About
Hello, my name is Brandon. I have an addiction…………
I’ve got a thing for hollowbody basses. Something about the body shapes, the f-holes - the ‘plunkiness’ of the vintage stuff. The full sound of modern hollow and chambered basses.
And they’re just so darned sexy.
The goal of this site is to have an archive of every hollowbody bass ever produced. My intial focus is production instruments, although eventually the custom stuff will find its way into the archive. Until the archive goes live (in part or whole), I plan to make at least semi-regular posts to the blog on the homepage.
So stop by regularly, or grab the RSS feed. If you’re a hollowbody bassist and want to share your bass or collection with the readers, shoot me an email (the link is in the top left) or post a comment here. Also, if you’ve got a gear question that I might be able to answer, just ask.
-Brandon
Starfighter John said,
I really enjoyed your site. I have liked hollowbodies for years, but there always seemed to be too few bass hollowbody axes. I got one last summer on ebay by Washburn. The price was right and after a short trip to the luthier to tighten up the neck, it works great. If you want a pic, let me know.
John
Starfighter John said,
One other thing, I’ve been looking for a Hollowbody made in the sixties by Kay or Teisco. It had a double-cutaway but not like an Epiphone Casino. It was like an SG, but as I said hollowbody. I haven’t seen that bass in years, but I’d probably go in debt just to get my hands on a good one. 
John
EricF said,
A hollowbody bass player to check out: Robert Turner of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. He plays EB-2s and Rivolis exclusively, and has one of the biggest overdriven bass tones around.
http://www.blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com/tourarchive/view.php?id=aee22b32cbc4f7fccf667e0e66c7ed7f
Brandon said,
Eric - Glad to see another fan of Robert Turner/Been. I’m pretty familiar with his work. He along with Carlos D of Interpol are the reasons I got back into bass playing a few years back. Seeing them live was a near religious experience. The best club show I’ve seen, hands down.
I got a chance to look at his smaller pedal board (used for the backup bassist on the HOWL tour). His signal chain is a Boss TU-2 -> Big Muff -> Ibanez Tubescremer TS-9 -> Boss Delay Pedal.
At some point (maybe even this weekend) I’ll do a write up on Robert. He’s part of the reason I started this site!
Jake said,
Hey Brandon,
Nice site man. I thought I’d drop you a line. Bill Moll is building a semi-hollow archtop 34″ scale bass for me. Maple top, back and sides, maple neck with a 22 fret ebony fretboard, 2 Kent armstrong pups, a piezo and control for just volume/ blend and a floating bridge. Mr. Moll builds some incredible instruments. This thing should be a real beast once it’s finished. Seems like something you might be into. I’ll send some pics when he starts building it.
check out www.mollinst.com
Brandon said,
Hi Jake! Thanks for stopping by and for commenting. I’m not familiar with Moll, but it sounds like you’ll have an awesome bass once he’s done. Keep us updated on your instrument’s progress.
Which Kent Armstrong pickups will you be using?
Vincent Soleil said,
Hi !
What a great idea to create this hollow boby bass site…
I’m really a big fan of hollow body’s basses, and i’m sure we’re not alone;
I know another hollow body bass player… Mister Simon Gallup from The Cure.
He ’s been using HB basses from 1986 (87) to 1995 (i think).
you can check some picture about him and his HB basses here…
http://www.forgottencolors.com/tiki-index.php?page=Gibson-EB-2-EB-2D
http://www.forgottencolors.com/tiki-index.php?page=Dick-Knight-Custom-Bass
http://www.forgottencolors.com/tiki-index.php?page=Epiphone-Jack-Casady-Signature
http://www.forgottencolors.com/tiki-index.php?page=Guild-Starfire-II
He regulary use theses basses for some song in their Live sets… probably in open tuning.
If i went to your site, it’s just because i’m searching a HB Bass for the future… In my search on Internet, i’ve seen nice basses, but I cant’ deceide myself wich one I’ll get (’cause of money, and wanting to get a real cool good sounding bass…).
I’ve seen these models :
http://www.italiaguitars.com/bassDetail_outer.php
I really like the Torino bass (except this blue colour…) they are made in Korea, with an italian 50’s Style…
And the one that gets me on my knees is the Duesenberg Star Bass :
http://www.fredguitar.com/fgp/duesenberg/guitares/starbass.htm
You can also check this viola bass http://www.fredguitar.com/fgp/duesenberg/guitares/violin.htm
These duesenberg are made like tanks…
i’ve never seen or heard one, I know by the internet, only twoo bands who play with the starbass… but the reviews for their guitar all say that it’s just perfect !! The starbass costs 1 200 Euros… must be good for this price.
