70's Japanese Epi Newport ET-285.

kylierider · February 21, 2008, 08:25:11 AM

What is one of these basses worth? Might be the start of my Marshall Grant "tribute bass"

The one I am intrested in is a bolt on neck.

gweimer · February 21, 2008, 10:40:13 AM

Crapola.

You want the ET-288M - the Holy Crap bass. Better yet, go for the Allen Woody Rumblecat, or find yourself a nice old Epiphone.

You know, you might be able to get in on the BaCHbird run.

kylierider · February 21, 2008, 11:02:42 AM

Crapola eh..I like your Holy crap bass. Do you know where I could find one?. What are the problems with the 70's bolt ons. I'm trying to get that Marshall Grant vibe in the tribute band.

gweimer · February 21, 2008, 11:35:00 AM

Once they went to the bolt-on necks, the quality of Epiphone tanked. It's those Japanese bolt-ons that took a respected name like Epiphone and made them a joke.

You just missed a really clean one on Flea Bay yesterday. It went for $535. To me, it looked like a refin. Probably nicer than the original was. They've been popping up more lately.

Dave W · February 21, 2008, 11:59:05 AM

Mike, you ever get to Indianapolis? A friend from the TDPRI has a Cash Bash coming up March 1 and Bill Kirchen will be there this year. Info.

kylierider · February 21, 2008, 12:36:45 PM

Cool thanks for the link. I'd like to get involved in that one of these days. This weekend we are playing in Merrionette Park, IL this Friday night the 22nd.

kylierider · February 25, 2008, 12:09:29 PM

Well I decided to take the plunge. My new Johnny Cash road bass. I've always had good luck with Japanese stuff...as well as read a couple good review on this style bass. It was cheap enough at 331.00. Probably the closest I'll ever get to the real thing..

gweimer · February 25, 2008, 08:54:47 PM

Well, it looks like it's in good shape. I hope you get what you want from it. I'm pretty surprised at the prices those are getting now. Even the Holy Crap model has been hitting the $500+ mark the past few times I've seen them up on Flea Bay.

Of course, I should talk. I've got a Magnatone Hurricane that I'm semi-restoring. I even found a guy to recreate the headstock decal for me.

kylierider · February 25, 2008, 09:22:51 PM

I'll be pretty excited to finally try it out when it gets here. I'd still like to get a "holy Crap bass" one of these days though. I thought that baby sounded great at the show we did together. Does this have the same pickups as yours?

The guy had it down as a 600.00 BIN, which I thought was too high. Is that the original bridge cover? It looks kind of Fenderish to me. One of the things that attracted me to this bass was the bolt on neck. (which I usually prefer) I may toy around with the idea of making a short scale batwing neck for it and painting the body black to really create that Marshall Grant look. Maybe a blend knob where the pickup selector switch is. Just ideas...

gweimer · February 25, 2008, 09:57:18 PM

The pickups in the Holy Crap bass are Bartolinis. I got them from someone on the old Dudepit (bgotoh?). They are from a Les Paul Bass, and were not commercially available. They fit the cavity and rings perfectly. Uwe has the originals. My Epiphone runs hotter than any active bass you can find.

Dave W · February 25, 2008, 10:01:31 PM

Those Barts on the LP bass were standard guitar humbucker size.

kylierider · February 26, 2008, 06:07:50 AM

I'd like to keep the pickups stock as long as they sound good. I do have some barts I could stick in there if all else fails

uwe · February 26, 2008, 07:21:03 AM

The Epi pups sound fine if not stellar. Similar to a Grabber pup, lots of midrange, blurry treble (but it is there) and sufficient ooomph. Certainly good enough to get a Marshall Grant sound.

kylierider · February 26, 2008, 01:53:01 PM

Thanks...Thats good to know. I'll just trrow on a set of TI flats and I should be good to go.

EvilLordJuju · February 28, 2008, 06:03:48 AM

I've nearly bid on some of those EPi neck-throughs.... anyone tried one of those at all?