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Great Hollowbody Basses?

don21480

don21480

Mar 17, 2006
1,577
1,210
NC
#1
Hi guys - I'm looking for a great hollowbody bass. Something with 4 strings and a great vintage vibe. I'm in a twang rock band so I need something with a rootsy tone. Probably short scale. I've tried the Jerry Jones longhorn and the ergonomics were too weird for me. I've tried a Jerry Jones shorthorn and it was pretty cool. I love the big body F hole basses and have thought about a Jack Casady or an old Harmony or a Framus. Anybody have experience with any of these or any other suggestions?
 
#3
I tried one of those early on and was unimpressed by the tone. I also had an Eastwood Club bass - I love the look of that bass too but the tone was unimpressive as well. I might add I'm a pick player so that does have an impact on the tone.
 
#8
If you have a chance checkout a Lakeland Hollowbody (Skyline model for the budget minded). String it up with some flats and it's a great tone machine and very comfortable, though it is standard 34" scale.

I've had a Korean Skyline with Barts for several years and it's been a great companion.
 
#10
Yamaha BEX, acoustic tone with solidbody sustain, you can mute it up and get it tubby if you like, thats why I always look for lively sounding basses as they can be muted down, flat sounding basses with limited sustain are always going to sound flat and tubby no matter how much treble you add, I've found the BEX really cool, lot's of comments on sound, the 3 band e.q. on it is also voiced really well, good output level, nice :smug:

And the best actions I've played for a fixed bridge instrument, I have 2 made 4 years apart, the action on both is very playable, lovely and low virtually the same height as I set my solid electrics.
 
#11
DrPieZon said:
If you have a chance checkout a Lakeland Hollowbody (Skyline model for the budget minded). String it up with some flats and it's a great tone machine and very comfortable, though it is standard 34" scale.

I've had a Korean Skyline with Barts for several years and it's been a great companion.
Click to expand...

I agree with this statement 100%.

At a NYC GTG a few years ago, Dan Lakin brought a Hollowbody Skyline, and I could not stop playing this thing!

Imagine a warm, deep, EB-O type sound on the neck pickup, and an almost P-bass sound on the bridge pup. So nice. :)

Here are some sound clips:
Invalid Link Removed

For the EB-O sound, try: Neck pickup/Motown/Flats
For the P-bass sound, try: Bridge pickup/Fingerfunk/Flats

And as much as I love the Lakland, I am also a devoted disciple of the Jack Bass! :hyper:

This bass will give you a real vintage-like tone, as well as an almost upright-like, acoustic tone, due to the 3 position tone switch.
I've had mine almost 10 years and still love it. Here she is.
_IGP1388-1.jpg


You can't go wrong with either bass.

Both basses are 34" scale, and I would recommend flatwound strings for a vintage tone.

Good luck.

Mike
 
#13
Michael Jewels said:
I agree with this statement 100%.

At a NYC GTG a few years ago, Dan Lakin brought a Hollowbody Skyline, and I could not stop playing this thing!

Imagine a warm, deep, EB-O type sound on the neck pickup, and an almost P-bass sound on the bridge pup. So nice. :)

And as much as I love the Lakland, I am also a devoted disciple of the Jack Bass! :hyper:

You can't go wrong with either bass.
Click to expand...

I concur, having owned both and using them for roots-rock americana twang-core. I LOVED my Lakland Skyline Hollowbody and the only reason I sold it is that its 10lb weight was contributing to an issue in my shoulder. Otherwise, it is my favourite bass of all time. If I could find one that is under 9lbs, I'd be in hog heaven.

The soundclips on our myspace page are all done with my Lakland Hollowbody:Link Removed
 
#16
I know a bass player who plays in a couple rock bands and uses a Washburn (I believe it's an AB90) exclusively. He always plays with a pick and gets a great tone out of it on various different kinds of songs. I've never played one, so I don't have personal experience, but he loves them and they sound great.
 
#20
chunkstyle said:
another vote for the Lakland Hollowbody. if you can find a skyline with Dark Stars, buy it and don't look back.
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Big +1 here, I love mine. But I can also heartily recommend a Lakland HB with Chi-sonics. I've never tried one with Barts, but the reviews are great.
 

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