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Cheap Hollowbody Basses?

Astre

Astre

Nov 20, 2021
88
69
Boston
#1
I'm looking for a pretty cheap (>$500) semi-hollow or hollow body bass. So far I've found four that seem cheap and pretty okay but I know next to nothing about these basses or their manufacturers.

Invalid Link Removed This is some hollow bass that looks pretty nice with inlays ... my only real reservation is its single humbucker. I have also not been able to find any reviews.

Invalid Link Removed Here is another one from the same brand that seems a little bit nicer... I love the flaming finish on it and it also has a rosewood fretboard. Other than that it seems to be exactly the same as the one above. The inlays are also great.

Invalid Link Removed Here's an inhouse branded one that is much cheaper and I would not consider if it weren't for three things: It's much cheaper, it has two pickups instead of one - suggesting more versatility, and I think its body contour is slightly more appealing and reminds me of the old Gibson EB line. The neck & headstock seem to be of a significantly lower quality, though, and the pickups are unbranded.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_hb_60_wb.htm Harley Benton is supposed to be a pretty good budget brand, and I like its pickups, finish, and body shape. The inlays are okay, although they're pretty out there. My biggest problems are that it is a short scale, which is not ideal, and it is only available from Thomann, which has around $100 shipping to the US. That being said, with shipping, this bass would cost around the same as one of the Greg Bennett ones.

So, what do you guys think? Should I go for one of the Greg Bennetts, the Generic bass, or the Harley Benton? Are there any other basses I should look for? Thanks.
 
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#4
Astre said:
I'm looking for a pretty cheap (>$500) semi-hollow or hollow body bass. So far I've found four that seem cheap and pretty okay but I know next to nothing about these basses or their manufacturers.

Invalid Link Removed This is some hollow bass that looks pretty nice with inlays ... my only real reservation is its single humbucker. I have also not been able to find any reviews.

Invalid Link Removed Here is another one from the same brand that seems a little bit nicer... I love the flaming finish on it and it also has a rosewood fretboard. Other than that it seems to be exactly the same as the one above. The inlays are also great.

Invalid Link Removed Here's an inhouse branded one that is much cheaper and I would not consider if it weren't for three things: It's much cheaper, it has two pickups instead of one - suggesting more versatility, and I think its body contour is slightly more appealing and reminds me of the old Gibson EB line. The neck & headstock seem to be of a significantly lower quality, though, and the pickups are unbranded.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_hb_60_wb.htm Harley Benton is supposed to be a pretty good budget brand, and I like its pickups, finish, and body shape. The inlays are okay, although they're pretty out there. My biggest problems are that it is a short scale, which is not ideal, and it is only available from Thomann, which has around $100 shipping to the US. That being said, with shipping, this bass would cost around the same as one of the Greg Bennett ones.

So, what do you guys think? Should I go for one of the Greg Bennetts, the Generic bass, or the Harley Benton? Are there any other basses I should look for? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Used Ibanez
ABG 140
ABG 200
ABG 205 (5 String)
AFB 200
ASB 180
ASB 200

All SS except 140 and 180
 
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#6
i love the look of hollow-body bass instruments --- and know nothing/little about them.
- i assume that most are of the lighter-weight variety --- true?
- neck dive issues?
- do all of them have neck/fingerboard binding? asking for a friend who'd have to defret it.


i hope you get the hollow-body ax that serves you well, @Astre --- i'm with you that two pickups are better than one.

what are you going for (besides looks), i.e., what kind of music would you likely be playing? any/all?
 
#7
Astre said:
I'm looking for a pretty cheap (>$500) semi-hollow or hollow body bass. So far I've found four that seem cheap and pretty okay but I know next to nothing about these basses or their manufacturers.

Invalid Link Removed This is some hollow bass that looks pretty nice with inlays ... my only real reservation is its single humbucker. I have also not been able to find any reviews.

Invalid Link Removed Here is another one from the same brand that seems a little bit nicer... I love the flaming finish on it and it also has a rosewood fretboard. Other than that it seems to be exactly the same as the one above. The inlays are also great.

Invalid Link Removed Here's an inhouse branded one that is much cheaper and I would not consider if it weren't for three things: It's much cheaper, it has two pickups instead of one - suggesting more versatility, and I think its body contour is slightly more appealing and reminds me of the old Gibson EB line. The neck & headstock seem to be of a significantly lower quality, though, and the pickups are unbranded.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_hb_60_wb.htm Harley Benton is supposed to be a pretty good budget brand, and I like its pickups, finish, and body shape. The inlays are okay, although they're pretty out there. My biggest problems are that it is a short scale, which is not ideal, and it is only available from Thomann, which has around $100 shipping to the US. That being said, with shipping, this bass would cost around the same as one of the Greg Bennett ones.

So, what do you guys think? Should I go for one of the Greg Bennetts, the Generic bass, or the Harley Benton? Are there any other basses I should look for? Thanks.
Click to expand...
I’ve been eyeing that Samick GB Royale RLB-4 myself.
Plus it’s active which you don’t see often.
 
#8
JRA said:
i love the look of hollow-body bass instruments --- and know nothing/little about them.
- i assume that most are of the lighter-weight variety --- true?
- neck dive issues?
- do all of them have neck/fingerboard binding? asking for a friend who'd have to defret it.


i hope you get the hollow-body ax that serves you well, @Astre --- i'm with you that two pickups are better than one.

what are you going for (besides looks), i.e., what kind of music would you likely be playing? any/all?
Click to expand...

Semi-hollow basses are definitely lighter, and I have heard of neck diving. I don't think all of them have binding around the fingerboard, but the style of them definitely promotes binding.

