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"Modern" Hollow Bodies

Discussion in 'Ask Justin Meldal-Johnsen' started by havik180, Jul 3, 2008.

  1. Jul 3, 2008 #1
    havik180

    havik180

    Oct 9, 2005
    SF bay area
    Hey Justin ,

    I figured you might be a good person to ask since you seem to be somewhat of a hollow body expert.

    I was wondering what experiences you've had with newer hollow and semi-hollow body basses ?! I've read that you own a Jack Cassady and you seemed to dislike it. Have you ever tried out any others , Epi Rumblekat , any of the Lakland's , Ibanez Artcore's etc ?

    I've been kinda interested in the Rumblekat latley and wanted to know how it stack's up with the rest !

    Thanks for taking the time to drop some science on us !!!

    Rich
     
  2. Jul 3, 2008 #2
    jmjbassplayer

    jmjbassplayer Justin Meldal-Johnsen Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 25, 2005
    I have a Lakland. It's quite good, but not full of weird mojo. Very neutral sounding, but deep and rich. Other than that, I've never played a new hollowbody I liked, except for my now defunct Guild Starfire basses. All those other ones you mentioned are mediocre, and the pickups still seem to have too much "glass" to the tone.

    JMJ
     
  3. Jul 4, 2008 #3
    pbass2

    pbass2 Supporting Member

    Jan 25, 2007
    Los Angeles
    I had a Casady briefly but it didn't fit the quirky mojo bill at all---I was looking for something that would go "thunk" or "wooof" or maybe "dooonk", but it was TOO "nice" and modern sounding. A good tone, but not really "vibey". Cool looking though:)
     
  4. Jul 4, 2008 #4
    pedrodelawasp

    pedrodelawasp

    Oct 26, 2007
    East Kilbride
    I've got an Ibanez AGB-140 (one of the artcore series). I understand it's now been replaced in the ibanez catalogue. I got it a few years ago from a shop in Glasgow then read a review of it in Bass Guitar Magazine or Bassist (a US magazine anyway) and discovered that people across the ocean could get the same instrument for pretty much half as much as I paid (when you do the currency conversion). Pretty gutting, but I still love the thing. Despite being a single pickup model with only volume and tone controls, you can tease out some great sounds. A bit of EQ meddling can transform it too, and it reacts really well to effects. With a little overdrive there's plenty of sweet feedback, but it's really easy to control. I also love the looks, the substantial neck, the sustain and general playability. It's damn nice.