• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Epiphone EB-O -- Cheap, But------------

SurferJoe46

SurferJoe46

Feb 22, 2010
9,057
763
The Bitterroot Mounts, Montana
#1
I played one today at Big Box Retailer (not GC) - discounted for some scratches, and even though it is short scale - I was impressed with it.

Floating bridge - nice fret board - no buzzes -

..........anyone ever try one?

Another thing that I played was an assortment (maybe 10 all together) of real J-Fenders, not Affinities or Squires - some used and some new.

There were some really nice-lookers, but unfortunately I wasn't really too impressed.

What was wrong with me to not appreciate them? :hmm:

They lacked 'color' or attitude and just sounded more like a Hofner to me. Ka-thump, ka-thump.

Dead, dull and lifeless.​

I went in with an open mind - cash in hand and could not find one that I really fell in love with.

I hit some pawn shops too and found a whole bunch of fretless left-handers, which I felt are kinda rare. I liked one of them - no name - but looked very modded. Sweetest blue and a blonde fretboard that just seemed 10-feet long. Unfortunately, I cannot play lefty.

With the economy like it is, the prices are 'way down and there were lines of kids/guys and girls selling or hocking guitars and basses all over the place.

Of course, it was Friday too - payday (or maybe lack of a payday).

Sad. :crying:
 
#7
Although I love my Fender P, I find myself picking up my Epi EB-O more often. I can't explain why, other than it's just fun to play and has that vintage-sounding fullness in regards to the low end. I have mine strung with Chromes and the bottom end is just ridiculous. Agreed it's not the greatest bass for some styles (i.e.-slap), but man, the low end is big. It works great for some of my preferences. For $79.00, you can't go wrong. Just my $.02
 
#8
BassDaddy77 said:
Although I love my Fender P, I find myself picking up my Epi EB-O more often. I can't explain why, other than it's just fun to play and has that vintage-sounding fullness in regards to the low end. I have mine strung with Chromes and the bottom end is just ridiculous. Agreed it's not the greatest bass for some styles (i.e.-slap), but man, the low end is big. It works great for some of my preferences. For $79.00, you can't go wrong. Just my $.02
Click to expand...

I never slap my instruments, the dog or the wife.

I was happy to hear it sit in the groove. RUSH was playing on a DVD-theater system in the same department - and although I cannot play anything like Geddy - I had a lot of fun following his boxes anyway.

It sounded pretty good for a short neck. I was on an Ampeg BA600 / 210. Could be the reason why it sounded so full.
 
#9
SurferJoe46 said:
I was always under the impression that with such a short neck, that they don't have range and sustain. That's all.
Click to expand...

I would have to agree that the sustain isn't nearly as good as my P (the only other bass I own and can compare to), but it's not something that keeps me from enjoying the bass. It's really a creature of it's own and has qualities that other basses don't possess; some for the better, some for the worse. It is what it is, and doesn't pretend to be a classic 34" Fender or modern sounding Ibanez or the like.
 
#10
BassDaddy77 said:
I would have to agree that the sustain isn't nearly as good as my P (the only other bass I own and can compare to), but it's not something that keeps me from enjoying the bass. It's really a creature of it's own and has qualities that other basses don't possess; some for the better, some for the worse. It is what it is, and doesn't pretend to be a classic 34" Fender or modern sounding Ibanez or the like.
Click to expand...

It'll be there tomorrow - it's been on sale for over a year so far - so the chances of it being gone are pretty slim.

Tomorrow I'll hit the yard sales and some of the CL stuff. I missed a nice 4-string J MIJ yesterday when I didn't move fast enough.

In case you're wondering - I'm just trying to cross off the last line on my Bucket List.

One more line! One more line then I'll be done!


Uh huh. :ninja:
 
#12
geezerjpj said:
the bridges pull out of the body....not well made at all......total garbage at any price
Click to expand...




Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

And it's so-o-o-o cute too!

Another thing they had was a few candy-red metal flake Fender Affinity MI/Asia P/Squires for $99.00. < edit ::: NEW too! >

They are so old, they have yellowed pickguards!

Now - I don't NEED another Affinity P/S bass - got two already - but one might be fun to mod all to pieces!

Don't get me wrong - I'm happy to find that bridge problem before a mistake was made.

(Let's see - blind nuts, JB Weld, drop-tune - nah!)
 
#15
Yeah - that's the sad part - I like the way it sounded too.

It's what I would call a 'notch bass' in that I don't have a short scale -- of course I don't have a boutique either - but that's never gonna happen unless I'm in a secret will by surprise.

I can't see investing is super-big ticket stuff at my age thinking that my wife will sell it all for $20.00 each at a yard sale when I'm dead but not yet cold.

That's why I'm hitting the yard sales tomorrow.

Bassist die too, and some of them are married when it happens.

Gotta read the local obituaries first tonight though. :D
 
#18
geezerjpj said:
the bridges pull out of the body....not well made at all......total garbage at any price
Click to expand...

I honestly haven't had anything like that happen to mine. I completely disagree about it being "garbage," but I can understand feeling that way if my experience with the EB-O was as terrible as yours. I took mine to our local luthier when I first received it for initial setup, and haven't had to make so much as a minor truss rod adjustment since. I play the bass everyday for at least 1-2 hours. It has stayed in tune for me pretty well also.

As far as sound goes, like I said before, it's not for everyone. Yes, it's a little muddy and deep, but that's what makes it stand out a bit from all the others. So far my experience has been great. I think it's good that people can voice an opinion based on their experience, because you can get a fuller picture of the "overall consensus" for any given bass/gear/whatever. Cheers.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back