Epiphone Newport Bass - Undisputable Proof Looks Aren't Everything - LowEndLobster Review
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
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Epiphone Newport Unboxing & First Impressions: • Epiphone Newport Bass ...
Epiphone Newport Bass: www.epiphone.c...
Hey Everyone! Today we're going to be reviewing the brand new Newport bass from Epiphone. People were excited at the launch of these basses because Epiphone really hasn't released a new model since 2017, and they honestly look fantastic...... But sadly, looks aren't everything. These basses have been delivered with a slew of issues ranging from poorly cut nuts, to phasing issues with the pickups. Is this a worthy successor/upgrade to the Epiphone EB-0? Let's find out.
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with SIT Foundation Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at sitstrings.com/
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![Can this bass be saved? | Epiphone Newport Bass [Review/Demo]](/img/n.gif)
That 'worst bass of 2023' list is getting a good head start this year. Two review instruments, already, and it is only February...(including a first, a 'no claw' rating.)
RIGHT?! LOL. I'm having a great 2023, but the world of bass is not apparently hahaha
It will be interesting to see what other basses will be in the running for worst and best this year. And we've seen a 5-claw bass already!
This bass will sound better with flats
It does.
Way better.
Epiphone/Gibson HATE bass players....
My Embassy Pro doesn't suffer from any of the Gibson bs, and the pickups rival just about any Gibson Thunderbird I've ever played. I think they did a good job with that one.
Don’t hate em. They just suck at making basses.
I think you will find it’s the other way around. They never got the neck dive issue sorted for a start so bad reputation with bass players.
i don’t think i’ve ever been this excited about an epiphone bass. love the looks, love the sound, love the vintage logo, and it comes in pastel yellow, my favorite color. it’ll take some upgrades to make it perfect, but i absolutely love it. i’m definitely going to be picking one of these up
sidenote; i’m actually kinda into the out of phase sound. sure it’s a bit thin, but it’s a fantastic sound to have on hand if you’re into effects. i find that some basses have too thick of a sound for some pedals, particularly chorus, octave, and some overdrive/distortion
EXACTLY what I was thinking, about the pedal-friendliness.
Both pickups on their own sound great. First thing I would do would be re-solder them to be in phase then it'll be a sweet sounding bass that doesn't need mods. I've always wanted a bass with a neck mudbucker, there's just something magical about the lows!
The Anderton’s clip had me rolling 😂
I was just listening the video at that part and I assumed it was a demonstration of the excessive buzz at first lol
I played it for a few minutes before boxing it up to send back to Sweetwater. I couldn't wait to get it but then, quickly couldn't wait to send it back for a refund. Treble pickup showed up not working. Neck is wide and thin. I really don't like how access to the high "A" at the 19th fret is blocked, it's not enjoyable. I don't recommend this bass no matter how much you like the way it looks. I also didn't feel the mudbucker sounded as good as I had hoped, having had a few basses with them down through the years. For a short scale bass, it is on the heavy side. If you're looking for a light weight short scale, it wouldn't be the Newport. All in all, I was very disappointed.
Oh man, that Andertons video clip said it all xD Great review and i appreciate the honesty!
Excellent review! I’m still likely going to get one of these things, even if it means an hour or so of setup before actually playing. The mudbucker sounds great, the t-bird sounds great, and I’m low-key a fan of the out-of-phase sound. Might be a candidate for a funky switch instead of a blend knob.
Wire in two! One for pickup switching and one for in/out of phase
Damn i would really love a bass like this. But Jesus i cannot justify with the QC issues
I agree. If you had a pro set it up correctly the price would double.
I bought one of these (same color) from a famous humongous online retailer. Of all the instruments I've bought from this retailer, this is the only one I returned. It's a piece of crap, no offense to anyone who has one and likes it. I have two Harley Bentons that are beautifully made, and each of those was half the price of this Newport bass. Sorry to be a downer.
For what it is, I think it sounds great! I would like to get my hands on one! Let's not forget that our amps have tone knobs on them to get our true desired sound. Good for 70's style music I feel!
I really don’t like the headstock. The bikini stuff is just ugly. A smaller headstock with open back tuners would be much better imo
I got one last week. Played 5 gigs with it this weekend through 3 different house amps. Love the weight, look, feel, and most of the tones. New strings helped and also had to set up for better action. I heard someone say about phasing ‘it’s not right or wrong, just a different sound.’ I do feel the E string output is a little less than what I’m used to.
