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Violin Bass for Metal?

#43
TheBassmaster27 said:
This has probably been asked before, but does anyone think it can be done? I have always loved they way violin basses look, but i play mostly rock and metal, and there are feedback concerns. I personally think the smaller neck might make chords and soloing better. And some say that the feedback isn't even a big deal. Thoughts?
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Throw on some distortion and chug!
 
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#44
Greco made a solid body violin bass in the '70s. It had two 'rail' humbuckers and a high mass bridge.

grecoface01_zps36ef892b-jpg.jpg



This would work for metal.
 
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#47
they do have a fat low end. that can work for anything. not much grindy top end a la rickenbacker or fender jazz, but as long as you go into it expecting that i think it will be fine.

also some originality is nice - a black Hofner with gold hardware in a metal setting, i'd be super into it.
 
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#48
TheBassmaster27 said:
I would love to own a solidbody violin bass, but they are sooooo rare now. My friend actually owns one, but he won't sell because was a "gift". He doesn't even play bass lol.
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Rare but occasionally out there:
1965 Vox Model V-232 Solid Body Electric Violin Bass Guitar 100% Stock w/ohc
Ibanez Violin Style Bass Guitar 1960's Sunburst

Here's a (not necessarily complete) list:
NBD-Eastwood EB-1

The turn-of-century Epiphone EB-1 may pop up a little more easily than others; the Eastwood EB-1, as mentioned above, is in production:
NBD-Eastwood EB-1 (and the rest of the thread)
 
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#50
Doctor Intrepid said:
The Hofner HCTs are practically solid bodies due to the sound block.
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Hmmm...not so sure about that. CTs are certainly less hollow than the fully hollow models, but I think the sound (playing experience) has more in common with a hollow bass than a slab. I'm sure the floating bridge is a significant factor, too...not sure exactly what to attribute to the bridge vs. the semi-hollow body, but at any rate, even the CTs have a lot more air in the tone than a typical slab. (The real benefit of the center block is no neck dive on a strap.)
 
#51
fermata said:
Hmmm...not so sure about that. CTs are certainly less hollow than the fully hollow models, but I think the sound (playing experience) has more in common with a hollow bass than a slab. I'm sure the floating bridge is a significant factor, too...not sure exactly what to attribute to the bridge vs. the semi-hollow body, but at any rate, even the CTs have a lot more air in the tone than a typical slab. (The real benefit of the center block is no neck dive on a strap.)
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That hasn't been my experience, but that's okay. Also, I don't usually have neck dive on my hollow body Hofners. When I use a nylon strap I do, but not with leather straps.
 
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#54
Mister Boh said:
I don't know about ironically but angrily might help. I think, in order to make a Daisy Rock metal, you would have to do the following:

Strap it to a zombie, impale the zombie on a big spike, then, as it thrashes around, come up from behind and play it while it's on said zombie.
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what if you paint the daisy flat black with a few obvious bloody streaks and add black hardware? I'D play that for metal :D
 
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#57
Plectrum72 said:
Tommy Stinson (The Replacements, Guns n' Roses, Soul Asylum, several other acts) has been known to use a Hofner violin bass from time to time. Not quite metal, but he's been in some rockin' bands.
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Tommy stinson likes the violin basses but in interviews he CLEARLY STATES he never used them in Guns N Roses because they don’t have the proper tone for the music. Also in the days of The Replacements he didn’t have the Hofners yet. He used a Ric early on and switched mainly to P basses for most of his career. And in recent years when the Mats got back together he used his ESP signature vintage 4 basses. He only uses the Hofners for certain recording purposes
 
#58
descendent22 said:
Tommy stinson likes the violin basses but in interviews he CLEARLY STATES he never used them in Guns N Roses because they don’t have the proper tone for the music. Also in the days of The Replacements he didn’t have the Hofners yet. He used a Ric early on and switched mainly to P basses for most of his career. And in recent years when the Mats got back together he used his ESP signature vintage 4 basses. He only uses the Hofners for certain recording purposes
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Never said he used them on stage with a particular band, just that he's used them from time to time. Thanks for the clarification though.

On a side note, Alain Johannes (touring bassist with Them Crooked Vultures among many other things) has been known to us a Rogue VB100 on stage with that band.
 
#59
bolophonic said:
When I saw Spirit Caravan, Dave Sherman was playing a Gibson hollow body bass. Not a violin style, but he definitely rocked it in a very distinctive way that made it entirely unlike a more conventional “metal” bass experience.
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That sounds like the best/most unlikely Canterbury/California mash up ever

Smooth_bass88 said:
OMG absolutely not! That's right up there with wearing shorts onstage
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Have you met Uncle Angus?
90aacbb5b292bea24def971c6f8589c3.jpg
 
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