Gibson EB1 1956 Little Richard and The Upsetters

Behind every musical movement stands a pioneering figure who laid the groundwork for entire generations of artists. Little Richard is one of those figures. A founding icon of rock ’n’ roll, he left his mark on the 1950s with his flamboyant style and timeless hits. As skilled as he was energetic behind the piano, Little Richard also had a sharp ear for surrounding himself with musicians who provided the melodic foundation of his greatest successes. In 1956, he teamed up with the Upsetters, a group of American musicians with whom he recorded some of his biggest hits (including the song “Long Tall Sally”). This 1956 Gibson EB-1 bass belonged to Olsie Robinson, the bassist of the Upsetters. It accompanied Little Richard on most of his hits and appears in the video of the timeless “Tutti Frutti,” just a few steps away from Little Richard standing behind his keyboard.

Behind every hit are attentive and dedicated musicians who build melodies step by step. Behind Little Richard, Olsie Robinson structured his songs with his impressive violin-shaped Gibson bass. The EB-1 was introduced to the market in 1953. It was Gibson’s first electric bass, created in response to the success of Fender’s Precision Bass. Rather than opting for a design similar to an electric guitar, Gibson shaped the EB-1 after a double bass—even going so far as to paint an f-hole on the body. This bass features a violin-shaped mahogany body with a brown plastic pickguard, transparent control knobs, and mother-of-pearl inlays on the fingerboard. Its shape aligns with the legacy of 20th-century blues and jazz, where rhythm was carried by double basses.

This exceptional bass was used in many of Little Richard’s recording sessions and also appears in the video for “Tutti Frutti” as well as in the feature films “Don’t Knock the Rock” (1956) and “Mister Rock and Roll” (1957). This is a bass played by a master of groove on some of the greatest rock ’n’ roll tracks! A true piece of history to discover at Matt’s Guitar Shop!