It’s not like any other bass I have, so I’m very motivated to keep jammin with it and find where it fits best. 😎🤘
Looking forward to the mod video!
What style of music do you play? Also are you using any pedals?
Sweet
Can't we upgrade p/u's, Turing keys and bridge. Hey, i still can't slapp.
@@theTrend7 I play a mix of country, classic rock, alternative rock and pop. I do use a pedal board with a Cali76 Compressor, Darkglass Microtubes B3K V2, Seamoon Funk Machine, Aguilar Chorusarus, and MXR Preamp. I leave the compressor on all the time and the others just as needed.
I play four hour cover gigs in Nashville so having a lightweight bass is really nice. My normal workhorse though is a MM Stingray Special HH.
That doesn't sound like a phase issue, that would sound waaaay thinner and quite harsh. All that's happening there is the same thing that happens on a jazz bass where the two pickups are wired in parallel, putting them both on full effectively halves the output impedence and results in a quietly mid-scooped sound with no bite. Try them in series and you'll be amazed at the asskickability.
Yep, thats right.
AliExpress must be in charge 🇨🇳 of Epiphone Quality Control in 2023 .😒 🎎⛩️
Very nice distinctive bass tone. I would love to hear it in an ensemble situation or a recording. Believe me I'm no Gibson bass fan!😅😅
I would really like an Epiphone bass but I have more trust in Harley Benton quality than Epiphone, which should not be that way
Bought one a few weeks ago and I’m delighted with it. As a “guitarist” who now plays bass in a band I have been looking for something that has the feel of a guitar and finally this is perfect for what I’ve been n looking for. The sound is just fine in my opinion. I think these kind of basses will always be marmite but i love it.
Try a Mustang, with flats if possible!
I wouldn't want to deal with all the QC issues and lm surprised where sweetwater ads saying they do like 55 bench checks that they missed those serious issues!!!
Cheap basses are cheap basses. Not worth fixing or upgrading etc.
That color is sweet! I kind of like the out of phase sound myself. Maybe super useful, especially if it is your only instrument, but for something different, I dig it. Just a shame about Fender/Squier and Gibson/Epiphone's QC. I guess the name sells enough instruments that they are not too concerned. I just bought an Ibanez Portamento, so I don't need another bass, but this one kinda got me gassin.
Chances are that the "mahogany" body is actually nyatoh, which is wood with similar color and grain. Nyatoh is local from Indonesia where those basses are made so that shows in the cheap price for that model. By the way, In the photos from the website it shows the bridge pickup closer to the bridge than it is in the actual product.
Is nyatoh extremely brittle and lightweight ?
@@shipsahoy1793 it’s a cousin of mahogany. it tends to be a bit lighter than it, but it’s just as strong
@@shipsahoy1793 Has properties similar to that of mahogany (genuine, African) in hardness and weight.
(These are made in China, BTW; could be mahogany or something else. So maybe it's not nyatoh after all. Though I do have a Nyatoh made bass, and it's no problem.)
I do not mind Epiphone basses when they are well built. But I feel that sometimes high nuts are common the cheaper the instruments are-especially with Epiphone. They should hire someone to tell them beginners deserve a low or "normal" nut height. Nothing to be won by cheapening out on this, causes a bad impression.
So in theory this and the EB-0 should be nice little basses, but if they switched setup priorities at the factory to "good nut height" it would really help their sales and reputation.
Wiring out of phase seems like an error (you think?!), and I would have returned it right there + the high nut. The bad setup is nothing, but those two would have been a no for me.
A good working model like this should be fun, but maybe they do not add these setup steps at the factory? I know not the facts.
I do have an Epiphone I love, a MiK short scale Flying V with Lollar Thunderbird pickups (back then the original pickups weren't too "hot"-or perhaps too hot and muddy.) "Korina"-I do not care. The later made in China Flying Vs were produced differently, as the strap button was "misplaced" on an area that caused neck dive. Not so in my model (just behind the set neck, making it impervious to dive.) Someone placed a new, brass nut for me, as the original was plastic and broke. So even old Korean Epiphones could have issues. The 3 point bridge is an issue by itself, but the standard for them. Usable but prone to accidents and setup problems. Mine "works", but want to replace it sometime soon so I can accomodate the setup that works for me. I remembered I had to push that bridge dowm with force many years ago, to the point I risked breaking the instrument. Better to always think of these basses as needing the Hipshot Supertone or Babicz replacement ASAP.
