Product Review in Worship Magazine
Sept/Oct 2003
Volume 1, Issue 1
page 7
Please note that the EP4 (4-string) and the EP5 are also available fretless, left-handed and with gold hardware.

U.S. Masters EP5 Bass
written by Stefan Konstantopoulos

Recently I was reminded that it doesn't take a bass player to understand that the defining element of a 5-string bass is the character of the low B string. As players discover that most budget 5-string basses employ an inarticulate low B and that even some boutique basses amount to mere eye-candy, viable options appear scarce. However, the disheartened player is encouraged to read on.

U.S. Masters Guitar Works has been striving to build quality instruments in their Wisconsin shop for the better part of ten years. The two brothers that founded the company have worked hard for the recognition and respect they now enjoy. While a majority of their products carry four figure price tags, the new EP4 and EP5 basses are causing a surge of price-conscious players to take notice.

The EP5 (5-string) caught my attention, so I read up on it. I found it hard to believe that a company could offer a respectable bass for less than $1,000. Thus a review was born. I called the company and spoke to one of the founders, Dave Regenberg, who confidently addressed my remaining questions and agreed to send me an EP5.

Right out of the box the craftsmanship commanded my attention. Just about every other bass in this price range is mass-produced in Korea, Mexico, or Japan. I don't have anything against those countries, of course, but seeing a freshly made EP5 reminded me that U.S. made basses consistently set the standard for quality.

The beautiful woods, hand-rubbed oil finish, and precision fretwork of the EP5 are like that of basses priced two to three times higher. Furthermore, when you consider that standard features include a graphite-reinforced neck with truss rod, Sperzel locking tuners, a custom Kent Armstrong split-coil pickup, an EMG 3 band (boost and cut) preamp, and La Bella strings, this bass is clearly a bargain.

The U.S. Masters patented neck joint is very effective in mechanically coupling the neck to the body and allowing easy access to the highest frets. The headstock positioning further adds to the stability of the neck. Not only is the neck quite rigid, the whole bass has an unusually solid feel.

Inside the control cavity I found the 9V battery wrapped in a small sheet of foam, which is a common way to prevent batteries from rattling around. I noted that the layout on the inside of the cavity was orderly. The copper shielding offers a coverage area of about 90%, while the pickup, wiring, pots, and preamp are each fully shielded.

After playing the bass I noted that both the neck and body shape are extremely comfortable. In fact, the neck is one of the best I've ever played. More could be said, however, you may want to see for yourself. I also noticed that the bass is not nearly as heavy as I imagined it would be, so I found it easy to play for extended periods.

I spent more than a few days practicing familiar material on the EP5. It's very playable, versatile, and has good intonation. Further, when they say that it "plays in tune and stays in tune", they mean it. The tuning would hold quite well over time. This is attributable to the overall stability of the neck and the locking tuners.

The EP5 was compared to three comparably priced 5-string basses, each from a different manufacturer. Not only did the craftsmanship of the EP5 make the other basses look cheap, the B string on the EP5 outperformed those on the other basses. To put this into perspective I also compared the $699 EP5 to a $2,200 5-string from yet another manufacturer. Although it's not exactly a fair comparison, the EP5 held its own.

To summarize, the U.S. Masters EP5 is a very well built, good sounding, and attractive bass. It's made entirely in the U.S. with high quality materials throughout. The EP5 is also very comfortable to play. The built in 3-band EQ makes it quite versatile for most any playing style. Best of all, U.S. Masters offers outstanding customer support. If you are looking for a quality 5-string bass on a budget, the EP5 is the right choice.

Visit www.usmasters.com for specs, a list of dealers, and ordering information.

Brought to you by an unbiased voice of reason in a world of sub-standard distractions.
Contact: stefan@spiritone.com

Contact:
U.S. Masters Guitar Works
2324 Pinehurst Dr. Unit B
Middleton, WI 53562 USA
Ph (608) 836-5505
Toll Free Sales (877) 716-0000
e-mail: sales@usmasters.com

Worship Magazine
4441 South Meridian #275 Puyallup, WA 98373 ph 253.445.1973 www.worshipmagazine.com