Epiphone Newport shortscale

[DavidEdenAria]

I think I will check those picks out. I need to train my thumb/finger to stay together, as they have a tendency to get the jitters and release hold of things...... I definitely use both hands to hold a cup of coffee, lol. Hey! I got one year on you..... funny how I really DON'T feel 65, at least in my mind, lol.
I love that Johnny Cash album. The live energy is amazing. I see what you say about the Newport having a P bass type of sound. I look forward to trying a pick out on my Newport, plus I very well may have a set of short scale GHS Pressurewounds. I do have a brand new set of Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flats and they sound great on my Jag SS bass with EMG Geezers...... I can probably try them out on this 2+2 bass without having to cut them.
Meanwhile, the TB pickups are due in the mail today. More on that later.
-Lenny

Ive considered the Colbalts myself....ive read about a sticky feel though...ive considered TI flats as well even though the cost is high...TI rounds are another but ive read the string balance is way off....Pressurewounds seem to check the boxes for me, low action because of little flop and intonation is very close even on the 65 Newport bridge.

Its no surprise the pair of Johnny Cash live albums were hits, they do have immediacy and the recording overall is great.

 

[covermego]

Ive considered the Colbalts myself....ive read about a sticky feel though...ive considered TI flats as well even though the cost is high...TI rounds are another but ive read the string balance is way off....Pressurewounds seem to check the boxes for me, low action because of little flop and intonation is very close even on the 65 Newport bridge.

Its no surprise the pair of Johnny Cash live albums were hits, they do have immediacy and the recording overall is great.

Lol, now I really want to try the Pressurewounds and see how they fare. I'll probably stick that set of Cobalt Flats on first, though.
Well, I received my TB pickup set and have already installed the bridge pickup. I was a bit skeptical, because it looks exactly like the stock bridge pickup. I noticed the new set is a couple ounces heavier and just a bit more resistance (9.2k vs 8.9 in the stock PU). I also went from V-B-T to V-V-T. All I know is this thing sounds much more aggressive..... I almost want to just run the bridge PU, but I'm sure I'll be better off combining the 2 PU's with this coming gig . I'm really looking forward to playing this!
Of course, I'm REALLY curious about the TB neck pickup. I know I'll have to do a bit of fabrication for it, but I am chompin' at the bit to see if the complete set sounds better than the mudbucker/ TB combo. Soon....
I also have just taken delivery of an EB0, so the stock Newport pickups may very well end up in that (yes, a new pickup rout is in order, lol).

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Lol, now I really want to try the Pressurewounds and see how they fare. I'll probably stick that set of Cobalt Flats on first, though.
Well, I received my TB pickup set and have already installed the bridge pickup. I was a bit skeptical, because it looks exactly like the stock bridge pickup. I noticed the new set is a couple ounces heavier and just a bit more resistance (9.2k vs 8.9 in the stock PU). I also went from V-B-T to V-V-T. All I know is this thing sounds much more aggressive..... I almost want to just run the bridge PU, but I'm sure I'll be better off combining the 2 PU's with this coming gig . I'm really looking forward to playing this!
Of course, I'm REALLY curious about the TB neck pickup. I know I'll have to do a bit of fabrication for it, but I am chompin' at the bit to see if the complete set sounds better than the mudbucker/ TB combo. Soon....
I also have just taken delivery of an EB0, so the stock Newport pickups may very well end up in that (yes, a new pickup rout is in order, lol).

Ive lost track what is the neck pickup in the Newport right now? You have your hands full with pickups lol...thing is with the Pressurewounds the action is stupid low im reluctant to change plus my rig has all kinds of pedals and the Eden Metro has extensive EQ that can change the sound of a neck mudbucker drastically...i use a TurboRat for more treble bite, i find neck pickups in general get by with biting distortion pedals...sort of the opposite of J bridge pickups or StingRays where the tone can quickly get brittle on top.

Im more fussy with bass bridge pickups as a whole but im more old school; Jamerson Bruce, Pappalardi etc...ive always wondered how a mudbucker neck and a StingRay bridge would combine.

