NBD: Epiphone Embassy

[Bassiclees]

My Smoked Almond Epiphone Embassy arrived.
Initial thoughts: super comfy and slick neck, strange since it's fixed and the (very cool) uniform color flows across the whole instrument- thus the neck is painted and paint-smooth accordingly.
Tone is absolutely incredible- a whole new tonal category different from the P-J-Stingray array, one can add this as a separate and wonderful option. The ProBucker 760's deliver the goods and are not at all like a P or a J or an H/HH Stingray. Beefy, growly, punchy... it's just awesome.
Setup was easy, needed just a little adjustment, dual action truss and simple and solid bridge made that a breeze (intonation and action dialed in fast).
Neck wood is gorgeous and the F1 oil brought out the grain.
Stock strings were OK but changed out for some DR Black Beauties I had.
The dichotomy between its lightweight and dexterous body and the massive sound is instant fun. I could see this becoming my goto axe for quite some time.
Price, of course was wonderful, proving once again great stage/studio ready instruments are widely available in the >$400 category.
If you are on the fence on one of these do it do it as unless you have a Thunderbird you don't have anything in your quiver with this sound.

 

[woodyng2]

Congrats-that is a beautiful bass! And i know those pickups sound great, a very cool and different flavor.

 

[Bassiclees]

Wow. Just wow. Completely connected to this instrument on day one.
Also drop D just sounds insane. I love the tone and feel, the notes just pour out. I did not expect this. I know most reviews are 'this is the greatest' but I've other acquisitions that I've never connected with and sold accordingly. This is a keeper.

 

[blacktocomm]

I had a Thunderbird years back that had great tone but I just couldn’t ever jive with the feel of it. I always loved the look of old Embassy and Newport basses so i order one of these as soon as it came out 4 years back. I agree that it’s a stellar bass. Great fit/finish and those humbuckers sound so good. Everything that great about a Tbird in a beautiful, more ergonomic package. Mine has developed a little fret sprout this winter in my new home (never had an issue at my previous house), but thats the only issue I’ve had.

 

[4andnomore]

That's a heck of a lot of bass for $400 - dig that color! Congrats on a fine purchase.

 

[Bassiclees]

I keep trying to pick up other basses as they just sit there and as soon as I go back to my Embassy it just feels and sounds so so good.

 

[nico485]

I keep trying to pick up other basses as they just sit there and as soon as I go back to my Embassy it just feels and sounds so so good.

Man, i've been really digging these basses lately. Was curious about that painted neck, so it was nice to read its slick and doesnt catch. How "loud" is the finish? The sparkle finishes are pretty, but not really my style. But thats easily overlooked, as it sounds like the feel and sound are worth it on these things.

 

[Bassiclees]

It's not flash, it's style. It's not a Dean neon custom zone, it's a soul venue in London in 1968. The black graphite, in photos also looks superb. Black with a hint of steeze. I was wary of the neck too but I love everything about it- the shape the feel, the color.
Currently all four colors are available at lots of places, and at $399 list, plus a dealer 15-25% discount (add in free shipping, points, whatever else) it's a stunning value, particularly in light of Fender's new pricing.

 

[jeff7bass]

My Smoked Almond Epiphone Embassy arrived.
Initial thoughts: super comfy and slick neck, strange since it's fixed and the (very cool) uniform color flows across the whole instrument- thus the neck is painted and paint-smooth accordingly.
Tone is absolutely incredible- a whole new tonal category different from the P-J-Stingray array, one can add this as a separate and wonderful option. The ProBucker 760's deliver the goods and are not at all like a P or a J or an H/HH Stingray. Beefy, growly, punchy... it's just awesome.
Setup was easy, needed just a little adjustment, dual action truss and simple and solid bridge made that a breeze (intonation and action dialed in fast).
Neck wood is gorgeous and the F1 oil brought out the grain.
Stock strings were OK but changed out for some DR Black Beauties I had.
The dichotomy between its lightweight and dexterous body and the massive sound is instant fun. I could see this becoming my goto axe for quite some time.
Price, of course was wonderful, proving once again great stage/studio ready instruments are widely available in the >$400 category.
If you are on the fence on one of these do it do it as unless you have a Thunderbird you don't have anything in your quiver with this sound.View attachment 4150803

Did you have to make any bridge adjustments? I've heard some they the some that came out in 2017 had problems with intonations because of bridge placement but yours looks right.

 

[blacktocomm]

Did you have to make any bridge adjustments? I've heard some they the some that came out in 2017 had problems with intonations because of bridge placement but yours looks right.

I have a 2017 and the bridge placement is fine. It was the 2019 run that had issues. From what i understand it’s all been sorted out again now.

 

[JRA]

my Embassy it just feels and sounds so so good.

that's the ticket! we always admire the 'looks' (and yours surely looks stellar!) but looks are the "kid stuff" --- it's the feel that makes you want to play it. sounds like you've scored a great piece --- congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[Bassiclees]

@jeff7bass only bridge adjustments needed were to dial in intonation, and the adjustments were easy and solid. Hardware is great.

 

[jeff7bass]

@jeff7bass only bridge adjustments needed were to dial in intonation, and the adjustments were easy and solid. Hardware is great.

I always have a setup done on my new basses but I imagine that means moving those bridge saddles back and forth so the open string and the 12 fret are equal in pitch?

 

[Bassiclees]

I always have a setup done on my new basses but I imagine that means moving those bridge saddles back and forth so the open string and the 12 fret are equal in pitch?

Correct. Since getting the Peterson Strobe iStroboSoft app dialing in intonation is incredibly easier.

 

[Bassiclees]

@jeff7bass check this video out that Gibson just published on intonation:

 

[WillyW]

I think I'm going for the green one, I'm going to trim back a couple other basses to make room for it.

epiphone has been on a roll lately..

Got my crestwood a couple months ago.

 

[takeout]

Would LOVE if they did one with the batwing headstock...

 

[Lowbgalaxy777]

I got the Embassy to go with my other 2 red heads. This bass will floor you with a set of Dunlop super brights! The bass cuts through so hard, I checked my skin for stab wound after a quick set up. I traded my Marcus Miller sight unseen at Gc, and got this so cheap I still had extra money back from my equipment. Don't trust as far as you can throw me. If you get your hands off this bass you will know the quality put into the very fast fretboard. QC was better than my Warwick GPS, Gibson EB5 , or Sire. If you hear this bass in the wild, make sure to pa respect to a bass that cuts sharper than a surgeon through the mix. Fender better pray they don't stock these at Guitar Center.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Bless the good people at Epiphone for saving the tiniest bit of love for bassists. They are on a roll with guitar models. Bass vi's are cool now, maybe they will favor us with an affordable EB6 reissue.

 

[MtManiac]

I also bought the smoked almond and agree 100% with your assessment on all counts!

Sadly, I returned it to finance a deal on an American Pro P bass. It is missed. FWIW, I kept my Epi Vintage Pro Tbird, which has the same pickups, and they work really well in the mix. Depending on right hand dynamics, you can get a very nice P-bass style tone out of either the neck pickup solo or both pickups together, and the tone dialed off. However, when you dig in, they snarl like an angry feral pig. In a very good way.