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Make hollow body sound like solid body?

#81
BTW I was listening to the Beatles “I want you” from abbey road a few days back, marvelling at what a killer sound and performance Paul put forth and wondering if he even used the hofner on it. I’m assuming he did. Heard he stuffed it with socks ;)
 
#83
PDGood said:
That's a great looking collection. What is the neck like on that Gretsch? I think the vintage ones are pretty chunky if I remember correctly. I've often wondered about the reissues.
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The original issue Gretsch hollowbodies do indeed have chunky necks with minimum taper. The 5440LSB basses have chunky necks that are tapered. Neither of these is as awkward to play as the descriptions might suggest; you just accommodate and adjust.

@2saddleslab's bass, the reissue G6072, has a very slender neck -- a very slender neck -- just the thing for those who play with a lot of flash and dazzle.
 
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#84
Bodeanly said:
I'm not trying to say that it has to sound exactly like my other basses, but I can't get much growl out of it and there's a significant decrease in volume between it and my other basses. Just want it to be louder with the ability to growl.
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Use your other basses for that sound :) Hollow body basses are not meant for that kind of sound, people buy them for their mellow, thumpy sound.
 
#85
diegom said:
The main problem with Gretsch (and Hofner, to some extent) is that they have their own sound baked-in. You cannot make an SVT sound like an Eden...
As many people already replied, there are other semi-hollows that are much more versatile: The Epi Jack Casady, Hagstrom Viking...
I don't think adding foam would take the "Gretsch-iness" out of it. You would probably need to swap the Filter'Trons... and by that time you already have a completely different bass...

BTW, since you like short-scale and light, have you tried the Supro Huntington? Surprisingly thunderous for such a small package!
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True in the main, but inaccurate in the details because the various Gretsch models do not sound the same. Some people like the sound of the 5440, but I find it bland and generic (but the bass is orange). Loaded with roundwounds, my G6072 sounds to me more like a Rickenbacker than it does a Gretsch.

Regarding the Super-tron vintage Gretsch hollowbodies . . . oh my! Like the P-bass, these pretty much are limited to one sound, but what a sound! In my experience nothing else even comes close. Once these fire up, other pickups just leave the room.
 
#86
Coolhandjjl said:
One of the Gretsch’s has a soft back panel resembling a leather drum head to help mitigate feedback.
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The G6072 reissue has a padded back patterned after the vintage Gretsch hollowbodies; but since those basses also have a (totally superfluous in my opinion) reinforcing slab (not block) on the inside back, I suspect that is what is used to suppress feedback.

The backpads on the vintage Gretsches cover a plastic access panel to get to the controls, since the f-holes on these basses are fake.
 
#87
2saddleslab said:
Not really, just looks like that. If you install a strap button under the neck heal it shifts the bass to the right a bit. Plus I have Neanderthal arms. Think we discussed this before. Hope you don’t mind another gratuitous pic.
View attachment 3404851
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Every time I see this pic I have to change my shorts! Even though I have a 5442, 5123, 6073 and a Thunder Jet

:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:
 
#90
Bodeanly said:
Hey all,
Do any of you currently use a hollow body in a live setting and actually dig its sound? Is it possible to still get clanky and growly when I need to? Or did I just buy a designated couch noodler? I'm hoping it's as simple as replacing a pickup.

Forever yours,
Bodeanly
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Have you seen this? Tal seems to be doing fine somehow on a Harmony with a foil p.u.
 
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#91
GretschWretch said:
Do you stuff the old shorts in the f-holes of your bass?
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Nope

I have no qualms (or expectations) with a hollow body or semi not sounding like a slab o’wood bass. They sound different because they are.

I wouldn’t except chicken to taste like prime rib either nor would I want to make one taste like the other.
 
#93
B-Mac said:
This video is getting around here quite a bit
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So another. Bill Burr interviewed her last Thursday on his podcast and basically shared His philosophy of life and performing which Tal handled with grace and humor. I'm actually a fan of hers now due to the material and her voice, which is not the voice of a sugar baby, it's more a young crone which is a relief.
 
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#94
Coolhandjjl said:
Hollow/semi-hollow body basses are capable of so much more tonality than that. The Jack Casady is almost an outlier in that it can sound and growl like a regular split coil Precision if you want it to.

