So last year I purchased (and sold) an Epiphone Jack Casady 20th Anniversary bass. While it was stunningly beautiful, after playing it for about a day the varitone knob started coming loose from the inside. Then the washers on the jack started to slip. I did a closer inspection while setting it up and realized the nut was cut wrong. I enjoyed the overall sound sound of the bass but for $800 I was a bit disappointed and sold it. A few months later I was at a local music shop with a friend who noticed a gold Casady on the wall. He asked me to plug it in because he was curious about the sound and once again, scratchy knobs and a broken varitone. I paid a quick visit to my local Guitar Center today and saw a brand new Casady on the wall. I decided to plug it in just for the heck of it. At first there was no sound, then after giving the knobs a little jiggle there were a couple crackles, buzzes and finally a low output bass sound. Then I went to click the varitone to 500 only to find out it had completely come loose from the inside. A lot of the folks here on TB that sing high praise about their Casady's seem to have older ones. Jack himself talks very highly of these and I want to like them so bad. Am I just having bad luck? Or has Epiphone's QC gone down recently?
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Epiphone Jack Casady Disappointment.
- Thread starter Maestro29
- Start date
Every one I've seen didn't have those problems. I guess being hung on a GC wall for too long might not help in your situation. 
I've heard similar stories several times over the past few years.
Not a bad looking bass, but there are so many better basses that they're not even on my radar.
Obviously there are good ones out there, but what's the fascination?
You don't see passive low-impedance pickup every day do you?
I had similar experience with Epiphone.
Purchased brand new Rumblekat. About 10 days later tone knob stopped working. Tried spray with no effect..
What should I do? Got me a new pot, solder it and be done with it..
Three point bridge was expected. Now after bridge replacement and pot fixed, it plays super fine. I am surprised every time I take it in my hands how good feels and how great sounds.
I don't think I will buy another Epiphone. But, if I would, I will check hardware, pots and switches first. However, For $800 I've got MIJ Precision, which does not require anything and it's class act itself about beauty and quality.
Purchased brand new Rumblekat. About 10 days later tone knob stopped working. Tried spray with no effect..
What should I do? Got me a new pot, solder it and be done with it..
Three point bridge was expected. Now after bridge replacement and pot fixed, it plays super fine. I am surprised every time I take it in my hands how good feels and how great sounds.
I don't think I will buy another Epiphone. But, if I would, I will check hardware, pots and switches first. However, For $800 I've got MIJ Precision, which does not require anything and it's class act itself about beauty and quality.
So you're saying a (relatively) big brand instrument was/felt lower quality than the price tag would suggest?
I just have to wonder what it can do thsy other basses can't.
Are you saying nothing can sound like one?
Naturally, I've played them, several...I try out between 50 to 60 basses a year, quite a few Epiphones and a number of hollow or semi-hollow basses, but I've never been wowed by a JC.
Strings maybe?
Are you saying nothing can sound like one?
Naturally, I've played them, several...I try out between 50 to 60 basses a year, quite a few Epiphones and a number of hollow or semi-hollow basses, but I've never been wowed by a JC.
Strings maybe?
There are plenty of threads here about trying to locate replacements for noisy pots on Casady basses. When I got mine the varitone transformer had come unstuck and was just bashing around loose inside the body. And they don’t balance worth a damn.
It’s a unique instrument with its own charm, but it’s not a coincidence that they haven’t replaced the P bass or anything.
It’s a unique instrument with its own charm, but it’s not a coincidence that they haven’t replaced the P bass or anything.
Different strokes, mate. Some people insists no one gets wowed by a Gibby, but I did. 
A Fender P is a much better canoe paddle than a Cassady, but the Cassady has a rich & ideal P bass sound (not dead sounding like a P can seem at low volume, they excel at high volume blending) and a very nice neck. I got one used at GC, black, maybe 6 years old by now and it reminded me of a VW Bug, very simple, quirky, but it hangs together and resonates. Since then I have discovered it's unique relationship to effects due to that PU. (The PU selector knob does seem fragile so I don't use tongs on it just me fingers gently). Because it sounds like a piano with fresh round wounds I don't think of it as a vintage sounding medium scale hollowbody, it can hang sustain wise with the other 34" scale solidbodies.
