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I'm considering buying an Epiphone EB-0 & was wondering if anyone has played one & what your impressions are. Thanks.

Do you enjoy less than accurate intonation, less than definite tone, and less than precise pitch?

A Squier P-Bass Special is a great value.

For $200, one of the Ibanez SR series basses is a superior instrument. I actually gig one of the older 5-string models instead of purchasing a more expensive instrument.

I'm not impressed with Squier QC. For every good one, a dozen will make me go, "Meh..."

I had an Epiphone a while back a traded it in on an Ibanez. I would definitely try Ibanez and Yamaha out as well as the Epiphone they both have models in that price range.

iiipopes wrote:Do you enjoy less than accurate intonation, less than definite tone, and less than precise pitch?

Why not, aren't we tuba players here!? I've been enjoying those features since 1978 or so, with a bass that was made in Japan alongside the Epiphone 5120, apparently the same but for the label.

chipster55 wrote:I'm considering buying an Epiphone EB-0 & was wondering if anyone has played one & what your impressions are. Thanks.

The Gibson EB-0 upon which this was based has always been one of my least favorite electric basses. Short scale, rubbery sound exacerbated by the featherweight mahogany body and in the Epiphone enhanced even more with a bolt-on neck? Almost any decent P-Bass, J-Bass clone or original design (Ibanez or whatevah) would be an improvement.

Just my opinion of course, Jack Bruce loved 'em.

Yeah OK, but just because Jack Bruce was a little out of his league there, doesn't mean he wasn't a great bass player!

Donn wrote:Yeah OK, but just because Jack Bruce was a little out of his league there, doesn't mean he wasn't a great bass player!

... and I thought that his playing was OK. Just. Gawd. That Gibson.

Edit:
Can you say "diction counts", kids?

Did OK, but "Badge" or something would more show he got to be a one of the top handful of pop music bass players on that Gibson. Honestly it's not that I ever really followed him that much, just a coincidence that my first electric bass back in '76 was a Gibson ... didn't even know the model number really, thought it was an EB0 (but later decided it was an EB3 and now can't remember anything but the color.) Anyway it seemed quite nice to me at the time, and I got it used for not much money, along with a big Sunn amp & cab -- coming back to the topic (check for used gear.) It would be a long time before I had that nice of a setup again - I guess I never have if you count the amp.

By the way, re signature line about Italian motorcycles - Moto Guzzi? both of my motorcycles have been.

Well, OK - thanks for the input. I'll look at the others as well. There is an opportunity here for a used Epiphone. I may need some TLC, but it's priced reasonably.

I am not a fan of most short scale basses. If you really have your heart set on an Epiphone with a fat vintage nearly acoustic sound, I really like the Jack Casady bass which has a 34" scale, but they will typically run around a grand.
If my left index finger was not largely incapacitated and I still played bass regularly, I would definitely want one if those, along with a 5 string solid body with a split P bass pickup and a J pickup at the bridge for maximum tone control.

Now Jack Casady is the man, but he can keep his bass. I've looked at the Casady, next to a real archtop style hollow body Gretsch Electromatic. With the Epiphone you're paying for a hollow body look (and the custom pickups etc.) It's about an inch deep and dead as a board. The Gretsch is the real thing and sounds like it. Obviously with every liability of a hollow body - feedback prone, can't use it as a large mallet, etc., and the control wiring is fairly minimal. The one to get is more or less a Guitar Center special edition that Gretsch doesn't otherwise promote, with a 32" scale that takes standard 34" strings (the archtop style tailpiece uses an extra 2" of string, so that works out.) They list for $800-$900 or something, but I gather you won't have to pay list price unless you're really desperate.

If you want a cheap bass then really look no further than the Squier VIntage Modified P or J basses if you want the "standard" bass guitar sound. If you like a more lively sound definitely check out the Sterling by Musicman S.U.B. Ray 4 ... all of those in a bunch of different styles and colors can be yours for under $300. They aren't as polished as their Fender and MusicMan big brothers, but they are phenomenal for a starter bass guitar. If you want a more modern sound, I am sure that Ibanez has something for you.... however, out of the 20 basses I have...only one is a "modern" bass....and it's not an Ibanez. I use it occasionally.

