Epstein had a number of pretty cool basses and other instruments. Those 90s Hamer Cruisebasses are basically hot-rodded Jazz Basses. He played on a lot of other artists records and produced a lot. And yeah, Petty stole him from (I think) Del Shannon's back-up band when he produced some sessions for Shannon and heard Epstein's harmony vocals.
I have a file somehwere of his collection that his family sold off after he died.
Vintage 67 Hofner, 69 Dan Armstrong, Bison Bass, old PBasses, old Gibson acoustic 6-string and F2 mandolin, Ric elec 6-string, Rick Turner Bass, Wal Bass, Vox Cellestion, all the Hamers and other stuff.
He had a Ric clone someone built him that looked exactly like Ric had built it but like no bass model that ever existed. I tried to buy it buy a guy up in Canada snagged it. Oh....found the pic of that on my HD......One of those that got away that I sonetimes think about.
**OH....that Hamer seafoam Cruise 8-string mentioned above...that's one of mine. I got it from Gary Shea of Alcatrazz, the original owner. He plays it in that Live in Japan DVD.