Yes fretted for the first 9,(E on the G String, and fretless the rest of the way up. For me, that meant the Bb above the 2nd octave on the G string (which would have been 27 frets)
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Why get a Viola Bass?
- Thread starter BassAndReeds
- Start date
The hollow body,flats and pick combination was a real staple of the 60's. Particularly with European groups as mentioned, because of strict trade regulations designed to keep foreign products out while fostering domestic production after the war. I like the sound of the Hofner types but never got on with the feel of them because they play so differently than a solid body. I recall neck dive too due to the featherweight body.
The luthier that made it for me, suggested a slight extra resonance might be possible, if there was a small semi-acoustic chamber. But not enough to create feedback, or other low end take off. Also appearance.
His main focus was making instruments like lutes, and classical guitars, he also did repair work for orchestra musicians.
The main reason I keep one around (a cheap Hofner icon) is for when someone I'm working with wants a 'Beatle bass' for a particular sound/look on a gig or recording session.
While they are not everyone's cup of tea, they can be the perfect fit for certain situations.
While they are not everyone's cup of tea, they can be the perfect fit for certain situations.
I think Chris Wood used a Hofner on some of the Medeski, Martin and Wood CDs. Whoops! I just saw post #8.
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My violin basses are no substitute for a good Precision. However, my Precision isn't a good substitute for them. But if I could only have one bass, it would be a Precision. Fortunately, I can have more than one bass.
Always wondered if I could push the volume enough to make the f-holes and hollow body sustain more for me?
okcrum
in your chest
...except when they recorded. Larry Knechtel, Doug Lubahn, Kerry Magness, Leroy Vinnegar, Harvey Brooks, Ray Neopolitan, Lonnie Mack, Jerry Scheff, Jack Conrad (who played a major role in the post Morrison years touring with the group in 1971 and 1972), Chris Ethridge, Charles Larkey and Leland Sklar are credited as bassists who worked with the band. They'd use several per album.
ISTR they asked Doug Lubahn to join but he turned them down - he had another band on the same label.
To the topic: I've played a fretless Epiphone violin bass and liked it.
Absolutely true. But it sounds to me like Ray Manzarek wrote all their lines. Ray had a specific keyboard style of bass playing with certain arpeggios that didn't always lay down easy on an electric bass, and all their songs sound like that style.
Maybe it just isn't for you, which is fine. Play what speaks to you, not what you think "should" speak to you....
Good Luck!
okcrum
in your chest
That's true. They all sounded kind of like Ray with tone.
EDIT: I'm not slagging Ray here; those Fender keyboards didn't exactly convey the notion of "bass" other than by note pitch
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Ya, they're just the lower notes on a Rhodes made into a small keyboard. Saw one at a music store once...thought it was cool but the price was like $1500...pass!That's true. They all sounded kind of like Ray with tone.
EDIT: I'm not slagging Ray here; those Fender keyboards didn't exactly convey the notion of "bass" other than by note pitch
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I`ll tell you,JRA,I bought a lefty Douglas Spad(6 string guitar for a friend),and it was as nice as these Kapok Basses,They no longer sell the Spad,or I`d have one of those too,beautiful finish,full body/neck binding.no pick guard,Neck through;ceramic p/ups,like $150 so I know they make/sell a quality instrument for not much money.I got a Brownsville violin bass for Christmas from the Wife last year,with an Amp!!,and I was playing as bassist in weekly jam with it `til the bridge collapsed,(Don`t let amateurs play it)from an over enthusiastic guy without a bass,he pushed the bass side of the trapeze bridge forward.(New one Coming).So,they are good stuff,when you get ready,just like these Kapoks.
What are the benefits? Other than being kinda fun, not many, really. They're small, and they are light - this MIK Rogue weighs 6.25 lbs.; most weigh less - and you'll look good in a Beatles tribute band (especially if you're a lefty like me), but other than that? Can't think of any, really - and I have 2 of them. The necks tend to be very narrow, which bothers some people. The Hofner-style controls? I think that's their revenge for losing WWII. The bridge is an anachronism, from a time when the bass line in most popular music didn't require precise intonation. You never went above the 12th fret anyway, so "close" was good enough. Which is as good as you'll get with one, more often than not. And yes, they do tend to be neck heavy - if holding up a King Size Snickers bar is your definition of neck heavy. It isn't mine, but...Why would you buy one instead of, say, a P-Bass? Unless you were a young European musician in the early '60s with no money, you wouldn't. Certainly not today - unless you were making a good living pretending to be Sir Paul. Today, they're simply an amusing, interesting reminder of an earlier time, IMO. This one, along with a 4001 Rick, are the basses that sit out within easy reach in my house. I like to play music on it that was/could have been played on one originally; and while you can play more modern stuff, it tends to be a lot more work than just picking up, say, a P-Bass...
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I've managed to get close enough to play chords in tune with my two violin basses, a 2005 Jay Turser and a 1968 Realistic, as well as my 2010 Dano Longhorn. I move the bridge to where the G and E are intonated properly, that at least brings the A and D close, and when I tune, I fret each string at the 5th fret and tune to where the attack is in tune and not the decay so much. Works like a charm on all 3.
I would never buy one instead of a Precision, but I love them as something a little different and fun.And yes, they do tend to be neck heavy - if holding up a King Size Snickers bar is your definition of neck heavy. It isn't mine, but...
Why would you buy one instead of, say, a P-Bass? Unless you were a young European musician in the early '60s with no money, you wouldn't. Certainly not today - unless you were making a good living pretending to be Sir Paul. Today, they're simply an amusing, interesting reminder of an earlier time, IMO. This one, along with a 4001 Rick, are the basses that sit out within easy reach in my house. I like to play music on it that was/could have been played on one originally; and while you can play more modern stuff, it tends to be a lot more work than just picking up, say, a P-Bass...
