epiphone bass guitars, which is the best?

[Barkless Dog]

The JC is actually a great bass in its own right, by any manufacturer for a hollow body bass. Some that I know that have owned the re-issue PJ Ripper had nothing but great things to say about it.

The Tbird are fine. The now discontinued Elitist series was really high quality.

 

[main_sale]

+1 for the JC Sig!

 

[eli_ric]

i have a les paul special, probably would not recommend it, pretty bad neck dive, the neck is pretty sticky (hard to move fast). it was pretty good for a first bass though, then i bought my rickenbacker

 

[rockscott]

I recently purchased 2 epiphone basses. The el capitan acoustic and the thunderbird pro 4 (active). Epiphone has come far, their pro line is the real deal folks!

 

[Mastermold]

Jack Casady sig. An amazing bass.

This.

 

[Lobster11]

+1 for the JC Sig!

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've seen this picture posted by main_sale!

The Jack Casady is my #1 go-to bass. With a set of TI flats it rocks my world!

 

[HUnt49]

I hear lots of good things about the Casidy - haven't played one.


I can say that Epi basses are all the same, as I've seen them -- Decent-to-Excellent woodwork and build, with junk electronics.

The fretwork on my Epi T-bird is really very good - I have stupid-low action with TI Flats, and no buzz anywhere.

But the best Epi I have is one of these:

Link Removed

It's got a great primary tone, really great build, carved top and binding, etc. - and with a set of EMG's and TI flats sounds really good. Most LP Specials are flat-top and not bound, much cheaper looking -- these carved tops are really beautiful bases. I have no neck dive issues as the above poster said.

 

[rockscott]

Have you played the new (2009) thunderbird pro 4 or 5?

 

[shackled]

The best? That is a very subjective question. I have liked every Epiphone I've ever played, and am waiting for my local shop to get a PRO V in stock.

 

[rockscott]

I have owned some very nice basses over the years, a rick 4001, pudella XJ and a fender jazz usa. Im in love with this Tbird, i honestly like it just as much, if not more than any bass i've ever owned.

 

[darkstorm]

The Ripper reissue, no longer available I think. And the EB3 would be my fave epi basses.

 

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

I do enjoy the Explorer, one of my favorite guitar designs ever. The neck finish is not good though; that's my main issue with them.

 

[EpiRipper]

Here's my Ripper... I love it!

 

[thrashingbass]

I do enjoy the Explorer, one of my favorite guitar designs ever. The neck finish is not good though; that's my main issue with them.

Not to mention their flying V bass reissue. Very practical bass, light, beautiful, a wonder to play, great acoustic sound, plugged in as well, especially if you upgrade the pickups. I really will never part with my Epiphone natural "korina" Flying V bass.

 

[Rip Topaz]

I'm really digging my Epi 'bird. Standard with a few mods (I didn't move the strap button), a joy to play.

 

[rabid_fish]

i have an eb-3 and it kicks ass!!! very special sounding though, i've heard some other eb-3 and mine sounds better!!! very good deep bass notes and killer middle notes (yes, it's not that it's MY bass, it's because it does ^^)

 

[Ric5]

My favorite Epiphone. My Frankensteined SG.

 

[deutschmarc]

I really like my gibson explorer, and epiphone makes one too, couple pounds lighter as well

 

[Guinness20]

I have an Epiphone Thunderbird Classic-IV PRO, and I absolutely adore it, it's an amazing bass! And it's especially beautiful in alpine white!

Coveted a Jack Casady bass for a while - very pretty! Finally got to road test one last week, and the infatuation has gone Heavier than I thought it would be, and sounds too much like a solid body, for my liking anyways. I think I'm going to have to look elsewhere, maybe a Hofner Verythin bass, or the new(-ish) 2013 Guild Starfire Bass Reissue.

So there's one good Epi bass, and one not so good.

 

[Silver Blues]

In and around 2005-ish Embassies, really amazing basses. My black '05 is my fav. I think I'm becoming the unofficial endorser for them, as I'm eyeing a third (a fiver this time, though). IMO it was a bad move to discontinue them.

--Silvie