Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

The new Epiphone Zenith Bass


Texastrouble
 Share

Recommended Posts

[quote name='Texastrouble' post='695099' date='Dec 28 2009, 08:01 PM']Have anyone tried the Epiphone Zenith Bass?
grtz
Texastrouble[/quote]
There's a link in post #22 [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=59067&hl=triumph%20zenith&st=20"]here[/url] to a comment by someone who played a prototype in the US.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have to wait at least 6-8 months,........ for the new Zenith Bass

[b]Question to Gibson Europe:[/b]

Hello,
When is the epiphone zenith bass avalabel?
I live in the Netherlands and they say 6-8 months!
Is this correct?

[b]Answer from Gibson Europe:[/b]
That would be the best prediction for now, as there are none of these basses scheduled for production yet.
Don’t hesitate to contact us again however a few months later to have an update.

Kind regards,
Gibson Europe Customer Service

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
  • 1 month later...

[quote name='squire' post='868381' date='Jun 15 2010, 08:33 PM']Need a review on this one.

I really wanna play one.[/quote]
Link to sound samples available [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=59067&st=20"]here in post #30[/url] and post #22 has a link to a review of the prototype.

And a link to a recent review here at the [url="http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=4032.0"]Last Bass Outpost[/url].

Edited by EssentialTension
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Johnston' post='868717' date='Jun 16 2010, 08:23 AM']Bleedin' 'eck is that still not out yet!!!

I know they like to announce new things in advance but that must be knocking about the epiphone site 2 years now!!![/quote]
It is out, they have them in stock at Thomann. Hence the review and the sound samples I linked to.

Edited by EssentialTension
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Zenith is now available here in the states. It comes in both transparent black and maple finishes. It lists for 799 USD. Smallest electric pickup I've ever seen at the neck position. I am going to try to find one and try it today.
Strangely, the fretless Version is not called the Zenith but the "Triumph". It only comes in the Maple finish and is equipped with a lined fretless neck and LaBella Tapewound strings. It also is more expensive. :)

[url="http://www.samash.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Zenith%20Acoustic%20Electric%20Guitar%20Translucent%20Black_-1_10052_10002_1021335?cm_mmc=Froogle%2d%5f%2dAcousticElectric%20Basses%2d%5f%2dZenith%20Acoustic%20Electric%20Guitar%20Translucent%20Black%2d%5f%2dEBTRTBBH1"]http://www.samash.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...ack-_-EBTRTBBH1[/url]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='fretlessguy' post='869811' date='Jun 17 2010, 12:08 PM']Strangely, the fretless Version is not called the Zenith but the "Triumph".[/quote]
Both fretted and fretless were initially called the Triumph II but there was some copyright or trademark issue over Triumph so both are now the Zenith. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=59067"]This is in the other thread on this bass[/url]. The Sam Ash website just has a mistake I think.

[url="http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=1624"]The Epiphone Zenith page has Zenith for both.[/url]

Edited by EssentialTension
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 years later...

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1407774285' post='2523872']
Just curious about the Zenith bass as IMHO they look really nice. There aren't many threads on them here. Mostly for sale or wanted threads. I'm not going to be buying one, but am curious about what they are like. Does anyone have one? If so, what do you think of this bass?
[/quote]
I was keen until I played one in GAK about 3 years ago and then I lost interest but I don't recall why.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I own a fretted Zenith, i love its gypsy look and its mixed magnetic PU -"Hollow body"-"piezo" sound.

Some basses had problems (Gibson discontinued) but if you find a good one, you can improve it easily (bone nut, oil on the rosewood fingerboard and bridge, to decrease strings highness by adding a piece in the pocket neck...)

I wish i could try a fretless one.
There a cool review on YT by Ed Friedland.

I think i talked about this instrument here on BC, check my posts :)

Edited by Emanew
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1407778052' post='2523942']
I was keen until I played one in GAK about 3 years ago and then I lost interest but I don't recall why.
[/quote]

I found what I said '3 years ago' ....

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1298383014' post='1137100']
I played a fretted Zenith today in GAK. I was disappointed.

Body finish looked nice but I was less keen on the feel of the neck - had a cheapish feel to it, whatever that means, but sort of reminded me of 60s and early 70s Japanese stuff.

I played through a Markbass combo and at first was suffering from some crackling/rattling - I wasn't sure whether it was the combo, the bass socket, or the lead but either way it didn't help - but seemed to right itself after a while.

The action wasn't bad but I think many people would want it a little lower which, with no bridge adjustment other than filing down the saddle, would probably mean a neck shim.

Sound was pleasant enough but the difference between the magnetic and piezo pickups was less than I'd hoped given that having those two options available would be my reason for buying the bass. The feel of the pots was feeble and I suspect the electronics are the real weak spot of the bass. The blend control seemed to run quite unsmoothly from piezo to mag and back.

I'll be going back to try out the fretless version when they have one but my experience moved me from 'maybe a fretless Zenith would be nice' to 'I doubt if I would buy a Zenith'.
[/quote]

I never did go back and try a fretless version and I am sure I would prefer the fretless and some flatwound strings but as you can see I wasn't impressed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1407950395' post='2525678']
It does sound good when Ed Friedland plays it ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsuiVj3B9E0
[/quote]

Ed Friedland makes everything sound good. He also tends to make everything sound like Ed Friedland so I've stopped listening to his demos as they have little relevance for what I'll discover when I play the instrument in question myself.

Edited by icastle
Link Fixed.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1407950582' post='2525680']
Ed Friedland makes everything sound good. He also tends to make everything sound like Ed Friedland so I've stopped listening to his demos as they have little relevance for what I'll discover when I play the instrument in question myself.
[/quote]
Yep. I agree.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...