I would prefer the Embassy overall (with the stock Thunderbird pickups) but my Epiphone makes it so I do not need either of these Epis. I do love the concept of an EB-0 pickup paired with a bridge something else.
Not complaining about China factories-there's history of well made basses. But with Epiphone, I am always wary of these models, as perhaps I should not overly be.
@@classicalthrasher Oh not made in Indonesia, I see. The thing is that most "mahogany" body/neck budget guitars or basses use nyatoh from what I've seen around so far.
I played a couple of these in a shop recently and also noticed how tall the nut was, really high first fret action on all 4 the store had. And for the out of phase tone, I didn’t realize that’s what it was at the time, but the one I played was so much quieter when both pickups, or just the bridge, was on. It did sit comfortably and aside from the setup felt pretty nice. I’m sure the mods will smooth it out in something solid
Short scale bass are for HOBBITS. 🧙♂️
Thus far my replacement (original had a dead pickup/broken blend knob) only needed fretboard treatment and a truss rod adjustment, but that may be down to the wacky weather we’ve been having lately.
I see this as a good modding platform, especially with the big control cavity.
Bass sounds good for 60s style music. Thick tone.
Who is the demographic looking for cheap vintage knock offs. Seems like older more experienced players doing blues, jazz and country would like this style of bass but also want much better everything and can afford it.
I would actually prefer the 3 point bridge... cause it's easier to upgrade.
I really do think Sheehan had the right idea having the mudbucker on it's own output.
And how/why is modding a bass for dual outputs a rare mod? A full pup+preamp replacement can set you back 400 on parts alone easily and adding jack2 and adding a pot costs what, 40?
Hey Lo-bob-ster! Are you planning to do a deep dive/review of the new Ibanez EHB1005F Fretless basses? I've definitely got a close eye on those bad boys when they start dropping finally! Great review as always!
I'm looking forward to the mod upgrade video on the Newport bass.
Looking forward to the mod video(s)!
Jeez, 7 videos in the last 2 weeks. 2023 is going to be the year of the lobster!
Bass reviews are upsettingly sparse, and no one does it better than you.
Keep it up if you can. “You can do a lot in a lifetime if you don’t burn out too fast”
I love your engagement with your subscribers and they don’t seem overtly toxic or rude 😂 what’s that like hahaha.
Great stuff buddy!
Nope ugly bass
I actually like how it sounds. The bridge almost sounds like a StingRay to me!
they should make newport bass like the cigarette brand..mint green with a white headstock or something like that
I would get this bass alone just because of the headstock is so retro!!!!The entire bass is a blast from the past~!!!!
Man a high nut and rubbish stock strings don't seem like valid reasons to nuke this bass. The neck pickup while out of phase can easily be rewired and certainly doesn't need replacing, neither does the bridge for that matter. Definitely some qc issues that Epiphone needs to address but your rating overshadows what a great bass this is. I've bought three so far and sold quite a few more. Also the all mahogany construction is just that not veneered like the EB0.
I think you expect too much from a 400 dollar epiphone dude. Everyone knows you can’t make no money above the 12th fret anyway. This was made for back porches.
Not bad for people who know to fix the issues and get a great bass for a reasonable price. Not so good for a beginner who might get discouraged from playing because of the quality.
#225_at5m41s_StopbarInsert_FellOut_GibsonStudioLP_dontCareToRecallTheYear_StraightBackNextDaysFedEX🤨
Thanks for talking about balance neck dive thing. So often neglected.
Hey Lobster! I ordered an Altec 30k Alnico Mudbucker to hopefully replace the stock neck pup that in my opinion doesn't cut it. It certainly improved your EBO . I can always use it on my EBO if it doesn't.I put a Hipshot bridge now and some new tuners though I dig those lollipops on yours.👍🎸
Great honest review. I had high hopes for this. It looks great. As an owner of a Gibson SG bass my only gripe with that is the neck dive. So when I saw this it peeked my interest but so many QC issues right? Great if u like modding but not so good for us Out-of-the-box amateurs.
