Epiphone Accu-Bass

I got this bass in 1999 via Saudi Arabia. It's lived a tough life since I got it. I did get it used, but it was hardly ever touched by the guy that owned it. I have the plain, boring natural finish. From reading the other reviews, the finish on these can be a weak point. I have never had an issue. It cam with a gig bag and an amp. This is a god bass, has no feautres. WHO NEEDS THEM???

I have used this in hardcore punk, ska, 70's rock and church bands. The original pickups were wearing out, so I replaced them with Fender P-Bass originals. Sounds like a versitile bass.

I have adjusted the action once after about 4 years of owning it. You just plug this baby in and play!

Umm, amazing. Tone and Volume pots eventually wore out, about 4 years apart.

dunno

I love this bass, I want to upgrade to a musicman stingray 5-string, but I'll always have this guitar as my backup, and will use it regularly.

I'm suprised I haven't written this review, yet, as this was the first guitar/bass I ever got, in 1998. It's a little more than your standard P-bass affair, and it's actually quite nice. It's got an angled headstock, giving the strings more tension than a normal P-bass style bass. The bridge is another great feature: it's a string-thru body bridge with some of the thickest/biggest brass saddles I've ever seen on a bass. The body is a sort of maple/alder laminate (from what I understand), which makes it pretty light. Other than the afformentioned features, it's straight up P-bass. Mine is the sunburst model! :-D

Acoustically, the bass sounds pretty wierd... very... bright and cutting. Being made of alot of maple, and maple being a tonewood that produces a very bright tone, and have brass saddles, brass being a material that causes a bright tone in guitars, the un-amplified tone of the bass is BRIGHT!

The stock pickups kind of make up for that, by being extremely flat sounding pickups. The pots and cap in the bass don't help with the tone, though. It had 500k pots (ouch!) and a .047mfd cap. At first, I didn't know what that meant, but, over the years, I've come to realize a few things about this bass. One of my first mods was to throw in 2 CTS 250k pots and a .022mfd orange drop cap, which cleaned up the stock pickup's tone tremendosly. Later on, I was at guitar center and saw a set of "Duncan Performer Sledgehammer," pickups for about 40 bucks and thought, "why not!" I threw 'em in my Epiphone and got a 150% tone improvement. The sledgehammers are a great budget upgrade for the Epiphone, since they're cheap and are copies of teh SPB-2 Hot Precision pickup, which has more bass output than your average pickup, really evened the tone out and sounds VERY good, I'm talking American Fender tone, here.

The stock electronics were also a nightmare for a couple more reasons: from factory, they were ungrounded and noisy, I had them grounded and sheilded by a tech as a local shop about 3 months after I got the bass. The tone pot also went out about 8 months after I got the bass, so I just circumvented the tone pot for a while (which led to an even brighter tone!) and eventually rewired everything from the original pickup bobbins (this was a good 3 years into owning the bass) and threw in the CTS pots, Orange drop and jack.

For a beginner, though, this bass has an adequite tone, definately not something that I'd recommend doing pro-stuff with, unless you replace the electronics.

Well, after a good 8-9 years of use (3-4 of which being heavy use in practices, basements and garages and then 5 years of playing second fiddle to a few Fenders, but still getting played pretty heavily) the bass is still in one peice. It's been dropped a few times in the years and has held up really well.

The finish is beautiful, although the way it's bursted, you can tell it's made of a laminate wood (the arm and belly contours are painted black, same as the edges of the bass) and the pickgaurd is a beautiful dark brown toirtoise shell. It's a very elegant and tasteful looking bass.

Also, through the years, the neck has not warped at all (but for the slight bow you expect in a bass) and the action has stayed perfect, even through string changes, for a LONG time, I just keep throwing on the same strings. At first, there were a few problems with frets buzzing, due to poorly set and crowned frets, that I had set by a local tech. After that, though, the bass has played flawlessly.

Reliability out of the box? Well, mechanically, the bass is solid as a rock... and I mean solid. Electronically, it's a peice of trash. Just read my description of the stock electronics and the action, fit and finish, that pretty much somes this thing up... well, that and the word: boat.

