Epiphone Newport Model Electric Bass Guitar (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a very nice example of one of Gibson's more obscure bass instruments from the 1960's. The Epiphone Newport is essentially equivalent to the Gibson EB-0 with a short-scale mahogany neck and body and single humbucking pickup, although this is a very different looking instrument as by 1964 the Epi solid-body line had mutated into the more Fender-like asymmetrical double cutaway body with a single-sided headstock.
Epiphone basses were not considered a major part of the line and were made in much smaller quantities than their Gibson counterparts.The original mute felt is intact, and with the device engaged this bass can perform a surprisingly accurate bull fiddle impression! This 1964 Newport with all nickel hardware is a fairly rare instrument as most of these style basses date from 1965 or later, and are not built to quite the same standard.
The Newport has not seen a lot of celebrity users over the years; Marshall Grant played an unusual dark-finished example with Johnny Cash for much of the later 1960's and currently Maya Ford of the Donnas uses a 1960's Newport extensively with the band. This is a very light, easy to handle, and powerful sounding bass with a unique style.
Overall length is 44 1/2 in. (113 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 1/4 in. (768 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
Very clean and all original; some light checking and finish dings, and one spot of belt buckle wear to the bask. There is some clouding to the nickel plating, but overall well-preserved. The finish is still a vibrant cherry with almost no fading. Includes a slightly later HSC in very good condition. Excellent + Condition.
