I just couldn't help it, Proty! We made another trip to Woodwind Brasswind this week and spent some more money. My youngest son's birthday is in April and since I was on vacation this week we decided that we would let my son pick out a bass for his present. He played until he was tired of playing. He played basses that where in the under 6 bills range. My son has always had a fondness for the Hofner violin bodied Beatle bass. After comparing the two violin basses in stock he decided on the Epiphone Viola. The Hofner lacked some qualities that the Epi had. The fit and finish on the Hofner was very cheap to say the least, rough fret ends, junky small tuners, cheap switches and poor tone, not to mention it was 70 dollars more. The Epi is a beautiful instrument,and the deep tone doesn't fulminate, but it does shake yer innards. The workmanship on the binding is perfect and the wood is tiger stripe or "flame" maple. Check out these picks, He's a happy camper!!
Deep fulminated Epi bass sound?
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Mar 29, 2008 9:38 p.m. bobcat:
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Mar 29, 2008 9:39 p.m. bobcat:
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Mar 29, 2008 9:39 p.m. bobcat:
Front
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Mar 29, 2008 9:40 p.m. bobcat:
back
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Mar 29, 2008 9:42 p.m. bobcat:
Purdy and it sounds real purdy2
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Mar 29, 2008 11:39 p.m. Proteus:
How old is he, bobcat? In the second two pics he reeks of rock & roll attitude. Reckon you'd better watch out or he'll be bringin' the house down.
The bass looks fine!
My bass player has a Beatle bass of some description, though I've never heard it. He's always played a solidbody with the band, and I've given him an ultimatum: either the hollow or a Rick 4003.
Did WoodBrass still have a blonde 6122-12 string? Not that I can afford one, but it's still kinda on the list...
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Mar 30, 2008 1:32 a.m. dubkitty:
there are two different Hofner Beatle basses...the one you saw in the shop was the low-end one. i had the opportunity to play one of the pro-grade Hofners (which cost about $2000 US), and it was a fantastic instrument, the only short-scale bass i've ever played that didn't get all mushy on the low string. really, the only short-scale bass i ever liked.
said it before, say it again: if you avoid the bottom-end (no pun intended) of the Epiphone line, the mid- and high-grade Epis are fantastic, way better than a lot of the major-brand guitars i played back in the day.
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Mar 30, 2008 8:33 a.m. jukebox:
Way to go bobcat! I just bought one made by Douglas. I can't wait to get it home and here it!And your son does reek R&R!
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Mar 30, 2008 9:23 a.m. Jeff O(nly My Opinion):
Way to be a cool dad, bobcat.
I hope to be that way, too, 13 years from now when my son is 15. As it stands right now, I'm sitting right next to a Gretsch Setzer and a 1962 Fender Twin Amp that I can't play because he is 2, and I promised my wife no amps on when the kids are in the house.
I'm not gonna have deaf kids and guilty feeling.
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Mar 30, 2008 12:39 p.m. jukebox:
Jeff just get them ear pluggs! They will thank you later. Maybe,just maybe your wife will forgive you then also!
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Mar 30, 2008 5:57 p.m. bobcat:
Hey, Proty, the natural 12 string is still there and I betcha you could get it for a song. I learned some disturbing news about WB. They are closing down their warehouse. They have been bought by MF and the warehouse will be the MF warehouse in Kansas City. I asked one of the managers if they would still have the large selection of Gretsch that they have now, he said that he did not believe so. He said they would be able to order anything that MF sells. I could accomplish that myself! The thing that I appreciated about WB was that you could try all the guitars and make an educated choice. I guess I will have to make the trek to Sweetwater in FT. Wayne to actually play Gretsch guitars. Dubkitty why for you want to rain on our parade? We know that Hofner makes an expensive bass! We also know that products change, look at the Gretsch upgrade in quality! I buy instruments with my ears and eyes, and this lil sucker sounds great and looks great. I have played Epi guitars that sounded like mud that where from the mid priced line. I thought after playing everything in the store he might take a chance on the Epi and are we glad that he did! He played Fender Mex P basses, Gibson SG bass{on sale for 8 bills}, Epi Jack Cassidy, Gretsch basses, 3 of those, which we could not even think of affording, Hoffner, Depinto, ect. If you haven't tried one of these Epi Violas lately you might be surprised. The one thing I do know is that the kid is kicking butt on his new bass and it sounds great with my Gretsch guitars.