Well, my overall rating on this bass is suprisingly high for the amount of work I had to put into the electronics. Outside of the poor electronics, this bass is AWESOME. I absolutely love this thing. It's light as a feather and sounds really good after all the work. Sure, it's not as iconic as a Fender, but, it's a pretty damn nice bass.

Also, I feel I should add this: the basses cavities and pickguard are very odd... I found that the electronics cavity was too thin to fit CTS pots in, and had to sand the cavity out, and the pickup cavity is ill suited for actual replacement pickups. I had to use longer screws, extra foam and leave big gaps in the side of the pickgaurd. I also picked up a gold adonized pickgaurd to throw on it (to give is a more... 50's look) and found that the fender pickgaurds just plain don't fit... I don't know why! they look approzimately the same, but certain features just don't line up right, it's really frustrating. You pretty much have to take this bass' ability to accesorize with a grain of salt.

i think this was made in 1994 or 1995, in korea. it might be older, but that's when i bought it. it's a p-bass. i believe the body is maple, and the neck is maple with a maple fretboard, though the body is black.

i can't remember what it had when i bought it, but the electronics were crap and the pickups were worthless. the bridge is a string through body which is one of the redeeming features. also, the machine heads are grover style but are generically made. the white pickguard looks and is trash. replace it immediately along with everything else that comes with this bass.

honestly, i can't remember what it sounded like when i first got it. but i'm pretty sure it was horrible. immediately i put in a pair of dimarzio p-bass pickups and rewired the entire electronics - bought new wire, new pots etc.. the only thing original with this bass is the actual body and the neck. everything else is my modification.

that being said; the way the body resonates with the pluck of a string is fantastic.. i love it. right now it sounds great, but when it was stock it was complete garbage. so i'll rate it as it sounds right now.

the factory set up was crap. the action was unplayably high when i bought it and i learned a helluva lot about tweaking truss rods and playing with string levels and intonation by trying to set the action myself. i finally succeded and have the action at a pretty low 2/64'' at the 12th fret for every string with absolutely no fret rattles.

everything was crap about it out of the factory. but with a littlel bit of TLC it's a really really good bass.

this thing can withstand anything. tonight i was adjusting the action on a new esp 5 string i bought, and i knocked my epiphone over not once, not twice, but three seperate times. every time i tried to retune it, but it didn't need it. it was perfect. this was the bass i first learned on, so it's been dropped quite a few times at shows and just practicing. there's chips in the finish and stress cracks by bolt on neck, but the thing is still playing great. if it's just one thing that's impressive about this bass, is that it's built for the long haul.

dunno about the warranty, though i just read earlier in these reviews that it has a lifetime garuntee? that's new to me.

i've been playing bass since about 1994, and i've had this bass ever since. this thing is the standard i compare other basses to.

if you buy one of these new/used and it's stock: be prepared to replace EVERYTHING. by everything, i mean everything. everything except the neck and body. all the rest is garbage. but if you replace everything, it's durability is hands down the best; and it has suprisingly great tone.

I bought this bass in '97 when there was a J-bass configuration on the pickups. Made in the fine country of Korea. It features the P-bass body, with 2 jazz pickups. It is one big solid piece-o-wood, I'm not sure what it is. Its damn heavy, but you get accustomed to it. The neck is heavier than the body, so if you stand up and play, your style will start to evolve into a "parallel to the floor" playing style. Controls are: two volume, one tone. The tone knob when turned up all the way produces much buzzing. Plus, the tone knob makes it sound like your breaking glass when you slap the bass. The best mix that I've found is using the bridge pickup almost exclusively, and mixing in a little tone to the batch. This bass certainly does not create very many desirable tones. Passive elctronics. The afforementioned neck is maple with a rosewood fingerboard. It is very large. It reminded me of the days of chopping wood in northern Alaska. If necks were dogs, this neck would be a Saint Bernard. However, I must stress the importance of having a large neck when first starting out. It increases your hands flexibility. The tuners are absolutely amazing. They are probably the best feature of this bass. Back in Alaska, I would sit on my porch and play in negative temperatures, and it would stay in tune. The bridge is quite unique, and I've never seen another like it. The strings sit in circular brass saddles, and then go through the body. That is another nice feature. The finish scratches really easily, but its no big deal.

