1981 Epiphone Newport Vintage Electric Bass Guitar Short Scale Japan, Matsumoku

Up for sale, a 1981 Epiphone Newport short scale electric bass in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original gigbag. Crafted at the Matsumoku factory in Japan, this uncommon iteration of the Newport was only produced for a few short years and is rarely seen outside its country of origin. Retaining the original '60s-era Newport body shape, this bass boasts an all maple neck through body construction with walnut center strip, paired with a thick slab rosewood fretboard and maple body wings. The neck through design and tonewood combination contribute to the instrument's inherent punch and sustain, translating faithfully through the stock pickups. The toaster-style mini humbucker in the neck position brings a burly bass register boldness, while the staple pole double coil pickup at the bridge provides a brilliant growl and midrange cut. This Newport weighs 8lbs 5oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-100 roundwound strings and comfortable action.

The maple/walnut neck has a slender C-shaped profile with good shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .820” deep at the 1st fret and .895” at the 12th. The thick slab rosewood fretboard features pearloid dot inlay and stock slender fretwire. The frets have their full height with well rounded crowns, showing just a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-3, and virtually no wear further up the fretboard. The scale length is a compact 30 1/2“, and the nut measures 1 9/16“ in width. The headstock features stock nickel Grover-style tuners with clover buttons that turn smoothly and hold their pitch well.

On the body, the stock electronics consist of a three-way pickup selector toggle, and individual Volume and Tone controls for each pickup. The original reflector cap knobs are intact, and the one-ply back painted lucite pickguard features a centrally located “E” epsilon. Cosmetic wear is limited to faint scuffing in the pick path and light finish scratches mostly relegated to the lower bout body edge. The neck profile sports a pristine smooth gloss finish.

The original faux leather gigbag is included.