My Epiphone Newport project

[Basvarken]

Five years ago I bought an Epiphone Newport from a guy who found it in a sort of a recycle shop.
It had a horrible matte white refin and a Union Jack on the head stock. A three point bridge (with the original inserts just filled with large screws.  A home made trussrod cover. And to make things worse it had Jazz Bass knobs. 
The fact that it had an added bridge pickup was not a big issue for me, as that is actually really useful.









The first thing I did was try and remove the Union Jack. I managed to get it off without damaging the original lettering too much.
A little while later I found two original Epiphipone knobs to replace the sacrilegious Jazz bass knobs.
After some consideration I decided to remove the three point bridge and put an original two point bridge back in place.
And I left it there four about four years. And used it once in a while.

A few months ago I decided to try an bring it back to it's original colour.
I removed the thick layer of white paint. The body was full of scratches and dents. And I had no choice but to remove the original transparent red that was underneath it too.
And then I plugged the holes from the three point bridge with mahogany. tried to match the grain as good as I could.
And stained the bass in it's original colour.
I found an Epiphione logo waterslide on the Internet and put it on the head stock because the old one hadn't survived the whole make over.

Just dressed her up again. Now she's ready to rock again.
Maybe I'll sell it. Don't know yet.

[Rob]

Wow!  That is FINE!!

[Pilgrim]

Beautiful work - that bass is lovely.

[Chris P.]

I already said it on facebook. Really cool! Gorgeous bass!

[Basvarken]

I'm thinking on replacing the pickguard with a new one. Because the original one misses a small part where it meets the neck pickup.

[Alanko]

This is so cool! It looks great now. Was the union jack a decal or vinyl or something else?

[Basvarken]

It was spray painted.

[veebass]

That is just beautiful! Great job!

[uwe]

Lovely!

I will not comment on the reactionary bridge crime.

[Stjofön Big]

Really beautiful! Are you willing to share where you found the Epiphone knobs? I would really like to get me three for my other Embassy.

[Highlander]

I will not comment on the reactionary bridge crime.

Wot... in the name of restoration to original state...? Nonsense...! 

Nice work Rob... one to be proud of...
As for trading on...?

[Pilgrim]

I'm thinking on replacing the pickguard with a new one. Because the original one misses a small part where it meets the neck pickup.

That's quite unnecessary. Don't go OCD on us.

And I salute your use of the noble bar bridge!! 

[Basvarken]

Really beautiful! Are you willing to share where you found the Epiphone knobs? I would really like to get me three for my other Embassy.

Found them on Ebay. A set of three. For an insane price...
But I sold the third knob for a very good (read insane) price, so I sort made up for the damage 

[FrankieTbird]

Found them on Ebay. A set of three. For an insane price...
But I sold the third knob for a very good (read insane) price, so I sort made up for the damage 

I bought a whole guitar once just to get some knobs for my old Embassy, a Wilshire reissue.  But then I put some new top-hat knobs on there and resold it for about the same money so I guess I did OK.  Plus it was only about a $200 investment anyway.

[Dave W]

Beautiful restoration job.