Have you looked at Eastwood's take on the Newport? Looks to be a better version of this.
Can you explain in a bit more detail what the pickups being wired out of phase does to the sound? I can tell it sounds weak, but is there more to it than that? What do you think these two pickups *should* sound like together? (I agree the bridge pickup soloed sounds really nice!)
it essentially cuts out all the bass frequencies.. something you dont want on a bass
I'll be doing a video fixing the phase issue (saw a nice post about it and swapping some wires on the T bird pickup) before we go into the neck pickup mods. You'll hear a significant difference.
@@gunlak Ah… that's what I get for watching this with laptop speakers!
@@gunlak so with the phase reversed, it SHOULD sound bomb diggity? Not a lot of neck-slammed pickups available out there.
@@carpediemarts705 should sound a lot fuller, think like a ric or jazz bass but with loads more balls coz of the mudbucker on the neck.
I ACTUALLY LOVE THE OUT OF PHASE SOUND SO MUCH !! I'm sold ngl. Its so unique
Hey great review thanks for all the detailed information! I got interested in this bass recently because it looks really cool and I personally find the neck quite comfortable to play when I tried it unplugged. I just heard about the term 'out of phase' today for the first time. After I did some research I found out that the pickups frequencies interfere rather than working together and thus are providing a much thinner sound as opposed to the sound of 'in-phase' pickups. Is that right? And what would be a solution to this? Is there a possibility to take both pickups as they are and rewire them in some fashion in order to get them 'in-phase'? Or do you actually have to change the pickups for that?
Thanks for any helpful comments and keep up the good work!
Love the bridge pickup - tone all the way down. Just like with my EB0 bass.
The instrument might be a wreck, and the mudbucker continues to be a mess, but that bridge pickup sounds really good, and very usable.
im sorry but you call yourself low end lobster but there is like no low end when you play the bass.
You call yourself indiependent but you rely on others for content ;P
@@LowEndLobster okay but pls put some actual bass in the mix
If it has sounds I like---and this one does, I can forgive some perceived quality issues.
Ya'll please stop saying "mod platform"; those shoes went out in 1971. No, really, stop saying that. Mod platform is the new cut through the mix or punches above its weight. If I told you to jump off a bridge I'm afraid ya'll might just do it.
Not sure how busy you are but as your intro showcases beards, basses, and felines, the felines just aren't featured adequately on this channel. Cats shorts are a common feature on yt, don't require any chatting and get a lot of views. Some of us have generous bass & beard and yet lack cats for logistical reasons...
TBH I've been meaning to update that intro
@@LowEndLobster busy.
The time it took to file down that wonky nut could have been time better spent petting your cats.
Your ire regarding Epiphone QC is so justified.
I was stoked to find one of these at Guitar Center yesterday because the look is very cool and I’ve been interested in grabbing one to turn into a piccolo. What a disappointment. Bridge pickup solo sounds good, the rest isn’t great. The pickup noise is ridiculous. Honestly, it feels and looks like a cheap instrument. Glad I didn’t order one blind. Also played a Danelectro Longhorn while there and it was garbage.
I watched Andertons review and it sounded like trash. Buzzy, tinny mess. The time you spent on setup obviously improved the playability, but the tone really isn’t for me 👎
They should abandon the classic specs and just put that bridge pickup right in between the bridge and the end of the fretboard.
Andertons review is not the same 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 great Lobster thank you very much
t's my favorite base but it's a bit of a shame there might be some hardware issues 😂 but it's perfect for my first short scale base. The design is 10/10🎉
I’m amazed. After watching Andertons review yesterday you’d of thought they’d discovered the holy grail of bass. I was tempted myself even though I’m not really into the shorter scale thing.
I’m really pleased I saw this before I bit the bullet and spent some hard earned cash.
I think it's always worth keeping in mind that while the Andertons videos are fun and sometimes informative, they're still fundamentally adverts for a shop, and the purpose of those adverts (particularly of the 'new gear!' videos like that one) are to sell you on a product that you'll hopefully buy from them.
Andertons is a shop. they want to sell stuff. even when its shitty...
The fret buzz in the Anderton's vid made me look for this one.
