Thoughts on the Modern Epiphone Embassy?

[jmcgliss]

I have one incoming. With a series-parallel mod, will I lose the Blend control? I've only rewired VVT controls before.

 

[Jim C]

I prefer these basses wired VVT instead of VBT.

I would think there has to be pickup loading without active EQ, or standard pots. At least that's how it works with Fenders. Is the bass quieter with both pups on?

 

[Thumper]

IMO, compared to my 2 Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbirds, 2 of my 3 Epiphone Embassies sound muffled, or lifeless. The best sounding is a VVT with a series/parallel switch. I blame the blend knob, everything else being equal. Of course it also has upgraded pots (CTS)

 

[butterfingers1]

Quieter with both pickups? No not at all. Very quiet and well behaved any which way (only gets impolite when played ).

 

[Terrapin1993]

I find the Embassy pickups to be a bit more polite than the ones Gibson is using in the current NR Thunderbird. Of course, I have the Embassy strung up with TI Jazz flats and the 'Bird still has the stock rounds, so that's obviously a contributing factor as well. Honestly, the modern Embassy reissue bass is pretty fantastic - even if I had paid the increased $499 price tag. It's light, looks killer, has a great neck, balances pretty well, and has a bunch of useful tones, IMO. Epiphone has a winner with this one, assuming all the problematic bridge positioning issues have been sorted out.

Hi BassDaddy. I know your post is old. But I have an Embassy and am contemplating putting TI flats on it. Do you still have yours? And can you describe the tone the Embassy has with TI's? Is it as dark as a traditional T-Bird? Is it articulate? Do you have any recordings you can share? Thanks!

 

[BassDaddy77]

Hi BassDaddy. I know your post is old. But I have an Embassy and am contemplating putting TI flats on it. Do you still have yours? And can you describe the tone the Embassy has with TI's? Is it as dark as a traditional T-Bird? Is it articulate? Do you have any recordings you can share? Thanks!

I don't have any recordings. I usually play that bass with the blend knob centered (so both pickups equal), and the tone knob wide open. With TI flats, the sound is very full spectrum, with smooth highs. One of the things I like about pairing those strings with the factory pickups is that the Treble is glassy, not harsh or brittle sounding. Once in a awhile, I'll roll the blend knob to the neck pickup, and the midrange becomes very prominent (great for Classic rock). Roll the tone knob off with neck pickup only and it's a fantastic Motown tone. For the music I enjoy playing, the Embassy provides all the tones I'm after.

 

[Terrapin1993]

I don't have any recordings. I usually play that bass with the blend knob centered (so both pickups equal), and the tone knob wide open. With TI flats, the sound is very full spectrum, with smooth highs. One of the things I like about pairing those strings with the factory pickups is that the Treble is glassy, not harsh or brittle sounding. Once in a awhile, I'll roll the blend knob to the neck pickup, and the midrange becomes very prominent (great for Classic rock). Roll the tone knob off with neck pickup only and it's a fantastic Motown tone. For the music I enjoy playing, the Embassy provides all the tones I'm after.

Thanks so much for the reply! This is great and important info for me.