Double Bass Epiphone Upright Bass research questions

[nybanjo3@yahoo.]

I am doing more research on Epiphone Upright basses. I have expanded my quest to learn more specific characteristics about these basses. For all of you that own or did own one of these great American made plywood basses here are my research questions if you can help me out. You can post or PM the information.

• What is the serial number and where was it located? Serial numbers can be located under the scroll head on the E side (look up), at the end of the finger board or at the end pin.
  
• What is the model number? It can be located on the metal badge on the tail piece. Model numbers are B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5.
  
• Is your tail piece black, dark brown, blonde or highly flamed maple?
  
• What color is your bass?
  
• What finish are your tuners? Brass, Bright nickel, Blacken nickel
  
• Are your tuners etched? This is so far only a B5 characteristic
  
• Does the bass have real Black/White/Black purfling, single black pin stripe or double black pin stripe?
  
• Does it have a purfling "loop" on the back of the bass below the neck?
  
• Any guess as to what year the bass was made…and this is a guess.
  
• Any other notable characteristics to the bass?

Thanks every one…the more I found out about these basses the less I actually know…but it is fun and I am meeting the nicest people…like a 85 year old man who is the original owner of a Epiphone B-2 he bought new in 1941…it just doesn’t get any better then that!!!

I have a B4 sunburst nickel tuners,any idea where the serial number should be?

Thanks, John

 

[Jim Ingraham]

I have a B4 sunburst nickel tuners,any idea where the serial number should be?

Thanks, John

Mines on the bottom end of the fingerboard

 

[james condino]

Blonde #265 came in for a visit today. On the telephone the owner mentioned, "The neck needs a little work..."....!!!

j.
www.kaybassrepair.com
www.condino.com

 

[eh_train]

Ouch! But you'll get it back in shape.

Somewhat off topic, I've never taken to light coloured blonde basses. But once they age and take on those butterscotch tones (like in your pic), I say YES. I like to think that nicotine, from 100s of bar gigs, has something to do with it...

 

[misterbadger]

FWIW, mine got the same butterscotch color from sitting 40 years in somebody's guest room. I was completely anti-blonde until this one came along.

 

[james condino]

Here is the endpin that came with #265, factory original solid brass milled on a lathe by a machinist. It is similar to the style found on an old Kay but with a taper into the lower block like it should be rather than the straight barrels found on Kay and Englehardt basses. This is the first one I have ever seen. Is it a prototype or 3 pm on a Friday in the bass factory doing whatever was necessary to get it out the door and start your weekend???

j.
www.kaybassrepair.com
www.condino.com

 

[GretschWretch]

Thread derail alert here: I love posts like the one previous because of the light it sheds on what I regard as aspects of America at its industrial zenith. American products made by American craftsmen. On the other side of TB this sort of analysis happens all the time with Fender but with other marques, even Gibson, rarely.

On the DB side I guess it's Kay, American Standard, Epiphone. But a DB is a lot harder to disassemble than a P-Bass.

 

[misterbadger]

Disassembly's a snap. Hell, I can take anything apart. Putting it back together - that's where the art lies.

 

[Bennie Guardell]

Have you ever seen a B4 before with frets ?

 

[jasonrp]

I can understand markers on the fingerboard but frets not so much

 

[Bennie Guardell]

I can understand markers on the fingerboard but frets not so much

I bought this bass from a newspaper ad around 84 the markers & frets were on it, I have no idea how it came to be ...

 

[Feral Feline]

For sure I've never seen a B4 before with frets on the fore, the scroll looks like it hit the frame of a door and the fingerboard pickup fell on the floor. I'll say that at my core I think this is one bass I wouldn't score, but if it's yours and you like it don't get sore — "to each their own" is the adage of yore.


Actually a very epic-funky Epi, it's got its own mojo workin'.

 

[Mike Martin]

Howdy, long time lurker, first post. Just got my wife (well, and me) a 1941(?) Epiphone B4, #290. Has a lot of battle scars but seems to be in sound shape. Most importantly, it sounds fantastic. I've played a fair number of basses (I'm a dabbler, mainly a fiddle player, so take my opinions with however many grains of salt you need), and this Epi is a boomer. It vibrates, in a good way, like nothing else I've played.

Thank you MollyKay for your passion and research. I knew this was something different when I first saw it, but your research confirmed it was something special.

Pretty sure MollyKay has this one in the database, the previous owner bought it from her, but just in case anyone is interested:

• What is the serial number and where was it located? Serial numbers can be located under the scroll head on the E side (look up), at the end of the finger board or at the end pin. (#290, on the G side of scroll)
  
• What is the model number? It can be located on the metal badge on the tail piece. Model numbers are B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5. (Believe it's a B4, the badge is a replacement)
  
• Is your tail piece black, dark brown, blonde or highly flamed maple? (Dark brown)
  
• What color is your bass? (Light brown, not sure I'd call it blonde)
  
• What finish are your tuners? Brass, Bright nickel, Blacken nickel (brass)
  
• Are your tuners etched? This is so far only a B5 characteristic (simple line etches)
  
• Does the bass have real Black/White/Black purfling, single black pin stripe or double black pin stripe? (wbw)
  
• Does it have a purfling "loop" on the back of the bass below the neck? (Loops into the button)
  
• Any guess as to what year the bass was made…and this is a guess.(1940/41 based on bassmonkey.net info and previous owner)
  
• Any other notable characteristics to the bass? (Well travelled, old neck repair; sides, back and neck have beautiful flame).

 

[Mike Martin]

Found this one, serial #100. Lowest sn on bassmonkey I saw was #103. Is this the first one made?

Invalid Link Removed

 

[jasonrp]

They love uprights for..... décor?

*twitch
*twitch

 

[Antburn81]

Hi I have an epiphone b4 with the serial number 1514 under the scroll. From what I have read here Im guessing its about a 1950?

 

[Kevin Ryan]

Just picked this up from a neighbor.
Epiphone Kalamazoo B5, Serial inside and on bottom, tailpiece is flamed maple, tuners Brass, Purfling is large white-small black-small white, loop on back.
I play electric bass but COULD NOT pass this up. Assuming late '50's early '60's.
Sides and back are flamey.

 

[Francois Blais]

Beware, there's a crack in the neck!
Has it been repaired?
Strings are Rotosound, by the way.

 

[Kevin Ryan]

Where is it? I don’t see any crack. If you are looking at the tuner pic, the line you see is a light reflection. I just looked again and did not see any cracks.

 

[Lee Moses]

Where is it? I don’t see any crack. If you are looking at the tuner pic, the line you see is a light reflection. I just looked again and did not see any cracks.

My guess is he is replying to Mike Martin's post. Even if there were a crack in your bass's neck, you wouldn't know it from those particular angles.