Thought I would jump in at this point. I’m thinking about buying one of new Newports. Does anyone have both the Newport & Embassy and can tell me the difference in the body size? I bought the Embassy, didn’t like it. Pictures of my original 1964 Newport that was modified in ‘69. Obvious color change except for neck. Hipshot bridge 2 years ago. In ‘69 I ordered two new pickups from Gibson. As you might see the mudbucker came with Gibson stamped into it. I have not seen another. Through the years band mates have always referred to the epi as “old redneck” and say it’s one of my best sounding basses and I should play it more.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 Newport looks like a winner.
- Thread starter User474755
- Start date
Got my Epiphone Newport in last night. Plays well after putting on flat wounds...ordered a Hipshot 2-point Gibson bridge replacement. No real flaws...need to adjust the relief...was really bad.
It will be a neat project bass...need to see Lobster's next review
. 
It will be a neat project bass...need to see Lobster's next review
So the Model One works fine! The replacement was relatively straightforward. The G-String position is a little off in relation to the pickup (similar to the post above) but I guess this is due to the bridge placement. The next investment will be a hipshot bridge but I am quite happy right now.
Looking forward to lobsters review!
Looking forward to lobsters review!
I have two of the embassy basses because I didn't think they would come up with anything cooler.....
I may sell an embassy and get one of these.... yellow or orange....?
I may sell an embassy and get one of these.... yellow or orange....?
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
mine arrived from Sweetwater today. it had a 55 point inspection sticker on it but the setup was terrible (as in buzzing with a huge front bow!). i picked out the lightest weight one out of the two in stock in the blue metallic and mine weighs 7lbs 4oz. IMO, the finish and feel of the neck is very nice. i didn't like the tight nut spacing so i made a new one out of bone and installed E ball cobalt light gauge flats on it. i slightly leveled the frets under tension, polished them, oiled the fingerboard, adjusted the action (low), the pickups and strobed the intonation and this bass is awesome now. I'm going to rewire it so the pickups are in phase next.
BTW, i have zero issues with the stock bridge and tailpiece.
here's few pics of it:
i also have two of the LP Jr tributes (one in cherry and the other in TV yellow) and they have become some of my favorite basses since switching to playing short scales 3 1/2 years ago.
i always wanted a Newport so about 3 years ago i bought the Eastwood version but a few things bothered me about it. 1-the batwing headstock was just to big and wide and 2- the pickup sounded like crap, so i modded the headstock shape and installed two t-bird pickups in it and i love it now:
BTW, i have zero issues with the stock bridge and tailpiece.
here's few pics of it:
i also have two of the LP Jr tributes (one in cherry and the other in TV yellow) and they have become some of my favorite basses since switching to playing short scales 3 1/2 years ago.
i always wanted a Newport so about 3 years ago i bought the Eastwood version but a few things bothered me about it. 1-the batwing headstock was just to big and wide and 2- the pickup sounded like crap, so i modded the headstock shape and installed two t-bird pickups in it and i love it now:
Last edited:
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
the Newport's neck pickup is definitely a sidewinder and has a DCR that measured 1.2K on my fluke meter. It's basically a clone of the same pickup in my '73 Gibson SG bass. (whereas my '69 Gibson EB1's measures 30.1K). IMO, the Newport's neck pickup does sound like a Gibson mudbucker so i see no reason to replace it.
here's a pic of my Newport's neck pickup:
by the way, i ended up flipping the phase of the bridge pickup in mine and i like it a lot better that way.
it's a super simple thing to do. remove the tape over them & just unsolder and swap the two wires shown with the red arrows in the pic below, put shrink tubing over them, then re-install & adjust it, and you're done.
here's a pic of my Newport's neck pickup:
by the way, i ended up flipping the phase of the bridge pickup in mine and i like it a lot better that way.
it's a super simple thing to do. remove the tape over them & just unsolder and swap the two wires shown with the red arrows in the pic below, put shrink tubing over them, then re-install & adjust it, and you're done.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
update: i had a 30.1K DRC mudbucker in my parts bin and tried it in my new Newport yesterday but it was way too dark/muddy so i reinstalled the stock neck pickup in mine and IMO, it sounds way better with it.
Yeah the last thing I got from Sweetwater was a Danelectro guitar. Had the signed 55 point inspection card with it but the action was a mile high and the truss rod was completely loose to the point that the truss not was ready to fall out.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
Some people have posted stability issues in another Newport bass thread, but I've gigged (and played mine at band practices) and here in southern Utah it's very cold at the moment (30-35 degrees F with occasional snow and rain). On the gig it was 70F in the room and mine has zero stability issues after adjusting the neck once to remove the front bow when I initially got it.
I absolutely love the bass.
I absolutely love the bass.
I have not yet bought a Newport bass, so no mods either ;-) I just have a lot of ideas
Cave Puppy
"Humph Bo, he's wond!" - John Lennon
I am sure that some instruments actually get a full check BUT the 55 point inspection is marketing hype only and what I have seen in the real world is that they just pass it along "as is" just like every other online company. Here is the web page on their site that lists every aspect of the 55 point check which includes playability and states that it checks the instrument meets manufacturers tolerances. If they are checking playability and hardware then they would have known that the neck was unplayable and the truss rod nut was not properly engaged. It was fine because I know how to take care of it but there is no way anyone looked at, touched, or played this guitar before it went out.
55 Point Inspection | Sweetwater.com
You get free 1940's candy though.
Me too. I was watching an interview by Lobster of head of Serek said his Midwestern bass was inspired by coronet guitar and newport bass.
I have already started taking parts off my new newport and will transition it into a single pickup design.
Will show it off when done.
