Cheap Hollowbody Basses?

[Guitalia]

Danelectro !

Yep. If you want to hear how much a semihollow bass built with a pine frame and Masonite top and back can sound like an upright, here's Joey Spampinato of NRBQ with his faithful Danelectro, on stage with Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, etc.---

 

[Guitalia]

By the way, I've found that it's much, much easier to get a faux-upright thump with a short-scale than with a long-scale bass.

 

[John Stephen]

By the way, I've found that it's much, much easier to get a faux-upright thump with a short-scale than with a long-scale bass.

Same here.

 

[GwenOnBass]

By the way, I've found that it's much, much easier to get a faux-upright thump with a short-scale than with a long-scale bass.

Tapes and palm muting.

 

[CryingBass]

Not in our budget, and Bassicaly unavailable, but this.

 

[Ostie]

Look for a used Epiphone Jack Casady.

 

[CallMeAl]

Look at the Ibanez Artcore. I just got one of the guitars and it SLAYS!

A used one would be in budget
Ibanez Artcore AFB200 Hollowbody Bass Guitar - Transparent Black Sunburst

 

[JohnnyBottom]

or wait for one of these to show up close to your price....heres 1...
https://reverb.com/item/33625745-ep...-casady-signature-semi-hollow-bass-2010s-gold

 

[jd56hawk]

I'd have to go with the Harley Benton, if only because the others are so far off the radar.
However it's definitely better to buy something that has a track history.
Now, I'd buy either one of these in a heartbeat before even considering the basses listed above.

Yes, both short-scale basses, Guild Starfire and Ibanez Artcore, but we're talking much better basses, so...
Sure, you might find a used full-scale bass, there are several $800 to $1,000 ones I can think of, but do you want to buy something now or wait until April or May hoping for one.

 

[Londo Molari]

I enjoy playing one of these every time I pick it up.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I wouldn’t be so quick to write off short scale options. I think if you played a few, you’d find that hollow/semi hollow body basses are best suited for short scale. The large body makes it so that the bass hangs further towards the fretting hand than a FSO, such that a short scale feels closer to a medium scale in how far out you need to reach your fretting hand. A full scale will feel more like an extended scale. Additionally, the classic hollowbody tone is partly derived from the shorter scale length emphasizing the fundamental.

 

[jd56hawk]

View attachment 4534873I enjoy playing one of these every time I pick it up.

My current favorite, and I have two G&L L2000s and a Reverend Thundergun.
Hard to put this one down!

 

[John Stephen]

@jd56hawk, what type of bass is that? I can't make out the logo on the headstock.

 

[jd56hawk]

@jd56hawk, what type of bass is that? I can't make out the logo on the headstock.

Italia Imola.

 

[John Stephen]

Thanks. Very nice looking.

 

[N4860]

I know you said you don't like shortscales but it does seem that a lot of the hollow and semi-hollow body basses are short scale. Not sure why. My only experience is with an Epiphone Allen Woody signature which again is a shortscale but if plays pretty well and has that thumpy sound you are likely looking for. I got mine pretty cheap. I'm not sure what the going rate is but I got mine locally for $350 CDN (~$275 USD).

 

[brandau]

Danelectro !

Love my Danelectro. Inexpensive and super underrated basses. It’s full scale, lightweight, looks and sounds great. I’ve played many gigs and recording sessions with it. With old flats and the tone rolled off it gets plenty thumpy. And open the tone and it’s got some slice.
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[jd56hawk]

Thanks. Very nice looking.

Thank you!
Very nice tone, especially with the GHS black tapewounds.
Everything the OP wants, including the ability to thump with the best of them.
I would've recommended it, but they're $899 new.
(I bought mine for $425, but I was very lucky. )

 

[andare]

Eastwood Classic 4 is the one of the options. But, it's not cheap.

Thomann sells the same exact bass for much less under its Harley Benton brand.

 

[J_Bass]

Thomann sells the same exact bass for much less under its Harley Benton brand.

It is the same bass, isn't it??

It sure looks like it is!