Official Epiphone Viola Bass Club

[John Stephen]

Very nice! I like the blended sound a lot, and I can definitely hear the difference between the pickups. It was several months ago that I tried one of these in my local GC, but I do remember it having a thuddier sound than your sound clips, so the pickups you installed do indeed provide much clarity. Great work. And I really like the look of it as well -- the symmetrical thumbrests, open tailpiece, etc. Looks great! What type of roundwounds are you using?

 

[Kev1955]

Very nice! I like the blended sound a lot, and I can definitely hear the difference between the pickups. It was several months ago that I tried one of these in my local GC, but I do remember it having a thuddier sound than your sound clips, so the pickups you installed do indeed provide much clarity. Great work. And I really like the look of it as well -- the symmetrical thumbrests, open tailpiece, etc. Looks great! What type of roundwounds are you using?

Strinjoy nickel wound lights, really woke it up, if you never used stringjoy they are mail order, and reasonably priced

 

[Kev1955]

Very nice! I like the blended sound a lot, and I can definitely hear the difference between the pickups. It was several months ago that I tried one of these in my local GC, but I do remember it having a thuddier sound than your sound clips, so the pickups you installed do indeed provide much clarity. Great work. And I really like the look of it as well -- the symmetrical thumbrests, open tailpiece, etc. Looks great! What type of roundwounds are you using?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[John Stephen]

Thanks for the link. I will check them out. And the Viola can use medium scale, due to the length of the tailpiece, etc., correct?

 

[Kev1955]

Thanks for the link. I will check them out. And the Viola can use medium scale, due to the length of the tailpiece, etc., correct?

Correct. long way from tailpiece to bridge

 

[Orpheus55]

Has anyone tried using the tea-cup control knobs on the epi viola? I'd guess you'd need a two-set to cover the three controls.

 

[peekypoo]

I had Labella flatwound strings for beetle basses on my Rogue VB-100.
Some people say they fit the Viola, some don't?
What do you Gents use, and why?
Thanks,

 

[Later_Peter]

they fit. Medium Scale strings (not short scale). they sound pretty darn good (if intonation & string height are set correctly)

 

[peekypoo]

Look what the cat dragged in!
This was a blemished bass model I bought from Zsounds.
I'm afraid to open it up, this was FedEx next day delivery..

 

[peekypoo]

Look what the cat dragged in!
This was a blemished bass model I bought from Zsounds.
I'm afraid to open it up, this was FedEx next day delivery..View attachment 4275445 View attachment 4275446 View attachment 4275447

Zsounds never really did a good job in the packaging this instrument .

 

[west al]

Zsounds never really did a good job in the packaging this instrument .

Yeah. That carton has definitely seen better days.

 

[west al]

Thanks for the link. I will check them out. And the Viola can use medium scale, due to the length of the tailpiece, etc., correct?

I used D'Addario ETB92M Nylons on the Epi Viola I played. They were a perfect fit, and the sounds were great too.

 

[peekypoo]

She's going back,
To heavy, I need my Rogue VB-100 back.
Already on the hunt.
This thing is a Hofner on steroids. Well built though.

 

[west al]

She's going back,
To heavy, I need my Rogue VB-100 back.
Already on the hunt.
This thing is a Hofner on steroids. Well built though.

Too bad you don't like it. But, ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do. I can't remember seeing many, if any Epi Viola that weren't well constructed. The Epi EB-0 I play, I still contend has a better QC than most current Gibson SG Std.'s have.

 

[Orpheus55]

Sounds good. I'm not familiar with World Tours, but checking them online, I see they do have a "Hofner Beatle Bass" gig bag for a reasonable price.

I use this with my Viola. It is a surprisingly high quality bag. I ordered it directly from the company with free two-day shipping. Fits perfectly and is well padded.

 

[GWGuitar]

I just got my Epi Viola Bass. Here it is next to my SX Jazz Bass and my Douglas Fretless viola. I would like a number to join.

 

[GWGuitar]

Just in case anyone might be interested in a comparison of rounds and tapes on a viola bass.

 

[Later_Peter]

Me, too... same reason. (OCD & string squeaking noise)
The bass sounds better, as well... (IMhO)

 

[JohnMalay]

Finally got one to compliment my Hofner Ignition Pro (with upgraded nut and German controls). Used but seemingly never played.

When I got it it had round wounds and if anything it was too punchy (or maybe seemed that way after the Hofner). I liked it but when the LaBella DTFs arrived I put them on and they were better sounding (IMHO).

That I like about it is it can sound like a regular gigging bass without the tonal limitations of the Hofner, but it "looks the part". It's been a while since I played a Hofner Contemporary but that is probably the closest thing to it.

Looking for advice on the following mods/upgrades:

• trapeze
• bridge (will a German Hofner bridge work?)
• controls (the pots are marginal and I assume the rest of the parts as well) Are they 250K or 500K pots?
• ... and pickups.

I realize the last of these is a rabbit hole, especially since I think the New Yorker p'ups aren't that bad. I see further back in the thread that someone added Bartolinis but not sure if passive or active. Duncan makes mini-humbuckers that are hopefully a drop-in fit. EMG makes something that looks it might fit. I'm pretty sure Filtertrons are too big.

I am also interested in the whole strap thing. I see that someone ran a strap under the fingerboard? Seems kind of far down from the headstock. Was there a problem with neck dive?

Anyway, thanks and if anyone is still issuing numbers...

 

[Samuel Olivares]

I will also be really interested in knowing if the Hofner bridge would fit (also the trapeze)