The sound is very limited with this thing. The neck pickup produces too much bass tone. The bridge pickup sounds decent, but not that good. Like I said, a learning bass. Don't expect Shangri-La. Hell, don't expect anything. Just LEARN on this bass. It is important to have a huge, bad-sounding bass to learn on. That way you build an appreciation for future instruments. The tone knob produces a very noisy "hive of bees" buzz. I've used it in the studio and it worked very well, but that's because I have been playing it for quite awhile, and I've whipped its ass into shape. When your on stage, tone doesnt really matter because everybody is trying to be heard, but it can hold its own. I wouldn't recommend slapping much on it. I've broken alot of G strings that way. Maybe its just my shitty slap playing. Overall, not a bad sounding bass, but not a good sounding bass either.

I wouldn't know how it was set-up because When I first started playing, that didn't matter to me. It never had much fret buzz, which is good. The string height was a little tall, and I raised the pickups out a little bit. The factory strings were great. They lasted for 2 years before one snapped.

I have never had a backup bass to gig with. So its pretty reliable. That and I can't afford a new one yet. I was never one to carry extra strings either. Its just my cheap skate way. I've dropped it several times, and its like an elephant. I don't think this thing can ever be damaged. I've shot it, and the bullet went clean through, no splintering. I set it on fire, and only minor finish bubbling. I've never adjusted the neck. It has never needed an adjustment, even after Heavy to Medium string change. Oh, and like Isaid, the tuners never go out of tune. Even when I pound the bass with a jackhammer, the bass holds up like it WANTS you to hit it. I'm in a Noise-Rock band in case you were wondering.

I have never dealt with them, but I assume that since they slapped on the lifetime warranty, they stand behind there product.

I've been playing for 6 years. This is the only bass I've had, and I won't get a new one until I destroy this one. If it were stolen, I would be extremely glad, that way I would have an excuse to buy a new bass. I pretty much don't enjoy this bass, but I have adapted to use it. So it's basically like a fungus that tends to grow on you.

This is a standard P-Bass by Epiphone, Korean made, 1999, your typical 4-string bass. passive electronics in the 1 p-style humbucker split pickup, 1 volume one tone control, black on black finish, maple neck, maple fretboard, and a maple/alder body. string through bridge 34' scale

I play mostly jazz/classic rock and the sound rules...I originally picked this bass up as a backup for my 63' Fender Jazz Special...but I have since packed that away and started gigging with this puppy full time...it gets a nice rich tone despite the split humbucker pickup..(i prefer j-style)I use this bass for live gig's on an old '73 Fender Tube bass amp and there is really no noise from the pickups...it certainly (in the right hands) give you a sound that can match the best of the p-basses out the for under $500.00

this was obtained used so I can't say about factory set up but i can say it only took me a minor adjustment to the neck and lowering the action a tad to get it perfect for my tastes. i haven't had any problem with the knobs coming loose or anything the electrics have withstood the test of time overall quite nice if taken proper care of. the one thing i didn't like was the strap pegs and i simply replaced them with ones i liked...problem solved for a few dollars.

this thing has gone through hell in a handbasket and is still in fabulous shape..it's been dropped, thrown, kicked...and numerous other things that would make most musicians cringe...but overall it's virtually indestructable.

n/a bought used

overall I give this puppy an 8...although it's ruggid and durable, it's a standard P-Bass...so there is no extras involved and no specialities...I've been playing bass for the good part of 18 years now and own a '63 Feder Jazz Special, a Yamaha RBX Fretless, This Epi Accu-Bass, a Honer Bad-ass 2, and a DeArmond (Guild) Pilot...and of all of them for what they were purchased for this bass has given me the best bang for my buck