Well yeah, Andertons wants you to buy instruments from them so everything is going to get a good review.
And that's why I won't watch the Andersons stuff. Just advertising plain and simple on their videos.
One wonders if they consulted a single bass player when designing this...thing.
I believe the definition for the word 'Epiphone' simply means: 'a bastard company that has always produced below-acceptable, substandard instruments and you'll always keep buying them because you keep thinking that the next instrument release will be better".
It wasn't always the case though sadly. My 2013 MIK Jack Casady is a longtime favorite (and I bought it new in 2013!). Compared to a 2023 MIC JC, the MIK is waaaaaaay better built.... though funny enough, both required the bridge inserts to be removed and glued back in.
@@LowEndLobster I was just speaking in general. I have heard many positive reviews on the Jack Cassady model. Outside of that one signature model, I'm not holding my breath on anything else produced by Epiphone.
TBH I wouldn't even get a new JC over a used MIK model (which is usually readily available second hand). Holding your breath for Epiphone would make you a bit blue in the face hahaha!
@@anotherrandombassguitarcha9482 Not to be a smartass, but the original Epiphone company is about 50 years older than Gibson and used to make archtop guitars of the same quality before getti bought out by them and turned into a cheap instrument maker
@ileutur6863 I whole-heartedly agree......Epiphone actually was a respectable brand before Gibson, however, Gibson was founded in 1902, Epiphone was founded in 1873 and it was known as the Epiphone Banjo Co. before they were finally bought out by Gibson in 1957.
What does "out of phase" mean? I don't know anything about wiring.
So you just identify as lobster? Lobster pronoun guy.
I think w/ how great the Junior Jet is, out of the box, these other companies have no excuse not to make better entry basses
Sweetwater is supposed to do a 27 point insection before they send a guitar.
I’ve literally been waiting for this review. I’ve had my finger on the trigger for one of these in the UK, I absolutely love the looks, but, I’m thinking an Embassy might be a better choice with the two pro buckers, mehh, dunno
You get what you pay for, spend cheap and get cheap
Lobster I love what you do but 1 claw?? I think you were being exceedingly harsh. It is not priced like a Serek. If it were I might be inclined to be far more sympathetic to your point of view. The bass doesn't sound that bad. I need to try one to judge for myself.
I do hope that your modifications give you a different outlook on this bass.
Out of the box, the single claw is definitely deserved. Considering ALL examples of this bass are wired out of phase, it really hurts the tonal flexibility of this bass as well as its usability in a band scenario. The terrible nut job, setup, and crap tuners are also big detractors from the overall experience of this bass too, especially something targeting a beginner. At nearly $400 USD, there are a LOT of much better options out there though they won't have this type of vintage vibe... Hell, get an Embassy over this. I would consider this bass a much better value if the QC was better, but in its current form I cannot recommend it. The mods will be fun, and I've already done some (videos coming). They've improved things a bit, however the hardware mods alone are already 2/3rds the cost of the bass hahaha. You will need to really polish this one out to get it to where it needs to be IMO.
the Hipshot D style bridge will not fit this bass. I tried putting one on my thunderbird vintage pro and the studs do not line up ☹️
Yep, I got one too. However the hipshot 2 point bridge fits! I have a full hipshot upgrade vid coming soon :)
I wish they’d make a USA version
Uh oh, seems that Gibson quality has made it to the Chinese factories too
Just get a Gibson Grabber and call it a day...
I went with the Squire Rascal
WTF Epiphone! This thing is trash!
Great video! I can't honestly say I dig this bass.
Salutations Crustaceans :D
This didn't make me not want to get one.
Hey, I love your channel. I have a question for you that I'm sure someone must have asked by now. I've noticed that most guitar and bass reviewers never mention neck dive or perform any sort of standardized neck dive test when they review new instruments. Why doesn't anyone do this? I have a suggestion for you.
Feel free to critique me if you must, but I just feel like this is an important factor to many potential buyers. Here's a rough template of how I imagine doing this test:
1. Wear a silky dress shirt with 100% man-made materials.
2. Use a cheap, throw-away, nylon guitar strap.
3. Strap on the guitar or bass and let go of the neck.
4. Observe the position of the neck and note where the neck hangs in relation to these positions and rate the neck dive accordingly:
A. Significantly higher than parallel to the floor.
B. Slightly higher than parallel.
C. Parallel to the floor.
D. Slightly below parallel to the floor.
F. The old man searching for treasures at the beach position or "Metal Detector" and not in a good way.
Thank you and great suggestions! It's a dimension I've recently added to the reviews for 2023. I'm already using a mego cheapo strap for these (I have a nice padded one for gigs) but the silky shirt idea is pretty good!
