My new Epiphone B5

Matt Ides · #1 10-08-2010, 06:20 AM

So I have been searching for a new bass in the upper midwest for a while. This search took much longer than I had expected (lots of string shops, but no bass shop). But just this week I picked up an Epiphone B5 from a local bluegrass player. It was his second bass so he didn't play it all that much and I can only presume the previous owner barely touched it since the condition it is in. It looks to have a slight cave in on the top in its past, but has been professionally repaired and is holding well. Plays and sounds great and has a shallow bevel. Giant f holes and nicely flamed back.

nealw · #2 10-08-2010, 06:36 AM

Nice! Here's a good resource about old Epis from a fellow TBer:
http://www.bassmonkey.net/epiphone.html

Matt Ides · #3 10-08-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nealw

Nice! Here's a good resource about old Epis from a fellow TBer:
http://www.bassmonkey.net/epiphone.html

Her site was a great resource when I was looking into background on the bass.

MollyKay · #4 10-08-2010, 09:17 PM

Great score…everything looks correct and in great condition too. You did very well. Enjoy it knowing you have a great bass that will be come a faithful music companion.

Dilbertisme · #5 10-08-2010, 10:16 PM

Love the engraving - and on the tuning keys, too! Sweet.

fish552 · #6 10-08-2010, 10:21 PM

Yes, very nice! Congrats and Enjoy!

forester · #7 10-09-2010, 10:27 PM

congrats...nice room to rattle too.

MT Spaces · #8 10-12-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Ides

.... just this week I picked up an Epiphone B5 from a local bluegrass player ..... Plays and sounds great and has a shallow bevel. Giant f holes and nicely flamed back .....

Congrats Matt

! Just so you don't feel like The Lone Ranger around here

.... I also own a Gibson / Epiphone B-5 (SN # 392) that looks a lot like yours ... Our basses are close-siblings .... Probably finished by the same guy / gal that specialized in the ruddy red / orange sunburst pattern at Gibson in Kalamazzo, MI. I don't think there are that many B-5's that look like ours. I have only seen one other that was up for sale awhile back (way back) here at TB. I also love Giant F-Holes.

....

Mine has some battle-scars too ... On the back .... But it is a really-great bass and is my favorite to play bluegrass and country on.

Nice to see someone else from a far-north state that starts with "M" around here

. I know a number of 'Sotens here where I live that have set up home in Montana

. And .... I meet a number of new ones every year at our local ski-hills.

Have Fun with your new G / E B-5 Matt !

MT Spaces · #9 10-12-2010, 08:05 PM

And Matt

..... I think someone cleaned-up your engraved tuner plates before you bought it. Your picture is too pretty

. Rumor has it that the B-5 plates are actually gold-plated. I was tempted to "de-patina" mine but decided against it ....

.

But I did have it worked over thoroughly by a good luthier ..... different strings, new nut, new adjustable bridge, FC pick-up, new endpin and cable, afterlength tuning, and mode-matching .... money well-spent.

Matt Ides · #10 10-13-2010, 08:57 AM

Thanks MT Spaces. I don't think the tuners got cleaned up, more likely this bass was sitting in a corner of a house never played for a long time. The over all condition of the bass is pretty good. Both of your basses look to be in great shape.