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Hollowbody shopping

Budro00

Budro00

Jun 18, 2008
68
6
Nashville, TN
www.matthewheathharper.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: barefaced bass cabs, Creation Audio Labs. Artist Relationship: Alclair Audio IEMs, Sandberg Basses.
#1
Hey Justin! Me again.
Well, I apparently missed your gear sell off. Which sucks, because you might have made my next purchase a bit easier. I want a hollowbody, but I'm having trouble tracking some down. Could you point me in a good direction? Something I can pick up for under $1000 and is just a well made instrument. New or old doesn't really matter to me.

Thanks for your input!
 
#2
I've been really wanting to get a hollow body soon too, so I too am curious of JMJ's opinion.

I've been eying up an Italia Torino bass for a while. Some other cool ones sub-$1,000 that I've played and considered buying are the Epiphone Jack Bruce signature, and I just played a Hagström Viking bass that was really comfy. Some guys in this forum are negative about the Hag's build quality, but at for the one I played, the knobs were no more or less solid than anything else I've seen mounted to something hollow.

A friend has a Lakland hollow body that is pretty nice, and even though that guy was more than $1,000, there is a Skyline model of it. I've never played one yet, but I can't imagine it isn't nice. Other Skyline models are pretty classy.
 
#3
Go vintage, you guys. Seriously. Don't even consider a new instrument.

Vox Cougar, Eko, the occasional Starfire, Framus Star, Univox, the occasional Hofner, those rad Yamaha '60's and '70's hollow basses, etc. and many more all can be had for under $1k. Only once have I met a newly made hollowbody bass that did anything cool. And that is my '99 Starfire reissue, which did take a few years to get remotely good.

Best,
J
 
#4
FWIW, I really dig my Epiphone Jack Casady. It's a good instrument for a $700 or so price tag, but I have to wonder what having more than a single pickup would offer tonally.

I've seen some interesting demos online of the Warwick Star Bass hollowbody, but I've never seen one in person. I'm going to try checking out the Warwick custom shop in NYC some time soon so that I can try one out. I've also tried out the Lakland Skyline Hollowbody and that was kind of cool too.
 
#6
You probably won't get a Gibson EB2, or Guild Starfire for under $1000 - well you might, but you'd be very lucky indeed. And it would most likely have issues.

You probably want a two pickup one?

I absolutely love my Invalid Link Removed

it's a 1967 - these dont come up too often, but when they do tend to go for $700-$800, or more for the ones with gold hardware.

Such a great bass, really playable, nice and light but with great tone. Mine is one of my main players -one of the few that i'd definately replaceif it got lost.
 
#7
The Hagström Viking that I played at a shop is essentially a reissue of the Concord as I'm told. (Why they changed the name, I don't know.) The headstock is the main thing that is different.

I didn't have the money to buy it, but if I did I would have strongly considered doing so. Everyone has their own opinions I guess, but I was liking it.
 
#9
ShoeManiac said:
I should probably qualify the above statement. I forgot about the time I played a vintage Gibson EB-2 that had a bridge pickup in addition to the big humbucker. OMG, that bass sounded HUGE!
Click to expand...
I have a feeling that's why Justin said to go vintage ;)

I would like to believe that you can find new hollowbodies that are just as good as vintage, but while I have run across hollowbodies that I thought I liked, when I found that late 60's Realistic violin bass last year and got it fixed up, it was all over for my Jay Turser violin bass, which I had liked up till that point ;) And any new hollowbodies I've played just don't compare sonically to that Realistic, even though it was cheaply made in Japan by Matsumoku.

Still, I'd like to think that someone can do a new hollowbody that's good. I keep hearing good things about Fritz Bros. They do custom hollowbodies and imported Kay reissues. Never got to try any of them, though.
 
#16
hangman said:
Try looking also for an old Harmony H22 (or H27). Great little basses with a huge sound.
Click to expand...

yes a big +1 there - especially for the H22. I had both at one stage, but sold them. Seriously regret selling the H22 , but the more expensive H27 didn't move me as much. Still nice but even with the extra pickup i'd still choose the H22.

They have poor quality tuners though - i'd happily get a non stock one (with upgraded tuners) as a players bass.
 
#17
With all due respect to Justin, I wouldn't rule out some of the newer offerings. A lot of issues that vintage basses suffered have been corrected with modern manufacturing techniques. Sure, old stuff has more cool factor and vibe, and aged wood does sound sweeter of course but prices these days can get pretty ridiculous.

I recently checked out the Harmony H22 RI bass and thought it wasn't bad. Maybe too much glossy finish on it, but the tuner upgrade was a definite improvement. I've owned a couple originals so was interested in them but haven't A/B'd them with a 60's one. Early models were Korean-made but I think newer ones are Chinese.

IMO, the Lakland Skyline HB is a terrific bang for the buck. I found them to be pretty close to the US models in feel and tone and for roughly 1/3 the cost are a great value. Full scale, dead quiet and they're feedback resistant as well.

Happy hunting.
 
#18
Fly Guitars said:
yes a big +1 there - especially for the H22. I had both at one stage, but sold them. Seriously regret selling the H22 , but the more expensive H27 didn't move me as much. Still nice but even with the extra pickup i'd still choose the H22.

They have poor quality tuners though - i'd happily get a non stock one (with upgraded tuners) as a players bass.
Click to expand...

I had both as well, and had the same experience. Moreover, the H27 had a layer of tortoise shell glued to the headstock. Mine warped and cracked the headstock. Dumb idea I thought.
 
#19
+1

Love my Lakland with Chromes!

bassfran said:
With all due respect to Justin, I wouldn't rule out some of the newer offerings. A lot of issues that vintage basses suffered have been corrected with modern manufacturing techniques. Sure, old stuff has more cool factor and vibe, and aged wood does sound sweeter of course but prices these days can get pretty ridiculous.

I recently checked out the Harmony H22 RI bass and thought it wasn't bad. Maybe too much glossy finish on it, but the tuner upgrade was a definite improvement. I've owned a couple originals so was interested in them but haven't A/B'd them with a 60's one. Early models were Korean-made but I think newer ones are Chinese.

IMO, the Lakland Skyline HB is a terrific bang for the buck. I found them to be pretty close to the US models in feel and tone and for roughly 1/3 the cost are a great value. Full scale, dead quiet and they're feedback resistant as well.

Happy hunting.
Click to expand...
 
#20
I'm certainly not anti "new bass" as a philosophical position, I speak on this strictly from the viewpoint of sonics. I just find that age plays a big part in actual character of a hollow body bass. Every new instrument I've tried, especially ones that are of the Korean/Chinese variety (I've been through at least a dozen of them), just do not hold up sonically when making records that I'm involved in, compared to vintage stuff. They are uniformly flat and lifeless to my ear, and to the ear of all the producers I work with. Unless you want a very transparent sound, which you may...and I say that very much without sarcasm. Some people want that, and that's fine.

The only new/reissue instruments that held up in my (rather large) collection of instruments are my US Starfire reissue, a proper German Hofner Club, and a Jack Cassidy which is cool but I'll probably end up selling. I've been given or I've bought many that I've returned or sold.

My $300 Eko violin shaped bass, for instance, has made it on piles of records and comes with gobs of character, sophisticated midrange, and amazing depth. Sure, it's a bitch, and the tuners don't work perfectly and the bridge sometimes moves around and it has the occasional crackle. Small price to pay.

I wish it was otherwise as far as these imported/reissued/new instruments, but that's my two cents on the matter.

Best,
J
 
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