Solid 4 string P-Bass. Black finish, black pickups (2), Natural neck and chrome hardware. Bought it in 1997.
Very typical P-Bass, no outstanding features. (just like I like 'em)

I'm a jazz/rock performer of 35 years and I have to say...this bass works just fine for my needs. I've used Rickenbacker, Hagstrom, Peavey fretless and Fender basses...I do like my Ricky and I love my Fender Jazz, but the Epi is surprising functional, and works fine for a technician with technique!
I did have to setup the neck a bit, some string tweaking too, but it turned out to be an easy-playing, smooth instrument that does what it's supposed to do...SOUND GREAT!

Factory setup was passable but not for anyone who likes their fingers. After neck tightening and bridge adjustments it played as easy as my old Hagstrom, (for those of you who remember the old thin, narrow Hagstrom neck you'll appreciate the Epi) It's not quite as thin and narrow but it's plenty easy to use.
You'll need to change the factory strings, right away...they are the cheapest iron you've ever seen.
I put a good set of GHS Brite Flats on it and it sang like Christian McBride's '75 fender jazz.

Live playing...You bet!! It's my primary performing bass. I know this will sound foolish to most bassists...a silly $200 guitar, who's he trying to kid? But it's true...this Epi really works and sound very good.
As for using it live without a backup...any bassist worth his salt knows better than that! I have a '78 Jazz and a Peavey standing by too. (Yeah...I still use the Epi...what can I say...I like it!)

Never had to call Epiphone for my basses or guitars.
Lifetime warranty on Epi products anyway.

I've been playing jazz/rock for 35 years. I use an epiphone LP Xtreme 6-string guitar, Yamaha S03 synthesizer and assorted Standel, Sunn and Unique amps.
I'd buy another if it got lost or stolen.
I love it's simple design and easy playing neck. It's lightweight. I have compared it to a number of other P-style basses and it's definitely a big-time contender with a little tweaking.
When I bought this Epi, I was trying out a new Fender american jazz too...after playing the Fender, I picked up the Epi and immediately felt comfortable with it...don't get me wrong...I love my 78 Fender Jazz (much better than the new junks Fenders trying to pawn off on us), but the Epi has some real funky tones and it slaps nice...with the stock pickups!! Maybe I got the only real good one, but I don't think so...it's just a nice, great-sounding, Cheap Bass.

2000 or 1999 i dunno for sure, korea like almost everything epiphone makes,4 string, its basicaly your basic p-bass not too many features but it still produces a great growl.um body im not for sure problaey alder maple neck with a maple fretboard, angled back headstock volume and tone ( but i mine i was messing and aroound with the wireing because i was bored and wired it wrong so i only have a volme now ( which it is backwards )until i get time to wire it right now , but it didnt come liek thAT the tone wehn it worked wasnt anythign special it worked farly decent,strap buttens sucked to be perfectly honest bu i fixed that problem wiht a big screwq and alot of super glue, black finish pretty soft but i plan on stripping it anyways and leaving it natural or painting it a differant color,pick ups are pretty good but i plan on replacing them wiht active ones or qtr-lb p bass ones i dunno yet, 34" scale oin the neck, which is a pretty good neck but i plan on replacing tha to with a neck from warmoth , probaley a wenge neck with ebony fretboard havent decided to go fretless yet mainly cause frets are better for a rock sound, it included a crappy gig bag that i sold for a dolalr or two to a friend and a crpapy cable -, ohh yeah its also string thru body and the bridege is quite wierd its nice but it looks like its anoversized guitar bridge

it growls nicly, its basic p bass sound which i love but plan on improving it withalot of mods to the bass

cant remmeber for the life of me, already loosing my memery at age 16,

this bass is tuff

i dunno

its growls nicl lol thats the thing i liek ikt about it the most and other people who have played it ( guys that play expensive amamhas,warwicks,carvin,and custom basses)its a nice bass dont plan on selling it just modifying it ,neck and pickups and other cosmetic thigns neck plasy good two cant remmeber if i said that already

