Epiphone Jack Casady Signature- The embodiment of old school cool! - LowEndLobster Fresh Look
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- Hey everyone! Today we're taking a quick look at my Epiphone Jack Casady signature bass in a limited edition Silverburst finish! I purchased this thing new about 8 years ago and have had it ever since. This thing has so much old school mojo that I'm considering having an intervention. Let's check it out!
Big thanks to Dom @ ThirdFloorGuitars for setting up my instruments. You can find him at www.thirdfloorguitars.com
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I was really curious about that bass for a long time. I was not disappointed it sounds great as it looks!
They are indeed great basses, but not without their flaws. I will be doing a longer vid on this and also talk about the quality differences between this and the Schecter Corsair in my Schecter full review too :). Thanks for watching Raymond!
@@LowEndLobster This might sound good as a fretless , no?
@@WyattLite-n-inn it would, but I'd get a different jc for that. I've had this one for almost 10 years
@@LowEndLobster I didn’t mean THAT one, lol.. I’d put a hip shot bridge , black tape wounds and I’d get it in burgundy .. “Oh yeahh “ as you say ,
Oh yeah! Old school smooth as silk thump! Love it 🦞❗😎👍
Thanks Boomer! Yeah this thing brings that thump :)
Wow. I can't even tell what I like more, how it looks or how it sounds
Thanks Yves!
Man, I love the vintage tones that you get out of that thing.
Thanks dude! Yeah this thing sounds like wearing a cozy comfortable familiar sweater by a fire in winter. Oddly specific, but yes.
That silverburst really put your bass over the top. I'd take a one trick pony that does the trick well any day. I'm sure the flatwounds have a lot to do with the old school thump... I remember that it took a long while for that bass to come out because Mr. Cassidy wanted to have the pickup placement perfect.
Thanks! Yeah they placed that pickup perfectly. I appreciate the great comment! :)
I can’t believe I just made your hand transform to normal these are powers I didn’t know I had🦞🖐. Love the sound of that bass the coloring pretty cool too!
Thanks Hudson!
Did you get my email for the contest lobster?
Great sounding bass.Those bridges make a real difference. Had one on my silverburst epi thunderbird.
Thanks Rich! I agree, these bridges are a MUST
Wooooow what a Sound , you can feel the Vibrations ...,🩺 And thanks .
Thanks Pa van!
These have caught my eye recently. As always, another great review.
Thanks Quincy!
I love the warm of this one.
Thanks Lex!
Such a gorgeous bass, best looking bass on the wall IMO
Thanks! I agree, it's very beautiful from a "classical" standpoint. Wouldn't look out of place in like a museum, gala, or fancy auction lol. Indubitably ;P
Great video as always. I need one of these in my life.
Thanks Tom!
Such a bass! Unusal for an offshore made bass to stay in continuous production for over 20 years! Even with a couple of needed mods, this one’s a home run. I’d love to have 3 or 4 for different pickup mods, along with bridge and tuners.
Nice nice nice. It has "the" sound. Thumpy goodness!! Can't wait for the head to head with the Schecter!
Thanks DW!
I'd love one of these..
They've got tons of old school thump and character
Thank you for the video, it help's beginner's like i understand these instruments better.Peace
Thanks Brain :)
Casady basses are great. They sound a lot like P Basses and work well in just about any situation. I have two of them--one with flats and one with stainless rounds.
Thanks David! That's awesome :). Which colors are you rockin?
@@LowEndLobster Gold w rounds, silver w flats.
@@DavidSmith-wq3wu Nice! Love the look of the gold tops!
Way back when these basses first came out, Epiphone had Jack doing clinics to introduce the bass-playing world to this instrument. He appeared at a Sam Ash store near my home. The store did a terrible job of advertising it so I was one of 5 or 10 people present when the clinic was supposed to start. I figured that it would be mobbed, so I arrived early and was able to sit in the front row, right in front of Jack.
They decided to delay the start hoping that more people would show up. In the meantime, Jack came over, sat down next to me, extended his hand and said "Hi, I'm Jack!". We had a brief chat, which I appreciated. I was never a huge Jefferson Airplane or Hot Tuna fan so I wasn't too star struck (despite him playing at Woodstock!!!).
