Are Hollow Body's Any Good?!!

I've been using a Dean Stylist periodically for the past 1/2 year or so. I've definitely had feedback issues with it, and I don't play in a loud band at all (classic rock trio). The feedback is controllable if you can find the troublesome frequency(s) that is causing the problem, just drop out that band and it'll help.

I do a lot of palm muting which also helps. But yeah, feedback on F-hole hollowbodies is always an issue ....

This bass ....

 

Feed back really all depends on the depth of the body. A more traditional hollow body will tend to howl more than a thinner bodied model. I play a Cardboard box bass during our performances and that this is very hollow and resonant! I have to be very careful with it. I also have a Carvin AC50 that doesn't feed back at all. I think it's a touch thicker than a Fender body and looks just like an acoustic guitar. It's not loud unplugged, but it sounds great through an amp.

 

I've never had any "unwanted" feedback with my hollowbody basses.

 

Hollowbody bass aren't just good, they're GREAT! They are full of rich, deep, full, old school tone which is my favorite. Everyone should have at least one HB at their disposal.

 

Here's a list of my hollowbodies:

Gibson EB-2
Epiphone Rivoli
Ibanez Artcore
Jerry Jones Longhorn
Jerry Jones Longhorn Bass VI
Hofner Beatle
Phantom Teardrop Hollow

 

I love both of mine. Hofner 5000/1 and Jay Turser Beatle bass knockoff.

 

You can have feedback issues depending on the amp and the pickups, but you can also insert some polyfill material into the body through the F-holes to mitigate the problem. I really like the sound of hollowbodies.