1962 Epiphone Newport Deluxe

• Solid mahogany body • one-piece mahogany neck • rosewood fretboard • two Gibson humbucking pickups • 30 1/2 inch scale

The Epiphone Newport Deluxe bass guitar, or EBD, was manufactured between 1961 an 1963, as a two-pickup version of the Newport, with 'Deluxe Trim'. It was only produced in very small numbers; 89 in total (see Epiphone Newport shipping figures). Notice that this is very much the old-style Newport; the body and headstock are symmetrical - compare this bass with a newer 1965 Epiphone Newport. The Deluxe was only produced until 1963; presumably no batwing headstock or asymmetric body-shape Newport Deluxes were made, as these features came in in 1964.

It is fitted with typical early-sixties Gibson hardware; nickel plated throughout. Early sixties humbucker (wide cover), and mini-humbucker (the surrounds were painted silver on both the Gibson EB3 and Epiphone EBD), handrest, bar bridge and Kluson 538 tuning keys.

The Newport and EB series were directly analogous, and were generally equivalently priced - obviously the lack of varitone switch and tone choke reduced the cost of the EB-D slightly - it had a 1962 list price of $285 - compared to $310 for the EB3; the EB0 and Newport were both listed at $210 at this point.

The Newport Deluxe was never pictured in an Epiphone catalogue, although it was mentioned, alongside the regular one-pickup version, in both the 1961 and 1962 Epiphone catalogues. Only 89 Deluxes were made, making this one of the rarer Epiphone models. In the same period Gibson made seven times as many EB3s, and almost five times as many one-pickup Newports.

The Newport Deluxe was only available in Gibson's translucent Cherry finish, although this example has faded somewhat with age; the darker mahogany body showing through to some extent. Like all early Newport examples, this bass features the symmetrical double-cutaway body design and 2x2 headstock layout.

Overall, this is a very short bass guitar; despite having a 30 1/2" scale (and hence requiring short scale strings), with 20 frets, the overall length is just 39" - with the bridge positioned as far back on the body as possible.

The Deluxe has the same EB humbucker in the neck position as fitted to Epiphone Rivoli and Gibson EB series basses. The bridge pickup is the same mini-humbucker as fitted to the EB3. The handrest / string cover is also nickel plated.

The rosewood fingerboard has pearl dot position markers and 20 frets.

Like all Gibson and Epiphone guitars built at Kalamazoo in the 1960s, the Newport Deluxe has a set (glued in) neck - the heel quite different from that of a similar period EB3.

The early sixties Gibson and Epiphone basses all had specific control cavity routes, depending on the physical size of the loom. The controls, and consequently control cavity and cover, of this bass are common to several Gibson/Epiphone guitars of this time - early 1960s SGs, for example. Around 1965 most Gibson instruments, including the EB0 and EB3 settled on a uniform route, similar to the cavity shown here, though with more curved edges. By this time, however, the single-pickup Newport had it's controls scratchplate-mounted from the front (no back access panel), and the Newport Deluxe was discontinued.

The Newport pickups were the same as those fitted to an early 1960s Gibson EB3, that is, an large humbucker at the neck, and mini-humbucker at the bridge. The cover of the neck pickup is typical for the period - wide/shallow with nickel plating. The surround of the bridge pickup is silvered, though this has worn considerably.

The Newport Deluxe controls and and input jack. The controls are fairly typical of Gibson and Epiphone solid bodies, SG, Les Paul etc - i.e. two volume and two tone controls, and a three-way pickup selector switch. The controls are topped with black bell knobs with silver inserts. The three-way switch has no plastic surround but is the standard up (neck pickup), down (bridge pickup), and middle (both pickups).

The bar bridge fitted to the early versions of the Newport is situated right back at the tail end of the body, allowing this bass a very short overall length. Like the other hardware on this bass it is nickel plated.

The Newport Deluxe, although being described as having 'Deluxe trim' does not have the underbridge mute one might expect, as fitted to the EB3.

The scratchplate is three-ply white/black/white mounted with four screws - quite different from those fitted to the Gibson EB basses. The ebony finger rest is, however, the same as those fitted to the EB0 and EB3. Although the Deluxe would not be shipped beyond 1963 (see shipping figures), the single pickup Newport would soon get a much larger scratchplate extending as far as the controls and input jack.

Early 1960s versions of Epiphone and Gibson guitars that feature a translucent cherry finish often have the yellowing on the back of the neck as seen here. This is most likely a reaction to grease and sweat from the players hands.

1960s Kalamazoo-produced Epiphones share their sequential serial numbering regime with equivalent Gibson models - five digit serial numbers relate to a period of 1961 to very early 1963 (when the number 100000 was reached), and in this case, 93739 suggests late 1962.

Epiphone bass headstock with inlaid Epiphone logo. The early sixties bass (and guitar) headstocks had a typical two per side layout, in line with Gibson models of the time - although subtly different in profile; compare this headstock with that of a similar period EB3, noting particularly the shape of the very top of the headstock. In 1964, Epiphone solid body bass headstocks changed to the better known batwing style (see example here).

The tuning keys are Kluson 538's. Note the simple arched two-ply truss rod cover, again unlike the equivalent piece on the Gibson EB basses.

The back of the headstock with Kluson 538 tuning keys. Early versions of the Newport had a quite traditional Gibson 2x2 headstock arrangement, as shown here, but in 1964, the design changed to a batwing-style with four tuners in a row. This new headstock was considerably larger, adding several inches to the overall length of the bass. Compare this with an example with the batwing headstock - 1965 Epiphone Newport.

Newport Deluxe circuitry

This is effectively a Gibson EB-3, albeit a simplified one without the varitone. The controls are the same as an SG or 335; two volume and two tone, with a three-way pickup selector switch. In this bass, the potentiometers are all Centralab brand, with markings on the sides rather than back of the pot casing. The two volume and one tone pot 500k audio taper, part CBA-811-1053, all dated week 40 of 1961 (Oct). The final 250k tone pot has part CBA-811-1831 and is slightly earlier, week 37 of 1961 (Sept).

Epiphone Newport Deluxe sound clips

Recorded directly from the bass into the computer via an M Audio mobile pre USB sound card. The bass was strung with Labella Deep-Talking flatwounds and played fingerstyle. Compare the sound of this bass to a very similar 1961 Gibson EB3.

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