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NBD: Gretsch G5440 LSB Hollowbody (Long Scale)

#41
NoSlapForYou said:
Has anyone played both the short scale and the long scale? How much does the scale length affect the tone? I've always kind of felt that if I bought a hollowbody, I would make sure it was also short scale. My reasoning is that short scale basses tend to have a big round tone I love. I really like that the notes are even tonally across the fretboard. You can play high up on the neck and not lose that low end. It seems like you also get some of that roundness from hollowbody basses, so I like the idea of doubling down on that.

Just thinking about my options here. I'm seeing a short, a medium, and a long on the used market right now. They're all within the same price range, so it's really a matter of what's going to get me closer to the tone I want. I can adjust to any scale length, especially since it's not going to be my main bass. I want it for recording on very specific types of songs.

I've found videos of both, but it's kind of hard to make any judgment when it's different players playing different things.
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Hello! I have only played the G5440 long scale. I can send you a video of the sound of you like. What is the price on the used market for a Gretsch semihollowbody? Thanks !
 
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#44
mcclurer16 said:
Hello! I have only played the G5440 long scale. I can send you a video of the sound of you like. What is the price on the used market for a Gretsch semihollowbody? Thanks !
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They seem to range from $750 to $900 right now, depending on the model.

Long story, but I ended up getting a (much more expensive) vintage Hofner. So I will not be buying a semi-hollow anytime soon. The Gretsch is definitely on my short list along with a few others (Guild Starfire, Epiphone Jack Casady, etc).
 
#45
Thank you very much for your reply!

That is the price range I have seen on Talkbass classifieds and Reverb.

I do not want to part with my G5540 semi-hollowbody since it is in my rotation.

How does the vintage Hoffner play?

I picked up a Hofner H500/1 contemporary violin bass and was amazed at the difference in the fretboard compared to a Fender.
 

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