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Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:01 pm
by invisible man
My wife is getting interested in picking up a bass again, I am looking for a bass for her which is:

1: short scale
2: semi-hollow
3: not made in China

Offset would be a cool bonus. I have a 90s MIM Jazz Bass and Squier VM Bass VI. She had a Epiphone EB-0 before, but the solid body was too heavy for her to be comfortable.

Any examples of short scale semi-hollow basses?

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:14 pm
by pawnzito
If weight is the reason for hollow body checkout the newer mustang basses. Some are <8 lbs.

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:25 pm
by Embenny
If you want hollow, a few options come to mind.

The 30.25" Gretsch G5442 (Made in Korea, I believe)

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And then of course the Hofner violin bass is both shortscale and hollow. You didn't mention your budget, but I know you can find vintage originals under $2k CAD, which is the price of higher end new MIM Fenders here, so you don't have to go for the cheap import reproductions. I think there are also reissues that have been made in not-China, but I know very little about the history of violin basses. Someone else can probably advise you on options beyond the originals.

The 90s Danelectro Longhorns were made in Korea, but the new ones are Chinese. The originals are pricey but out there too. Not much to those bodies - tiny, and hollow too. The shorthorn isn't as crazy-looking or well-known, but you can still find vintage examples at good prices. They tend to go for 1/3 as much as Longhorns, sometimes less.

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2021 4:07 am
by MrFingers

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:09 am
by wproffitt
If you want hollow, there’s also the Yamaha SA-70. They’re rare here in the states, but can be had on EBay.

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Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:28 am
by stevejamsecono
Hofners or Danos would be my recommendation as well. For the Hofs, get the bigger bodied one that isn't the goofy Beatle bass though for full Tina Weymouth mode.

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 2:57 am
by jagstang
Really like the look of reverend dub king.

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Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 3:10 am
by jthomas
Vintage Harmony H22? Made in Chi-Town. (Reissues are Chinese I believe)

https://reverb.com/p/harmony-h22-bass-s ... rce=google

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:36 am
by sookwinder
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Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:24 pm
by wproffitt
sookwinder wrote:
Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:36 am
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I DO like those Hofners in green!

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:33 pm
by rbrcbr
Depending on your budget, these Old Kraftsman/Kay basses are really neat.
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There's one for sale on reverb for $700 right now:
https://reverb.com/item/37113218-krafts ... g-bass-50s

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2021 8:27 am
by HarlowTheFish
jagstang wrote:
Thu Jun 17, 2021 2:57 am
Really like the look of reverend dub king.

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+1 for pretty much anything Reverend does -- great players, great necks, very very good QC, and it's one of like 3 production brands where I feel confident that I could spin a wheel, get anything in their lineup, and not have to do any work on it or swap any parts to be happy with it.

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2021 9:48 am
by sessylU
A friend of mine had a Dean Rhapsody that was hollowbody and much nicer/more tasteful than you'd expect from a Dean. I can't seem to find pictures of it, but I always loved it.

Not shortscale, but I seem to remember it having a skinny, jazz style neck.

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:38 am
by bessieboporbach
sookwinder wrote:
Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:36 am
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Unfortunately for the OP, the vast majority of 21st century Hofners are made in China. They are very, very nice though (I have one).

Re: Shorty scale semi-hollow bass?

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2021 7:12 am
by DarnWeight
The Epiphone Allen Woody sig is short-scale, semi-hollow, but the current ones are MIC. They used to be made in Korea, so you may find a used MIK model if you shop around a little. The pickup spacing is similar to that used on the Cavern-style violin basses, which I actually prefer a little.

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