In a cheapest way, i’ve just bought this Egmond Bass 7 on ebay http://www.guitare-village.com/basses_matos_72.php
When I got it, i had the idea to take it to a luthier (like we say in french)… to give her a new life… but the chords are really to close to each other, and I must control my right hand to much to play it… I think I’m gonna buy it when i will receive the hollow body of my life…
Egmond is known to be a really cheap Holland Manufacturer… but this bass sounds cool ! Or I ‘m a cheap guy… ;o)
And to finish my roman, check this Girl Guitar Company…
http://www.daisyrock.fr/products/stardust/retroH_bass.htm
I Hope I was not to bouring, and that my english is good enough to be understood ;o)
I’m really really excitetd by your site, and put it’s into my Favorites RIGHT NOW !!!!
See you…
Vincent Soleil
Donovan Barroso said,
Great site.
I love hollow bodies. I own and play a Reverend Rumblefish, 2 Dano Longhorns and an Ibanez AB200.
See my unusual Ibanez here : http://www.gospel.bo.it/thumbnails.php?album=435
Casa Rockt! said,
.. weil ich auch einen Besitze…
Hier ein Link auf ein Blog, das sich ausschließlich mit Hollowbody-Bässen beschäftigt. Gute Dinge brauchen ihr eigenes Blog
……
Jeff said,
hey, I just got a gibson eb-2 but it didnt come with a case. I’m having a real hard time find a gig bag that it will fit in online. any suggestions?
Brandon said,
Jeff - I’m afraid I’m not much help (luckily, my EB-2 has its case), although I will be shopping for one for in the near future (I’m building an EB-esque parts bass). If I come across any good ones I’ll be sure to post it.
emblymouse said,
Hey! I’m waiting for a Lakland Skyline HB w/ Dark Stars to be completed, and in the meantime I’m noticing a growing hollow feeling in my gut/soul. I’m trying to be patient, but I keep almost bidding on eBay (today, a 60’s Hofner Violin knockoff that had ‘CustomBuilt’ on the headstock) Whew, someone else got it. I innocently ran into a vintage Gretsch Country Gentleman whilst visiting a local music shop-conspiracy! This site is great but not helping. Will I be satisfied when I get my Lakland? Or will I still be pining for that old EKO I used to have in my youth?
Signed,
Semi Empty
Brandon said,
emblymouse - once you’ve got the bug, it’s hard to overcome. Although a Lakland HB w/ Dark Stars is definately a good way to curtail the GAS.
But once you’ve got the long scale Lakland, then you’ll need a short scale full hollowbody. And then a full scale semi-hollow. And then a short scale semi-hollow. And let’s not forget the 32″ scale variations. And then you’ll need one from each country that ever made hollowbodies - Japan, Korea, China, Germany, Czech Republic, US, Canada, England, France, etc etc. Then you’ll just HAVE to have some in different finishes. Oh, and than maybe a boutique model like a Drozd Barcelona. Heck, even a super-rare model like a Gibson EB-750 or a custom shop ES-5 bass.
I’m not helping, am I?
emblymouse said,
Hmmm, what do you know about Baldwins?There are 2 on eBay right now. 704’s?
Dan Weber said,
Brandon,
I have a few hollowbody basses I’d could send picsfor your archive: Rick Turner Renaissance ‘O’ series sunburst fretless 5, Charvel Surfcaster acoustic bass, and a 79′ Rickenbacker Jetglo 4005. The Charvel is a real sleeper, great neck and playability, although I truly has piezo type elctronics….
beatlebassbabe said,
I’m going to learn from Freebo in Wilmette IL on Sun 15th. Anyone know what basses he plays? Bonnie Raitt’s bass player and more…(see lilfest on myspace.)
Rob Crewe said,
Hello,
So glad to have found your site..
