Rubbersoul Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I have a real love for semi-hollow guitars and basses. I am currently drooling overt the Hagstrom viking: [url="http://www.hagstromguitars.eu/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=101&category_id=25&Itemid=23"]http://www.hagstromguitars.eu/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=101&category_id=25&Itemid=23[/url] My queries are thus: has anyone got one? What's the shorter scale like to play? Can it handle high volume with overdrive without feeding back like a banshee? Thanks for your help, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbersoul Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 No thoughts? i'm in a genuine quandry here. I have no place to try one of these myself - there's no stockists in Northern Ireland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I've never played the Hagstrom but I have used other semi-hollow basses. Is the Hagstrom semi-hollow or fully hollow, i.e. does it have a centre block? I wouldn't be at all surprised to find them feeding back at high volume with overdrive but I've never played one in that way. If it's fully hollow then it's more likely to feedback. It is possible to stuff them with cotton wool or foam but then why have a hollow in the first place. Shorter scale basses tend to have more of the fundamental note and less overtones and so might be described as sounding darker. However, they don't all sound the same and it's quite possible to change the tone by use of different strings, fingers or pick, playing near bridge or near fingerboard, use of EQ, etc. They also tend to be fast players because your fingers have less far to go. You really do need to try one. Is there nowhere in NI that stocks some kind of hollow or semi-hollow even if it's not a Hagstrom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFingers Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 You have to watch out for the tailpiece. There is a flaw in the designflaw, making that the strings pull itself out of the slots, taking the steel anchors with them. It happens once in a while. The CS from Hagström is good, so when that happens, you can get a replacement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) Good afternoon, Rubbersoul... From the moniker I would have expected you to already be familiar with hollow basses (Hofner 500/1..?). I, too, both in guitars and basses, favourise hollow or semi, with their characteristic advantages and inconveniences. The 'up' side is their low weight and (typically...) more 'woody' sound, especially with either flats or black nylon-taped strings (for bass...). The 'down' side is the propensity for howling like a banshee. The references here are, for me, Jack Casady, with the Epiphone Signature model; imho one of the best instruments around. Phil Lesh used a Guild Starfire for a while with Grateful Dead, Bill Wyman had a similar bass at the start of the Stones; there are others. The feedback problems are akin to those encountered with the upright bass (less so with semi-hollows, but the principles are the same...). Personally I find that to be rather an advantage, and one can 'play' the feedback and sensitivity as part and parcel of the instrument. Again, it's Jack who takes the biscuit for this ('[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3vo4OoXkXk"]A child is coming[/url]', from 'Blows against the Empire'...). I'm not sure that Lemmy would be the same with a hollow Ricky, but the Airplane were not 'soft', either, so it can be done. I play a vintage Hofner Verithin bass, which is fully hollow, but the [url="http://www.hofner-guitars.com/electric-basses/verythin-bass/verythin-bass-ct.html"]Verythin reissue[/url] presently in their catalogue is a semi (and very good...), as is the [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/hoefner_hctcbsb_clubbass.htm?sid=15ea2679c91cf1154ade83a7a96233c9"]Club model[/url]. The Club may be heard here...[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZfPXXQs_Qg"]Air, La Femme d'Argent, Live[/url], although I suspect this to be the fully hollow version. There is also a re-edition of the [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/hoefner_hct_500_5_sb_president_bass.htm"]500/5 'President' bass[/url]; semi-hollow too. No experience with the [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Hagström[/font][/color], sorry, but I recommend semis and hollows. They are different, and have weaknesses, but their qualities, imho, overcome these. Hope this helps... Edited August 26, 2012 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I don't have experience with the Hagstrom either (never saw a lefty in real life) but I have owned an Italia Torino for a while that I really liked [IMG]http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f74/de_slager/Italia%20Torino%20Bass/DSC02808small.jpg[/IMG] All hardware and pickups are Wilkinson, the design is by Trevor Wilkinson too (he's the man behind Italia) but they're made in Korea. Very well-made, looks very appealing (fully bound, although it's hard to see in this cream finish), plays great and sounds great, and because of the long distance between the bridge and the tailpiece you can use any longscale string. I did need to place a piece of foam beneath the tailpiece to stop the string ends from resonating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 There is a dedicated website; http://www.hollowbodybass.com/ - but I don't think it's been updated in a couple of years! Haven't tried the Hagstrom, but there seem to be some very nice designs around at the moment from Epiphone (Jack Casady, Rumblekat and Allen Woody), Gretsch re-issues, Ibanez, Hofner, and Italia (as above). Definitely something special about semi hollow / semi acoustics both tonally and aesthetically - I love my 2 Gibson EB-2's ('58 and '69 "D") but it took me a while to find a really nice long scale one - eventually picked up an '85 Gordon Smith Galaxy (since gone, but if you ever see one snap it up....), and crrent squeeze; late '80's Steve Smith / Goodfellow custom "EB-2" with big Bartolinis. Determined to own an old Ric 4005 before I hang up my bass for good though..