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.
NBD: Epiphone Embassy Pro
- Thread starter BassDaddy77
- Start date
How do these wear on a strap compared to a Precision bass? It seems like a longer reach due to the horn placement.
I just ordered the Embassy Pro on a leap of faith. I played an Epi Thunderbird Vintage and was blown away by the quality and perfect set up. I can't find an Embassy in Los Angeles to try out... so I ordered the dark cherry one from Sam Ash. Planning to string it up with flats, I'll check in after I get it up and running.
D
I ordered one online a couple of weeks ago, believing that the batch with the wrongly installed bridge must have sold out. No such luck. It was almost a quarter tone sharp on the 12th fret and no room for adjustment. I returned it immediately for a refund so no damage done, just a lot of hassle. It had a serial number starting with 1809 so presumably manufactured in September 2018. I've seen serial numbers starting with 19 at Sweetwater and they had the bridge in the correct position. Unfortunately Sweetwater + rosewood is out of reach for me due to CITES. And it's out of stock now anyway.
Does anyone know if it's discontinued or if there will be new deliveries? And when? I absolutely love how they sound and would very much like to get one. I'm normally a P-bass guy but this one really hit the spot for me soundwise.
What fretboard material does the newer ones actually have? The one I purchased was pau ferro so that's clearly around in addition to rosewood. There was also an older "CITES free" version with that pressurised/chemically/thermally treated pine stuff, or Blackwood Tek as they call it. At least Epiphone listed such a CF version. I've never actually seen one in stock at any dealer though.
Does anyone know if it's discontinued or if there will be new deliveries? And when? I absolutely love how they sound and would very much like to get one. I'm normally a P-bass guy but this one really hit the spot for me soundwise.
What fretboard material does the newer ones actually have? The one I purchased was pau ferro so that's clearly around in addition to rosewood. There was also an older "CITES free" version with that pressurised/chemically/thermally treated pine stuff, or Blackwood Tek as they call it. At least Epiphone listed such a CF version. I've never actually seen one in stock at any dealer though.
Rosewood for musical instrument should be exempt from CITES starting November. So maybe it's worth the wait? [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
D
Yes, I know. But that's the earliest possible date for countries to lift the restrictions, isn't it? Who knows when each country will implement the changes. It will certainly not be November, or even 2019. I'm not even convinced it will be 2020. I'd rather settle for a pau ferro version right now. Not the blackwood tek crap though. I can't stand that stuff.
I'll let you know how mine arrives, question about the bridge, do you think replacing it with a HipShot that has more adjustment range could correct the bridge issues?
D
In case anyone considers the black one in stock at Thomann right now:
That's the one with the bridge in the wrong position that I returned last week. Thomann just re-listed it. Not even as "customer return" or "b-stock". I have to say I'm a bit disappointed to see that. I've suspected this policy from Thomann for a while now as I've on multiple occasions received instruments with signs of use. Fingerprints, sweat marks, slightly worn fingerboards... all sold as brand new. I've returned them all. It makes me wonder how poor condition the "customer return B-stock" instruments must be...
At least they have a very good return policy but I don't think I will buy more basses from Thomann in the foreseeable future.
That's the one with the bridge in the wrong position that I returned last week. Thomann just re-listed it. Not even as "customer return" or "b-stock". I have to say I'm a bit disappointed to see that. I've suspected this policy from Thomann for a while now as I've on multiple occasions received instruments with signs of use. Fingerprints, sweat marks, slightly worn fingerboards... all sold as brand new. I've returned them all. It makes me wonder how poor condition the "customer return B-stock" instruments must be...
At least they have a very good return policy but I don't think I will buy more basses from Thomann in the foreseeable future.
D
D
I'm sure it will allow correct intonation but it will leave some nasty holes in the bass from original bridge + tailpiece. And personally I don't think a hipshot will look right on this bass. Personally I would rather just move the original bridge/tailpiece to it's correct position (which would of course also leave some ugly holes).
It was a bit disappointing to find that Epiphone was aware of the issue with the bridge and still didn't recall the faulty batch. When I contacted them about it they basically just told me (kinda "no-so-subtly" between the lines) to wait for the next batch before buying. They couldn't say when the next batch would arrive in shops though, just hinted "3-4 months delivery time from Asia".
I hope yours is ok!
Last edited:
I'm sure it will allow correct intonation but it will leave some nasty holes in the bass from original bridge + tailpiece. And personally I don't think a hipshot will look right on this bass. Personally I would rather just move the original bridge/tailpiece to it's correct position (which would of course also leave some ugly holes).
It was a bit disappointing to find that Epiphone was aware of the issue with the bridge and still didn't recall the faulty batch. When I contacted them about it they basically just told me (kinda "no-so-subtly" between the lines) to wait for the next batch before buying. They couldn't say when the next batch would arrive in shops though, just hinted "3-4 months delivery time from Asia".
I hope yours is ok!
The Epiphone Embassy (Cherry) showed up today, it's beautiful. But I had to leave it with the guitar tech at SamAsh because the bass wasn't set up, the neck had a reverse bow and the bridge saddles were all the way back. It sounded like a sitar! So they're going to do a complimentary set up with flats then I can evaluate it to see if I'll keep it. First impressions is that it's going to take a little work to get it studio ready. The frets are going to need dressing, etc... but for $379 I'd expect that. And just to be clear, Sam Ash is being GREAT as always. I bought a bunch of stuff from them and always a good experience. The bass left the Epiphone factory assembled but not playable. I will let you know next week when I pick it up. More to come...
D
Sounds promising!
Every factory fresh Epiphone I've tried the last couple of years has come with the sitar syndrome. They always seem to arrive (factory sealed) with nearly no tension on the strings and then buzz like crazy when tuned to pitch.
If yours arrived with no tension on the strings, make sure you leave it with the guitar tech for some time after the set up. Preferably 2-3 days. The neck will need to adapt to the strings at full tension. On every factory sealed Epi I've opened lately I've had to loosen the truss rod to get rid of the buzz and then a couple of days later it needed tightening again because the neck had adapted to the tension.
The best thing would probably have been to simply tune it to pitch and leave it 2-3 days to see if the buzz disappears by itself, once the neck adapted. But who's got the patience for that, right?
I've never seen Fender/Squier ship basses with no tension on the string but it seems to be standard for Epis these days.
YIKES!!! Sam Ash just called and said the bass cannot be set up because there is a massive hump in the neck that he can't eliminate no matter what he does with the truss. Hmmm.... I need to decide to order another one or just cancel the order.
