Epiphone Jack Casady Semi-Hollow Bass now available in a fretless edition

[Mark Schmieder]

I somehow missed the announced of the new fretless JC this past summer. As it is a full 34" scale and is a good match for TI Jazz Flats, I am strongly considering it. In fact, had any been in stock when I checked tonight, I would have ordered one, but I am not keen on putting money down on back orders, due to a long history of extended delays.

 

Only one or two audio demos so far, and they're awful, to my ears, as they are done by people who like lots of distortion. So, I went for some fretted demos by people I consider more tasteful, and it reminded me of the positive aspects of this bass model. I didn't buy the original version but I forget if there was something I didn't like or if it seemed redundant.

[Mark Schmieder]

Everyone is expecting to get these in within the week, so I went ahead and ordered one while the 10% rebate is in effect (it ends on Wednesday).

 

I have prior experience with this instrument in its fretted form, and remember now that I was holding out hope they would eventually release a fretless version. Unlike the Hohner Verythin Semi-Hollow Bass that I owned for a few years, which is 30" short scale, the full length scale of this bass makes it a better choice overall, and I am certain I will like it better than the Tony Franklin fretless that I sold or the Godin Acoustibass that I used for well over a decade, despite the fingerboard being laurel vs. ebony.

 

After a lot of listening, my view on tapewound strings being too bright (I have used several brands on different basses over the years but it took me a while to find audio demos of the Pyramid tapewounds, which are the only ones I haven't tried and which the Beatles used on their final rooftop concert), is reinforced all the more, and I absolutely love what I have heard of the TI jazz flats on the fretted version of the JC. I used jazz flats for many years on my Godin Acoustibass.

 

I also ordered the dedicated hardshell case. No way would I risk an archtop instrument to a gig bag!

 

Although I normally do my own setup work these days, the extreme tension differential vs. the stock D'addario Chromes means a truss rod adjustment and other heavy duty setup work will be needed, so I'll take it to my entrusted setup guy once it arrives.