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Mar 30, 2008 6:05 p.m. bobcat:
Jeff O, thanks for the props, My kids didn't want to play with their ole Dad until they were 13 and 16 years old!?!? My wife was the same and still is! She always screams we are too loud, what a buzz kill. I guess the trick is to just keep playing music around your kids and they will want to do it too. I always say, enjoy them when they are little, cause they grow up fast and get big and hairy and stinky and always want money and new running shoes. I always say that, Yep old guy babble, Later......
Dad
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Mar 31, 2008 11:56 a.m. dubkitty:
no intent to rain on parade...just noting that there's a better Hofner. like i meant to say above, i don't doubt that the Epi bass is good...it might have been more precise to say that they have certain models which are killer, e.g. some of their Les Paul models are superior to others. one way i judge whether affordable instruments are any good is by seeing what shows up used at Starving Musician, which has two locations near me and buys a load of used instruments...i figure that the instruments that people are dumping is an indication of their quality. the only Epis i see there are the LP Jr. style with that awful "humbucking P-90" in, the cheapest of the SG variants, a couple of the 1990s/early Oughties 2-humbucker archtops, and the Thunderbird bass. nobody sells the Casady, Allen Woody, or viola bass models, or the Epi Pauls (by comparison, i believe there are four Agile Paul-esques in the Santa Clara store now). i would love to get one of those Allen Woody basses myself, which i suspect would knock down buildings with nylon-tape strings on.
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Mar 31, 2008 8:34 p.m. Jeff O(nly My Opinion):
The last 2 times I stopped in Sweetwater, they have a very limited guitar selection. I believe only 1 or 2 Gretsch's.
This was right after their move to new digs about a year ago, so maybe they've put more Gretsch's on the floor.
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Apr 1, 2008 8:01 p.m. bobcat:
Yah, Jeff, They had 5 of em a hangin on the wall. I made myself comfortable and played a beautiful 6120 in amber flame, SWEEEET. Sweetwater doesn't have a big showroom like WB. I guess by now I know what I like and will order from one of the sponsors the next time. Dub I liked that Jack Casady, I saw one being played at the Grand Ole Opry last week. I thought it had an interesting set up with the veritone switch. My son thought it was ugly. Oh well, like I said, he was jonesin for a violin style bass.
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Apr 2, 2008 10:57 p.m. ConfuciusKickstand:
I can testify as brother to the son of bobkat, that even though my usual musical tastes voyage far from the beatles, into the wierd and wonderful realms of prog-rock, this bass sounds AWESOME! I was surprised because I have NEVER played an Epiphone guitar that I did not absolutely HATE!
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Dec 7, 2008 11:17 a.m. 51dblduece:
I owned an Epi viola for a short time and traded it for Tele. It was a nice bass. light, great looking, good sound. In recent years I've got a T-bird which is great bass and an LP Special, also a keeper. It's nice to be able to buy some new gear after so many years.
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Dec 7, 2008 11:30 a.m. Tsar Nicholas :
We have an Epi Viola in my house, my bass player used it for a good while and it's just a smashing little bass altogether.
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Dec 7, 2008 3:00 p.m. AndyJ:
My bass player is using my bass rig right now of an Epi Viola, played through a Vox T-60. Strung with flats and played with a pick, it really nails that McCartney-esque tone. Great little basses.
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Dec 9, 2008 7:55 a.m. cielski:
I bought my ProJet from WB. I was amazed when they had to ship it---not in stock. It came from MF. That was a year ago. WB's warehouse has been empty for quite some time now. Sorry to see them go from "The World's Largest Music Store" to this. The showroom is amazing---something for everyone. They started out as a 20'X 30' storefront in a South Bend neighborhood that sold only brass and woodwinds, plus a few classical guitars. They had stores in New York and Paris. then they bought Music 123/online business. Apparently something didn't work out and here we are. I've enjoyed doing business with those folks. It's a great operation. I just hope they keep it going.
Bobcat---are you in greater Hoosierland?
