Semi hollow bass question

They sound great, particularly the flatwound sound for classic rock, McCartney, Phil Lesh etc. sort of sounds.
They seem very rare in Metal, so that is a plus.
At high stage volume, feedback could be a concern (or a effect to exploit)

The hollowbody bass I play blends best however (again this is with flatwounds, Chromes) with acoustic ensemble. Sounds better than any electric bass in that arrangement.

 

Not all hollow body basses are the same, really need more information about the bass in question for anyone to give a good response.

 

The OP said semi hollow, not hollow.

To the OP, a semi hollow will work in any style music. Feedback [from high volume, not band mates] is non existent compared to hollow. A semi hollow will have a center block which leaves the f holes more/ less cosmetic. If you like how it sounds and plays, go for it.

 

I have a Hofner Club with flats but it is full hollow body, not semi. It sounds great in my acoustic trio but I would not use it for metal.

 

Yeah, depends on exactly what it is - OP, let's hear more details, please!

 

Many semi hollows have a center block, so you should have no problem with feedback if your playing METAL!!!

 

Hmmm, ok, so no magnetic pickup, just the piezo in the bridge? That may be an issue, depending on your tastes. I like having Piezos, but I would think for metal you'd want something with a magnetic pickup too.

 

Hallowed basses are the best for Christian metal.

 

Then the Semi-Hallowed might be for the Doubting Thomases? heehee

 

Similar to that Ibanez without a regular pickup might not be the best choice, as mentioned above.
$450 could be a good price or a bad price.
Good idea to post more info so we can really help you out.

 

Then Hallowed Ground must be consecrated beef.

 

Agreed that semi-hollow basses generally will work for rock, not so sure about metal. However, string choice makes a big difference; I’ve got a (German-made) Warwick Star Bass II 5’er that’s currently strung with Curt Mangan flats and it sounds absolutely incredible in the studio, but it doesn’t punch through sufficiently for shows (to the point where friends who’ve called me to play directly say “don’t bring the Warwick”). One of these days I’m going to put Rotosound rounds back on it and see what happens.

 

I’ve never used one, but the bassist for Carcass played a Hofner back in the ‘90s and sounded fine.

 

Marco Hietala of Nightwish rotates Warwick Infinity basses in his Warwick arsenal. I believe they are semi-hollow and sound wicked monstrous.

 

I recorded these with a hollow body Gretsch g5123b with no effects. I usually play justin case with an overdrive and history with a fuzz. Probably the closest you'll get to semi hollow with metal.

 

I owned the Ibanez for about 2 months...fretted 4...IMO it doesn't have the mass to provide normal sustain and was only "fun" solo in a sound dampened room, but used it did have some value because of the pretty wood. The piezo system was ok up to conversational volume, above that and it was useless. Semi-hollow body basses with magnetic pu's I Do have and would be fine for any volume of rock are Epiphone Alan Woody, Epiphone Jack Cassidy and Dan Electro Longhorn (although that one might have issues at the loudest volume). The combination of low mass and piezos just made a wall hanging.

 

All semis have a centre block. Otherwise they are hollow bodied, not semis. Like the Cassidy, IIRC.

An attack of pedantry. Sorry!

 

hmm ask Jack Casady