Epiphone Jack Casady bass VS. Starfire bass

[mellowgerman]

I thought it might be cool to do a comparison. Obviously there are going to be some distinct differences, but it would be interesting to see what kind of similarities pop up. Though I don't own a Starfire bass at the moment, I've had a lot of experience with them so I'll base that primarily on memory. With that said, the Casady arrives Tuesday! The anticipation is killing me! I'll post some pictures and possibly some sound clips later.

 

[dapmdave]

I thought it might be cool to do a comparison. Obviously there are going to be some distinct differences, but it would be interesting to see what kind of similarities pop up. Though I don't own a Starfire bass at the moment, I've had a lot of experience with them so I'll base that primarily on memory. With that said, the Casady arrives Tuesday! The anticipation is killing me! I'll post some pictures and possibly some sound clips later.

Looking forward to your review/comparison. I've been looking for an alternative to the nice (but so pricey) SF basses.

Dave

 

[mellowgerman]

Sort of bad news. Casady came and disappointment ensued. First off, the Guitar Center it came from must never have even plugged it in or bothered to look it over because the volume pot was almost completely shot, the input needed to be replaced, one of the tuners was messed up, the nut had become unglued, and the truss rod was almost completely stripped. Furthermore (this stuff is probably more thanks to Epiphone QC issues) the G string had the strangest resonance issues... some of the notes resonated so much that they'd instantly blow up and turn into feedback and most of the others were dead spots that would just decay instantly and turn into harmonics. The A string when played open had a weird chorus-ish sound to it. Tried adjusting the pickup height thinking that maybe the magnetic pull was causing issues and I even tried switching out the strings for a set of flats -- same deal for both A and G issues. The E and D strings sounded excellent... needless to say that doesn't cut it though.
After adjusting and playing around with it for about 45minutes I gave up on it. Got in touch with my "local" Guitar Center (1.5hrs away) and drove out there to make the return. What a nightmare.
While I was there though and the sales manager was on the phone with the other store to get the return in order, I headed to the bass room to kill some time. Took down a used Epi T-bird, just for old-times sake since I used to own one of it's big-brother-Gibsons some time ago. I was very pleasantly surprised when this little Epi played way better than the Gibson I used to own, sounded very similar, and had no hum/noise (unlike the Gibson). I had such a good time with the Tbird for that 15minute period that I decided to snag it. So completely unexpectedly I woke up Tuesday with a Casady on its way to me and by nightfall was the owner of a lovely new Tbird instead... what an emotional rollercoaster of a day! But things turned out well in the end.

 

[mellowgerman]

Long story short, based on my Casady bass experience, I would NOT recommend this bass. But I give it the benefit of the doubt that maybe I just got a lemon... try before you buy or buy with a trial period

 

[twocorgis]

Glad it all turned out well Ingo, but that's why I'm wary of Epis. Even a broader range of good to bad than their Gibson Brothers.

That being said, there's a Gibson J45 at my local GC that's an absolutely incredible guitar, better even than my Songwriter Deluxe. On of those one in a hundred or so Gibson acoustics.

Shame it's $2300+

 

[hieronymous]

Bummer about the Jack Casady. I've got an Allen Woody bass that's pretty good - it's my wife's actually. I tried a couple of Epi Thunderbirds and was impressed with one and completely unimpressed with the other - definitely a case of play before you buy! Glad things turned out OK in the end!

 

[dapmdave]

Sorry to hear things didn't work out, but glad to have that knowledge.

Dave

 

[mellowgerman]

Just got back from a 4hr jam with some amazing musicians and I've got to say, there's a VERY good chance this thunderbird bass just became my new #1. And oh yeah, I should probably mention... well, you guys know how I have a hard time keeping instruments stock when there's a chance at some tone experimentation... well... presenting, THE MELLOBIRD! :mrgreen:

 

[mikko]

Shame about Casady bass but this new Thun...eh, Mellobird is very nice too. Everytime I hear Martin Turner playing his Thunderbird on Wishbone Ash album "Argus", I want to buy one for myself immediately. Looks good, sounds amazing.
I had similar experience with Rickenbacker earlier this year. My old 4003 is great and I bought another one because I liked it so much. I bought a brand new 2010 model 4003 and it was a big disappointment with rattling saddles and a bad neck. Finally I sent it back (old 4003 still is great). My point is, it can happen with more expensive instruments too so let´s not judge all Casady basses after this particular one. But absolutely you should try one before buying if quality varies so much.
BTW Mello, did you have similar experience with another Epi bass in the past? Or do I remember wrong?

 

[fronobulax]

stories like this make me glad my g.a.s. is under control. however i was looking forward to the comparison. after all, the "designer" thought it was an improvement.

