My new 1948 Epiphone B4

[Dilbertisme]

So I am the lucky guy who snapped up the 1948-49 Epiphone B4 that Wendy (AKA Mollykay) posted about a few days ago in the Classifieds. I am one happy camper!

Here's the back story. The bass was gifted to Matt, a pro bass player who lives only a few miles from me. (He's a founding member of Counting Crows.) I'm told it was originally owned by a lady who played western swing. Sadly, the neck was broken in several places.

I'm not sure how Matt found out about Bassmonkey, which is what Wendy and her husband Lonnie call their vintage American plywood bass rescue operation, but it's a good thing he did. He sent it off to them for restoration in November, 2009. They worked on it until August 2010. You can read about the repair process on their Blog, and view an extensive slideshow here - it's an amazing story of perseverance and exquisite craftsmanship!

The restored bass was shipped back to Matt, but he found that upright bass was not his cup of tea. It sat in corner of his studio until last week, when Wendy helped Matt out by posting an ad here in the TB Classifieds. I saw the ad later that same morning, paid a visit that evening, and went back and bought it the next day.

I am mostly an old-time clawhammer-style banjo player who attends jams all over the greater LA area, but for the last two years, I've been having a blast playing endless I-Vs on my Eastman VR105. The Eastman's now wearing Gamut gut on the G/D, which I absolutely love, and Garbos on the bottom, just the latest in a series of different A/Es. It's a good instrument, but the A/E have always been weak, even after lots of tweaking by luthier Lisa Gass. Experience playing on other folks' basses told me that something was missing, so I had been on the lookout for some time. Too bad every interesting instrument turned out to be 3000 miles away. Until a few days ago, anyway.

Bassmonkey's workmanship is just amazing. The neck is solid as a rock and you can hardly tell it was broken. Lonnie's repairs on what were pretty rough edges is beyond good -- you cannot tell where his work ends and the original finish begins. And the bridge is just a work of art. Lonnie not only shaped and fitted it, but lightened and hollowed it out, something I had no idea could even be done.

"Annie" is wearing Spiro Weichs (at least for now), and she plays like a dream. The set up is ideal for what I do, which is 100% pizz. Her voice is solid, punchy, and what low end! The neck profile is thin compared to the Eastman, but thicker and more comfortable than the skinny Kay necks I've throttled now and again. The overstand is lower, too, and I'm really digging it.

We're having our first date at a jam tomorrow, and I can hardly wait!

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm so happy I have to gush, and Bassmonkey deserves endless kudos for their passion and determination to keep these wonderful instruments alive and kickin'.

[MR PC]

That's wonderful. I checked out some clips on utube of a fella playing your bass after it came off the bench. Very, very nice. It looks like your poodle is pretty excited by it too.....doghouse recognition! Here's to many years of enjoyment with your new music partner!

[Jason Sypher]

What a piece of Americana! That bass looks great. Nice one.

[bass_snake]

Big congrats! Happy for you.

Fred

[dvmweb]

Lucky dude! Happy ending. And, good luck. Nice bass.

[Dilbertisme]

First jam went great. Annie plays like a dream, though I found the Spiro Weichs' articulation rather monotonous compared to the Gamut guts I'm used to. Digging in on the Spiros just made them growl a bit more, but didn't generate the signature gut "pop" on the attack that really lets you drive the rhythm in an old-time string band.

So this afternoon, the Weichs came off the Epiphone, replaced by the Gamut G/D and Garbo A/E off my Eastman. They need to settle in a bit, but so far, I think I'm in love.

Since I was swapping strings, I figured I might as well try the Eastman with the full set of Spiro Mittels I keep around as a backup. I had only briefly tried the A and E before, paired first with Obligatos then Gamuts, but soon took them off in favor of the Garbos. Lo and behold, the Eastman seems happier with the full set of Mittels than with any combo I've tried on it so far, sounding louder and more balanced overall. The action can be nice and low, too. I think this will be a great rig on which to try some arco for the first time.

I can see having two basses is going to make life even more interesting, not mention expensive.

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by Dilbertisme

I can see having two basses is going to make life even more interesting, not mention expensive.

Well, you're doing pretty well........a beautifully restored American Ply bass for a coupla grand less than the price of a high end repro. And your back up bass is paid for, too!