Epiphone Newport looks like a winner.

[LetItGrowTone]

Check out 'Johnny Cash Live at San Quentin' album cover, its a 2nd generation Newport (ive got one in house).....sounds like a P bass on the record.

Marshall Grant. I have GHS Precision flats on an SG and to me they really seem like the best strings for that.

 

[godofthunder59]

Ths was just a quick demo in store, the setup was god awful but other than that I give it a 9.9. Beautifully built little bass and a great take on a often overlooked instrument. The neck pickup doesn't have the resistance of the mudbucker of the past but it does have the tone, I'm guessing resistance is 15k-20k. The neck pickup plays very well with the Thunderbird pickup, it's a great combination. Finish and build quality are near perfect, the pacific blue is absolutely stunning and puts the finish on my two 2021 NRs to shame. I've no dimensions but the short scale neck feels a bit like my 62 EB0 but a flatter profile on the back. The frets are dressed very nicely and no sprout or sharp edges. My only beef with the bass is the badge on the headstock I would have much preferred the class script gold logo.
With a MAP of $379 it's hard to resist. I put a deposit on it and will be bringing it home soon.

 

[godofthunder59]

Ths was just a quick demo in store, the setup was god awful but other than that I give it a 9.9. Beautifully built little bass and a great take on a often overlooked instrument. The neck pickup doesn't have the resistance of the mudbucker of the past but it does have the tone, I'm guessing resistance is 15k-20k. The neck pickup plays very well with the Thunderbird pickup, it's a great combination. Finish and build quality are near perfect, the pacific blue is absolutely stunning and puts the finish on my two 2021 NRs to shame. I've no dimensions but the short scale neck feels a bit like my 62 EB0 but a flatter profile on the back. The frets are dressed very nicely and no sprout or sharp edges. My only beef with the bass is the badge on the headstock I would have much preferred the class script gold logo.
With a MAP of $379 it's hard to resist. I put a deposit on it and will be bringing it home soon.

I misspoke when I mention the Embassy Deluxe( equipped with Thunderbird pickups) I meant to reference the 60s Newport Deluxe with the mini bucker at the bridge.

 

[Pyrat]

Yeah...I couldn't wait for more reports...I'm sure it'll be a GAS(S)....

 

[Pdaddy1978]

What are you guys doing for cases? Sweetwater doesn't seem to have one specially made for the bass (by Epiphone).

Thats a good question!
Back in 72 when my folks gave me the 61, that was used, as my first bass...
It didn't have a case.
They went to a local music store ( Pete Jones music) and they sold them a brand new GIBSON hard shell case that I THINK was for a guitar.
Maybe it was a EBO case...I don't know.
Said Gibson on it.

 

[lowplaces]

Anyone going to put flats on theirs ?

 

[lowend1]

That's really interesting! Like you, 'Coral' in my mind has a different association and a lot more of a pinkish hue. I find it comical how these a slew of new vintage inspired budget basses from various manufacturers with some neat 'vintage inspired' colors, and though the colors are cool they often miss the mark on their namesakes haha.

The 1960s Epiphones were offered in CC also, and it was decidedly orange. FWIW, I think it's par for the course that Indian Laurel fingerboards tend to be very dry - my Squier CV Late 60s J-Bass needed a healthy drink also. Treasure your greasy rosewood boards, all! A CC Newport bass will be arriving here tomorrow as well, though not from Sweetwater. The video demo I saw of the bass also mentioned the factory setup was severely lacking, but all else was good and it sounded pretty fat and vintage-y considering it was just a quickie demo.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

To the folks who got a Newport, what's the weight like? Lightness would be a selling point for me too.

From Sweetwater they all looked to be high 7- low 8lbs. Mine is 7 pounds 11 ounces

 

[Hnz]

Too broke for a Serek, so this is right up my alley. Might need a thumbrest though...

Me too. So I came up with this Newport mod. Shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Thats a good question!
Back in 72 when my folks gave me the 61, that was used, as my first bass...
It didn't have a case.
They went to a local music store ( Pete Jones music) and they sold them a brand new GIBSON hard shell case that I THINK was for a guitar.
Maybe it was a EBO case...I don't know.
Said Gibson on it.