See how your gig goes in a live setting, good luck with that!

 

[covermego]

Ive lost track what is the neck pickup in the Newport right now? You have your hands full with pickups lol...thing is with the Pressurewounds the action is stupid low im reluctant to change plus my rig has all kinds of pedals and the Eden Metro has extensive EQ that can change the sound of a neck mudbucker drastically...i use a TurboRat for more treble bite, i find neck pickups in general get by with biting distortion pedals...sort of the opposite of J bridge pickups or StingRays where the tone can quickly get brittle on top.

Im more fussy with bass bridge pickups as a whole but im more old school; Jamerson Bruce, Pappalardi etc...ive always wondered how a mudbucker neck and a StingRay bridge would combine.

See how your gig goes in a live setting, good luck with that!

The Mudbucker received a new set of AlnicoV magnets from @YRPALJG . definitely toned down the loud boominess of the original ceramic magnets. I gigged it over the weekend and while a lot of folks (a lot of them bass players themselves) seemed to like the sound, the sound guy said the neck pickup was just way too boomy for the building we were in (although I really dug it, I had to agree with the sound guy). I ended up running the TB bridge pickup at 90% with the neck pickup about 10%. Still, it was very "boomy". I'm sure it would be a bit different if it was outdoors or in an enclosed room with proper sound deadening. In this case, it was in a huge brewery warehouse. We've played in there before and you definitely have to dial in the sound properly. Out of 3 sets for our gig, I played the last 2 sets with my Jaguar Short Scale bass, loaded with EMG GZR's and strung with SIT roundwounds. Didn't have time to dial in the Newport's sound properly.
I just need to tweak my settings and get to suitable levels. I absolutely love this little Newport and have zero intention of putting it on the "back burner". I bought the TB pickups as a set and I am thinking of installing the neck PU soon. Yes, I know it will take some fabrication, but I'm up for that. Depending on how that combo sounds, I am also considering installing an "Unmudbucker" from Sentell. Lots-O-Fun !!

 

[DavidEdenAria]

The Mudbucker received a new set of AlnicoV magnets from @YRPALJG . definitely toned down the loud boominess of the original ceramic magnets. I gigged it over the weekend and while a lot of folks (a lot of them bass players themselves) seemed to like the sound, the sound guy said the neck pickup was just way too boomy for the building we were in (although I really dug it, I had to agree with the sound guy). I ended up running the TB bridge pickup at 90% with the neck pickup about 10%. Still, it was very "boomy". I'm sure it would be a bit different if it was outdoors or in an enclosed room with proper sound deadening. In this case, it was in a huge brewery warehouse. We've played in there before and you definitely have to dial in the sound properly. Out of 3 sets for our gig, I played the last 2 sets with my Jaguar Short Scale bass, loaded with EMG GZR's and strung with SIT roundwounds. Didn't have time to dial in the Newport's sound properly.
I just need to tweak my settings and get to suitable levels. I absolutely love this little Newport and have zero intention of putting it on the "back burner". I bought the TB pickups as a set and I am thinking of installing the neck PU soon. Yes, I know it will take some fabrication, but I'm up for that. Depending on how that combo sounds, I am also considering installing an "Unmudbucker" from Sentell. Lots-O-Fun !!

Sounds like you had a good gig and made progress with the Newport....Years back a female blues artist played an outdoor gig with her Kalamazoo KB1 into an SVT, massive bottom end really fat and powerful.....she normally plays piano gigs with her little MarkBass rig, its a dark sort of upright sound she goes for but the reaction from the pickup musicians on stage was priceless! She has a very good voice that can cut thru.

Check out Heather Newman - Dirty Blues as an example of a mudbucker in a jazz blues style.

To me a neck humbucker bass needs to be properly EQed from the start, they are not plug and play like some basses with a flat EQ...thats where the semi parametric EQ on my Eden Metro comes in but a 10 band bass EQ can help..ymmv!

