Epiphone ET-280, any good?

[adamrobertt]

Been playing a Fender 50's P bass for about 6 months now, but I'm kind of bored with it. Don't get me wrong, it's a really solid bass and I have no complaints, but it's kind of white toast.

I've been interested in some of the kitschier vintage basses, particularly Hagstroms and Epiphones. I found a few on eBay, but I can't find much other info about them. How are they as basses? Anyone know anything about them?

Here's a pic of one:

 

[Thorsoundcore]

i've wanted to know about that bass for a while.playing it?? i'd imagine i'd feel a bit like billy idol playing bass,or kurt cobain in early nirvana days playing bass.

 

[adamrobertt]

No one?

 

[gweimer]

Crap. I'd say that was the bass that ruined Epiphone for many years.

 

[Musky]

I've got one of these. It's a bit of a mixed bag.

The neck is pretty good - quite slim with a Precision like width and plays as well as any other Matsumoku bass I've tried. The pickups are a bit weak though. Under the covers are very small single coils and they seem to have quite low output - they're about the same size as the pup you see on Musicmasters. When I got it it came with those black nylon tapewounds on (which I've used ever since), so I'm not sure if they might affect the volume, but I always have to turn the amp up compared to my other basses.

It's good for retro style thump, which is what I wanted, but I don't know that it'd do anything else. To find out I'd have to string the thing up with rounds, and I can't be bothered!

 

[GregBass1979]

Man that was one of the better basses I've owned. I had the sunburst version. When the switches work they get a decent variety of tones and are really punchy old school. I would ignore the negative comments.

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

I've played these. The one I played was a Bolt-on neck, strung with Flats, and the action was HIGH! But it still played good, had Nice BIG Tone, and was pretty inexpensive! I think these were the early MIJ Epiphone offerings. Not a fair comparison to the USA made Newports/Embassy's of the 60's, but a Fair bass, IMHO.

White Toast is a pretty good desciption.

 

[adamrobertt]

Just how low output are the pickups? Lower than a Mustang? Good enough for rock music? I sort of play with an overdriven tone.

 

[Auto-Pilot]

I know this is an old post but gotta chip in...
This was the first bass I owned from 1978 to 1988. It was brilliant, very nice neck, nice weight, balanced well. The only downside are the pickups which are on the quiet side. Would be worth replacing these.
Disregard the negative posts, I guess these are from people who do not have a clue what they are talking about and have never owned one.
I went through many other bass guitars (mostly fretless) & the top dog was probably my Viger Passion but the Epiphone ET-280 will always be my favorite. Great bass.

 

[radioripster]

I have an ET-285 and it has the same pick ups as the 280 in that photo. I like the sounds it makes especially the bridge pick up. It has that single coil/ bridge sound, but different. Different in a good way. It seems to be fuller sounding than a Jazz/ PJ kinda thing. Go for it..what the heck..right? I've played Fenders and Fender-like basses for 30 some years and the Epiphone has something that's refreshing in a way to me.

 

[Auto-Pilot]

Reading what radioripster writes I have to say I take back what I said about replacing the pickups (just because they are on the quiet side). He's right, from what I remember, this bass has a tone to itself, a very nice tone too. Keep as is. If I come across another 280 I would buy it and keep.
Here's a photo of mine from 1980 -

 

[Ericnordicbee]

It's the first electric bass I played. For junior high jazz band. I remember that one had a switch that didn't seem to do anything. All the tones were the same. It was a fairly comfortable neck and it sounded fine. They are funky. However, IMO most of the low end stuff today has a better build quality.

 

[Bassmaticmatt]

This was my first bass. My dad got it in a pawn shop for $100 in 1998. I didn't know what I had at the time. It got stolen I wish I still had it.

 

[aaronious]

I spent about 20 minutes with one. It was very well set up. As set up as it could be. It was the most unplayable hunk of lumber I've ever touched. YMMV. Nice tone though.

 

[Solar]

If they were long scale, I might've picked one up awhile ago. Something about the looks of it. It looks killer but really stupid at the same time. But, it is an epiphone. Buy it for $300, if you don't like it, sell for $250. You just spent $50 to deal with Gear Aquisition Syndrome, and that's a cheaper way of dealing with it than buying a lot of other music gear! Maybe you'll love it and have a really really unique bass.

 

[GIBrat51]

A pretty typical, early '70s Matsumoko bass; made for several brands besides Epiphone, with the only difference being the color, and the headstock decal. I have a few - all hollow bodies, though. They're usually pretty well made - considering - and the only real downside to them was/is the hardware. Yes, the pickups are "weak"- compared to today's pickups. Back in the day, pretty much all pick ups were weak; and don't forget; they're also almost half a century old now, as well. I find that turning my amp up compensates for the low output pretty well.... If you get it, don't be surprised if the neck needs a shim; but that's usually a result of simple age. I really like the necks on mine, feel- and playability-wise; and yes, a couple of them needed a shim. How are they as a bass? Listen to bass lines from that era; that's how they are, and how basses were expected to sound back then. I'm happy with mine, but that old school stuff is what I play with them. Newer music? I have other basses for that...

 

[Auto-Pilot]

I spent about 20 minutes with one. It was very well set up. As set up as it could be. It was the most unplayable hunk of lumber I've ever touched. YMMV. Nice tone though.

In those 20 precious minutes did you get your allen keys out?
Some of the bass lines I pumped out on my 280 were intricate to say the least and in no way compromised by any poor quality from the build. It was incredibly easy to play, quite a fast neck, lovely low action and as you say, a nice tone. Sure it is a low end bass but punched above its weight against many basses of its day.

 

[Electric_Delta]

Old post, but I bought one of these last Saturday. Great bass, very playable and it sounds excellent for any style.

 

[Bassmaticmatt]

Man I still think about seeking one out. I really miss my first bass.

 

[BassGuyGG]

I have one. I'm the original owner and this was my first "real" instrument. Bought it in the summer of '71 at Sam Ash in Huntington, NY. My Mom was with me. I bought it for the short-scale neck and because I liked the color. It was $77 brand-new. There is a hair embedded in the finish on the back of the body so I'm guessing it was a factory second. It's an old friend that took me through high school, college, at least 50 bands and many, many gigs. It's well-played and scuffed up and I can tell you where just about every nick came from!

My 1970 ET-280 is heavily modified. It was rebuilt twice, once in the Seventies and again in 2010. The electronics have been gutted, the pickups rewound, the bridge moved; the neck shaved. The pickups are rewired so the center position of the switch puts them out of phase. It's a pretty cool axe although no longer my "workhorse" instrument as it once was.

By 2010 it had been through the wars and was pretty dire shape. It no longer went out to gigs, it stayed up on the wall and only did limited studio duty. Eventually I decided such a faithful old friend deserved better so I took it to the guitar shop for an overhaul. The second time I had it rebuilt I bought another one on eBay to cannibalize for parts. I remember it being a pretty mediocre, "beginner" instrument when I was younger. When I played the "stock" version of my Epi I was reminded why.