I have a CIJ ‘51 Precision Re-issue (one coil pup) that I outfitted with Bakelite saddles and GHS Precision Flats. For vintage tone, quick decay, it’s right there.

I know what you mean though, older hollowbodies are often associated with quicker decay/less sustain than their solid bodied brethren, but you pay a price with one that is too hollow, that being more susceptible to feedback. One of the Gretsch’s has a soft back panel resembling a leather drum head to help mitigate feedback. Some DBs that are used primarily in an amplified mode usually have the sound post moved for a couple of reasons, one of them being to stabilize the face better in an effort to minimize feedback.

Everything’s a trade-off.
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I believe the early P basses were designed to have a quicker rate of decay. Emulating a DB’s sound presumably being the reason.

In my experience single piece basses have the most sustain and hollow bodies the least. Having said that if my Country Gent is in a sweet spot with the amp it can ride on the edge of feedback and then it has the best bottom end of all my basses. Unfortunately there are so many variables - composition of stage, size of room, height of ceiling, size of stage - so unless I know the room a true hollow body is a crap shoot. I know pre amps can compensate but I find pre-amps or active basses divorce the bass from it’s inherent acoustic qualities - and that includes solid bodies. Lastly a true hollow body and a semi hollow body are truly 2 different animals.
 
#96
Bodeanly said:
I recently purchased a hollow body bass. It feels and looks amazing (which is why I got it), but I'm not a huge fan of how "tonally challenged" it is. Has anyone had any luck making a hollow body sound like a solid body-ish by adding a different pickup(s) or something? Maybe filling the body with foam? I would prefer to play it live without pausing to adjust much if I'm switching between it and another bass. The band covers everything from 50's rock, to disco, to 90's pop, etc.
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Not sure what to say, other than why did you buy this bass if it doesn't do what you want. I know you say it looks and feels amazing, but surely those things have to come after what it sounds like?

Just sell it. Buy something that ticks all 3 boxes.
 
#97
B-Mac said:
Every time I see this pic I have to change my shorts! Even though I have a 5442, 5123, 6073 and a Thunder Jet

:drool::drool::drool::drool::drool:
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I have a 67 6071 that I usually play with the 3 way tone control in the bass position. How does the the 6073 sound with the neck pick up? I have been tempted over the years to buy one when they occasionally come up for sale. Love the 29” scale.
 
#98
Bodeanly said:
Hey all,

I recently purchased a hollow body bass. It feels and looks amazing (which is why I got it), but I'm not a huge fan of how "tonally challenged" it is. Has anyone had any luck making a hollow body sound like a solid body-ish by adding a different pickup(s) or something? Maybe filling the body with foam? I would prefer to play it live without pausing to adjust much if I'm switching between it and another bass. The band covers everything from 50's rock, to disco, to 90's pop, etc.

Do any of you currently use a hollow body in a live setting and actually dig its sound? Is it possible to still get clanky and growly when I need to? Or did I just buy a designated couch noodler? I'm hoping it's as simple as replacing a pickup.

Forever yours,
Bodeanly
Click to expand...
I have a EKO hollow body fretless. I played in a Buddy Holly cover band and got the bass to sound real close to an upright. Right Hand position makes a difference. Try the Right hand on the neck and try it close to bridge.
 
#99
chris_b said:
Not sure what to say, other than why did you buy this bass if it doesn't do what you want. I know you say it looks and feels amazing, but surely those things have to come after what it sounds like?

Just sell it. Buy something that ticks all 3 boxes.
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Basses played solo vs in an ensemble sound very different - would be my guess and when played solo they sound lovely. In low volume drumless ensembles they really are at their best.
 
#100
Thomas Corday said:
I have a EKO hollow body fretless. I played in a Buddy Holly cover band and got the bass to sound real close to an upright. Right Hand position makes a difference. Try the Right hand on the neck and try it close to bridge.
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I got an old eko body and tried to resurrect it. The neck was crap so I fit a full scale fretless neck to it. Put in jazz bass pickups and made a bridge and a tail piece. It was pretty cool but the body is so weak I could only tune it about a 4th low before it threatened to pull itself apart.
 

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