 

[MudderBucker]

Hey everyone. I've been referencing this site for a few years so thanks for the great stockpile of information! I've decided to break my silence after also purchasing one of these heartbreakers and would like to share some discoveries I've discovered as well.

I ordered mine direct from Guitar Center. While I was waiting, they happened to get in a beautiful green Embassy Bass. I connected with that thing so hard I considered cancelling my order and bringing that thing home instead! It was even on clearance for like $300! I ultimately decided not to do that because I'm trying to get a short scale bass. Highly recommend that one though. It rips!

When my bass arrived I was able to try it out in the store alongside a Gibson SG bass and an Epiphone EB0 that I returned to get a Newport. The neck pickup in the Newport and the EB-0 (most likely the same part) have WAY more output than the SG Mudbucker. What a shame. Why would Gibson put a fake Mudbucker with whimpy output in this thing? Wouldn't they want to showcase that pickup? Guess not. I also noticed the fit and finish of the EB-0 is waaaaaaay better than the Newport. The fretboard was clean, the finish was good, the hardware was in the right spot and installed decently well, the intonation was aight, and the strings were also aight.

The tuners on the Newport probably work ok, but the keys are wobbly and just don't inspire confidence. The strings though, what in the world? They aren't the ones in the stock photo and they aren't the ones on the EB-0. I can tell they aren't because there is no silk, anywhere. It was just bare wire with more wire wrapped around it. They felt and sounded awful. What happened? Why wouldn't they just put the same strings from their other short scale basses on this short scale bass? I also noticed the fretboard had this weird waxy residue on it, including the frets, making them look dull and unpolished. Very weird. To remedy this I wiped what I could with some rubbing alcohol and a paper towel, got happy with some #0000 steel wool, then wiped the fuzzies off with more alcohol. Once it dried, I oiled the fretboard with walnut oil (also works on pau ferro btw).




I also noticed the fretboard had some planer marks on the bass side towards the edge. I'm immediately tempted to yank them all out, properly radius and sand the thing, and install better wire. I won't though, that's a bit extra, and not a priority.

More on my next post.

 

[MudderBucker]

So one very annoying thing that some have noticed is the hardware holding the bridge pickup on. This type of insert is the LAST thing you want when you're using it to work against the pressure of the height spring and foam. Not three days after I got this thing the bass side of the pickup popped out, and even though I was prepared for this and knew how to fix it, I can't help but think of someone just starting out with this madness buying a cool, budget bass as an introduction, seeing this and not knowing what to do other than pay a Guitar Center tech upwards of $80 or never picking it up again.



First picture shows the little guy that slides right out, second one shows a 4-40 brass threaded insert that fits a 1 1/4" stainless machine screw that fits the hole in the pickup rather well. It is slightly larger than the original hardware too, so it works great. Just make sure you drill out the hole to the size specified or the little prongs snap off like in the second picture. A Guitar Center Tech paid upwards of $80 might also prevent this from happening. The insert on the other side is basically welded in place so I just left it. Looks odd, bothers me a lot, but I can deal with it.

Electrically, I concur with others who say the blend knob is more of a clumsy 3 way switch. The tone control also barely works. I really didn't like the T Bird pickup at first, the Mudbucker seemed promising. I decided to change the controls to Jazzy style dual concentric knobs, and cover the open hole by making a sick black pickguard inspired by 1961 Newports. I like the result. I hear more from the T Bird pickup somehow. No idea why yet, but I'll take it! Only thing I would like to know is why the volume drops when I max out both pickups.

 

[MudderBucker]

Here's the final result of phase one. I know the epsilon logo on the pickguard isn't period correct, but it still looks pretty sharp IMO. I strung it with La Bella flats and love them. Best strings I've ever used.

What's next? I'm thinking changing out the tuners is probably my next move. I like Gotoh Res O Lites because they look more vintagey than the Hipshot ones that seem to be popular. Looking forward to grabbing a Hipshot bridge for it. I'll have to replace the strings because as you can see, the silk already goes past the stock bridge saddles. I'll experiment with magnets but ultimately I'd love some Curtis Novak pickups in this thing. I'll do anything to triple the price of this budget instrument. Overall verdict on this piece of junk is everything on it that is easily replaceable is terrible, but everything that remains is pretty cool.