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I quite like DiPinto's... [url="http://www.dipintoguitars.com/product.php?id=11"]http://www.dipintoguitars.com/product.php?id=11[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 There's a review of the Hagstrom Viking here [url="http://www.guitarmagazine.co.uk/reviews/hagstrom-viking-bass/"]www.guitarmagazine.co.uk/reviews/hagstrom-viking-bass/[/url]. In the 1960s I lusted over a Hagstrom 12-string guitar, but with the lack of continuity, the modern Hagstrom doesn't have the same appeal for me. I've got an Epi Jack Casady, which is long scale and works well in a rock band and is similar money - cheaper if you buy used. Mani is playing one on the Stone Roses tour and there's loads of videos on Youtube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) If you do want a hollow body bass I can recommend the Yamaha Bex. I don't think they're made anymore but they do come up on sale pre-owned from time to time. The usual excellent Yamaha quality. It has a piezo pickup under the bridge as well as the electro-magnetic soap bar, with a pan knob to blend both so it can do a wide range of tones. Mine is called Mavis. Edited August 27, 2012 by Len_derby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I'm with you for hollow bodies. I love [url="http://snd.sc/iD9Nk0"]my 1965 Guild Starfire[/url]: ...and my guild nightingale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 [quote name='krysh' timestamp='1346071285' post='1784818'] I'm with you for hollow bodies. I love [url="http://snd.sc/iD9Nk0"]my 1965 Guild Starfire[/url]: ...and my guild nightingale. [/quote] Now that IS tasty - proper Hagstrom bisonic p/ups and all...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 [quote name='krysh' timestamp='1346071285' post='1784818'] I'm with you for hollow bodies. I love [url="http://snd.sc/iD9Nk0"]my 1965 Guild Starfire[/url] [/quote] Very nice. I used to have one of the DeArmond reisssues with the Hammon Dark Stars fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dincz Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Had this Vox Cougar since 1970. Light, skinny neck, sounds a bit like elastic bands. Not my photo but identical to mine. Edited August 28, 2012 by dincz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbersoul Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 Thanks for the feedback guys. I must actually look into some of the others - the Epi should be available somewhere in NI at least. I'm a bit scared to order one off the net without trying but I really really want one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I've got a modern hofner violin bass. It's semi hollow and has la bella flats on it. Sounds amazing. Goes thump!! Highly recommended. It's a shame I don't get enough chances to use it live Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I had a 1960s Hofner Violin Bass with original case. It sounded like someone kicking a dustbin compared to my Rickenbacker, so I sold it for 15 quid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 [quote name='GregBass' timestamp='1346229441' post='1786639'] I had a 1960s Hofner Violin Bass with original case. It sounded like someone kicking a dustbin compared to my Rickenbacker, so I sold it for 15 quid [/quote] right on!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I'd love an Epi Jack Cassady myself, or one of the Warwick hollowbodies. I love hollowbody guitars (Particularly the Taylor T5) so i want to give a proper hollowbody bass a good test out too. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I've played a Warwick Starbass and i can say it's one of the best sounding basses i had the pleasure to play and it was one of the two Warwick basses that i've ever heard pumping a tone that i liked (the other was an old Streamer Stage II). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 An optimist would call them 'Semi-Solid' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fretbuzz Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I fancy a hagstrom but not sure about buying one in Germany if there is a design fault... :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 [quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1346236184' post='1786753'] I fancy a hagstrom but not sure about buying one in Germany if there is a design fault... :-( [/quote] Why Germany? Soundslive has a black one for £449. Though the Cherry ones seem to be a bit cheaper in Germany. But Thomann will give you a 3 year warranty and send a courier to collect it at their cost if there's a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fretbuzz Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Ace..... I bought my fender from them because of quick availability but when you factor in a visa charge it was about the same as the uk.... I bought my squire p bass package from them too and they did replace a faulty lead straight away so they do seem good... Was thinking of the cherry but I'll probably get a TSB at some stage ... I'll check out uk prices first :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I use my Hofner Verithin bass all the time now. I read a lot of negativity around short scale basses but having tried one it is now my go to bass. I like the look of the Hagstrom stuff and used to own a Jack Cassady bass. I haven't suffered from GAS for years so I'm sticking with the Hofner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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