In the end, less that 20 of us were treated to a really cool clinic.
Really cool story and experience! Thank you for sharing!
That things has great TONE! You ought to put it up against the Harley Benton HB-60 WB 😎
Thanks man! That's not a bad idea...
@@LowEndLobster That HB -60 WB is short scale tho
Love the look of this one! The Schecter Corsair you demo'd throws me off by having the lower horn be *LONGER* than the upper... Dunno why that irks me but you know how it is... lol
It's the little things ;P
The silver burst / black pickup is the nicer combo. Sounds nice.
Thanks Rick!
Commenting just to comment because i don't have anything worth adding to the conversation. SPOOOOON!
Thanks old chum.
Very cool, as always. Greetings from Moscow.
Thank you Eugene! :) Salutations Crustacean Comrade!
Such a sweet sounding bass. Would love to have heard you switch thru the rotary knob controlling the capacitor settings one by one. Oh well.
Hey Martin! Thanks! I'll be doing a more in depth video on this, don't worry. I may also try to snag a newer Chinese-made one to compare quality. JC will also be appearing in my upcoming Schecter Corsair review. I've had this bass for 8 years, you'll be seeing 'er again, don't you worry :)
@@LowEndLobster Nice one! 👍
Great stuff Lobster. I think it sounds nice, and it’s a reminder, that not all basses are “all in one”. We are in a time where basses can sound like other basses, you can get all your favorite bass tones in one bass. While this is more of a specialty instrument, it does hollow body sound, and it does it well. It’s a good bass for your tool box, when only that sound will work, then back on the wall for you, you feedback magnet. Unless you’re an “I only play hollow body basses” weirdo? Then all you can say is “hay weirdo....nice day eh?” And don’t make eye contact, and just wait till they’re out of sight, and run. Thank you for sharing. Cheers
LOL Thanks Tommy! I really love your comments. Yeah this is definitely not a jack of all trades instruments. I have played it at some gigs without any feedback issues. The Schecter does have a nice center block, so I don't think feedback will be a problem with that... though not many gigs to test it on ;P
LowEndLobster yeh no doubt. I’m glad you are able to get the humor in my ridiculous babble. Having a head full of spiders and bees is bad but throw dyslexia in with that and well...thank you. And I was kinda hoping you were going to say that about the schecter. Awesome!!!! Have a great day Lob.
That's a tight super P sound. That's like a bright P sound but still just boomy enough and has some good throat and grunt in the bottom it sounds like you can pull up easily in the signal chain if you need it. It's hard to find stuff to say about stuff that just works..lol but yeah, that's a really sweet tone that can be used for a greater variety of music than the simple controls would imply to the uninitiated.
At some point I'm gonna have to let these backlog.
I don't expect to have a life for a while, so it might be a while till then, but you are PROLIFIC.
I have been playing the heartand non stop and got the TL5 out too - I need to make videos but I am still not so great - but...I CAN GET TONE. lol
What I've been learning from all the bass channels is how to actually work a bass. It sounds dumb but it's a COMPLETELY different thing than getting tones out of the guitars...and it's usually more complex.
The super ferrites are weird. They sound nice a bumpy while passive but instead of getting a massive character change with the switch flip they just get bigger in all their aspects somehow. I like both...
But I was running all these straight into a Fender Sidekick (the free amp you get with a $99 package lol) so your mileage may vary.
I may want to swap out the Peavey Unity PJ now that I'm running it a bit, but after running it through a better amp I might just discover that 4 string basses just naturally sound a little thin or less beefy than 5 and I've been playing these 5's for a few weeks now and as a novice bass person my mental muscle memory is still a bit gullible as I try to generate all the tones to soak up the first ramp of knowledge. My method seems to be to try to make all the worst mistakes as early on as possible and it's not always worked that well lol
I feel like I'm making progress, though, so I guess that keeps you motivated even if you're not really making a LOT of progres. :-)
Glad you dig the tone! Make some vids! I'd subscribe for sure :). I've switched to daily vids (filmed on weekend), so there will be a lot more content to keep you busy when you are ready to catch up :). Always enjoy your comments, dude!