The real reason I'm searching for a hollow body is because of that characteristic thump sound, almost like an acoustic double bass - which I used to play. I'm part of a jazz group and would love a nice deep, warm, thumpy bass to play there... right now I'm playing an Ibanez SR500 and while it's certainly great, I crave the sound of a hollow bass.
 
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#10
Astre said:
Right, thanks. I'm not that interested in ABGs, and AFBs and ASBs are short scale, but I found what looks to be a pretty decent ASB 180 on reverb. Thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...
AGB 140 and ASB 180 are LS
The AFB 200 is SS and the only one of these that is Hollow Body. The rest are Semi-Hollow.

I own an AGB 140, 200 & 205 as well as the AFB 200

I always wanted to try both ASB models as they’re more Gibson looking. ASB’s seem hard to find.

I just picked up a NOS Dillion Super Nova SS that is sweet.

MY DILLION SUPER NOVA
 
Last edited:
#12
Astre said:
I'm looking for a pretty cheap (>$500) semi-hollow or hollow body bass. So far I've found four that seem cheap and pretty okay but I know next to nothing about these basses or their manufacturers.

The Official Short Scale Bass Club -- Part 4 This is some hollow bass that looks pretty nice with inlays ... my only real reservation is its single humbucker. I have also not been able to find any reviews.

The Official Short Scale Bass Club -- Part 4 Here is another one from the same brand that seems a little bit nicer... I love the flaming finish on it and it also has a rosewood fretboard. Other than that it seems to be exactly the same as the one above. The inlays are also great.

Invalid Link Removed Here's an inhouse branded one that is much cheaper and I would not consider if it weren't for three things: It's much cheaper, it has two pickups instead of one - suggesting more versatility, and I think its body contour is slightly more appealing and reminds me of the old Gibson EB line. The neck & headstock seem to be of a significantly lower quality, though, and the pickups are unbranded.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_hb_60_wb.htm Harley Benton is supposed to be a pretty good budget brand, and I like its pickups, finish, and body shape. The inlays are okay, although they're pretty out there. My biggest problems are that it is a short scale, which is not ideal, and it is only available from Thomann, which has around $100 shipping to the US. That being said, with shipping, this bass would cost around the same as one of the Greg Bennett ones.

So, what do you guys think? Should I go for one of the Greg Bennetts, the Generic bass, or the Harley Benton? Are there any other basses I should look for? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Might get more responses if you stop in here. Invalid Link Removed
 
#13
Astre said:
I'm looking for a pretty cheap (>$500) semi-hollow or hollow body bass. So far I've found four that seem cheap and pretty okay but I know next to nothing about these basses or their manufacturers.

Invalid Link Removed This is some hollow bass that looks pretty nice with inlays ... my only real reservation is its single humbucker. I have also not been able to find any reviews.

Invalid Link Removed Here is another one from the same brand that seems a little bit nicer... I love the flaming finish on it and it also has a rosewood fretboard. Other than that it seems to be exactly the same as the one above. The inlays are also great.

Invalid Link Removed Here's an inhouse branded one that is much cheaper and I would not consider if it weren't for three things: It's much cheaper, it has two pickups instead of one - suggesting more versatility, and I think its body contour is slightly more appealing and reminds me of the old Gibson EB line. The neck & headstock seem to be of a significantly lower quality, though, and the pickups are unbranded.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_hb_60_wb.htm Harley Benton is supposed to be a pretty good budget brand, and I like its pickups, finish, and body shape. The inlays are okay, although they're pretty out there. My biggest problems are that it is a short scale, which is not ideal, and it is only available from Thomann, which has around $100 shipping to the US. That being said, with shipping, this bass would cost around the same as one of the Greg Bennett ones.

So, what do you guys think? Should I go for one of the Greg Bennetts, the Generic bass, or the Harley Benton? Are there any other basses I should look for? Thanks.
Click to expand...
If you can do your own setup or are willing to learn via Dummies books or utube. Try a Rogue violin bass, about a hundred bucks but add in the price of decent strings. I bought one years ago for a wall hanger but it became my go to for my church gig until COVID shut us down
 
#15
Astre said:
I'm looking for a pretty cheap (>$500) semi-hollow or hollow body bass. So far I've found four that seem cheap and pretty okay but I know next to nothing about these basses or their manufacturers.

Invalid Link Removed This is some hollow bass that looks pretty nice with inlays ... my only real reservation is its single humbucker. I have also not been able to find any reviews.

Invalid Link Removed Here is another one from the same brand that seems a little bit nicer... I love the flaming finish on it and it also has a rosewood fretboard. Other than that it seems to be exactly the same as the one above. The inlays are also great.

Invalid Link Removed Here's an inhouse branded one that is much cheaper and I would not consider if it weren't for three things: It's much cheaper, it has two pickups instead of one - suggesting more versatility, and I think its body contour is slightly more appealing and reminds me of the old Gibson EB line. The neck & headstock seem to be of a significantly lower quality, though, and the pickups are unbranded.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_hb_60_wb.htm Harley Benton is supposed to be a pretty good budget brand, and I like its pickups, finish, and body shape. The inlays are okay, although they're pretty out there. My biggest problems are that it is a short scale, which is not ideal, and it is only available from Thomann, which has around $100 shipping to the US. That being said, with shipping, this bass would cost around the same as one of the Greg Bennett ones.

So, what do you guys think? Should I go for one of the Greg Bennetts, the Generic bass, or the Harley Benton? Are there any other basses I should look for? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Schecter makes a nice one, but it’s around $1,000
 
#18
Astre said:
Quick question: Do you believe that a rosewood fingerboard would be significantly better than a walnut one? It seems to be the only difference between the two GBs other than the finish.
Click to expand...
This was taken from a different forum:
‘rosewood has a hardness in the 1200's
walnut has a hardness in the 900-1000's’
 

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