 

[madscientist]

A few updates that might proved helpful for those just venturing into Newport infested waters...

You all weren't kidding when you said that the neck pickup's magnets were too strong. With some guidance from YRPALJG (thanks!) I pulled the stock ceramic magnets and replaced them with alnico 5's from Mojotone. Whilst experimenting, I swapped them back and forth a few times to A/B, and the difference in fret buzz was dramatic. For me, the stock magnets are utterly unusable. If you like really high action, they might just work for you.

The good news about switching to alnico 5 magnets is...

1.) It was fairly easy to do
2.) No more fret buzz
3.) Better tone from the neck pickup (to my ears, at least)
4.) Even string-to-string balance (the D and G strings were noticeably quieter with the stock ceramic magnets)

The bad news...

1.) Though it has improved, I still don't care all that much for the sound of the sidewinder. It's subjective, there's nothing particularly wrong with it - just not my thing I guess.
2.) There was a significant drop in output after switching the magnets. I fooled around with raising the neck pickup's poll pieces, and lowering the bridge pickup. That helped, but I still had a long way to go. I thought about putting more foam under the neck pickup, but since I wasn't really digging the neck pickup all that much anyway, that didn't feel like effort I needed to expend at this particular junction in time.

For now, I've simply removed the neck pickup magnets altogether, and I'm using my Newport as a 1-pickup bass. The bridge pickup is really quite good out of the box, so I'm ok with that.

One other issue that I had with the bass was the truss rod. It was initially behaving strangely - getting looser when I turned it clockwise. GodOfThunder59 assured me that it was a standard truss rod, so I gave it another go, and after a full turn and a half it finally found tension again. I guess that the factory had left it super, super loose - I've essentially been playing without a truss rod this whole time. The relief was only off by a millimeter or two. I'm not ordinarily a glass-half-full kinda guy, but maybe this means that the Newport has a nice, stiff neck

For now, I'm stoked to have some of the teething issues worked out. At present, I've yet to swap the leads on the bridge pickup, but that'll be on my list if I decide to use/replace the neck pickup. A Novak is on my list for when I win the lottery.

Cheers!

 

[DavidEdenAria]

A few updates that might proved helpful for those just venturing into Newport infested waters...

You all weren't kidding when you said that the neck pickup's magnets were too strong. With some guidance from YRPALJG (thanks!) I pulled the stock ceramic magnets and replaced them with alnico 5's from Mojotone. Whilst experimenting, I swapped them back and forth a few times to A/B, and the difference in fret buzz was dramatic. For me, the stock magnets are utterly unusable. If you like really high action, they might just work for you.

The good news about switching to alnico 5 magnets is...

1.) It was fairly easy to do
2.) No more fret buzz
3.) Better tone from the neck pickup (to my ears, at least)
4.) Even string-to-string balance (the D and G strings were noticeably quieter with the stock ceramic magnets)

The bad news...

1.) Though it has improved, I still don't care all that much for the sound of the sidewinder. It's subjective, there's nothing particularly wrong with it - just not my thing I guess.
2.) There was a significant drop in output after switching the magnets. I fooled around with raising the neck pickup's poll pieces, and lowering the bridge pickup. That helped, but I still had a long way to go. I thought about putting more foam under the neck pickup, but since I wasn't really digging the neck pickup all that much anyway, that didn't feel like effort I needed to expend at this particular junction in time.

For now, I've simply removed the neck pickup magnets altogether, and I'm using my Newport as a 1-pickup bass. The bridge pickup is really quite good out of the box, so I'm ok with that.

