Epiphone Announces Newport and El Capitan Basses

Epiphone 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

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Leave a Reply to Smeg Cancel reply

  1. Smeg

    Righty only?

    • Jef Sacco

      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…