Really hope to get my hands on one of these! I think between that and my jazz I’d be able to get a lot of tones, at least for having two basses lol
Thanks! Yeah this would compliment a J bass in the stable nicely. J's already pack a ton of versatility, and having something that nails the old school thump like this would be a great stablemate!
LowEndLobster my thoughts exactly!
Lobster: I am a huge Jefferson Airplane & Jefferson Starship fan and love Jack Casady. Looking back to the 60's era he did use that Epiphone bass on the tours and albums, where it is really showcased at both the Woodstock and Altamont Festivals film footages. Simplistic in sound and function it did get the job done for their albums and shows. I did see in some old photos Casady playing a Fender Jazz bass, no doubt late 60's. I love that Silver Burst and I did see two like that on Reverb for about $800, obviously used since they discontinued that one. The new ones are holding at MSRP $799.00. Yeah, on my bucket list for sure for nostalgia lol. Patrick
Great comment! I believe they switched production from Korea to China at some point, I kind of want to try a new one to see if there's any quality differences.
Jack didn’t use the Epiphone in the 60’s. After the Jazz Bass he used Guild Starfires which were heavily modified by Alembic and he ultimately owned the first production Alembic. He and Phil Leah were instrumental in the development of boutique basses. It was the 90’s when he discovered the Gibson Les Paul Signature which he adapted for his signature model.
@@KPJohnson thanks for the update. I had thought it was a Epiphone.
2016 Road King you’re welcome.
LowEndLobster I know where there’s a Chinese one! I did upgrade the tuners but the bridge is still your favorite stock one.
Man you are sooooooooo cool. When I grow up I want to have as many basses just like you 😂😂😂 no but seriously that’s a great looking and sounding bass
LMAO
High time Gibson realised NO ONE likes the 3 point bridge
AMEN! I say it, Patrick says it, everyone says it! Gibson, WAKE UP AND GIVE US A NEW BRIDGE.
Dude gibson doesnt care anymore
@@dezthescentlessapprentice Someone there does, the Les Paul Jr. Tribute bass is AWESOME... but has the same shit-ass bridge lol. But yeah, their quality has been on a steady decline for a loooong time. I have an FGN SG guitar that is better than any Gibson I've ever played and was 850 shipped brand new from Japan.
@@LowEndLobster oh daaammnn that would be interesting to see the FGN mighty power seems like something up my alley kinda (I'm a P bass guy lol) I wonder how a non Gibson SG is 🤔🤔
@@dezthescentlessapprentice honestly I was never a Gibson guy personally nothing made by them appealed to me but yes they're basically running out of money at this point
Personally i don't like silverburst, but i have to admit that it looks really nice on that bass 👍
Thanks Ruben!
Does it have any acoustic volume without amplification? Enough to hear it while just playing alone and practicing?
Not really
Thanks for this review! I am also trying to decide between the Casady (tone seems beeter?) and the Corsair (I also saw your review of that one). Can't find these in a store to compare. So... a few questions:
1. I went to Hipshot but wasn't sure: what's the specific model and options to get as a replacement bridge for the Casady bass?
2. Even after simply swapping out the Casady bridge is there still a likelihood of the bridge pulling out of the body?
3. I'm more of a Jazz neck fan than P-neck fan. Which neck would feel more Jazz-like?
3. Which bass can get a more standup-like tone?
4. For a standup-like tone on one of these would you use flatwound or tapewound (nylon) strings?
Thanks!
Thanks Philip!
1. The bridge is the Hipshot 3 point bridge replacement, highly recommended.
2. I think I'd address this on a per-bass basis. Look at the ferrules in the body and see if there's any separation. I didn't DIY the fix and had my tech remove them and resecure them.
3. The Corsiar has the more Jazz-ish profile.
4. I honestly haven't really messed around with tapes that much. I have a couple of sets still in the packaging that I have yet to install, trying to find the perfect bass for em hehehe
I'm in love with the bass! I think it would also sound perfect for hofner type of sounds, i love the tone of the hofner but the looks arent mine. Did u use flatwounds on that bass?