If you really like the Gibson/Epiphone sound...do what I did. Find an Epiphone Thunderbird on eBay with a broken neck (these are pretty common...I got mine brand new with a broken neck)...then throw the neck away...get some kind of Fender replacement neck and have your favorite luthier route a new neck pocket for it to fit. It worked for John Entwistle...and you get a cool Gibson-y vibe with a decent neck.

If you want to sound like an upright...well that's going to be touch on a budget...I have a Hofner Icon that is relatively cheap and is a semi-hollow body and a Fender Kingman acoustic...but those don't really cut it. I would recommend a Kala U-bass. It's an ultra-short scale bass ukulele with rubber strings. I just finished playing in a pit orchestra with it...and when the pit was playing it was pretty close! A bit more expensive....but loads of fun too!

Lately, I have just been grabbing whatever bass is closest to the door when I gig. I should probably dust off some of my other basses that haven't gotten any love in a while.

jc

As a person who had played electric bass since the summer of 1976, and accompanied many jazz bands through the years, if you want a "double bass" sound out of an electric bass:

1) buy a cheap bass that has a so-so bridge that doesn't couple well to the body;
2) use medium gauge flatwound strings; or the reissued D'Addario "Reds" (copper wound);
3) shove a block of foam rubber under the strings where the strings go over the bridge saddles;
4) turn down the bass and the treble on the amp to about 3 or 4 on the bass knob and 5 to 8 on the treble;
5) compression is the antithesis of emulated pizzicato - don't use it; and
6) Don't use a "Jazz bass" or a bass with Fender "Jazz Bass" pickups or facsimiles thereof. They have too much "growl," from the coil geometry having a lot of inductance compared to the DC resistance for the amount of wire on the coil. They will just sound like an EUB with Spiros, which is the same as a Jazz Bass generally.

On the other hand: fretless is great, if you can play it. the "mwah" tone out of a good set of flatwound or nylon tapewound strings does very well, but still put foam under the strings at the bridge.

Or, finally, the ultimate solution: just get a double bass and learn how to play it, finding a good teacher and learning some fundamental elements of the Simandl method. Remember, just as the USA and the UK are two great countries separated by a common language, electric bass and double bass are two great instruments separated by a common tuning.

<OT>

Donn wrote:Yeah OK, but just because Jack Bruce was a little out of his league there, doesn't mean he wasn't a great bass player!

Buddy and Roland/Rahsaan were pretty young in that video but there weren't many musicians in the pop/rock world who were in their league. I'm really glad to see Buddy finally getting accolades. There are some videos from around the same time (same tour?) in which Buddy Miles played drums. Great stuff, no wonder Hendrix and Clapton were listening to them.
him

Donn wrote:...
By the way, re signature line about Italian motorcycles - Moto Guzzi? both of my motorcycles have been.

Yeah, old Guzzi Loopers and Ducati Desmo's. 90 degree twins rule!
</OT>

bigtubby wrote:<OT>

Buddy and Roland/Rahsaan were pretty young in that video but there weren't many musicians in the pop/rock world who were in their league.

I dunno, that's 13 years after Rahsaan's first album. Late thirties, a long career under his belt. Not young. Still great.

The Squier Vintage Modified Jazz fretless bass has amazing sound and ease of playability for the money. It's the only inexpensive bass beside my Ibanez I've actually considered buying lately. It goes more for the modern "Jaco" fretless sound than an imitation string bass, though.

OK, after tinkering with several "economy" basses, I've decided on a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass.

chipster55 wrote:OK, after tinkering with several "economy" basses, I've decided on a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass.

The Affinity IS a cheap bass....before you lay your cash down....definitely compare it to the Squier Vintage Modified. If the Affinity still is best for you...go for it...I do think the Affinitys are cheap for a reason...whereas the Squier VM seems to be a good value.

jc