One other issue that I had with the bass was the truss rod. It was initially behaving strangely - getting looser when I turned it clockwise. GodOfThunder59 assured me that it was a standard truss rod, so I gave it another go, and after a full turn and a half it finally found tension again. I guess that the factory had left it super, super loose - I've essentially been playing without a truss rod this whole time. The relief was only off by a millimeter or two. I'm not ordinarily a glass-half-full kinda guy, but maybe this means that the Newport has a nice, stiff neck

For now, I'm stoked to have some of the teething issues worked out. At present, I've yet to swap the leads on the bridge pickup, but that'll be on my list if I decide to use/replace the neck pickup. A Novak is on my list for when I win the lottery.

Cheers!

My take on a neck mudbucker (as in my 65 Newport) is optimizing the strings and EQ for the neck mudbucker only which i have a semi parametric EQ so its simple for me and right now it has GHS Pressurewounds instead of flats.

I get all the bright attack i need but i do play with a pick a lot and use various drive pedals...for some reason a plain TurboRat works well for example.

The neck pickup height is crucial to get a balanced tone and balanced mixed with a bridge pickup on any guitar or bass but obviously the stock ceramics were overkill...i imagine a lot of the tone is the actual bass itself; comparing Honduran mahogany and Brazilian rosewood to what is in the import Newport types is not a fair comparison plus the whole design on 2nd Generation 60s Newports is different with the offset body shape and batwing headstock.

Still the overall quality issues are concerning with the reissues,especially when Fender has a Squier Bronco that is around $200 and great out of the box (though a much simpler design).

 

[DavidEdenAria]

So one very annoying thing that some have noticed is the hardware holding the bridge pickup on. This type of insert is the LAST thing you want when you're using it to work against the pressure of the height spring and foam. Not three days after I got this thing the bass side of the pickup popped out, and even though I was prepared for this and knew how to fix it, I can't help but think of someone just starting out with this madness buying a cool, budget bass as an introduction, seeing this and not knowing what to do other than pay a Guitar Center tech upwards of $80 or never picking it up again.

View attachment 5316664 View attachment 5316665

First picture shows the little guy that slides right out, second one shows a 4-40 brass threaded insert that fits a 1 1/4" stainless machine screw that fits the hole in the pickup rather well. It is slightly larger than the original hardware too, so it works great. Just make sure you drill out the hole to the size specified or the little prongs snap off like in the second picture. A Guitar Center Tech paid upwards of $80 might also prevent this from happening. The insert on the other side is basically welded in place so I just left it. Looks odd, bothers me a lot, but I can deal with it.

Electrically, I concur with others who say the blend knob is more of a clumsy 3 way switch. The tone control also barely works. I really didn't like the T Bird pickup at first, the Mudbucker seemed promising. I decided to change the controls to Jazzy style dual concentric knobs, and cover the open hole by making a sick black pickguard inspired by 1961 Newports. I like the result. I hear more from the T Bird pickup somehow. No idea why yet, but I'll take it! Only thing I would like to know is why the volume drops when I max out both pickups.

Phase wiring issue on the drop in output? A tone control that barely works is not good lol!

Good info! I had La Bella flats on the 65 Newport but it really is not a thumpy sounding bass, i went with GHS Pressurewounds and use a foam mute for thump if need be plus i wanted smaller gauge strings and the La Bella flat set i had did not balance very well, i think the E and G were bad as well...ive wondered about the low tension La Bella flats?

The action is very low with the Pressurewounds with almost zero fret buzz, sustains very well and enough top end.

It sounds like you are on the right track with your mods!

 

[DavidEdenAria]

One other thing concerning Gibson bass pickups and mudbuckers 'back off the bass volume'...its ok, its not cheating lol!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I was hoping for everyone's sake that my Newport was a just a case of poor luck, one that slipped through QC. But after following this thread it seems like lots of people are struggling with the same problems that I did. I think it's pretty clear that these Newport "reissues" should never have left the drawing board. They have severe, inherent flaws that require time&money to sort out.

These may be cheap basses but they're not really that cheap after all, when you have to spend twice the amount on parts/repairs to make them into a useful musical instrument, rather than just cool looking toys.

