The Epiphone Viola Bass is simply their take on a Hofner Beatle Bass. Unlike the originals, however, the sides are cut from solid ply in 1/8" layers in a similar manner to the "framing" of a Danelectro's pine sides and the tops and backs are glued to this frame. This makes for a sturdier instrument than the Hofners but one that's slightly heavier.
Soundwise it's pretty similar as these Epiphone versions have mini-humbucker pickups as well. Tone is fat, warm, and relaxed with not a lot of high-end or "snap." Add to that the flatwound strings typical for this (and which this one is wearing) and you get that classic, thumpy, boom-boom sound that folks that admire these instruments are searching for.
This one came to me as a consignment and it was basically a learner instrument for someone who played a few times and then left it stored. It was playing alright but did need a better setup and the original wiring harness needed to be replaced as it was both scratchy and wired incorrectly. I simplified it and used good components (500k pots, low-value cap for the tone pot, Switchcraft jack, and a 3-way pickup selector).
The end result is a bass that plays spot-on and sounds a lot better than it otherwise should. I would buy this Korean-made Epi in a heartbeat over what's being imported in this style right now.
Body wood: "ribs" are thick ply, top and back are arched ply
Bridge: rosewood adjustable w/fret saddles
Fretboard: rosewood
Neck wood: mahogany
Pickups: 2x mini-humbucker
Action height at 12th fret: 3/32" bass to hair-over 1/16" treble (fast) String gauges: approx 100w-45w flatwounds
Neck shape: slim C
Board radius: ~12"
Truss rod: adjustable
Neck relief: straight
Fret style: medium-tall
Scale length: 30 1/4"
Nut width: 1 5/8"
Body width: 11 3/4"
Body depth: 2" +arching
Weight: 6 lbs 12 oz
Condition notes: it's pretty clean but does have minor usewear throughout and the hardware has aged some. The wiring harness is completely new but the pickups are original. The control circuit is modified.
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