I have a Hollow Body Bass.. theres a long story about it, but I’ll skip that and say that I came by it just a year after the original and only owner passed away… Who was the bass player for my fathers band… so some good history there…
Its absolutely Beautiful… when they were kids, they added a rythem/treble piece of plastic to it, that doesnt belong, but other then that, its 100% original..
theres a pic of it here
http://bp1.blogger.com/_LYbr9QYqnDs/RZDBcTsGbPI/AAAAAAAAAFw/H1Lvq730TAg/s1600-h/IMG_9558.JPG
http://bp2.blogger.com/_LYbr9QYqnDs/RZBuMjsGbJI/AAAAAAAAAEk/xNHWxe7EByU/s1600-h/IMG_9559.JPG
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7735/3398/1600/Penny1.jpg
I can get better pics to send you…
In short… WHERE CAN I FIND A HARD SHELL CASE for this thing? Its my fav guitar, its sooo fat and rich, I can’t imagine ever selling it, but I dont have a case (longer story about why.. i had the original case, but it smelled like a 40 year old hockey bag, and it made everything it was near smell like rank feet)
any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
Best I can tell its a 65???
Brandon said,
Hi Rob. Nice EB-2D!
I think your best bet would be eBay - and expect to pay between $100-$200. There’s always the custom gigbag/case route, but it may be more expensive.
Don Torres said,
Just found this bee-you-tee-ful hollowbody. Does anyone have any info on a U.S. distributor? I have G.A.S.!!!!
Top row, middle…ARB204 FL
http://www.quest-md.com/english/landscape.html
JHammonds said,
Hey Brandon, you need to check out the cool new bass put out by Gretsch. Soooooooooo nice…
http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/index.php?product=G6199B&cat1=&cat2=Bass+Models&q=&st=1
The Un-Americans Deported said,
Great website Brandon!
I share your enthusiasm for hollows and I’ve found lots of answers to questions I thought would remain mysteries so a big thumbs up to you for setting up the site. Cheers!
Due to my fascination of a band called The Brian Jonestown Massacre I was looking at guitars Anton Newcombe has used and I stumbled upon this reissue of a Vox Teardrop Bass VWB-2000. Vox have only recently announced this so unfortunately no release date or retail price as of yet…hope the sound matches the look and price!
ELECTRIC GUITAR REVIEW
http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/11/27/vox-announces-limited-edition-mark-iii-guitar-teardrop-bass/
VOX WEBSITE
http://www.voxamps.co.uk/guitars/index.asp
Rob MacKinnon said,
Hey Brandon,
I have a matched pair of Japanese violin basses. They look like EB-1’s and have a scroll headstock , dark mahogany finish. Fretted one is branded Orlando on the pick guard, the fretless is branded Ventura on the pick guard, both have twin humbuckers with a three way switch, V/T pots. Any idea who made them. How do I send you a pic ?
Thanks for the sight
Rob
Vincent Soleil said,
I Brandon…
look at this Warwick Star Bass II
http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/produkt.php?submenuID=14667&katID=14416&linkID=26526&cl=FR
Whaoh… it is soooooooo nice !
Bogdon Vasquaf said,
i’m not sure if my 2-string bass constitutes to being a formal “hollow body bass”
but it really has a hollow body, and its a 2-string bass.
Bass Player Magazine wrote about my 2-string bass in the January 2008 issue
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/bogdon-box-bass/Jan-08/32919
and then Bass Player Editor Greg Olwell posted 3 videos of himself playing this 2-string box bass
http://bassplayer.tv/index.html?req=1&station=boxbass&video=bptv/gear/bptv_j07_boxbuild
i make them as a hobby, but i have a space at the Summer NAMM 2008
Renaud said,
Hi all,
I’m also crazy about HB..I have a wonderful EB2D which sounds great….
Otherwise, I put on sale my HB which was made by a french luthier P Blanc
http://www.patrice-blanc.com/basses.html ( the bass is the last red one)
This bass is a copy of an EB2D with EMG active picks and is in near mint condition
The bass is on sale here : www.guitarman.fr for a reasonable price (less than 1800 euro)
Peace
Renaud
juan said,
Hello!
I’m a spanish bass player and a semihollow body basses fan.
I’m looking all the possibilities to get this kind of basses. I like few basses to be perfectly honest, but I’m very interesting in the Lakland Semihollow body bass. This bass is very interesting for me.
I would to know if you have played this bass and what’s your impression about this bass. I lookin’ for a bass that has this incredible sound but a little versatile.
What’s your impressions about lakland?
