kalamazoo semi acoustic project

[Basvarken]

Epiphone ES335 bas project

Needs real TLC but may go really cheap...

[Denis]

Nice.

[Pilgrim]

I have the same bass in walnut color (Lyle brand, but same bass - both built in the Matsumoku factory) in better condition that I'll sell cheaper - it's short scale, and I'm not sure what scale the Epi is.  I'll put it in the classifieds.

[Basvarken]

I have the same bass in walnut color (Lyle brand, but same bass - both built in the Matsumoku factory) in better condition that I'll sell cheaper - it's short scale, and I'm not sure what scale the Epi is.  I'll put it in the classifieds.

This one is not from the Matsumoko factory but from Kalamazoo...

[OldManC]

I'm pretty sure those were never made in Kalamazoo. I know that's what the seller says but sellers say a lot of things on eBay.

[leftybass]

This one is not from the Matsumoko factory but from Kalamazoo...

You sure? Never seen one that wasn't an import, and I've seen many.

[Dave W]

A bolt-on Epi made in Kalamazoo? I don't think so. That has 70s Japanese Epi written all over it.

I can't see the inside label, it may say the Epiphone Co. of Kalamazoo, but I'll bet it doesn't say Made In USA.

[Nocturnal]

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bass-clef.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/-42832903758975470.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bass-clef.com/vintage-epiphone-ea-260-hollowbody-bass-rare.php&usg=__72dcMEruzIx1Sx_mCkQez72PKiM=&h=400&w=300&sz=27&hl=en&start=11&zoom=1&tbnid=Ys1vrpaTxUdftM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3DEpiphone%2BEA-260%2Bbass%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1

Looks like this model to me.

[Basvarken]

Thanx for putting me straight.
I just took the seller's word for it...

[godofthunder]

A bolt-on Epi made in Kalamazoo? I don't think so. That has 70s Japanese Epi written all over it.

I can't see the inside label, it may say the Epiphone Co. of Kalamazoo, but I'll bet it doesn't say Made In USA.

Agreed MIJ not USA

[uwe]

Were there actually any basses built for Epi in Kalamzoo after Rivolis, Newports and Embassies had all been deleted?  I thought they went from those straight on to Japanese production.

[Dave W]

I think you're right.

[eb2]

Of course you're right.  The only thing these had to do with Kalamazoo is that where the guys who ran Gibson fell over laughing whenever someone bought one of these pieces of crap.  A good project would be to see how quick someone could burn this thing to ash.

Unless you love them, then they are great.

[jumbodbassman]

looks pretty similar to one of mine.  epi 260.  mine even still has the made in japan sticker on the inside



that being said it is  a pretty good bass.  IMHO it sounds better than my rivoli reissue

[Pilgrim]

I've made a bit of a study of those hollowbody Matsumoku basses.  That factory cranked out Epiphone, Lyle, and a number of other lines name-badged by the factory.  They had common visual indicators such as the type of pickups  - really interchangeable between brands - the frequent use of pickguard material on headstocks - the font on the neck plates - the type of floating bridge, and the tailpieces, whether or not they had a wood insert.  They also had some common characteristics in the neck and body binding.

The tailpiece on Jumbodbassman's red Epi above is a perfect example of a Matsumoku tailpiece.  I have a match to it that I bought for my Lyle hollowbody after months of searching on Ebay.

The story I've picked up is that Gibson sent some of their techs over to the Matsumoku factory to train the workers on making those instruments, and that as a result, the Lyles, Epiphones and other lines were all built to decent standards.  I'm not sure whether it's true, but it makes an interesting story.  Certainly there is a decent level of regard on the used market for Matsumoku instruments.