[Muddslide]

I speak of this particular model:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=518391

As some of you may have read in my other longwinded posts, I am looking for a bass seriously, not having had one for the past several years. Though I was hoping to get a Ripper, even the Epiphone reissue Rippers are difficult to come by (no longer in production).

I thought this might be a viable alternative (affordable, that is). For some reason, I am inclined to avoid Fender basses at the moment. I love Ps and Js and have owned several of each over the years, but I'm really drawn to a Gibby-type bass at this point. Has to be an Epi for now due to low funds.

I've read some reviews, but I'd like to hear any thoughts/opinions the folks here might have to offer. Does this model have a bolt-on neck? Is it so prone to neck-dive that it is terribly uncomfortable/hard to get used to? I much prefer the NON-reverse body style but they seem to be out of production as well.

Would I be better off to shoot for one of the (also affordable) Epiphone EBs (SG body style) or one of the Epiphone Les Paul bass models?

Appreciate any info. Thanks in advance.[/url]

[Muddslide]

PS-- stupid question about the bolt-on neck. As I recall, Firebirds and Thunderbirds have a neck-through-body with attached wings.

Or am I way off base (bass?) here?

[SKATE RAT]

i think the epi's use pretty nice wood,but the finish is sooooo thick.it's like armour,and the pup's are kinda blah

[Dave W]

I've only tried one of the latest version, in a store last year. It had the look, but I wasn't impressed by the tone at all.

[SKATE RAT]

those epi eb3 do look good,but......

[Muddslide]

Originally Posted by reaper attack

those epi eb3 do look good,but......

...but what? Are they awful? Dead-sounding? I found a local shop that has one in black and I thought to go in and try it on for size. The reviews are mixed. Some people seem to dig 'em quite a bit, but others say the pups are pretty worthless.

If I pulled the trigger on one of the Epi EB3s, is there a recommended pickup upgrade?

Sheesh...this is hard. I wish I could hold out until I could afford a real Gibby, but I can't bear the thought of going much longer w/o a bass. :x

[J. Pierce]

Originally Posted by Muddslide

PS-- stupid question about the bolt-on neck. As I recall, Firebirds and Thunderbirds have a neck-through-body with attached wings.

Or am I way off base (bass?) here?

I've owned two Epi firebirds with bolt-on necks, FWIW.

I've haven't played a recent production one, but I've played an Epi SG-type bass, from probably the late 90's, I believe, and I really liked the thing. Didn't sound as good as the old Gibson one I've played, but sounded darn well close enough for the price that my friend payed for it.

I think some of the poor user reviews I've read, at least on the pickup front, are from people who've never played a Gibson bass - you can't shoot down an LP for not sounding like a Strat, but a lot of foks have no experience with a Gibson bass, and aren't going to know what to expect out of it, and if it isn't the tone they want, it doesn't matter if it's still a good tone or not, they aren't going to be happy.

[SKATE RAT]

opinions are not fact.

[Gripper]

Played a couple recently, one sunburst and one gothic. seemed great for the money to me. I preferred the goth. I read in the Martin Turner interview and he called them the "teflon birds". I took that to heart because the body of the goth didn't feel like wood almost. wasn't bad, but "different" than I am used to. sounded a tad stiff or rigid, but felt good and was loud in my hands. action and response seemed good to me. can't see how you could lose for $300.

[donnervogel]

I've got a "Snowwhite" 2006 Ltd. Ed. It sounds a lot more assertive than the 1998 model of an Epi Rev I once had. That was nice, but lame. In the meantime Epi has tweaked the pups which are now much louder, if a bit "trailer parkish" in sound. With just the front pup in action, the Epi does a credible - very credible - job of mimicking the real thing, with both pups on it strays in P bass territiory.

I have a dozen real Tbirds and one Epi and while the bolt on construction will never be able to offer the sweet sustain of a neck thru or even set neck TBird, I would not blush using the more grinding and not as much ringing Epi on stage. Alas, my band mates have ruined that option for me with their snide and uncalled for remark when I took Snowwhite to a rehearsal: "Are we now a wedding band or what?" How cruel men can be.
Uwe