Epiphone wood quality

notverygood · #1 04-10-2010, 01:26 AM

Lately I've been thinking about getting a used EB-O and removing the red or black color to get a natural finish. I think that would look great if it was decent wood. I would hate to sand that off only to find that it looks like sub flooring. Any personal experiences?

T-Bird · #2 04-10-2010, 01:54 AM

Hi.

Regardless of the make, clear or translucent finished instruments tend to have "better" wood selection IME.

It's really down to demand and supply though, sometimes there's an immaculate flame or figuring under a solid colour, or a knot or a swirl shows through a translucent finish.

Clear-coated or oiled instruments are usually the best looking woodwise, otherwise there's sometimes a price reduction.

Regards
Sam

GlennW · #3 04-10-2010, 02:09 AM

According to this it might be plywood if the a bass painted a solid color.

http://epi.p3net.net/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=632

notverygood · #4 04-10-2010, 09:24 PM

there goes that idea.

bassplayer8953 · #5 04-10-2010, 09:34 PM

Yeah a Gibson would probably be a better choice for a clear finish, but you're in a differentprice league altogether. Plus the real deal is mahogany, which is kind of plain.

If you're looking for something that can be cleared up and come up with a nice swamp-ash type finish, the Epi/Gibson is not a good choice.

notverygood · #6 04-11-2010, 12:34 PM

Any suggestions on a short scale that this would work on?

Rumblefisher · #7 04-11-2010, 12:39 PM

Warmoth or USACG?

notverygood · #8 04-11-2010, 12:51 PM

I'll have to google those. What about Ibanez or Cort basses?

Mad_Phingers · #9 05-07-2010, 09:02 PM

Get an EB-0 with a cherry finish. The older ones were more opaque, but some of the newer ones ive seen around are very transparent and have decent grain patterns. Just make sure you can see it before you buy it.

Pilgrim · #10 05-08-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad_Phingers

Get an EB-0 with a cherry finish. The older ones were more opaque, but some of the newer ones ive seen around are very transparent and have decent grain patterns. Just make sure you can see it before you buy it.

Exactly what I was thinking. The grain is pretty visible through the finish on many of the EB-0 and EB-3 models I've seen.

mongo2 · #11 05-08-2010, 08:18 AM

I've seen some Cherry finished Epi EBs with nicely figured ribbon mahogany.

Justice · #12 05-08-2010, 08:43 AM

my recently aquired pawnshop EB-0 is not plywood, its the cherry finish so you can see the grain. its not bad but they didn't take a lot of time matching the pieces