@LowEndLobster Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I think the cheap strap and silky shirt test is pretty valid because many novice and amateur players will no doubt proudly gig with their cheap equipment, and many of them will probably wear silky shirts for some gigs. Lightweight tuners and wide leather straps are just more expenses and hassles to worry about.
It's even more frustrating when you plunk down a good chunk of change like I did for my Fender Mustang PJ, and then you suddenly realize that you must modify it in order to balance it.
I appreciate your honest reviews, and I look forward to many more.
I never understood the perennial appeal of the mudbucker. It's like "turn this knob to disappear in the mix". Would much rather have the Embassy over this.
Mudbuckers, (real mudbuckers, like what the original 60s basses had) pushes sub-bass frequencies much harder than most bass pickups.
They have a huge, broad sound, great for filling out the sound of a band.
You're thinking of cutting through a dense mix, when a mudbucker is best at filling out a sparse mix. Context is everything.
That is sad. I've been hearing nothing but, "Epiphone has really up'd their game" for the past couple of years. I played a couple of lead guitars & the quality just wasn't there. BUT,,,,, I played a EB 3 the other day that was set up to perfection & was great. Wish I liked the long scale.
Lobster, have you looked at the Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat bass?? Probably have huh! Any chance I could see it ?
I really want a Rumblekat but after watching this review I don’t think I would order one without someone reviewing it or getting my own hands on one!
I don't like it already
I’m can’t take his guy seriously. What’s with the lobster glove?
It's a terrible affliction
FYI to any bass gearheads looking for a cheap P-Bass new... It seems Amazon Canada has been mis-pricing the Squier Classic Vibe 60's P-bass in 3 tone sunburst for over a week now at over $200 less than standard price for all CV basses here. Usually $619 CAD, but now $414 CAD. I bought one for the hell of it.. All good, Almost as nice as my MIM, but a slight ripple in the clear coat on the back and the neck wood is not as stable as MIM. Like Lobster, I had to turn the truss rod nut 2 FULL additional turns to straighten neck out of the box. With no weight on it the default position was already a forward bowing neck. We will see how that changes over time, but if the neck sux what is the point? Frets all seem fine and smooth, no finger slicing. After straightening action is nice and low right now. Pickups are perfectly passable for most players. No one puts out a bas this nice at this price EXCEPT Harley Benton sometimes/ I don't know how HB can sell me a solid ASH body fretless J bass clone of decent quality for $197 !!!, Aside from them though, is there a better deal than a mispriced Squier p-bass? Just 4 left IN STOCK ladies and gents.. only $305 USD for you yanks down south! Thinking about buying another one to sell for the extra $200! Thought I would tell others first though. www.amazon.ca/dp/B07N29RFB7?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Such a shame that with as good a tone as these cheaper model pickups that the blend is utter crap. I love both my Epi basses (a 2012 EB-3 "Custom Shop" factory 2nd...which is still better QC'ed than recent Epiphone from what I'm seeing, and a 2017 T-Bird Pro), but not caring much for their recent offerings.
Ultra light, British nickel plated STAINLESS STEEL Funkmaster rounds for me. 30-50-70-90. Love them on my Ray 4.
Is the out of phaseness a QC miss on this particular instrument? When Andertons recently reviewed this bass, apart from being a bit buzzy (I guess it hadn’t really been set up properly) I thought it sounded wonderful in all settings.
It was present on the Anderton's vid too. I will do a video comparing the out of phase and in phase sound. The difference is SIGNIFICANT. I haven't seen an example that doesn't have this sound (folks haven said "mine doesn't have this!"... it does).
@@LowEndLobster - Thanks, my ear didn’t pick up the phase issue with Andertons.
