Epiphone Viola Bass

[NightmareZV]

looks so beautiful O_o

And that's the design like the hofner bass, isn't it? looks really good

[thecoolestdad]

I too have a similar Hofner copy.Mine is made by Rogue.I put a set of flatwounds on it and I love it.The Rogue is a little bit cheaper than this Epiphone.I paid $199 for mine on amazon from musicians friend.I hope to get a Hofner one day but until I do,I have this one and I am happy with it.I also have another Rogue that is a solid body 4 string maple neck similar to a P bass.Horns are a little different.I love it.It sounds so much like a top dollar bass and this one cost me $120 amazon.

[JaketheGreat123456]

this or hofner which one should i buy????

[AndysRandomVids]

I have this bass!! its awesome i love epiphone :)

[PlayWithYourThumb]

They sound great with TI flats. Great short scale 'thunk' for that 60's style garage sound. However I found the neck too skinny (I have medium hands).

[felporocker]

I would install some how a badass bridge to it if possible, Ernie Ball strings, Emg pick up and make it sound funky

[legendsveil]

I canot believe the Price ! xD

[thillwl]

Great bass! I added flatwounds and ran it through my Mark Bass Little Mark III and it sounds amazing.

[Sublime3898]

i wanna buy me one beatle bass....but im not sure ... Hofner or Epiphone Viola bass :S

[TheBleach123456789]

can you put the pickguard on this bass or in another epiphone viola model??

[felporocker]

i think jazz basses and precisions sound better

[artfxl5]

Jthofnerr. I agree the Viola is not a copy of the Gibson EB-1. It's parts and design are Gibson. McCartney was a Fan of little Richards and knew about the EB-1 and like you said did find a symetrical bass .All I'm saying is that just because W.Hofner took a EB-1 and trace the body line on to drafting paper with a pencile at his company is the early 1950's and said let's made our version ,but hollow. Makes me wonder who copy who.

[NapoleanXV]

Do you have tabs?

[BLEACH01Z]

can i put a bigsby b7 on it, and can i replace the pickup minis for some seymoredunchans. THANKS

[BassAgainst]

ugly bass

[JebusGrist]

The Epi Viola is a decent starter bass, not a great one; the squire line is better for starters--less expensive. That said, you won't get a three thousand dollar sound out of a two hundred or six hundred dollar bass either way.

[LTLfilms]

i tried this bass and it sounds like shit

[artfxl5]

The Epiphone is not a Hofner copy, It's an Original Gibson design. The Gibson Company made the first violin electric bass guitar in 1952 call the rare EB1. Hofner made a similar one but, with two pickups almost a year later. This is why the Epiphone viola does not look like the Hofner 500/1 copys out there. can't compare looks,only the sound. also,Paul McCartney saw Little Richards bassist playing one early EB1 in a film.

[fargeeks]

@artfxl5 you are referring to the bass with that SG design and besides the viola is the most beautiful bass araound using not a tremolo bridge but a floating bridge

[jthofner]

@artfxl5 It is not a Gibson EB-1. The Gibson is a solid body with a maroon color and one pickup. McCartney was in Germany in 61' and needed a bass since his makeshift bass fell apart. Since he was in Germany, Hofner was able to make him a lefty since he was there. He liked it because it looked symetrical.

[kimonsk]

@artfxl5 The difference between the Gibson EB1 and the Hofner 500/1 is that the Gibson has the shape of a viola and the Hofner of an uptight bass. And the Epiphone viola bass, although it's named viola, has the upright bass design of the Hofner. The control plate is the same with the Hofner's too. So it is actually a copy of the Hofner as for the shape, although I have to say that it's a good one.

[chrisharbidge]

I had one of these about 10 years ago, i remember putting black nylon flatwound strings on, it became very percussive.

It was very neck heavy (which was expected), most annoying thing was the machine heads, the guitar used to de-tune itself repeatedly during songs. i sold it and brought a fender in the end

[mrbassman25]

@chrisharbidge they were notorious for tuning problems all them years ago though... much much better basses now, i don't own one, just a nice long jam on one and i have to say.... great bass.... nice sturdy pegs and bridge!

[riff4u]

I own one of these then I forked out some bucks and bought a Hofner. For the price the Epiphone is a really great bass. It's a little thinner and a bit heavier than the Hofner. The binding and fret work are very well done. The sound is deep and woody similar to the Hofner. It's not a slap and pop bass. It's great for blues, jazz and 60's garage rock. Put flat wounds on it and you will see a big difference in the sound.

[JuanKiDiaz]

sounds amazing!

[peanut66nadhispivots]

They should make these in 5 strings

Can you slap on this bass?

[PotAndPeace420]

Damn I bought mine new in 2005 for $300, awesome bass though.

[Macsk8ing]

Im buying this ,I dont even play the bass Iplay guitar but who cares , thats Paul McCartneys style bass

!¡!!!¡!¡¡

[saemikneu]

if you really want "McCartney style, you shouldn't use a copy. Look for a used Höfner 500/1

[ThizzinChampX24]

I'm not sure which one is cheeper

Höfner or Epiphone?

[JuanKiDiaz]

@ThizzinChampX24 Epiphone is WAY cheaper

[n1ckhalo]

i have the rogue one

[elavate7]

i heard thesze things are hard to play with your fingers

[minipug06]

I've got Fender Flatwounds on mine and with a bit of work it sounds great. It's no Hofner, but the Flatwounds give a decent McCartney tone

[metalrocks19737]

what store r you playing all these bass' at?

[LoganBridges]

this bass sucks if ur going to get a viola get a hofner, u should of got a epiphone woody allen

[dandemon1989]

i hate these things, they look like toys and sound like them too, it doesnt have any balls. clever look, but its just so boring

[bauersnarky]

They do too have balls... Have you ever played one? obviously with stock strings and a shitty amp its not going to sound good. I have black nylons on my viola and it kicks ass.

[bassaddict119]

what scale is that bass?

if i put a low b on there would it hold up good?

[Rendell05]

No, it wouldnt hold up at all.

[universalrenote]

That front pick up is in the way, really. But who knows you might just bring it out and shock people.

[zombieturd7]

viola or the ibanez artcore which one should i buy

[universalrenote]

The one that is the easiest for you to play.

[masterbeat04]

@universalrenote it should be "the one that is the easiest for you to PAY"

[samuel588]

I have a Hutchins one, i really like it

[sbu93]

Can someone give me a good description of how the viola bass sounds?

[mzg87]

Doesn't this video show how it sounds?? It's good for playing Beatles-like music and fingerstyle in general , but it's NOT good for slap.

[mwright165]

not really hes just playing random notes!haha

[saemikneu]

it has a very warm sound almost like a acoustic one. But you defenitely hear the humbucker sound. It can't compared to a J- or P-bass pickups..

[PenguinSensei]

I do a lot of strummy/chordy stuff on my Viola, and it's really good for that style. Its sound is very warm, almost like a very bassy acoustic guitar.

[mojo81]

Sound like nothing without flatwounds.

Good bass, though.