SEMI-HOLLOW

[cliffcronie]

i might get a custom semi-hollow bass made in the future and i want to know some info about semi's....like sound,ect.


thx for your responses

[bassist_25]

The "Beatle Bass" (aka: Hofner Viola) is probably the most popular semi-hollow bass. A lot of guys like the sounds of semi-hollows with flatwounds. They get a real thumpy timbre out of them, which sounds similar to early Paul McCartney (pre-Wings/pre-Rickenbacker). Though some of the guys I've heard play them with roundwounds can get a very pianoesque tone from them. They're obviously not the right basses to pull off Victor Wooten type of tapping and slapping stuff, but they do have a very cool vibe about them.

This probably goes without saying, but just make sure that the bass you get has a pickguard, even if you're not primarily a pick player. If you are a pick player, you will eventually wear a hole into the body without a guard. Even pizzicato style could eventually put a hole in it.

[BassFinger]

Lakland basses has some sound samples of their semi-hollow bass on this page.

http://www.lakland.com/multimedia/ac_hollowbody.htm

[MeYatch]

The dude from The Cure played a semi hollow bass.

[bassist_25]

Lakland basses has some sound samples of their semi-hollow bass on this page.

http://www.lakland.com/multimedia/ac_hollowbody.htm

I always thought that there was something really understated about Laklands. They have some really nice designs, and even the Skylines are excellent quality.

[MeYatch]

I've never been a very big fan of lakland stuff, the only "designs" of theirs that I really like are the rip offs of fender stuff.
I listened to a couple samples on there and I had a hard time really differentiating between different basses. To be fair I really only listened to the "Punk Pick Rounds" sample. (cool tune, except for the horrible midi guitar/horns, whatever it was supposed to be)

I've been looking at semi hollows for a few months now, I think I'll probably get one eventually. The ones that really flip my switch are the old japanese knock offs. For some reason that fits perfectly with what I envision a semi hollow bass being.

I read an interview with a studio player who played for Beck (I think) and he was singing the praises of a semi hollow and a real low fi tone.



I'm curious if you really think you could wear a hole in your bass from playing with a pick? I've had my P bass for years and the only mark on it is from a time I El Kabonged it off of something (mad at an exgirlfriend)

I don't know what lakland (or any other semi hollow manufacturer) finishes their instruments with, but Fender Polyurethane is tough as nails.

[bassist_25]

I'm curious if you really think you could wear a hole in your bass from playing with a pick? I've had my P bass for years and the only mark on it is from a time I El Kabonged it off of something (mad at an exgirlfriend)

I'm sure that construction material has a lot to do with the durability of the instrument, but next time you see a live performance of Willie Nelson, look at his guitar. Sure, it's rough looking from all of the signatures he's had carved in it, but there's a hole right in the body from playing it with a pick. It's a nylon stringed guitar and wasn't meant to be played with with a plectrum. The last live performance I saw of Paul McCartney, you could see right where he hed wore a hole into his Hofner. They make acoustic and hollow-bodied electrics without pickguards, but if I were primarily a pick player looking at buying one to be played on a regular basis, I wouldn't get one unless it had a pickguard. But I'm 95% a pizzicato player, so it really wouldn't be too big of a deal if it didn't have a pickguard...but then again, I'm into the hifi, modern bass sound, so I doubt I'll ever buy a semi-hollow, so it's a moot point for me anyways.

As far as what basses we'd all like to purchase, I'm back on my "I want a Warwick like I want to be able to breath oxygen" kick again. Damn you, lack of funds!!!

[metalchurch]

I'm sure those guys had their stuff for many years in order to wear a hole in the top of their Bass.

[bassist_25]

True, it's not going to happen over night, but it's still something to take into consideration when purchasing an instrument.

[metalchurch]

Very true Paul, just seemed kind of odd to me. I won't be getting a semi-hollow any time soon. Although I did see a Jackson King V in the Emporium and got a Semi, does that count?

[MeYatch]

I'm sure that construction material has a lot to do with the durability of the instrument, but next time you see a live performance of Willie Nelson, look at his guitar. Sure, it's rough looking from all of the signatures he's had carved in it, but there's a hole right in the body from playing it with a pick. It's a nylon stringed guitar and wasn't meant to be played with with a plectrum. The last live performance I saw of Paul McCartney, you could see right where he hed wore a hole into his Hofner. They make acoustic and hollow-bodied electrics without pickguards, but if I were primarily a pick player looking at buying one to be played on a regular basis, I wouldn't get one unless it had a pickguard. But I'm 95% a pizzicato player, so it really wouldn't be too big of a deal if it didn't have a pickguard...but then again, I'm into the hifi, modern bass sound, so I doubt I'll ever buy a semi-hollow, so it's a moot point for me anyways.