my accu-bass is a 2000 model made in korea, bought it over the fender because of the lifetime warranty, controls are straightforward and with a little set-up i find it very playable.for a first bass it does very well, its good enough for practice or even for performing, its about as limited as any standard fender p-bass, so for what you pay for its great

sounds like any p-bass, pickups are slightly noisy but not unbearable,

plenty of p-bass growl, for pick and finger playing it has good tone, slap tone with plenty of treble is alright

when i bought it from my local retailer it was very well set, but i put on lighter strings and had it reset, plays a well as anything ive played, easily as well as the fenders

this thing is indestructable, ive dropped it, stepped on it, crushed it, and everything still works, never seen a bass like this, its as solid as concrete and i've never had an electrical problem

lifetime warranty-doesn get better than that

ive been playing for two years and ive played on fenders, gibsons and other epiphones and i can say that this thing can compete,if i were a pro i would buy something better but for anybody who just plays for fun this thing is great

its the kind of guitar that you can modify like crazy, with a little time and a little extra money you can soup up this bass to hang with anything

Im not sure of the year,but its a damn good bass. I bought mine from a pawn shop and it wasnt playable, the nut was missing.It came with nothing,knobs were missing,pickups sucked,rusted strings,gotoh tuners,the headstock had been messed with,(the wing shape had been sanded or cut off,and it read EPI like the logo.)passive electronics,bridge string through,black with black pickguard(p-bass)20 frets.I did fall in love with that bass,scraches, missing parts and all.I did take it to a repair shop to get a new nut. since the conception of it,i have tricked it out...details to come

I switched the bridge to a rollerbridge (stewmac.com)
the pickups sucked so i swiched those too, EMG selects nice sound, now
I put roller sring trees in too
i use it for practice, and occasionally for a gig,maybe a game (im in the marching band pit) and i love it....bit of fret buzz,but i usually crank it so high its not noticeable buts pretty nice,i play for marching band,jazz band and my own alternative/metal band

I wouldnt know how it was set up at the factory, but the action's pretty high but its all i know.i replaced the pickups so i dont know that...

Its my one and only,and i love it. i have changed a lot of things,but only two things made me question quality,but then i remembered i got it at a pawn shop.
The volume pot froze on me in the middle of a gig,but it was for the whole school,in the gym,and at full blast so it was ok.(making me assume the person had corrosive sweat,but a new pair fixed that)
the strap button fell off because it stripped the hole but i know my repair techniques so that wasnt a problems( come to think of it, i dropped it then so it must be pretty damn solid!)

I got it at a pawn shop so no warranty,i dont think it would apply anyway,i put in all electronics myself!

I love it and i wouldnt trade it. if it got stolen id get pretty pissed seing as how much went into making it what it is now. I love the way it looks with black hardware and headstock (thank you acrylic paint) i hate the minor fretbuzz and the gibson jack on the front (id put it in the bottom like a telecaster and put another pickup like a jazz pickup for the bridege and use that hole for that knob)

mine is a 2000 made in indonesia,20 frets,its a 4 string, 2 controls,
just the basics volume and tone, has 1 p-style pickup, active electronics, rosewood fretboard,white finish,precision bass style body
has a string through bridge.

sounds great, good low and high end, pick ups sound pretty good but are a little noisy,very rich sound, i can take on stage or in the studio, it sounds so great.

set up good, easy to get to everything, pretty good action, pickups are adjusted to fit my needs but if you like to play more blues you might want to adjust or change the pickups to get more of a hum,the finish on the bass is excelent, no dents, flaws, scratches, it has a very smooth paint job, good quality tuning pegs, good quaility wood.

if you drop this bass nothing will happen it is so durable, i'd prabably take it on stage without a back up, hardware continues to last,finish will last through a lot of playing, very strong strap buttons,never once had to adjust neck truss rod.

let's just put it this way you get a fuckin lifetime warranty.

overall i think this is a great bass if it got stolen i wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.