 

[MudderBucker]

These may be cheap basses but they're not really that cheap after all, when you have to spend twice the amount on parts/repairs to make them into a useful musical instrument, rather than just cool looking toys.

Kinda like how there's no such thing as a free puppy? I wonder how much these things cost after MSRP.
So far I have.....
$2 for improved threaded inserts
$40 for decent strings
$120ish for better tuners
$20 for 4 Mudbucker AlNiCo V magnets
What's our official quote for 3 new potentiometers, wire and a capacitor?
That's like $200-$300 above MSRP BEFORE a new bridge and pickups. I don't mind. It's like building your own bass but all the hard stuff that requires power tools is done for you.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Kinda like how there's no such thing as a free puppy? I wonder how much these things cost after MSRP.
So far I have.....
$2 for improved threaded inserts
$40 for decent strings
$120ish for better tuners
$20 for 4 Mudbucker AlNiCo V magnets
What's our official quote for 3 new potentiometers, wire and a capacitor?
That's like $200-$300 above MSRP BEFORE a new bridge and pickups. I don't mind. It's like building your own bass but all the hard stuff that requires power tools is done for you.

Its the labor cost involved if you cant do your own work..are the tuners actually bad to the point they wont stay in tune?

I would still buy one for a discounted price if the actual neck and body were workable but Gibson in general has been living off of a name for a long time imo....sure there are really nice Gibsons but overall stuff like this is why other brands are a better alternative.

Folks want that brand recognition so they keep selling and people buy.

 

[covermego]

I, too, am not crazy about the neck pickup, although I did get a set of Alnico V mags from @YRPALJG and it did indeed tame that pickup. However, i bought a set of TB neck and bridge pickups. The bridge pickup is in. I was kind of scared that it was identical to the original, but it does have higher resistance and....to my ears, at least, sounds more aggressive. Also changed to V-V-T, so that may have a lot to do with it.
I am now going to attempt installing the TB neck PU in place of the mudbucker. Lots of love for the Epiphone Embassy's sounds with the TB pickups, like @MudderBucker reports. Hopefully I won't have to do too much butchering. I hope it works. I will then call it my "NewBird ThunderPort".
I have also recently acquired an old EB-0 that will probably go under the knife in one way or another...... MM pickup in the bridge area? Sacrilege, I know........

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I, too, am not crazy about the neck pickup, although I did get a set of Alnico V mags from @YRPALJG and it did indeed tame that pickup. However, i bought a set of TB neck and bridge pickups. The bridge pickup is in. I was kind of scared that it was identical to the original, but it does have higher resistance and....to my ears, at least, sounds more aggressive. Also changed to V-V-T, so that may have a lot to do with it.
I am now going to attempt installing the TB neck PU in place of the mudbucker. Lots of love for the Epiphone Embassy's sounds with the TB pickups, like @MudderBucker reports. Hopefully I won't have to do too much butchering. I hope it works. I will then call it my "NewBird ThunderPort".
I have also recently acquired an old EB-0 that will probably go under the knife in one way or another...... MM pickup in the bridge area? Sacrilege, I know........

An old EB0, like an original? Find something else to mod already unless its already hacked.

 

[MudderBucker]

Epiphone call the pickups in the Embassy something different. They aren't official T Bird replicas. They look similar but they might be configured differently under the hood.

Lots of love for the Epiphone Embassy's sounds with the TB pickups, like @MudderBucker reports./QUOTE]

 

[covermego]

An old EB0, like an original? Find something else to mod already unless its already hacked.

My Bad. It's an older Epiphone EB-0. I should have said that earlier. Not that old, but I'd love to add a bridge PU.

Epiphone call the pickups in the Embassy something different. They aren't official T Bird replicas. They look similar but they might be configured differently under the hood.

Yes. ProBucker 760 pickups. Not Gibsons, I suppose, but lots of folks say they get pretty close. Looks like they are or were used in some of Epi's TB's.

 

[MudderBucker]

Yeah I just wanted to put that out there. I've never taken one apart though, so if it looks like a duck, and swims like a duck.....