Sibob Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Hurrow all I've been looking around at Hollowbody basses for the past couple of days, and just wanted to gauge some thoughts please. Basses that have crossed my radar (in no particular order): - Dean Stylist (discontinued and needs better pickups, but cheap) - Takamine B10 (expenssiiiive, but LUSH looking) - Lakland Hollowbody (Expensive but solid and many fans) - Gretsch (Expensive and not quite as 'Vibey' as the Takamine) - Ibanez Artcores (they mainly look like the Deans.....any better?) - Yamaha BEX (eugh) So what are peoples thoughts and experiences on the above, and where is best to check out any other weird and wonderful Hollowbody/Archtops?, things like DeArmond & EKO, even japcrap is welcome. I know ebay, but any good search-strings to try? Oh and sunburst is a preference Cheers Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 If you've got the cash for a B10 then you could probably stretch to an original EB-2 or even a 60's Guild Starfire (the one with Hagstrom pickup(s)). Alternatively, an Epiphone Coronet can be had for big money if it's an original US one, or quite reasonable money if it's one of the very nicely made 90's reissues. I tried an EKO a couple of weeks ago (it looked a bit like a wider, more rounded violin bass) and it actually played very nicely. It was made from original 60s parts so might have squealy pickups and short lived tuners but it felt solid enough. A good price too. I've been so frustrated looking for just the right hollow bass (short scale, set neck, decent hardware and suchlike), I've now decided to make some myself. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButler Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I wanted one too, i looked at Guild Starfites, darkstared, EB-2s and the lakland. I was persuaded away from Coronados, despite them looking awesome. Personally, DeArmond Starfire would be what i'd want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 Shall check out the Starfires....although I'm guessing there's not a great deal about. The Lakland I tried was very nice indeed......but I dunno, expensive still. Takamine is a beauty, but almost definitly out of my price-range....especially just for playing about on! Cheers Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Si, the best I found.... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=67238"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=67238[/url] Bob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etienne Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 (edited) Nobody's mentioned the Epiphone Jack Casady bass so far- a very worthy contender! I've just bought one 2nd-hand, and I am seriously impressed with its gutsy sound! Can't wait to hear it with the flatwounds I plan to throw on this coming week... Just reread the first post Sibob- these [u]are[/u] available in Sunburst, but you'd probably have to buy new to get hold of one! They don't come up that often, even in the most common gold top finish... well worth it though IMO! Edited November 14, 2009 by Etienne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I have a Veillette Archtop bass arriving very soon. Unlined fretless 5 string. Can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etienne Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 [quote name='walbassist' post='654691' date='Nov 14 2009, 06:00 PM']I have a Veillette Archtop bass arriving very soon. Unlined fretless 5 string. Can't wait![/quote] Wow, that's a beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Perhaps I might suggest [url="http://tinypic.com/a/r1wm/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/r1wm/3[/url] or possibly [url="http://tinypic.com/a/r1w9/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/r1w9/3[/url] If the latter is a bit too elderly, Sir might prefer [url="http://tinypic.com/a/qvy1/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/qvy1/3[/url] If Sir is desirous of introducing a touch of colour, may I recommend [url="http://tinypic.com/a/r1wj/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/r1wj/3[/url] (suits you, Sir) I would, however, tend to avoid [url="http://tinypic.com/a/qvxu/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/qvxu/3[/url] From a studiotastic point of view I have to suggest [url="http://tinypic.com/a/yd5g/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/yd5g/3[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 How about: [url="http://www.atlansia.jp/FORTUNE.HTML"]Atlansia Fortune[/url] [url="http://www.citron-guitars.com/index.php?p=item&t=bass&id=9"]Citron Swallow[/url] [url="http://www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/335bass.html"]Eccleshall 335[/url] [url="http://www.kristallbass.com/index.php?id=25&L=%271&L=1"]Kristall Room[/url] [url="http://www.lakidwell.com/"]L A Kidwell[/url] [url="http://www.roballenguitars.com/"]Rob Allen[/url] [url="http://www.warwickbass.com/modules/produkte/produkt.php?katID=22043&cl=EN"]Warwick Starbass II[/url] or you could always look for a secondhand Gibson EB2 or the Epiphone Rivoli bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 Keep 'em coming guys Hofners are no goes.....well the violin bass style things anyway...eugh. But anything elderly looking, and I'm on a vague budget.....thats even if I decide something is a goer. The veilettes look great....but way too modern. Cool Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlitos71 Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 [quote name='Sibob' post='654771' date='Nov 14 2009, 08:17 PM']Keep 'em coming guys Hofners are no goes.....well the violin bass style things anyway...eugh. But anything elderly looking, and I'm on a vague budget.....thats even if I decide something is a goer. The veilettes look great....but way too modern. Cool Si[/quote] Hi I recently bought an Epiphone Jack Casady and love it. Have an Ibanez Artcore longscale spare now (asking £200) can post pics if you interested and you welcome to come and try it (I'm based in west London). Cheers Carlos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Etienne bought my Epi Jack Casady. And i've tried plenty of semi basses, this was the best, full stop for 'off the peg'. Intrigued by the Warwick star bass. I do wish Gibson would do an eb2d with a 34 scale though. It seems one of the 'originators' has lost grip on the bass gear recently. One day i want a 1990's eb650 or eb750 pure dirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHBASS Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I have one of the Ibanez Archtop bass (the AFB 