I have seen semi hollow body electric basses only in catalogs and photos but have never heard one or seen anyone play one live. What are your opinions on the type of tones and are they very specific to a certain genre of music or are they versatile?
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Semi Hollowbody basses - opinions
- Thread starter Alienwordz
- Start date
To be honest, every bass can be versatile (within reason). It's all in the hands of the player and how the signal is processed.
With that said, hollow-body basses are popular in Queens of the Stone Age style rock, shoegaze, and rockabilly (naturally, although, that's usually upright bass playing, but you get the idea: rockabilly - semihollow guitars).
Semihollow basses sound more pleasant unplugged compared to semihollow guitars. Other than that, they're (believed) to be warmer sounding. I never had the chance to plug it in.
With that said, hollow-body basses are popular in Queens of the Stone Age style rock, shoegaze, and rockabilly (naturally, although, that's usually upright bass playing, but you get the idea: rockabilly - semihollow guitars).
Semihollow basses sound more pleasant unplugged compared to semihollow guitars. Other than that, they're (believed) to be warmer sounding. I never had the chance to plug it in.
Have you ever listened to any of the earlier Beatles tunes?
Then you've heard a semi-hollow bass!
I can tell you this one sounds and plays amazing. The neck pickup provides lots of thick ass to the sound. The bridge pickup gives a nice sharp clarity and beautiful tone.
I can tell you this one sounds and plays amazing. The neck pickup provides lots of thick ass to the sound. The bridge pickup gives a nice sharp clarity and beautiful tone.
The GAS always hits me hard whenever I see that one. LOL!
Some boutique companies offer chambered basses that add that airy dimension, but the modern electronics allow for all sorts of tones between muddy and very high end.
Also listen to early Govt Mule (Allen Woody on a signature Epiphone) and some Jack Bruce (Gibson EB-1). Check Rob Allen's web site for audio samples of his semi-hollow bass.
I love semi-hollow basses, and think they're underappreciated generally in the rock scene. My DiPinto Belvedere sounds absolutely huge. (See www.dipintoguitars.com) With high output single coils and 34" scale, it has plenty of clarity with rounds, and yet has some of the "air" and "thud" associated with semi-hollow and hollow basses. It's an inspiring tone. With two pickups, it has a pretty wide sonic range, and doesn't get muddy unless you want it to. The single coil hum isn't bad either.
Meev992 is right on about Queens of the Stone Age. To hear a killer semi-hollow tone in heavy rock, check out the live CD/DVD set. (I assume they're not full hollowbodies, because those might generate feedback at QOTSA's gain levels.) I've played heavy rock on my DiPinto, and achieved tones very much like those.
Meev992 is right on about Queens of the Stone Age. To hear a killer semi-hollow tone in heavy rock, check out the live CD/DVD set. (I assume they're not full hollowbodies, because those might generate feedback at QOTSA's gain levels.) I've played heavy rock on my DiPinto, and achieved tones very much like those.
If you're referring to either of McCartney's Hofner basses, those are hollow, not semi-hollow.
One that gets consistently good reviews (I have seen, heard, and played one, and I agree) is the Jack Casady Epiphone signature bass.
I have trouble hearing really significant differences between full hollow and solid body basses - so my theory is that semi-hollows and hollows don't sound much different at all.
As far as I'm concerned, you can play any type of music on a hollow, semi-hollow or solid body bass. It's only the player's imagination that limits you.
But consider the source.
As far as I'm concerned, you can play any type of music on a hollow, semi-hollow or solid body bass. It's only the player's imagination that limits you.
But consider the source.
One difference is that semi-hollow bodied basses are less susceptible than are hollow bodied basses to body resonance feedback.
The hollow bodies can be versatile. I have my stylist string with DR Sunbeams and get an array of sounds. Next I will try some flats for a nice thump. I get some nice comments at church.
Good point! I must play at volumes where that's not usually a problem. For those in higher volume situations, this might make the difference between a hollow and semi-hollow well worth exploring.
