Epiphone Masterbilt Century De Luxe 4-String Acoustic/Electric Bass Review

Beauty beyond comparison, that’s what makes up the Epiphone Masterbilt Century De Luxe 4-String Acoustic/Electric Bass.

From the striking classic 1930’s era look, to the bountiful array of sound and tone, this is one of the top acoustic/electric basses that I have had the opportunity to play on gigs. While the Epiphone Masterbilt Century De Luxe is fit for many gigs from jazz, to country, and rock, it may not quite be what you are looking for if you are in a djent metal band… unless you may be doing an acoustic djent metal gig.

The Epiphone that I used for the review had the beautiful vintage sunburst aged gloss finish. The way the finish was on the back of the neck is particularly striking, giving it that true vintage look and feel. The finish on the body is just as beautiful and I can almost guarantee that just because of looks, this bass will be a conversation piece based on looks alone.

Then comes the sound and tone…

The Epiphone Masterbilt Century De Luxe Bass produces just the sound and tone that an acoustic/electric bass should provide. It gives a full-bodied warmth and I believe that is contributed to the choice of tonal woods, complimented with 2 F holes in the top, as opposed to most of the acoustic/electric basses having just the standard sound hole similar to acoustic guitars. A few years back, I had a house gig at a prominent club in Nashville, and this would have been the perfect bass for that gig, fitting the looks and the sound.

The specifications…

These include an aged gloss finish, top wood of Solid Spruce with longitudinal bracing, and the rest of the body being laminated flame maple. The rounded C shaped 5-piece laminated neck consists of hard maple and mahogany and is topped off with a 20 fret ebony fingerboard with a dual action truss rod for any necessary adjustments. The pickup is a Shadow NanoFlex HD paired with an eSonic High definition preamp powered by a 9-volt battery.

The sound and tone that the pickup and preamp produce are natural from the bass, giving it even more appeal.

The controls are master volume and EQ, with the controls residing right inside the lower F hole. The Ebonoid bridge is adjustable and the tailpiece is inspired by the bass trapeze. The strings are D’Addario ETB92M Tape Wound Acoustic Bass Strings.

The Epiphone Masterbilt Century De Luxe 4-String Acoustic/Electric Bass is available in two finishes, vintage sunburst or vintage natural. An optional hard case is available and the bass comes with the Epiphone Limited Lifetime warranty.

Be sure to check out the Epiphone Masterbilt Century De Luxe 4-String Acoustic/Electric Bass online or at a fine music retailer near you!