It's a nice looking bass, but I have to question Sweetwater on this. Every guitar or bass that costs $300 + get's a thorough going over. One would think that the improperly set pickup and the, as you mentioned, atrocious action, etc., would be taken care of. I guess Sweetwater's so-called "55-Point Inspection" is not what one would imagine. I'm surprised about Epiphone's poor quality control. I have owned a couple of Epiphone guitars in the past that are made in China, and I thought that they did a nice job on them. I guess QC has nose dived, so-to-speak, over the years. Actually, I don't mind the tone that the Newport produces. I would have no issues with that, but that's me. Question. Are you still going to review the Ibanez TMB30 that you mentioned. I've been playing one for a few months now and I like it very much. It was quite doable right out of the box. I meant to ask you, what are your playing your Beat Buddy 2 through? At present I'm playing mine through a Harbinger PA amp. Anywho, I'm looking forward to your mod video on this Newport. If it goes well, I might eventually swing for the Newport and do a similar mod. Cheers.
D'oh! That bridge pickup has the snot, AND the booty. Those cheap muds are terrible, though. The color on this is fantastic, though. Reminds me of 70's lawn furniture.
Dang! You're playing that bridge pickup again. Usually not at all into solo bridge pickups, but this bass would be totally useful to me even if that was the only pickup. Lots of unique character.
Epiphone uses a poplar core with a low grade “mahogany,” , maybe Philippine Luan mahogany. If you wonder about poplar, it’s in the same family as cottonwood, the tree that’s known to just shick its branches since the wood isn’t strong enough to bear its own weight. The one exception it Italian poplar. Stradivari built cellos with that stuff. At what these basses sell for, I would EXPECT to have to do setup work. Its why they cost less, or one reason anyway. I’d mod that bass by deleting the mudbucker altogether and just use the bridge Pro 760, which is an exact copy of the original Thunderbird pickup. The bridge pickup by itself did everything a bass should do. Hipshot is your friend when it comes to most offshore basses. Tuners and bridges are likely upgrade candidates. I think you can order a replacement nut from the company that makes or owns Tusq. Then maybe fine tune it. These early ‘60s double cut Epiphones scare me to the point of wanting a good kit bass to get what I want. I contacted an ebay seller and asked him if he’d rout a J bass body for these 760 Thunderbird pickups and he shot right back with a yes! That’s what I’m talkin about!
Aaargh! First the intonation, now the pickups... I wish Epiphone would do a proper job on the Newport bass and aim it at the upper end of the mid-price market.
I'm ordering one of these and IMEDIATLY firing up the soldering iron and ripping the frets out! I'm sure it WON'T do the Jaco bridge pickup thing, but in the 90s, when I was a young man, I was given a 1961 Gibson EB0 used to prop open the back door of a music shop, as it had been repaintedxand the owner of the shop was going out of business and he left the Dimarzio pickup in it, but swiped the bridge, tuning pegs and pots to restore a Global EB 3 copy. I naturally bought the EB3 copy too and stripped and restored the EB0 and I used it on a few gigs as did my Dad and then I sold it for a profit. Then a few months later, I decided to piece together the Global EB 3 copy and rip out the frets. It did NOT do the Jaco sound well at all, but it DID nail an awesome upright tone. This isn't shortcake, so that probably will make a difference, but I've been chasing that tone since 1997 and it's worth $400 to see of it might do the same magical thing as that bass did with just the neck pickup.
I had to adjust slant pickup on my 2021 thunderbird non reverse. The Gibson family QC is definitely a problem.
Company: Hey, guys. What kind of garbage do we want to put out now? These suckers will buy anything!
Lobster: Not so fast there Skippy! 😒
Yep, the Epiphone of the 90’s is back baby! Now all the kids get to deal with crappy import instruments just like we did!!
I’ve bought a sunset yellow on can you do a video on how to solder the pickups in phase. Extra content for you 👍🏻👍🏻 superb channel by the way.
The Embassy has two TB Probuckers so maybe the best way to go. I understand the Turing keys are better on the Embassy also.... Decisions to be made.tom the bomb
Poor Drew Showing up to blink still in 2023 at Andertons being Andertons. If I get one of these it's the usual for cheap basses. Swap at least one pickup, swap bridge, swap nut, swap tuners, swap pots, toss the blend and either wire tone, vol, vol, or tone vol and toggle. It's a personal thing but I just don't like blend knobs on my passive basses a lot of the time.
Peace and take care everyone.