Return of the Epiphone Newport

[Salfaromeab]

I'm stunned that anyone is still pursuing the acoustic bass guitar dead end.

I think a lot of people are as stunned as you.

[Salfaromeab]

I was exited, and then I saw the T-bird pickup and I was like... meh.

I hope they'll do a more historical reisssue soon, with just the neck humbucker.

Also: RIVOLI WHEN?!? MY MONEY IS READY!

I saw an original 60's Newport in a shop a few months ago and it was beautiful, I'd love a more historic version too but I can't say I'm not very intrigued by the Thuderbird pickup. I love the sound of a Thunderbird bridge but I am not a big enough guy to play one comfortably haha

[Flurko]

I'm stunned that anyone is still pursuing the acoustic bass guitar dead end.

I think a lot of people are as stunned as you.

I was gonna post this exact article
Yeah, if we're making something as silly as an acoustic bass guitar, just go all the way and make a bass ukulele, they have a cool sound when plugged in and do not take as much closet room when you get bored with them. Or just branch into double basses (the true real acoustic bass) and make one at an Epiphone scale/pricepoint, that could be lovely.

But yeah, they should make a Rivoli as well, or just any 335 shaped bass, it's been proved many times how cool this shape looks in a bass configuration, this could also be a great platform for trying the different gibson-y pickups on one of their iconic shapes.

[burpgun]

I was exited, and then I saw the T-bird pickup and I was like... meh.

I hope they'll do a more historical reisssue soon, with just the neck humbucker.

Also: RIVOLI WHEN?!? MY MONEY IS READY!

A few years back I got one of those anniversary reissue SG shorties with the T-bird pickups made to look like the old school mudbucker set up. Now mind you, before that I'd had one of the cheap bolt on neck Epi T-birds that sounded pretty good, but good lord, the SG was just the worst sounding bass I've ever owned. And that hurt, 'cause the SG looked great, felt great, was affordable for a U.S. made bass. It just sounded like a dog, plus the neck pickup rattled and required me to stuff it with foam rubber to tame it. Should have learned my lesson but I recently got a Jack Casady and it also sucks. It's also pretty but has bad ergonomics, it's fragile, huge and sort of anemic sounding.

[fuzzjunkie]

Acoustic bass guitars used to be popular in Mariachi bands.

Yeah, but the guitarrón is a fundamentally different instrument, nylon strung and the body is deeper. I don't know much about them…

I think we should all get guitarróns, however.

That actually triggered a memory.

Someone from the Derailers handed me a Guitarrón at an after party about 25 years ago. It had nylon strings and was fretless, and really deep. Like 8” or more.

The drummer in my band took my beer and asked if I could play that. I wasn’t sure I could, but after eyeing the neck for a minute I correctly guessed where the G and D were and that seemed to impress Tony Villanueva and the rest of the room as I played a little bass riff on it. I think it was “Walking On the Moon,” but who knows anymore?

[JSett]

The one decent music store I've found here had all the Mariachi instruments. I was tempted by a vihuela (5 string shortscale), not gonna lie. But I don't trust the airline not to obliterate it on the flight home

[Zork]

There is the Takamine TB10, though...
Youtube

Re the Newport: I've seen vintage versions with a shorter treble horn and a batwing headstock. Imo this is a more balanced look and it's a bit sad they didn't went for that:



But the blue one is still very stunning.

[Salfaromeab]

There is the Takamine TB10, though...
Youtube

Re the Newport: I've seen vintage versions with a shorter treble horn and a batwing headstock. Imo this is a more balanced look and it's a bit sad they didn't went for that:



But the blue one is still very stunning.

Epiphone have been doing the long scale 2 pickup version of this shape (the Embassy) for a while now, but the top horn is more extended and it has a 2x2 headstock. And Tbird pickups again, but I think the original had those. I'm sure it probably balances better but the extended horn just looks kind of goofy to me. It could really use the Batwing headstock, I don't understand why Epiphone hasn't done it in so long cause it looks rad.

[skeletonsmith]

Damn, i'd wish they were Shortscales.

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Damn, i'd wish they were Shortscales.

Oh! Wow! I love the look! Are these short scale?

Looks like they're 30.5"

[skeletonsmith]

Haha, thanks.

[MrFingers]

And Tbird pickups again, but I think the original had those.

No, the originals had the sidewinder pickup. The Newport was basically the Epiphone-version of the EB0 (and the Newport deluxe of the EB3), whereas the Embassy was the Thunderbird. Rivoli is EB2.

[Salfaromeab]

And Tbird pickups again, but I think the original had those.

No, the originals had the sidewinder pickup. The Newport was basically the Epiphone-version of the EB0 (and the Newport deluxe of the EB3), whereas the Embassy was the Thunderbird. Rivoli is EB2.

Mmhmm, that post was about the Embassy haha

[sessylU]

I know everyone loves these Epiphones but I think all of them are terrible looking. They remind me of roadkill somehow.

[Salfaromeab]

I know everyone loves these Epiphones but I think all of them are terrible looking. They remind me of roadkill somehow.

As much as I love offsets, there's something about very symmetrical cutaway shapes that really does it for me. Epiphone Crestwood? Amazing! Double cut Tele? Love it. Guild Starfire IV? Fantastic!