Epiphone Announces Newport and El Capitan Basses
Epiphone is launching two new bass offerings for 2023 with the Newport Bass and the El Capitan J-200 Studio Bass. Both take their cues from vintage instruments; the Newport was first introduced in 1961, while the El Capitan takes its cues from the SJ-200 flattop acoustic.
The company says the revamped Newport pays tribute to the original with modern refinements. It has a short 30.5-inch scale with a medium C neck profile and deep body cutaways to reach the highest frets. Epiphone fits it with a Bass Sidewinder pickup in the neck position for depth and body with a TB PRO in the bridge position to bring out its brightness. A blend control lets you mix the timbres.
Finally, it comes in four old-school cool colors: Classic Cherry, California Coral, Sunset Yellow, and Pacific Blue.
The El Capitan J-200 Studio Bass is an acoustic/electric bass fitted with a Fishman Sonitone under-saddle pickup and Sonicore preamp. It’s built with a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck. The Indian Laurel fretboard holds 20 frets that are marked with pearloid crown inlays. Similar to the Newport, it also has a short 30.5-inch scale and a medium C neck profile. It comes in Aged Vintage Sunburst, and Aged Vintage Natural finishes.
The Epiphone Newport Bass and El Capitan J-200 are available now at prices of $379 and $699.
Epiphone Newport Bass Specs:
| Construction: | Set Neck |
| Scale: | 30.5″ |
| Body: | Mahogany |
| Neck: | Mahogany |
| Neck Profile: | Medium C |
| Fingerboard: | Indian Laurel |
| Frets: | 20 Medium Jumbo |
| Nut Material: | PVC |
| Inlays: | Pearloid Dot |
| Pickups: | Bass Sidewinder, TB PRO |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Blend Knob, Master Tone |
| Bridge: | Historic Tune-O-Matic |
| Tuners: | Die Cast |
| Colors: | Classic Cherry, California Coral, Sunset Yellow, and Pacific Blue |
Epiphone El Capitan J-200 Acoustic/Electric Bass Specs:
| Construction: | Dovetail; Glued In Neck |
| Scale: | 30.5″ |
| Body Back and Sides: | Layered Mahogany |
| Top: | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Binding: | Figured Maple |
| Neck: | Mahogany |
| Neck Profile: | Medium C |
| Fingerboard: | Indian Laurel |
| Frets: | 20 Medium |
| Nut Material: | Synthetic Bone |
| Inlays: | Pearloid Crown |
| Pickup: | Fishman Under-Saddle Sonicore |
| Electronics: | Fishman Sonitone |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
Righty only?
They don’t care about lefties. Let’s face it: it’s a right-handed world and there’s no real money to be made off us.
These “birds” do look kinda cool flipped but the knobs are in the way.
Oh well…