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Epiphone Jack Casady Bass - Is it for me?

T

tomderbyshire23

Mar 25, 2008
1
0
#1
Hi.

I've just signed up to ask a quick question.

Basically, I'm a bassist in a band who've done a few gigs now and is starting to want a new bass.

I'm 15 and am reasonably skinny. However, i'm probably of average strength for my age.

(That probably seems a bit random. Read on.)

Currently, I have a Yamaha bass. It's good for me.

This is me with my Yamaha bass:

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Right, okay. All of this does have a point.

Basically, I've been thinking of buying the Epiphone Jack Casady Bass.

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/9623

It looks a quality bass but I don't know if it's for me.

It looks a lot heavier than my Yamaha and a lot bigger.

My main worry is that it will overpower me. As I said, I'm about average height and strength for my age, 15.

I move around a lot on stage so I don't know if it will affect that.

I also sing for my band if that makes a difference...

Anyway, I just want your opinions basically.

Is it for me?

Thanks in advance,

- Tom
 
#2
If you're worried about weight, don't. The Casady is semi hollow, so it's actually likely to be quite a bit lighter than your Yamaha. In terms of size, it generally looks to be a good size for average sized people (i.e. not all that big).

I've been jonesing for one of those Casady basses myself >.>
 
#3
tomderbyshire23 said:
Hi.

I've just signed up to ask a quick question.

Basically, I'm a bassist in a band who've done a few gigs now and is starting to want a new bass.

I'm 15 and am reasonably skinny. However, i'm probably of average strength for my age.

(That probably seems a bit random. Read on.)

Currently, I have a Yamaha bass. It's good for me.

This is me with my Yamaha bass:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Right, okay. All of this does have a point.

Basically, I've been thinking of buying the Epiphone Jack Casady Bass.

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/9623

It looks a quality bass but I don't know if it's for me.

It looks a lot heavier than my Yamaha and a lot bigger.

My main worry is that it will overpower me. As I said, I'm about average height and strength for my age, 15.

I move around a lot on stage so I don't know if it will affect that.

I also sing for my band if that makes a difference...

Anyway, I just want your opinions basically.

Is it for me?

Thanks in advance,

- Tom
Click to expand...


This probably isn't much help, but that's a question that no one can answer for you. The Casady sig bass gets consistently high marks, and I seriously GAS for one, but you'll have to play one for yourself in order to decide if it's the next bass for you.
 
#4
As a recent convert to semi-hollow basses from various and sundry solid-bodies, I've found my Ibanez ASB-140 is very comfortable to play, and not at all heavy. If a bass is too heavy for you, the easy solution is to buy a wider strap.

As for the JC bass specifically, the only way to tell if it's right for you is to play one, or at least something similar to it to get an idea for the feel and sound of a semi-hollow. I wouldn't go jumping around with one though...
 
#6
"I've just signed up to ask a quick question." HAHAHA

"I'm a bassist in a band who've done a few gigs now and is starting to want a new bass."..classic signs of a GAS addict...you will be trolling this board for years to come.

I have played the JC bass..it is light, well balanced and gets a a cool sound...that kind of old string, quick decay 60's sound. I would lve to hear it through my 1969 Ampeg V4B and 8 10's.

Point is, from a weight perspective and build quality for the money, it is good value. The thing you need to determine is if the sound is what you want. It will definitley sound different than the Yamaha.

You may want to check out the Eastwood Amepeg bass reissue. They are light, the build quality is a little less that the JC and the get a heavier sound.

Good luck!
 
#7
Tom-

If your main concern is the weight, you have no worries. As mentioned in previous replies it's a semi-hollow body and much lighter. Jack himself is not a tall or heavy guy and he designed it. The only concern I had when I owned mine was it being more fragile than a solidbody. That and the fact that it was more of a collectors piece for me than a player. If you move around onstage a lot you'll have to be careful not to bang it on mic and cymbal stands. Here's a link to my previously owned one:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402557

I wouldn't try to talk you out of it but you may want to consider one of the Ibanez Artcore semi-hollowbodies. Considerably less expensive, even new, and a quality instrument. Just my 2 cents.......
 
#8
It's a bit tougher than it looks (it's so pretty you just convince yourself it's delicate), it is neck heavy but it is light overall, and it's size and shape, along with the placement of the upper strap button makes it awkward for some people to play. A wide strap helps. Also it's neck is quite different than the standard Fender style neck and takes some getting used to.

The output jack tends to come loose, it needs to have loctite applied to the nut.

Sure sounds good, much better, I think, than the Ibanez semi hollows.

Ya gotta try one first.

Jack is actually rather small of stature (thin and short) and he manages it pretty damn well!!!
 
