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Why get a Viola Bass?

#42
I like the the consept of a violin shaped bass, but the hofner and all its knockoffs are just too tied in to the Beatles sphere so i opted for a more "modern" one. This Aria has an active preamp and a piezo in the bridge.

04D0BA27-2F9E-4C50-B59B-85A04491510F.jpg
 
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#43
If you're looking for a really inexpensive jump into the pool, you can find a few options over on Link Removed. The Douglas violin basses look like (and are probably made in the same factory as) modern Epiphone, Rogue and Jay Turser versions. I had natural finish one that was quite nice with a set of flats on it. Only reason I sold it is that the tone control didn't seem to be a big improvement over my Hofner.

Why to get one? As everyone says, it's a light bass with deep tone; it really sings with flatwounds. Fingerstyle, it pairs especially well with acoustic instruments. I think it's really nice with a palm mute, too.

If you really want the Epiphone Viola, see if you can find an original Korean-made version.
 
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#45
there was a reason you could give those away in the 70's They sounded like cheap offshore basses as compared to Fender, Peavey or Rick, Gibson;s even, not to mention high ends like Alembic . Yet, they have their place. Modern solid bodies can be very light w/o any sacrifice of sustain, etc like basswoods, chambered, etc. So technology has passed these by. But..... everyone has a place....
 
#48
I got a Viola bass for the thumpy wooden hollow sound, that I can still rock with. Originally played a £700 Blue Hofner Violin Bass, and quite liked the sound. But then I saw the Epi Viola Bass, and fell in love with that instead. It isn't my "go-to" bass, but I take it to most gigs and sometimes practice with it so I don't have to use an amp (because it's louder acoustically than my other electrics).

I do use it for any 60's Britpop (Beatles, Kinks, etc.). I didn't get it for this, but it's an obvious choice. I also use it for any 50's Rock n Roll (I can get a decent "Faux Double Bass" sound), ballads for a milder sound in the mix, and Stray Cats Strut as an exception. Everything else is usually a T-Bird.
 
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#52
gsgbass said:
Ray only recorded the first album "The Doors", with a bass keyboard. From the second album, "Strange Days", and all albums after that one, a studio bass player was used in the studio. Ray did however play his bass keyboard for all the live shows.
Click to expand...

Even the first album "The Doors" had a studio bassist. Only live did the doors rely solely on Ray's right hand for bass content. In addition to studio bassists, I've heard that although not credited, Robby Krieger did the bass guitar tracks on a few songs.

Back on topic. I've played a few voila basses. They are not my thing either in feel or tone. I guess they are a necessity for a Beatles tribute band. And the viola bass is one option if you need a small light-weight bass.
 
#54
As others have stated, I definitely feel like a lot of the appeal in the Viola/other Beatle-esque violin basses is in the weight (or lack thereof), unplugged sound and that they sound really cool with flats! I've been a P Bass guy since forever and I'm really itching for a violin/Beatle bass - they're sick! The Hofner Ignition series are also pretty sweet but I feel like I see the Epiphone Viola more often in stores.
 
#56
All viol shaped basses don't sound thumpy, just the old beatle style semi acoustics.
I had mine built as a a solid body, fretless fretted by a luthier.
And I had mine built because I hated how the lower horn of almost every bass I had previously owned got in the way when I soloed in the upper register.
Here are a couple of examples of the sound of mine, 1st from a recording in the mid 70s.
sweetbottom angels of the deep
Then in the late 80s
Riding the tide by Oceans ( Mermaid Fantasy Edition ) Jazz Musician Warren Wiegratz on Saxaphone
below is a shot of the bass I used
IMG00195-20110307-1942.jpg

I also used it on 3 songs of the session below ,just before it was stolen, but I got it back @ 2-3 years later.
"Paul D'Adamo: Something To Tell" Documentary Promo
 
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#58
Duanestuermer said:
All viol shaped basses don't sound thumpy, just the old beatle style semi acoustics.
I had mine built as a a solid body, fretless fretted by a luthier.
And I had mine built because I hated how the lower horn of almost every bass I had previously owned got in the way when I soloed in the upper register.
Here are a couple of examples of the sound of mine, 1st from a recording in the mid 70s.
sweetbottom angels of the deep
Then in the late 80s
Riding the tide by Oceans ( Mermaid Fantasy Edition ) Jazz Musician Warren Wiegratz on Saxaphone
below is a shot of the bass I used
View attachment 1983599
I also used it on 3 songs of the session below ,just before it was stolen, but I got it back @ 2-3 years later.
"Paul D'Adamo: Something To Tell" Documentary Promo
Click to expand...
Semi fretless?
 
#60
I don't know about "getting" a viola bass. Sir Mac got a great sound - but the Hofner's and the clones just weren't for me.

I designed mine and had it built. Variax electronics transplant, finish by Keith Roscoe.

What fun! Now I "get" it.

V Bass.jpg


With apologies to my avatar....
 
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