Hollowbody/Semi basses

stickyfiddle · May 2023

What's the score with these? I'm well aware of the Hofner thing as a big Beatles fan, but little of any other models that have been produced over the years. I'm thinking EB-2, Hofner 500/1 & Club, Guild something-or-other?

Does anyone play one regularly?

Musicwolf · May 2023

My first bass, bought new in 1977, was a Vox semi-solid. I bought it from Dawsons in Warrington for the princely sum of £25 and it had been in their stockroom for years. I don’t know the model and I’ve no pictures of it. I’ve searched online but I’ve never found a pic that matches my memory of it.

Kristo · May 2023

I love them! I currently have 3 Guild Starfire 1's; 1 set up with Labella flats for the soul band, 1 with TI flats for the old time band, and a spare. I've had the following in the past: Hofner Club, Hofner Violin, Fender Coronado, Epiphone Rivoli, Guild Starfire II, plus a few others I can't remember right now. All have been fun, with some much heavier than others (Fender & Epiphone) for semi hollows. The thing I like about the Starfire 1's is the bridge isn't too far up the body, so they feel more compact. Some I've tried have felt massive. The Guild's are also nice and light, and the pickup is great. Well worth a try.

Creed_Clicks · May 2023

Those Guild ones look tasty! G&L make some thinline basses as well which are probably very good quality.

Funkfingers · May 2023

stickyfiddle said:

What's the score with these?

They are (usually) lighter than a solidbody bass. The frequency response is different - particularly the midrange. The amplitude envelope is a little more like a double bass. Allegedly.

String up with flatwounds and enjoy the short sustain thud.

Koa · May 2023

The Epiphone Rivoli bass I had was a thunderous thing although to be fair the pickup probably has much more impact on tone of these basses than the semi hollow nature of them. Hofner 500/1 is just right, the tone with flatwound strings is immediately recognisable although the body’s tiny in comparison!

Creed_Clicks · May 2023

Koa said:

The Epiphone Rivoli bass I had was a thunderous thing although to be fair the pickup probably has much more impact on tone of these basses than the semi hollow nature of them. Hofner 500/1 is just right, the tone with flatwound strings is immediately recognisable although the body’s tiny in comparison!

I have an Epi EB0 and have played a Rivoli and yes, quite similar in sound. There's also the Epi Allen Woody which is chambered I believe, but the Hofner probably the most recognisable... but man, it's so ugly.

Teyeplayer · May 2023

Try an Epiphone Jack Casady bass, a buddy has one and it sounds immense. You’ve already mentioned the Hofners, I’ve the classic Beatles bass which is a wonderful thing with flatwounds on.

Creed_Clicks · May 2023

Jack Casady is 34". I'd imagine it's a handful?

Jalapeno · May 2023

I've got a Yamaha BEX4 that's really easy to play.

Teyeplayer · May 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

Jack Casady is 34". I'd imagine it's a handful?

Doesn’t feel it tbh, although that’s when flipping between a precision and the hofner (which has a chunky neck despite the short scale). It felt more like a medium scale when I tried it.

Creed_Clicks · May 2023

Those Casady basses look really cool!

roberty · May 2023

Yeah I really want a Casady. No real use for it but I want one

stickyfiddle · May 2023

Thanks all. They look like a lot of fun, if not something I'd ever used as a #1 instrument. I'm headed in Seattle in a couple of weeks and have my eye on trying some stuff I can't get my hands on in the Middle East..!

UnclePsychosis · May 2023

roberty said:

Yeah I really want a Casady. No real use for it but I want one

I really want one - they look ace and sound even better - but I can't get on with the physical size. Sad face.

Teyeplayer · May 2023

roberty said:

Yeah I really want a Casady. No real use for it but I want one

Always the right answer, usually followed by ‘I’ve ordered one’.

stickyfiddle · May 2023

Teyeplayer said:

roberty said:

Yeah I really want a Casady. No real use for it but I want one

Always the right answer, usually followed by ‘I’ve ordered one’.

Lolwis. They do sound great from YouTube demos.

I also want a Rickenbacker of course. And another P bass….

Teyeplayer · May 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Teyeplayer said:

roberty said:

Yeah I really want a Casady. No real use for it but I want one

Always the right answer, usually followed by ‘I’ve ordered one’.

Lolwis. They do sound great from YouTube demos.

I also want a Rickenbacker of course. And another P bass….

I’m on a similar journey, and have found that it’s the same as the need for a strat, Tele, LP, 335, Gretsch, etc. You’ve got to catch them all as you might be missing something.

Reggaebass · May 2023

I really like the hofner verythin, especially the early ones, but the bodies are quite big, the Ibanez SRH500 is nice too

Schnozz · June 2023

I play a Peerless Smoked Bass Custom with Rotosound flatwound strings. I took lessons on a Harmony H27 as a kid.

Peerless are a South Korean Co. Est. 1970 that shadow built for Gibson and made the Jack Casady Signature and Rivoli etc.

For their 40th anniversary, they released some really nice kit under their own name and then stopped exporting.

https://i.imgur.com/Wr3x9xP.jpg
The main improvements are the tune-o-matic-esque roller bridge and a 3-piece neck, for changing between rounds and flats.

The EB pickup config should be used a lot more in my opinion, because I think the J is too weak in the P/J config. Works for any genre.

Tannin · June 2023

Seen the price of those Beetle basses? Strewth!

Funkfingers · June 2023

Tannin said:

Seen the price of those Beetle basses? Strewth!

Seen the craftsmanship that goes into the carved from solid examples? (As opposed to the steamed and pressed laminate versions.)

stickyfiddle · June 2023

You guys…

This thing is AWESOME.

I have not bought it, but I’m tempted…

Teyeplayer · June 2023

Do it!

stickyfiddle · June 2023

I’m properly tempted, honestly. The good news is I liked this one way more than the $24k P bass I also tried…

I totally get why these get hate online - if you’re only played the single pickup version then you’ll come away quite rightly complaining that it only has 2 sounds - overly plinky and an overwhelming WHOMP (I guess that’s where “mudbucker” comes from). But the twin version has some really useable sounds and an incredible vibe.

I need to get my hands on a Rickenbacker while I’m here as well. Good opportunity to play a load of stuff I can’t normally get access to

ElectricXII · June 2023

I sold one of these earlier this year. It was a lovely old thing but the fully hollow body meant that it howled with feedback at gigging volumes.

Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52947613575_54e8fdf100_b.jpg

Schnozz · June 2023

Mine is semi-acoustic but it doesn't have any f-holes, so it doesn't feed back - Worth trying some plugs out (and they're easy to make by yourself too).

Creed_Clicks · June 2023

Creed_Clicks · June 2023

Video is an Allen Woody converted into a mudbucker only bass.

Teyeplayer · June 2023

Surely just shy of a month is enough for this to be a NBD op?

Stratavarious · June 2023

Guild Starfire Shortscales are the business if you want that sound.

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