Just in time for everyone’s favorite gift-giving season, why not give the gift of bowel-rattling thunder bass?
I’ve assembled a list of all currently-produced hollowbody, semi-hollow or chambered basses that can be had for under $500. I haven’t personally reviewed these basses because (1) I can’t afford to buy one of each and (2) I can’t convince the companies to send me free ones to review.
I’ve made every attempt to point out where to purchase these instruments as well as where you can find reviews for each online. Obviously, nothing beats trying out a bass in person, but in the digital age it’s getting harder and harder to play an instrument before you buy it with the small shops folding under the weight of the online dealers.
So without further ado……….

Douglas WVEB Violin Bass
Price: $139.95
Made In: China
Up first is the cheapest hollowbody that Rondo Music has to offer. If you’re not familiar with Rondo Music, it’s a brick & mortar shop that has been open since 1959. A few years back, the owner started importing guitars under several ‘house brands’.
This is a typical Chinese/Indonesian Hofner copy, similar to (and probably made in the same factory) as the likes of Brownsville, Johnson, Jay Turser, etc. This model touts “real tiger maple flamed top and back”, obviously a laminate. All your standard features for a Beatle bass. Set neck. Not sure if the pickups are actually humbuckers or not under those covers.
I like the headstock on this model. It’s a little more ‘modern’ than most direct copies, but I think it works.
Purchase directly from Rondo: http://www.rondomusic.net/wveb.html
See more pics in this auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=140057349158
No online reviews.

Brice HVB-600
Price: $249.99
Made In: Korea
A more traditional and ‘upscale’ (if you can call $250 ‘upscale’) Beatle bass from another of Rondo’s house brands, Brice. This one features more Hofner-esque appointments, including the headstock, pickguard and control configuration. The finish is little more yellow than the reddish Douglas model. Otherwise, they’re probably the same bass.
Purchase directly from Rondo: http://www.rondomusic.net/hvb600.html
No online reviews.
So this whole ‘writing reviews’ thing is getting a little old. From here on out, I’ll give the price and link directly to the manufacturer description, where to purchase and any Harmony Central reviews.

Brice ASB-1
Price: $349.95
Made In: Korea
Wow. These descriptions are taking longer to write than I thought……This is Rondo’s most expensive Hollowbody, but still cheap my most comparisons. This one popped up a few months ago. I was wondering if they’d get on the Gibson-style bandwagon; to the delight of bass player wallets, they did.
Purchase directly from Rondo: http://www.rondomusic.net/asb1.html
No online reviews.

Eastwood Club Bass
Price: $449.95
Made In: UNKNOWN
View description and purchase directly from the My Rare Guitars site: http://www.myrareguitars.com/clubbass.html
No online reviews.

Eastwood Classic 4
Price: $449.95
Made In: UNKNOWN
View description and purchase directly from the My Rare Guitars site: http://www.myrareguitars.com/classic4.html
No online reviews.

Ibanez AGB140
Price: $429.99
Made In: China
Purchase from:
Music 123
ZZounds
Harmony-Central Online Reviews

Ibanez ASB140
Price: $429.99
Made In: China
Purchase from:
Music 123
Musicians Friend
ZZounds
Harmony-Central Online Reviews

Epiphone Viola
Price: $399.99
Made In: Korea
Purchase from:
Music 123
Harmony-Central Online Reviews

Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat
Price: $499.99
Made In: Korea
Purchase from:
Music 123
Musicians Friend
Harmony-Central Online Reviews

Epiphone Jack Casady Signature
Price: $699.99
Made In: Korea
Purchase from:
Musicians Friend
Harmony-Central Online Reviews

Dean Rhapsody HBF Fretless
Price: $399.99
Made In: Korea
Purchase from:
Musicians Friend
Harmony-Central Online Reviews


Rogue VB-100 Violin Bass
Price: $229.99
Made In: China
Purchase from:
Musicians Friend (Right Handed)
Musicians Friend (Left Handed)
No online reviews.

Hofner Icon Series
Price: $349.99
Made In: China
Purchase from:
Music 123
Musicians Friend
ZZounds
No online reviews.
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So there ya go. Not an exhaustive list by any means, but should be enough to get you started.
