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what do you like about hollowbody bass?
- Thread starter Unemploid
- Start date
Pretty much everything. They're lighter, usually a shorter scale -- turns out I love 32-inch scale-- and the semi or hollow body really does change the tone. If you can find one that doesn't have the pickups jammed against the neck, they can create some great 60s sound and using a pick or palm mute varies the color and tone more readily than solid bodies. You can also practice in your apartment without an amp and hear yourself.
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Come to think of it. The 60s tone IS the pickups jammed to the neck and bridge. Newer models are trying different combinations like a MM hummer in the sweet spot like a P bass or jazz pickups. The downside is with a true hollow -- I have 2 -- crazy volumes of guitars cause feedback. There are ways to limit that but it's a pain
Hollows have a unique fat, woody tone that I love. I like the short scale on the ones I have. They have a strong muscular presence that lays a fat heavy foundation in the music. And yes, they are cooler than all git out.
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i like the neck of the gretsch g5123b, but i'm thing about getting a long scale. it's feels more bassy.
+1 lightness and perfect for audible couch noodling. I love feeling the bass resonate through my ribs. Almost upright like sound with flats and proper EQ. As long as it's not microphonic, what's not to like?
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The look and the feather weight (my Höfners are under 5lbs.) - I'm talking about real hollowbodies, not ones with a center block - and the sound is to die for: all the sixties in one bass. If you use flats and a pick, of course.
The one that I currently use the most is the 1960 blonde 500/3.
The one that I currently use the most is the 1960 blonde 500/3.
They're light
They look nice
They have a unique sound to them
My favorite bass player got his signature tone using one
They look nice
They have a unique sound to them
My favorite bass player got his signature tone using one
The only hollow I have is a Mike Kelly Dragonfly V. I only use it for acoustic gigs.
I like the sound. I've played a couple of semi-hollows over the years and they were okay, but not really my style.
But I will never forget the time I forgot I was playing it and walked over in front of my amp to change some settings on it. My ears only bled for a few minutes.
I like the sound. I've played a couple of semi-hollows over the years and they were okay, but not really my style.
But I will never forget the time I forgot I was playing it and walked over in front of my amp to change some settings on it. My ears only bled for a few minutes.
Since 1968 I've played different variations on the same theme: Fender Telecaster Type I, Music Man Sting Ray, G&L L-1000. Three years ago I got a Jack Casady Signature Epiphone, which I use with round wounds (and I'm back to a 1968 Tele Type I strung with flats). The Epiphone has an incredible sound (and in my opinion paired with my Bassman 100T/410Neo is one of those magic combinations of axe and rig). The Epi is the nastiest, growliest, meanest sounding bass I've ever owned. None of the P-Bass variants I've played over the years could even come close to what this monster does. Of course I understand they can also sound very pretty, but that's not what I use it for. It blows straight through the 100T rig with no fx other than occasionally using the amp's overdrive channel, and I have never been happier with my sound after playing for 49 years.
I play them for beautiful tones. The Casady bass does everything I could ask for and is so perfect and versatile. The Hofner has a deep almost upright bass tone.
I like the thud, and I like how when you turn them up and get them distorting, they will feed back in a way that makes you feel like they're going to explode in your hands. Not a big fan of semi-hollow basses, though. Got to be full-on hollow for me.