Thank you
Duesenberg said,
Went to the store to check out an Italia Rimini but wasn’t into it! Why, it just did not feel right when i had her in my hands …
Then as i almost walked out the store, i decided to take a better look in the bass section … my goodness!!! i saw my first Duesenberg Black Star Bass … took it and yep it feels right, well balanced, easy on the neck, easy to get to the end of the neck,
sound … killer tones!!! just needs a better set of strings … some good ol’ flatwounds could really open up the full potential of this beauty!
Q & A, anybody have something to tell about this basses? Good and or bad, all comments welcom
greetings, upright
Matt Farrow said,
Brandon - I think you should take a look at this:
http://www.danelectro.com/bass_ls_red.html
Dude. Seriously.
Neal’s Music has them for $299.
zac said,
Hi,
It seems like the hollowbody bass has recently experienced a bit of a rebirth, with most of them being snatched off of ebay as quickly as they’re posted, and many companies starting reissues of formerly discarded models. There are also a few companies making pickups designed with hollowbodies in mind, such as the H.E. Darkstar, or the TV Jones Thunder Tron. To your knowledge has anyone done a side by side comparison?
I would love to find out, I have a ‘68 Fender Coronado II in need of proper output.
Thanks.
Vincent Soleil said,
Hi Brandon !
Some news from France, where this huge Vox Apollo is gonna be on Ebay in a few days.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2431811090_4b5dcc7e14_b.jpg
The left one seems to be a prototype because of its double pick cionfiguration…
the right one is the official version
Nice, isn’t it ???
Hope to read you soon
Vincent
Hands Randall said,
Great to see this site as i’ve finally found somewhere to vent my spleen regarding Gretsch hollowbody basses such as the White Falcon, Thunder Jet , G6072 and particularly the Electrotone G6073.
I’ve decided that i would really like a hollowbody after playing a precision for 23 years and thought i’d treat myself while in New York. The Electrotone really caught my fancy through my research on the internet and i pinpointed a couple of NY shops’ websites that stated they had one/some in stock. They didn’t.
It’s impossible to find any of these basses to try out in London and i’ve just come back from New York where the cash was burning a hole in my pocket with no joy.
I found and tried out the Broadcaster, White Falcon and the Thunder Jet out there but could not find the Electrotone anywhere and was actually told that NY was completely out of any sellable stock of them.
I wrote an email to Gretsch and got a very nice response that said they’d tracked one elsewhere in the States and that the store would do an international sale. I have no problem with this but for the prices these babies go for it would be great to play them first.
For me the exclusivity is quite appealing to me but makes for a terrible dilemma - do i just go for it and buy the object of my desire using the handful of positive reviews i’ve found for both the Electrotone and the G6072 or do i hold out and continue my search for my own personal crystal skull?
My trip wasn’t ruined however as i was also celebrating my 40th out there with some friends but it would have been nice to come back with a beautiful hollow four string baby.
A lovesick hollowbody fan.
Hands Randall.
pril said,
wow neato! Just stumbled across this thing. I still have my first bass, a 60s Harmony H27. I love it. Sure its not fancy and was dirt cheap but I’ve got the only one in the county and everyone always wants to play it.
Hands Randall said,
Since my last comment i’m now the proud owner of a Gretsch G6072 bass! All thanks to http://www.davesguitar.com/ who emailed and said they had what i was looking for. It’s a really beautiful bass and i’m more than pleased.
shaunster said,
hey everybody, ok i really need some help
im looking for a hollow body bass, similar to the jack cassidy epiphone, but a little more simple, and i belive its an ibanez
but an earlyer ibanez nothing new
and if it helps the bass player for death cab for cutie has one in the “I will posses your heart” video
i really apreciate any help
Brandon said,
Shaunster, you’re a little off with your Ibanez guess. 
The bass he’s playing in the “I will possess your heart” video is a Harmony H-22 from the 60’s.
You can find some more info on these basses here: http://harmony.demont.net/model.php?id=110
Also, the company currently known as Harmony Guitars is making a series of H-22 reissues:
http://harmonyguitars.com/ProductLine.asp?pl=vintage&pid=206D109E02F00FD1293DEEA8DF8E21172D4FFAD85229C461
Hope that helps!
Shaunster said,
man i was off
but thank you so much i really apreciate it
do you have a guess on were i could find one of the vintage ones and for how much
i dont even know where to start
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Helena B said,
September 25, 2006 @ 7:34 pm
Hi Brandon, Lakland makes a great Hollowbody — I should know, I just took delivery of one last week. Wanna picture? Hit me back. Helena