Forum: music.stackexchange.com
Tags: <electric-bass-guitar>
Title: What is a violin electric bass?
Question: I have seen advertised, electric violin bass guitars such as the following:   Are they really any different from a normal bass guitar, and if so what makes them different and how then should they be best used?

Answers:
sents: text: the only difference to anormal bass is the shape.
text: The shape may result in a slightly different tone from the bass, but otherwise it is just a normal bass with a violin shaped body.
text: The most famous user is probably a little guy called Paul McCartney...
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 9
sents: text: This "violin bass" is basically a knock-off of the famous Hofner bass used by Paul McCartney in the Beatles.
text: While it will play and function similar to a regular solid body bass, a hollow body does change the character of the sound.
text: (This applies to electric guitars as well).
text: The Hofner violin bass has a very distinctive sound, and frankly, most of the knock-offs do NOT have this sound.
text: If you are trying to get the Hofner sound, buy a Hofner.
text: If you play bass and think this has a cool look, you may want to try before you buy (or make sure they have a good return policy).
text: It will sound different from a conventional solid body bass.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 5
sents: text: The classic Höfner "violin bass" design, from circa 1958, is a hollow-body archtop instrument with a spruce top, like an archtop guitar but without F-holes.
text: It has a "floating" wooden archtop bridge.
text: It has a short-scale neck which is small and has a narrow fingerboard width and string-spacing.
text: It should be strung with the original-specification flatwound strings to get the classic Höfner sound.
text: Because it is a hollow-body archtop with a short scale, it sounds quite a bit different than a conventional long-scale solid-body bass guitar.
text: 1962 model Höfner Violin Bass
text: All of the attention paid to this bass is as a result of Paul McCartney of the Beatles using it as his main bass throughout his career.
text: Today, Höfner makes several models, including some hand-carved in Germany with the highest grade woods and appointments; these are very expensive.
text: However in recent years they have added two different models built in China that are very affordable.
text: Epiphone and other companies have long made copies of this design that are basically only similar in their external shape; they tend not to copy the design principles or the sound of the original.
text: If you play bass in a Beatles tribute band, you have to have a violin bass.
text: Other than that, this style of bass has seen very little use in other music.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 5
sents: text: before I looked at the picture, I thought you were talking about one of the various electric upright basses.
text: Usually looks like a stripped-down "doghouse" bass with no acoustic sound at all, just a center support for the bridge, fingerboard, and electronics.
text: You play 'em just like a normal upright bass, either with fingers or bow.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/549/M. Werner
score: 2
sents: text: Note that this bass has 30.5" length, and therefore will sound differently (muddy and warm, 60s-to-early-70s-ish).
text: That's besides sounding like crap, as many cheap no-name brands usually do.
text: Although there's always a chance for one of those sounding OK, I wouldn't count on it until I both read positive testimonials and hear samples.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/602/avramov
score: 2
sents: text: A violin bass is just a hollow body electric bass guitar with a violin shaped body.
text: The sound apparently sounds like a double bass with the Hofner model but otherwise its an electric bass guitar.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/6140/user6140
score: 1
sents: text: It's originally a VERY small double bass with electrical pickups.
text: Sounds, in a way, like the ol' big double bass.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/6343/wescrack
score: 1
sents: text: The Hofner Violin Bass has a unique sound that is very tradional.
text: The best way to describe it is to think of an upright bass scaled down with frets.
text: The German made Hofner bass provides a thick low end that does not get lost with the sounds of guitars or keyboards.
text: Bright sounding bass guitars (like Fenders or Rickenbackers) can intertwine with the low end of guitars.
text: Especially when guitars are tuned low, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish who is actually producing the low notes.
text: The Beatle bass has a commanding tone and presence that is all "bass".
text: The Hofner's body shape sets it apart from any other instrument ever made.
text: Today there are many choices for copy models (from companies like: Rogue, Epiphone, Jay Turser and Stadium, etc...)
text: their all pretty good but don't capture
text: the totally feel or sound of the original.
text: If you're serious about obtaining the real sound, feel and experience of a Hofner you're best to buy one.
text: It is an investment that you will enjoy for a lifetime.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/41316/Scotty Babyboomer
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
A violin bass is just a hollow body electric bass guitar with a violin shaped body. While it will play and function similar to a regular solid body bass, a hollow body does change the character of the sound. The German made Hofner bass provides a thick low end that does not get lost with the sounds of guitars or keyboards. The Beatle bass has a commanding tone and presence that is all "bass".
The classic Höfner "violin bass" design, from circa 1958, is a hollow-body archtop instrument with a spruce top, like an archtop guitar but without F-holes. It has a floating wooden bridge and a short-scale neck. It has a traditional, unique sound. It is very bassy. However, some may say the only difference is in the shape.