Hopefully the 61 Newport survived without any major damage.....original case with my bros 65 Newport but the bass flopped around (which i remedied with foam added on top of the bass when in the case)....crazy how many of the great Gibsons & Epiphones had damage from the wrong or no case.

 

[Drucocu]

Nice mod, but how would you go on and fill the Bridge Pickup cavity?

Aaaanyway, this bass was a nobrainer for me, ordered one the second I knew about these, should arrive today!

I own a Serek MW already, but wanted something similar, when the gig calls for it (seedy places, etc. Lol)

Me too. So I came up with this Newport mod. Shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Pyrat]

Anyone going to put flats on theirs ?

All my Gibson and Epiphones get a set of LaBella 760FS-S strings, except my Epiphone EB-0(h!) which has a test set of Gibson flats (45-100). IMHO, they are a large part of the SOUND!

 

[Drucocu]

Yepp,

It's a winner!!!! Just took it out of the box. Yes, It needs work and a new set of strings. The balance is immaculate, better than my Serek, which has a lighter body and fatter neck, hence neckdive. This one doesn't dive AT ALL!!! here a first glimpse with the TB Pickup through my Ampeg B-15. The audio thru cell mic doesnt do it justice.

Rafi Kirder on Instagram: "Epiphone Newport Bass, right out of the box, needs some serious work and a proper set of strings, but it's incredible what 360 bucks gets you these days! Backingtrack by my band @deathrope_official #epiphone #epiphonebass #epiphonenewport #epiphonenewportbass #bassist #bassplayer #musician #love #hate #deathrope."

 

[Pyrat]

Yepp,

It's a winner!!!! Just took it out of the box. Yes, It needs work and a new set of strings. The balance is immaculate, better than my Serek, which has a lighter body and fatter neck, hence neckdive. This one doesn't dive AT ALL!!! here a first glimpse with the TB Pickup through my Ampeg B-15. The audio thru cell mic doesnt do it justice.

Rafi Kirder on Instagram: "Epiphone Newport Bass, right out of the box, needs some serious work and a proper set of strings, but it's incredible what 360 bucks gets you these days! Backingtrack by my band @deathrope_official #epiphone #epiphonebass #epiphonenewport #epiphonenewportbass #bassist #bassplayer #musician #love #hate #deathrope."

Thanks for the post and awesome viddie, brother....sounds fantastic!

 

[IPA]

Ths was just a quick demo in store, the setup was god awful but other than that I give it a 9.9. Beautifully built little bass and a great take on a often overlooked instrument. The neck pickup doesn't have the resistance of the mudbucker of the past but it does have the tone, I'm guessing resistance is 15k-20k. The neck pickup plays very well with the Thunderbird pickup, it's a great combination. Finish and build quality are near perfect, the pacific blue is absolutely stunning and puts the finish on my two 2021 NRs to shame. I've no dimensions but the short scale neck feels a bit like my 62 EB0 but a flatter profile on the back. The frets are dressed very nicely and no sprout or sharp edges. My only beef with the bass is the badge on the headstock I would have much preferred the class script gold logo.
With a MAP of $379 it's hard to resist. I put a deposit on it and will be bringing it home soon.

That color looks great

 

[lowend1]

Mine arrived this morning, and after a little thawing out, I tuned it to pitch and wrung it out a bit. It’s small, light and the neck is wonderful - fast and very comfortable. There’s a lot of sounds in this thing! Needed to have the bridge pickup raised and I adjusted the polepieces on the mudbucker for good measure, but it didn’t suffer from the bad factory setup others have mentioned. Gotta give the fingerboard an oiling yet. Everything seems to be screwed together really well. I immediately ditched the plastic knobs for chrome domes, straplocks are up next. Probably will upgrade the pickguard as well for something a little flashier than the basic white, in order to compete with that very orange-y California Coral.

 

[sleddogn]

Nice knob swap out! How about gold pickguard on that baby?

 

[lowend1]

Nice knob swap out! How about gold pickguard on that baby?

Actually, I'm leaning towards either silver glitter or mirrored. Trying to fall in line with the pickups and hardware.

 

[sleddogn]

You're right, silver would be sweet

 

[blacktocomm]

Received mine this afternoon. It really needs a set up and some fingerboard oil. Feel and plays nice though. Sounds super good but I have the phase issue @LowEndLobster has spoken about. With a little work it’ll be a killer little bass though.