparison to the newer ones. Great playing as usual :) Cheers !!
rebootver Thanks! Johan
The Stagg actually sounded like it has the original Sidewinder Humbucker in it.
Jeremy Ward Yeah, I agree but it doesnt have the exact same dimensions, so its probably the original stagg pickup. Cheers
Johan Segeborn Yeah, just had more of a classic growl to it it seemed.
the Stagg was so much better sounding to me that i had to wonder if you were using the same settings on each bass. Almost a 3D sound compared to the mud of the EBO and a nice but murkier EB3. Ratings: Stagg 10 EB3 7 EB0 2 thanks!
They actually had the same settings. I think the sidewinder of the new EB3/0 is a T-bird pickup in a sidewinder chassis, but I'm not sure. Cheers
Right on. EBO's are anemic, high-fi sounding.
Gibson Eb3 twin pickup. Also better than the old one with the slotted peg head not shown here.
That Stagg sounds really bright
+XlouietheflyX Yeah it does, it cuts through nicely. Cheers Johan
I have a 1971 Aria EB3 that sounds similar to the Stagg.nice bass. I also have a 1971 Gibson EB3L. Very nice also, but two completely different things! That Epi didn’t do much for me :/
That Stagg sounds a bit like a ric. I thought only my Orange O Bass could replicate that haha
My orange sounds better than my Ric...
It is because of the bridge pickup, it must be at higher volume than the one in the Gibson.
I bought the Epiphone EB0 and then put a bridge humbucker in it to turn it into a short scale Epi Eb3 - as the Epi EB3 are long scale - great demo's of all the basses and it shows there is not a lot between them all.
I liked the old stag.as loud as the gibson with more highs,but still had that farty low end we love
Probably has single coils dressed up as mudbuckers, alot of asian basses from that time were that way.
Hi Johan, cool shootout ! Do you think modifying a EB-0 by moving back the side winder like Gene simmons did (seen in vintageguitar site), similar To the stingray, would je worth it?
THANKS, and keep rocking!
I liked the Gibson best. I thought it had the best sound all around. The epi sounded thin, the stagg sounded good, but didn't knock me out like the Gibson. I liked the sound of the open E on the gibson
+Doug Evans Thanks Doug
the Gibson has the best overall tone and clarity, but the stagg sounded good too.
All good! Thank you!
+Павел Левченко Thanks!
epiphone eb0!
Thanks, a great value bass
4:10 Stagg vs. Gibson: The Stagg is mean, growly, muddy, raw. When you switch to the Gibson the tone loses *something* in oomph and growl. The Stagg really beats out the Gibson. It has that little extra "Cream" on the cake, if you know what I mean. 4:10 is where you hear it.
The Gibson has a great detailed low end but the Stagg has indeed a mildrange kick that is superior. Cheers Johan
+Johan Segeborn -- I agree with you. I wonder if the character of the Gibson pickups will change with age. What I like about the original EB3 style basses is the rude and aggresive tone. That same bass line you played just sounded so much better on the Stagg. The Stagg sounded like an Outlaw or Pirate and the Gibson sounded like a Gentleman with a cup of tea. Both great basses though. [I love your videos!]
Thanks!
You're right. That's where I noticed it to. The vintage Stagg has a true side "mudbucker" that sounds much more like a vintage EB3. If you have over a grand to spend, then get the vintage Gibson EB3. The only problem is it's a one trick pony. The new SG has a lot more definition, & is capable of a wider range of sounds. That's why Fender really dusted Gibson in bass sales during that era. Some people say that the SG sounds better with flats. I like mine with my regular gauge (107 on E string) nickel plated rounds.
I preferred the stagg sound, soured more rounded like you could had more to shape verse the gibson and the epiphone.
rockenrollbass Yeah, I liked the Stagg best too, but I was still very impressed by the Gibson. Cheers! Johan
Good test,not a lot in it to my ears,all very similar in tone.
Surprised the Stagg sounded Badass!
The obvious could claim victory but subtle are the winner.
Is it a song what you played or just a yours thing?
Where can you pickup that Stagg bass? I think it's a very impressive bass. Have you heard the Epi EB-0 with the Dimarzio Model One pickup swap? I wonder how that would compare.
Hi, it's a rare vintage bass, but if you keep an eye on ebay it will turn up. Havent tried the model one yet though. Cheers
The biggest problem with the single pu EBO is the pickup position. All the way up to the neck is the worst, unless you want to try to get a low, flat, standup bass kind of sound (which absolutely sucks for rock lol). If you don't like that, I would stay clear of the the EBO, unless you want to make a project bass out of it by carving it up & adding another pickup. It would be insane to pay a luthier to do it. You'd be better off buying an actual Gibson.
Epiphone EB3 sg bass review?
+AndreaGaming89 It would be my pleasure. As soon as one comes my way.. Cheers Johan
People would often point to the bridge pickup and set neck being the big difference with the epi eb3, but in my experience it's the long scale which makes it the most solid sounding EB in a mix (it is actually a reissue of the EB3L, and has a very Jazz Bass style neck).
The Stagg has a lot more punch. I'll bet it would sound killer with flats on it.
nerkoids I'll put flats on it and compare, I think you might be right. Cheers Johan
Johan Segeborn careful Johan, once you go 'flat', you never go back...
Have you seen the Revelation RSGB bass with pick ups designed by Alan Entwhistle?
+Trevor Beaumont no, gonna check it out! :-)
I have a great Musicman copy from Stagg. I prefer the copy because it have no active pu's and only one pot for tone and volume.
+Brian steff magnussen we got the same bass. But im planning on changing the pups. Thinking of chaching the default with Plasma pups.
It sounds like a good idea. I like a passive sound, but this Stagg are like anonymous, not weak but also no character
You cant compare the Gibson to the Stagg. That Stagg sounds paper thin compared to the Gibson. Upgrade your speakers people.
I agree that the Gibson has the fullest sound, but the Stagg has more overtones. Cheers
So if you were going into a recording studio, which bass would you take to record with? I'm sure not that clinkity clanking Stagg. Great vid by the way. Good day sir. :)
Thanks :-)
Wow I hoped the Epiphone would have sounded better in this comparison. Guess I better save my pennies and dish out the extra for a Gibson. The Stag sounds great and I could only tell it apart from the Gibson on a couple of the riffs.
Defo get the Gibson bro, I have one it's awesome, get the 120th anniversary version it's the best one for sound quality, it's almost thunderbird like
I might be getting a Woodward bass this spring. It'll be a 32"scale SG made by a guy who used to work in Gibson's custom shop. They are making guitars out of reclaimed wood from the Detroit area.
Wow, that sounds interesting!
The satin finished SG's aren't as bad price-wise. You should be able to find one used w case for around 6 bills or so.
Stagg is not bad, but i prefer Gibson. Epiphone is not impressive at all. Thanks for the demo.
Thanks! Yeah the epi lacks a lot of the spatial definition of the other two. Cheers
The Epi sucks. I had one. It's too bad because it's a great playing little bass for cheap.