Back from ze House of Pain ... (Dave Warning: Spalted Maple Content!!)

[Highlander]

A pickguard would just get in the way.

I'm with you there, Andy...

Obviously, all guitars are phalic in nature, some more than most... there is some of that mumbojumbo that was picked up in that Davinci Code book/film re the blade and chalice combined in the Star of David, and the Explorer certainly explores the blade theory...

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I like the bass moldy goldy and all, but I think you should add an abalone block fretboard, black out the Epi logo on the headstock and tell everyone that it's a $10k+ Alembic.  

[uwe]

Ok, you just christened it. "Mouldy Goldy". LOL, perfect name!

I didn't want to hide the fact that this is an Epi (scarfed neck and all), rather I wanted to promote the fact what a sound basis it is for Cinderella treatment. Plus I don't want this to ever crop up on ebay with someone claiming that it was anything other than a pimped Epi.

Gibson should have done something like this long ago, an upmarket Explorer bass within the traditions of the company (i.e. maho or korina, not alder  or maple, and with not an ugly P bass style split coil in sight). That would have never been a big seller given the Explorer bass' radical shape (and the price tag the thing would have probably come with), but it would have found its devotees and quite a few name players. I think quite a few Iceman, Hamer and Dean players wouldn't have minded the real thing in their hands and an endorsement from Def Lep's Rick Savage couldn't have  hurt sales either. 

[dadagoboi]

I'd leave yours alone. You did a good job and it looks great as is. A pickguard would just get in the way.

+1 on no pickguard...binding might have been a nice finishing touch to corral the fungus.  For me the angular explorer shape loses a little impact with the rounded over edges.

[exiledarchangel]

One Uwe is enough for this poor forum!

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I didn't want to hide the fact that this is an Epi (scarfed neck and all), rather I wanted to promote the fact what a sound basis it is for Cinderella treatment. Plus I don't want this to ever crop up on ebay with someone claiming that it was anything other than a pimped Epi.

Blacking out the name was just a sarcastic suggestion, but I do think the bass could benefit from some sort of fretboard exotica: binding, block inlays, etc... Epiphone generally doesn't get the respect it deserves. I remember working for a Gibson dealer ten years ago and the Epi Les Pauls were consistently FAR superior to their American cousins.

Gibson should have done something like this long ago, an upmarket Explorer bass within the traditions of the company (i.e. maho or korina, not alder  or maple, and with not an ugly P bass style split coil in sight). That would have never been a big seller given the Explorer bass' radical shape (and the price tag the thing would have probably come with), but it would have found its devotees and quite a few name players.

They'd have found a way to screw it up. Right now, the Epi T-Bird Pro is non-existent outside of catalogs and look what it has going for it.

[uwe]

Sorry, I have no idea how that multiple posting screw up came about, I'll delete it once I'm at a desktop, can't do it via Blackberry.

I didn't think the removal of the Epi brand at the headstock was a serious proposal! I rememer back in the early days at the Pit, Epi owners would be met with derision unless they had "the right model" (sixties Rivoli, Newport or Embassy). I always thought that embarrassing and those days are luckily long gone.

[Barklessdog]

The JC did a lot to give the brand respect.

[OldManC]

Sorry, I have no idea how that multiple posting screw up came about, I'll delete it once I'm at a desktop, can't do it via Blackberry.

Took care of that for you, Uwe. 

[uwe]

Danke, I'm stuck here in Düsseldorf with more than half the trains cancelled due to some freak storm we had today in that region.

[TBird1958]

I've been stuck in the Dusseldorf too......

[Iome]

I've been stuck in the Dusseldorf too......

What can you say to that......up yours..?  
Man, i love this place....not Dusseldorf, the outpost.

[Pilgrim]

I've been stuck in the Dusseldorf too......

Sounds like a Python routine.

"Well lads, now it's time for the surgeon to examine your Dusseldorfs!"
"Do we have to?"
"Yes yes, come come, it's part of the induction process.   Oh, and you need to paint zebra stripes on your bums, too."

[TBird1958]

Sounds like a Python routine.

"Well lads, now it's time for the surgeon to examine your Dusseldorfs!"
"Do we have to?"
"Yes yes, come come, it's part of the induction process.   Oh, and you need to paint zebra stripes on your bums, too."

Where do I sign up 

[Freuds_Cat]

Dusseldorf?