#9
It's a big bass as compared to most. It won't fit in a regular size gig bag. It's too wide.

Weight is not bad as it's a semi- hollowbody. Not as light as you would imagine, but a far cry from heavy. It is a nasty neck diver though. If that's an issue for you (it's not for me) then you might want to look elsewhere.

It is a total tone monster. I love the thing to peices. Sound is similar to a P bass. In that same neiborhood.

For a size reference, I'm 5'10" tall, and go about 165-170 pounds. Hope that helps some.
IMG_0045wdeath.jpg
 
#10
I own a JC signature and I can agree with most of what has been said in the previous responses. There are a gazillion owner reviews to be read at this link:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Epiphone/Jack+Casady+Signature/10/1

It is very light, has a slim neck, is a bit neck heavy, my output jack also came loose in the first thirty minutes I played it and mine came with really noisy pots. That said, I disagree that it cannot be played on "heavy" songs. Jack plays one through an Ampeg amp when he sits in with Govt. Mule on the "Deepest End" DVD doing Hendrix's "VooDoo Child" and it has incredible bottom and sustain. Jack played on the original Hendrix recording of "Voodoo Child". You can get a myriad of tones out of this bass with its impedance selector. I really like mine.
 
#12
I had a '98 Casady in the Vintage Sunburst, which you don't see all that often. I loved the look and the tone. There were two things that kind of bothered me: I didn't like the placement of the neck-side strap button; and I didn't care for the sharp edge (not contoured) where my right forearm was.

If you have a chance to try one out, do so. Most people aren't bothered by those things I mentioned, but I wound up selling mine. But if you like it from a comfort standpoint, go for it, because it really does sound good.
 
#13
etoncrow said:
That said, I disagree that it cannot be played on "heavy" songs. Jack plays one through an Ampeg amp when he sits in with Govt. Mule on the "Deepest End" DVD doing Hendrix's "VooDoo Child" and it has incredible bottom and sustain. Jack played on the original Hendrix recording of "Voodoo Child". You can get a myriad of tones out of this bass with its impedance selector. I really like mine.
Click to expand...

Just catch electric Hot Tuna sometime and you'll hear heavy monster bass tones from it (and his Aguilars)!!

For those of you in South Florida, they'll be at Sunfest in early May in West Palm Beach, with Little Feat.
 
#14
RE: Casady neck dive.

I replaced the OEM tuners on my Casady with Hipshot Ultralights and it not only helped considerabley with the neck dive but it reduced the overall weight and greatly improved the balance and feel on the strap.
 
#15
I use a suede strap with mine and that solved the neck dive issue. Other than that, I think it is one of the best sounding basses I have and great value for money. I'd recommend one whole heartedly! That's my Sunburst JC Sig. on the left.

Guitars040.jpg
 
#16
Tomder-
I don't own a JC Epi, but I do own a Gibson 335 guitar, which is the same shape. I don't think weight will be as much of an issue as shape. The semi-hollow body bass is not contoured like your Yamaha so it might not 'fit' or be as comfy as your current bass. You'll want to try one at a local store or take advantage of a mail-order return policy if at all possible.
And welcome to TB!
 
#17
As others have said, the only "comfort" issue is the body shape. If you haven't had a chance to play a Casady it might be hard for you to imagine what this means exactly, so let me offer this: First, look at the first (top) picture you posted of yourself, and look at the position of your right arm -- resting on the body with your wrist severely bent downward to reach the strings. You can get away with this on your Yammie, but it would be extremely uncomfortable on the Casady: The edge of the body will cut painfully into your arm. Now look at the picture that savit260 posted of himself, and note his right arm position -- almost a straight line from the the elbow to the fingers. This is the way you have to play the Casady.

When I first got my own Casady, I immediately realized that I had developed the habit of resting my arm on the body, with severely bent wrist, which was perfectly comfortable on my other basses. I then learned that most teachers will tell you not to play that way anyway, on any bass: It is much better for your arm and wrist, and it frees your fingers up for better technique, if you extend your elbow so that there's a straight line from elbow to fingers. As a result, getting the Casady had the unexpected bonus effect of forcing me to improve my arm position and technique.

Finally, I gotta add that the thing really is a tone monster; it blows all my other basses out of the water for a thick, fat old-school tone. If you like that sound, it can't be beat -- especially for the price.
 
#19
A Gibson 335 is not the same shape as a JC Signature. A Gibson Les Paul Signature is the same shape but the 335, although similar, is different with it's equal mouse ears. The lower bout on the JC Sig. is somewhat cut away and shorter than the upper bout. You can see it in my pic above (post #15).
 

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