I'd guess paul mccartney's hoffner and willie nelson's instruments are probably finished in nitrocellulose laquer, which is much easier to damage than newer polyurethane finishes. But like I said, I don't know what lakland, or any other current semi hollow manufacturer uses, but I know nitrocellulose damages way easier. Ricky's 2 year old Gibson looks worse than my 10 year old Fender.

Also, I'd say citing willie nelson is unfair, Accoustic guitars are way way thinner than any semi hollow bass is going to be.

As far as what basses we'd all like to purchase, I'm back on my "I want a Warwick like I want to be able to breath oxygen" kick again. Damn you, lack of funds!!!

Given up on that 5 string rick?

[bassist_25]

I think if I get a 5 string Rickenbacker, it's going to be a 4004. I dig the modern look. Though you can never go wrong with the classic 4001/4003 Rics.

There was once a time when Fenders were notrious for having finishes that flaked off after a few years. I think that it may have had something to do with the primer, but I could be wrong. Paul, you out there? You're the resident guitar painter guy. Could you shed some light on the old Fender finishes?

[RamRod 1]

bassist_25 said

"There was once a time when Fendwere notrious for having finishesers that flaked off after a few years."

Any idea what years that might have been?

I've got a "74" Precission which appears to have a "Polyurethane" finish. I think maybe "74" might have been a transitional year to the polyurethane finishes. Although the woodgrain got darker, the finish is still clear with no checking.

(And maybe that's the problem with polyurethane finishes). I bought an "Squire Tele" a couple years ago for 169 bucks and tried to antique the thing by putting it in the freezer for a few days and then putting it over a heater to "check" the finish and the project was a total failure. NO CHECKING!

[metalchurch]

RamRod, that process that you did with the freezer and the heater sounds like a good idea. Did it ever work successfully with another project? I've never heard of that, but it certainly makes sense to me. How many times did you repeat the process? I know Fender's custom shop has secrets about aging finishes, but they hoard their ideas. I haven't read too much on the subject.
Here are some of my favoriate guitar sites:
projectguitar.com
edromanguitars
stewmac.com

There's alot of great tips and mods that are useful. Alot of them go step by step.
If anyone has any others, please post them.

[P MAC]

The best way to "stress" the finish on a guitar or bass is to play the hell out of it. !!! ???? Also regarding wearing a hole in a P Bass, it can and does happen. I have a '69 road dog that has a trench about 1/4 inch deep and 3 inches long just above the pick guard where i plant my thumb. I also have worn a hole through the top edge of pickup covers from planting there! I also have a '74 P bass that, although not as far gone as the '69, has many interesting usage scars and is developing a similar trench pattern above the pick guard.

I once played with a guitar player named "Crazy Joe" from DC who had a Strat whose body would fall into two pieces if the hardware was removed ( split from neck pocket to tail ). He claimed that it had stopped a bullet during a particularly wild night of jamming. I wonder if the custom shop guys know that trick?

[slink]

I once played with a guitar player named "Crazy Joe" from DC who had a Strat whose body would fall into two pieces if the hardware was removed ( split from neck pocket to tail ). He claimed that it had stopped a bullet during a particularly wild night of jamming. I wonder if the custom shop guys know that trick?

This has to be the same Crazy Joe that Louie Brumbaugh played with, they both were insane. Together it was like Loonie Tunes meets R&R.
Did Joe play his fairy tale for ya?

[RamRod 1]

RamRod, that process that you did with the freezer and the heater sounds like a good idea. Did it ever work successfully with another project?

Someone that knows a lot more than me told me what to do but I think I know why it failed. I did my best to get the Polyurethane off the guitar but it wouldn't come completely off. I used stripper and sanded and thought that it might be off but when I stained it over and over, it wouldn't get any darker. I sprayed on nitrocellulous laquer aparently over the polyurthane so nothing checked.

Normally the nitrocelluous laquer will check very nicely that way and then if you want to, you can get something like "brown shoe polish" and rub it over the finish and into the cracks. Then wipe it clean and it will really look "vintage".

Another tip: The old fender finger boards had the nitrocellulose finish which would wear off where they were played like Eric Clapton's old Strat. Do a neck with nitrocellulose ( You'll have to tape up the frets) and then take a pencil eraser with real fine sand paper over it and rub spots off the fretboard where the fingers play. You can get a picture of an old Strat and copy the "pattern". Then with minimal playing the spots will get dirty and look vintage and convincing.

And NO I don't sell them on "ebay" but I'll bet some people do! LOL