 

[jte]

Everytime I hear Martin Turner playing his Thunderbird on Wishbone Ash album "Argus", I want to buy one for myself immediately. Looks good, sounds amazing.

I've never liked T-Birds due to their awful ergonomics, but hearing "Live Dates" makes me want to have one anyway!!!

John

 

[mgod]

Sounds like you got a particularly bad Casady - every one I've played has confirmed my thought that its the best off the shelf bass out there, at least for under $2k.

 

[fronobulax]

Sounds like you got a particularly bad Casady - every one I've played has confirmed my thought that its the best off the shelf bass out there, at least for under $2k.

So, you have $2K and no access to your stable. Do you buy a vintage Starfire or a JC Signature and why? :wink: (That might actually get this back to the topic).

 

[mikko]

How much new Casady bass cost in US? It´s about EUR 600 here (~USD 870) without case. If you want it with OHSC, it´s EUR 98 more (-> total little bit over USD 1000). Starfires are practically impossible to find so only choice is to buy on-line. Practically that means you have to pay at least EUR 2500 (~USD 3600) for a genuine Starfire (instrument itself + shipping + tax if it comes outside of EU). Same goes with DeArmond except the total is about the same with a new Casady bass.
Casady bass still sounds a good alternative for a Starfire to me. It´s much cheaper, much easier to get and excluding Mello´s unlucky case I have heard only good things about it.

 

[mgod]

Sounds like you got a particularly bad Casady - every one I've played has confirmed my thought that its the best off the shelf bass out there, at least for under $2k.

So, you have $2K and no access to your stable. Do you buy a vintage Starfire or a JC Signature and why? :wink: (That might actually get this back to the topic).

I try the Starfire, not expecting to love it, and be completely prepared to get a JCB, have it set up right and use it.

I still like old wood and those pickups best. Henry Kaiser got a black JCB and had a pair of Dark Stars wired in with a separate harness so he can choose. Haven't played it yet but I bet its pretty awesome.

 

[PeteyBass]

An excellent question.

I have owned two Casady's and numerous Starfires (I'm down to two, a 66 & 67). To start, the Casady's are gone. Both epi's had neck problems that with patients and help from one of the best neck guys I know, we did get them to play clean and true. Both required using a neck press and the guys who bought them from me are lucky I was so fussy. My sunburst had a weird twist around the 10 fret and the gold one was bowed on the G string side and not the E. I believe the basses are built with wood that's just not that dry causing them to have notoriously crabby necks.

As for the sound, I think they are amazing. Different from a Guild, but impressive just the same and in the studio they are a killer, killer choice. I see no reason to mod the pickup in the JC. Even as DS obsessed as I am.

The reason mine are gone is because of the SIZE of the neck. I’m fine with the long scale, in fact I prefer them (Jazz size), but the wide Precision nut plus, the chunky depth is just too much for me while I'm gigging. The basses kill my hands. If they were cut to the size of a Jazz Bass I would still own one and play it regularly. I've even considered getting a beater and shaving it down.

They often need TLC, and you should figure it into the cost, but if you have a good neck guy and big hands…they are an outstanding bass. Clearly Mr. Casady has both (no disrespect indented).

Petey (now in Alaska)

 

[mgod]

I can see how someone would have a struggle with the neck if they really prefer a Guild neck. I guess all things being equal so do I, but I play a mess of different scale lengths and neck sizes and body constructions and I just play them as they lay, i.e, I do what feels right on a small easy neck and a big clunky one. I let the bass tell me what to do. But I know my approach doesn't work for a lot of folks.

 

[bklynbass]

works for me.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Wishbone Ash! One of my top favorites, both live and on record.

This is how memorable they are. About twenty years after seeing them live in San Francisco, I was in a music store in Phoenix and saw a guy who looked familiar and said, "You look like a guy who was in Wishbone Ash." He said, "I am a guy who was in Wishbone Ash." It was Ted Turner.

I ran into him again in Phoenix at a guitar show, and he was buying a lap steel. That night I saw him playing it and a photo-flame strat in a small club with the best blues guitarist in Arizona, Chuck Hall, who is also one of my all-time favorites. And that show was just astonishing.

A while later he was giving lap steel lessons, but I couldn't sign up because I was working about 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at the time.

 

[dasFuuf]

I recently purchased the Casady bass and I have to say that I am loving it. I purchased mine "in person" from Sweetwater and checked it out before bringing it back home. I normally play a Jazz bass or my Rick 4001C64S in my band, but last practice I was using the Casady. I think that it will see regular rotation. I don't have a SF so I can't comment on the differences.