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In terms of the QC issues it comes under the "you get what you paid for" category. If you like the bass otherwise it would be worthwhile to get it repaired and functioning properly with better quality parts.
I had a JC for a short time (bought for $450 used), and my main complaint was more general - if I'm going to play a hollow body instrument I want it to sound and feel like one, and to me the JC is more in between a hollow body and solid body in terms of character. Apart from that, I was somewhat bothered by the balance.
Having said all that though, I understand why they do appeal to some folks.
I had a JC for a short time (bought for $450 used), and my main complaint was more general - if I'm going to play a hollow body instrument I want it to sound and feel like one, and to me the JC is more in between a hollow body and solid body in terms of character. Apart from that, I was somewhat bothered by the balance.
Having said all that though, I understand why they do appeal to some folks.
A few years ago when I saw The Producers (80s power pop band and highly underrated) the bassist was playing the Jack Casady. I asked him about it during the meet & greet, and he couldn't stop raving about how great it was, and how he knew when he first played it that it was for him.
If you get a new bass and QC is disappointing, it's your right to get it corrected. Talk to the store, then talk to the manufacturer. Explain what's wrong. Get one ordered from the company; that's what I've done with a few of mine, or ask for one in the back stockroom.
When you purchase a "new" bass hanging on the wall at any store, it ain't actually a new bass, and you don't know who's been playing/abusing it. I wish store policies were that items on the wall are specifically not for sale but they'll run to the back and get a fresh one, or order you one, and then at certain times the wall models are sold with a hefty discount… but this is why my bass store would be out of business in three months.
Of course, it could be that Gibson's QC policies have filtered down to Epiphone, which would be a shame.
If you get a new bass and QC is disappointing, it's your right to get it corrected. Talk to the store, then talk to the manufacturer. Explain what's wrong. Get one ordered from the company; that's what I've done with a few of mine, or ask for one in the back stockroom.
When you purchase a "new" bass hanging on the wall at any store, it ain't actually a new bass, and you don't know who's been playing/abusing it. I wish store policies were that items on the wall are specifically not for sale but they'll run to the back and get a fresh one, or order you one, and then at certain times the wall models are sold with a hefty discount… but this is why my bass store would be out of business in three months.
Of course, it could be that Gibson's QC policies have filtered down to Epiphone, which would be a shame.
Dang man. That really stinks. I own a gold top Jack and a 20th Anniversary Jack. I was immediately blown away by how well made they are. I own several Fenders (American, AmDeluxes, Custom Shop) and would put these Jack Casady's on par with the Fenders.
Hmmm..... a bass hanging on the wall at GC with issues............. par for the course.
Were the strings a quarter mile off of the fretboard too?
Were the strings a quarter mile off of the fretboard too?
okcrum
in your chest
Let's see. OP tried three basses.
Bass #1 - provenance unknown
Bass #2 - local music store
Bass #3 - GC
Yep, it must be GC.
Bass #1 - provenance unknown
Bass #2 - local music store
Bass #3 - GC
Yep, it must be GC.
Burwabit
Likes guitars that tune good and firm feelin women
I really like my JC 20th Anniversary. Mine is high quality, no issues. Sounds great with flats. I wouldn't judge an instrument by how well it's cared for at GC.
I had two of those Silverburst ones MF was selling a while back. First one had the similar issues described by the OP - baritone pot was crackly and the volume pot was hanging inside of the body. On top of that, one pickup screw cam undone and was floating around inside the case making a mess of the finish. Sent that one back and the replacement was perfect. My only gripe was the tone sounded too similar to a P for me to appreciate. But, I do wish I would have kept it. It was solid, great QC and looks fit right into an old country western band.
Obviously, you sold it a long time ago, but you’re describing 3 problems that could probably be fixed with $20. I hope you got your money back in the resale.