Thanks Georg! Yes, LaBella low tension flats here (I prefer the deep talkin flats)
I wish Epiphone still made the Rivolis
Thanks Mats! Right? There's so many great Epiphone designs that don't exist, yet they still make those damn 'Tobias' garbage things
@@LowEndLobster I agree
Is this the replacement bridge you put on? "Hipshot 4 String Supertone Bass Bridge 3 Point - Chrome"?
Yes
Speaking of hollow body basses
Would love to see your take on a Ibanez thundercat (I heard they can weigh like 20lb)
Oh boy, those also cost like 6 grand ahahaha. They're really interesting with the MIDI config
LowEndLobster holy .....
Didn’t realize they were so pricey
Never mind, my wife would never go for it lol, still be cool to see
How do you adjust the neck and action on that? Just from the three point bridge?
It's really got that 60s sound! What strings do you have on it?
LaBella flats!
Dear LEL. I would like to take up bass and as a big Jack fan going back to 1967, I'm looking at the Epiphone JC model. Can you explain what the problem is with the stock bridge ? Sorry-I'm not familiar with the technical fine points of the instrument. Thanks.
No problem! The stock bridge on the JC had a tendency to 'pull out' over time. The retainers for the large bridge screws would slowly get pulled out of the body from the pull of the strings. Leaving this unaddressed could definitely damage the instrument. My tech Dom actually reseated the retainers before we installed the bridge and they're much more solid now. This problem is specific to the hollow bodies, I don't believe the solid body basses with the 3-point bridge had this issue.
@@LowEndLobster Thanks,man. Now that I'm retired I'm going to finally try to realize my rock and roll dream. I want to take in- person lessons and see if I can get good enough to play with others.Once I learn the basics I'll have time to practice and hopefully do what I've always dreamed of. My (electric)bass heroes include Jack Casady,Phil Lesh, Paul Mcartney,Jack Bruce,John Paul Jones and Bob Mosely (Moby Grape).
Lobster, you were right the first time. The control is a vari-gain, not a varitone. The original Les Paul has a varitone but Jack has them move the capacitor to the gain pot.
Thanks for the clarification, Kevin! That always confused me about these.
@@LowEndLobster actually IIRC it's still called a Varitone and it's not a set of different capacitors but different taps on a cheap mic transformer wired as a "step-up" transformer, in fact as you switch to the higher positions (which supposedly are the output impedances) you get higher volume but warmer tone (and also somewhat more compressed, if that makes any sense - I strongly doubt the transformer is being saturated whatsoever). I play mine on the 250 position mostly, the treble is a bit muted but it really sounds chunky and with lots of sustain. 500 is overkill but useful for some things.
Everytime I think about getting an Epiphone bass I remember the three-point bridge and lose interest.
It's really such an atrocious design. The hipshot is better, but it's a turn off to drop another hundred bucks on an instrument to fix a glaring flaw.
Are those La Bella LTFs?
I believe so! 45-105
What gauge Labella flats? Not the low tensions, correct? Curious
45-105, they have the purple wrappings at the end of the string so they might be the low tensions.. It's been a while for these. Most of my other basses with flats are using the deep talkin flats w/ the black wrappings at the top.
@@LowEndLobster Yes... they looked purple which tells me Low Tension Flats (.42-.100)
Is there a thinline tele bass out there? Seems like a cool semihollow idea if so.
Great tone in this one and the silverburst is so nice!
I think Fender briefly made a thinlin tele style bass, though not with the single cutaway. G&L had the ASAT semihollow too. Thanks James!
Flatwounds on the bass?
This is the way :)
Hey mate, great video of a great bass. I actually have 2 of these basses, the red cherry 20th anniversary model and a gold one. What strings are you using? Cheers
I believe these are LaBella Deep Talking Flats (or maybe Low Tensions) 45-105. Thank you Craig!
@@LowEndLobster thanks! Love the sound of flats on this bass, will have to grab a set.
Having never owned (and never likely to) or played a Gibson bass; what’s so bad about the 3 point bridge?
On these basses especially, the design has been known to "pull out" the retention ferrules for the bridge on the JCs. Overall, they are very limited in how you can adjust them. You cannot adjust individual string heights. Drop in replacements like the hipshot and babicz are how these things should have come from the factory.