200) the fully hollow with a traditional bridge. Replaced the stock strings with Rotosound Tru Bass 88 nylon tapewound strings, and she sounds like a really dub machine! Pump up the treble (this is the only bass that I've ever had the desire to push the treble up to 10!), and you get a really nice in the middle, mellow sound. Worth the £20 extra, and slight work on the nut. But I love this bass, reliable, beautiful, and sounds great! It has twin humbuckers by the way. Ive tried out the Jack Cassidy as well, and couldn't get my head round the pick-up impedance switch, it didn't seem to change the sound much (im sure someone can explain this!), but the bass really breathed quality, and the gold sparkle finish...simply divine! Enjoy, hope I helped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 The Aria TAB-66 looks quite nice, budget hollowbody lol. Anyone tried?. Apparently it's laminated with archtop back & sides......is it gonna be badly constructed?. Like I said, I'm on a budget, so old Japcrap would be fine, and cheap but nice/upgradable basses are good. If there's nothing that is worth going for cheaply, I think the Lakland is really top of the budget (although I wish I could justify the Takamine by having a band to play it in haha) Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 Check out the Epiphone Zenith....looks very nice in Natural (much nicer than the black): [url="http://img690.imageshack.us/i/ptriumphfretlessna.jpg/"][/url] [url="http://g.imageshack.us/img690/ptriumphfretlessna.jpg/1/"][/url] Thought I'd also post a pic of the Takamine, cos it's lush....just too expensive without a band justification: [url="http://img137.imageshack.us/i/tb10lg.jpg/"][/url] [url="http://g.imageshack.us/img137/tb10lg.jpg/1/"][/url] The Jack Cassidy also looks nice, but I dunno, only in Sunburst, and it doesn't look like they're about at all Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 [quote name='Sibob' post='655127' date='Nov 15 2009, 01:50 PM']The Aria TAB-66 looks quite nice, budget hollowbody lol. Anyone tried?. Apparently it's laminated with archtop back & sides......is it gonna be badly constructed?. Like I said, I'm on a budget, so old Japcrap would be fine, and cheap but nice/upgradable basses are good. If there's nothing that is worth going for cheaply, I think the Lakland is really top of the budget (although I wish I could justify the Takamine by having a band to play it in haha) Si[/quote] Most 'true' archtop electrics are laminated - EB-2, Rivoli, Starfire etc. and none the worse for it. In fact there are plenty of jazz guitarists who prefer laminated archtops over solid carved spruce/maple because of its' crisper sound and lack of feedback. I'm sure the same's true for any bass with magnetic pickups, maybe more so. Also bear in mind allot of hollow guitars are actually semi hollow, including all the above, the TAB and most 'normal' electric basses with acoustic chambers routed in. The Lakland's properly hollow but has a mega thick maple top and back so none of them will sound like a vintage Benedetto. Don't let laminate tops put you off - 4 grand vintage ES335s are just as laminated as the Aria is. The TAB is pretty nicely made and sounds OK (you can always change the electrics) and normally go quite cheap. The only reason I don't own one is they're 34" scale. If that's OK with you then I'd check one out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) Hofner Committee or Club Bass? Framus? Or this Hagstrom - a skinny-necked Coronado 'homage'. [url="http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/hagstromConcordBass.php"]http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/hagstromConcordBass.php[/url] I reckon Japcrap's the way forward. Here's the Univox badged version of my first ever Bass - £35 in 1975: Edited November 15, 2009 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 [quote name='skankdelvar' post='655209' date='Nov 15 2009, 02:42 PM']Hofner Committee ...[/quote] Bwahahahaha!!! Apart from the two true McCartney basses (The 1962 500/1 and the 1963 500/1) the Hofner Committee bass is the single rarest and most valuable Hofner out there. I spent years collecting these things and in all that time saw ONE appear on eBay and ... erm ... that's it. I've never seen one in the flesh. A Hofner Committee is even more valuable than a genuine 1959 'Sutcliffe' 500/5 like this one: [url="http://tinypic.com/a/r1w9/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/r1w9/3[/url] I sold a Hofner Senator (that's the 500/3) for £400 last year. That's as cheap as a vintage Hofner gets these days. A decent President (500/5) or Verithin (500/7) will set you back at least double that figure. No, your suggestion of going with JapCrap works best. Get an old Antoria or Commodore for £200/£300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Mosrite made some GREAT basses. Mosrite made some semi-acoustic basses. Regrettably, they're not always the same thing: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1960s-Mosrite-bass-guitar-semi-acoustic_W0QQitemZ250482643987QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3a51edd413"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1960s-Mosrit...=item3a51edd413[/url] Even its own Mother would struggle to find anything nice to say about this dog's dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 got to swing i with a plus the one on the jack casady... amazing bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) how about this little gem it's an Epiphone Allen Woody signature Rumblekat. semi hollow body,arch top & very nice it is too. (excuse the crap photo's they are the best i could manage now it's dark) it is a lovely bass & sounds propper thunderous. 30.5 " scale & only 4 weeks old. it has the propper Epiphone fitted hardcase with it too. i had no intention of selling it but i accidently bought an EBMM Stingray yesterday (you know like you do ) Edited November 15, 2009 by artisan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 [url="http://www.duesenberg.de/"]Duesenberg[/url] Starplayer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 But +1 on a reissue Guild or DeArmond Starfire but replace the stock humbucker pickups with Dark Stars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retroman Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Love the old EB2's If you fancy an EB2 on a budget, how about one of the reissue Epiphone Rivoli's from the late 90's? They came in sunburst, and can be had for sensible money off Ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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