LowEndLobster - Thanks Lobster, a triumph of form over practicality.
So you don't show how the dial changes the tone, and you don't describe why you don't like the 3 point Epiphone/Gibson bridge.
Hey Tod! This is an older video, here's a newer one featuring this bass that goes into more detail - ruclips.net/video/zqRvQl_CJuU/видео.html
how do you compare it to the schecter bass?
Great question! The Schecter is more versatile, but the Epi has great tone. The Schecter also has a better stock bridge, where the Epi's stock bridge is terrible.
@@LowEndLobster cool!
I drunk bought a jack casady bass off ebay. Really good bass.
But i still want a normal 335 style body bass.
Nice! What finish did you get?
@@LowEndLobster black! Got a thing for black bass
whats the best bass for you ? the epiphone casady or the schecter semi hollow? sorry for my bad english im from argentina lol
My JC has some sentimental value to me and it's a special edition, but if I was tasked with picking one of them new I'd go for the Schecter. I don't like having to spend another 100 for an aftermarket bridge to replace a really flawed design on the JC.
Is the bridge swap a DIY job?
Yes
Many thanks. @@LowEndLobster
Which do you like better this or the Corsair
You'll have to wait for the full review ;P
Can i slap this bass with roundwounds
You can, but IMO I'd be afraid of exacerbating the bridge retainer issue where they pull out of the body. If you had the hipshot, I think that may help. My tech Dom actually reinstalled them on this particular bass before putting on the hipshot.
That does sound great! Flatwounds? La Bella’s?
Thanks! Yes and yes! I think LaBellas are my favorite flats.
LowEndLobster I have one J with La Bella’s for the thump and one with Thomastik-Infelds (super light gage) for chords and be bop stuff. Love them both! If you’ve never tried them they are certainly a very different feel! All the best.
@@grizelda4526 Nice! My Scheff is the only one rocking TIs at the moment. Had em on Wally before I swapped the pickups, that bass is MUCH better with rounds haha.
First: You have just been CRANKING out content. Nonstop. It's amazing.
Second: Dang, that thing sounds like a nice, round vintage beast.
Thanks Ryan! Yep, moving to a daily video model. Shooting a handful of short vids on Sunday and editing them whenever I feel like it (VERY easy to edit the short ones), and then doing some longer vids when I can. I'm already set through Thursday :), did all of em last night. Glad you're enjoying the vids! .... and yeah JC has some tonal booty ;P
The stock Epiphone bridges ARE terrible. I just bought a replacement for my Riviera's because it was buzzing so bad.
Thanks Steve! Right!? Even Rickenbacker, the most notoriously stubborn manufacturer, changed their bridge.... DO IT, GIBSON. JUST DO IT.
l love the sound but hate the look.
Thanks Surco! What specifically don't you like about the look? I find the asymmetrical look on this more appealing than the Corsair, but I think the tonal versatility of the Corsair is superior... I can't decide honestly hahaha.
@@LowEndLobster I am not a fan of this retro look. Both basses sound very nice.
@@SurcoTheWise Thanks! They're definitely not for everyone. Will be checking out the Schecter Ultra which has the same pickups as the Corsair, may be a bit more pleasing to the eye for you :). If the Corsair can get close to the JC tone, the Ultra would probably be a winner as well.
Would have owned one of these years ago but it is made in CHINA !!
Come on, CHINA?? Screw that. We gotta start buying AMERICAN made instruments only.
Yeah most of the Epiphones nowadays are Chinese made. However I refuse to paint any labor with a wide brush. Dingwall Combustion series and MTD Kingston are Chinese made and great instruments. There are experienced craftspeople all over the world (and also plenty of crappy ones!). USA doesn't mean good quality (look at our cars lol), and Chinese made doesn't mean it was made by child slave labor. We judge instruments by their merits, not by assumptions about their manufacturing.
Fine craftsmanship, really ?
Didn’t you have to set it up when you got it ? Or was it ready to play a four gig out of the box ?
@@davidrobertson5881 Dingwall and MTD Kingston QC is done in house, and they really are solid. Give em a try, they might change your mind! On the Epiphone front though... The Korean stuff is where it's at. My MIK Jack Casady is a gem and she's mine forever!