All user reviews for the Epiphone Viola

After 35 years, my old solid body bass was becoming quite heavy,
so I started looking for a hollow body. I found this 6-month old
Hofner clone on eBay, and fell in love with its looks. There were
so many positive reviews on the 'net, that I went for it, and got
if for $350 U.S. plus another $60 for a case.

It sounds great, plays like a dream, and the weight is just what I was hoping for.
The seller had it set up just right, so I didn't have to do any of that.

I did not like the fact that if I had to quickly change volume with both pickups on, that I had to adjust TWO controls. After two gigs, I made one volume pot a master, and replaced the other with a 3 position
pickup selector switch. Now it works, in my opinion, just like it should.

From what I can tell, construction seems to be solid, and the finish impeccable. Time
will tell, though. I've played it twice on stage, and it remained in tune both times.

This will surely be my last bass. I trust it enough to use it without a
backup, but I'll likely be changing to flat-wound strings in order to
preserve the frets.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I picked up this bass at The String Shoppe in Columbus ,Ohio. I paid $439 for it. I wasnt really even looking to buy anything, just checking out the finishes on the Epiphone Les Pauls with the wife in tow, and there it was, a Hofner style bass just pleading to be held.

I like this bass because it makes me play stuff I would never play on a solid body. Its very,very lightweight, and the sound is excellent,espically for playing without a pick like I do. The neck seems very long,which I like. It sounds really good on CD recordings,which is what Im using it for.

What I dont like about it is it doesnt have a pick guard. Also, the pots have very little response, although they may be more responsive through a bass amp turned up loud.

The construction seems excellent, and the finish is excellent as well.

The bottom line on this bass for me is that it put me more in debt! No,actually, since basses like this are harder to find, you would be pleased with it for the price. While defenitly not a HOFNER BEATLE BASS REPLICA, the sound quality is very good and consistant on all notes. The neck is INCREDIEBLE, and the flamed top makes it unique in its own special way, a personality of its own so to speak. Having always wanted a bass of this style, Im very glad I found it, and it seems to feel right at home in a stand along with all the "other babies" who have more strings!!!But sometimes they tease him like a kid with glasses and call him FOUR STRINGS!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The one I obviously manufactured silent "made in korea" I was by Thomann in Germany for 399 euros including all taxes included port!
there are two volume buttons and a tone, for 2 microphones.
22 frets, strings mount in round net (I metterais flat ending for the nets), but watch the length of the strings are much shorter, so choose "short scale".

UTILIZATION

It is a low trslgre, round end, Access in acute fairly easy, its powerful trs compare my bc rich!
The only problem is to play the fingers, as in effect as the microphones are cots neck and bridge, to ask either the thumb gives sound too serious and much more round cot cot mtal easel would have meant that microphones soyent centers! against it with no problem at mdiator.

SOUNDS

I plugged into a "Hartke" with no effect, I can get a powerful and well in the bass because I do not like low fever.
I play with the volume buttons, ie 1 to 10 and the other 5 / 6, and the tone knobs to position 4 / 5.
Playing on the neck pickups sound is heavy and serious.

OVERALL OPINION

I have now for one month, I think I have enough experience to make a decision, and I must say that surprised me the most is the easy play on!
I did not play up Submitted on Bc Rich, whom she constantly stung the nose (thus forcment a force on the left wrist), I had a long hsit Yamaha rbx, and finally j 'AIPR the MODEL.

Low made in Korea, a copy of a model that no longer ..
simple configuration, two microphones, one each volume and tone for all ..
good finish for the price (probably better than the first low Mccartney, which we recall was not a luxury model at the time ..)

UTILIZATION

The handle is very nice, with a sense of ease, even for me who am not a bass player at the origin ..
not too heavy, good access to acute, even if it can be not its purpose ..

SOUNDS

I was looking for a bass makes a well rounded, and after trying different models for hours, sometimes much more expensive is that it convinced me the most, not particularly related to its shape suggestive ..
fiddling with the settings a bit, I quickly found what I was looking for a warm sound and well defined ..
good on the other hand, or the slap sounds funky, it's probably not the right choice, I have a squier jazz bass that defends a lot better (and then, I repeat, I'm not really a bass player. .

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few months and I am very satisfied ..
I think in general it should be well suited to a bass player who prefers the melodic side of his game
Obviously, if I had had the proper budget, I would probably buy a US precision but this one is more than adequate for its price (around 450 euros)

Low made in Korea (1998-2006) and China (delivery spring 2008). Apparently, Corenne are a cut above with a diffrence in price quite staggering nine (500 against 270 a Corenne a Chinese ...).
Note and uses a few pros: Matt Bissonnette, Bernard Viguier (The Dreamers, in Palmas, Thomas Fersen), and many other bass players that have a dj Hfner in their purse!

22 frets, two humbucker that sounds serious to severe, with the thickness and smoothness that a little deaf found a little on the EB-3 for example.
The bridge is floating, it is maintained by the pressure of the strings (it's a archtop!).
A micro volume, one Tone gnrale quite effective. We have a panel prfr CONTRL fawn Hfner to better calibrate the rglages, but these three knobs do their job.
The handle end is bottom-up, no big heels Premire Hfner, Access in acute is a breeze, and sounds magnificent in the mediums by attacking prs of lack (that the it excels at both mdiator finger).

UTILIZATION

The handle is really great, its width is scabies from a Fender the handle forms a sort of V.
The frets are all dernires a little hard because of the ACCS cash, otherwise a freeway!
Ergonomics, and it hurts the the bt: it pitches down, then hold down the well or you will break the neck! This is the only major bad point of this bass, but I admit not know whether other brands such Hfner Tanglewood or are experiencing this problem.
I am tempted to say that we can do it all "within" this type of instrument east vintage rock, blues, RnB, reggae, jazz (bassist Vincent Artaud plays in one).
Obviously, it is the opposite of a Jazz Bass or Ibanez EMG active! It's hot, full of harmonics, hollow (the body is "semi-hollow"). a twang!

SOUNDS

It should be the music I play is - that's rock and pop 60/70% but get a little bit hard on the blues because it sounds more modern than Hfner.
I arm my home on a small Ashdown Five Fifteen, which complies with its sound without PForm moult by filters or cuts.
I use three types of combinations:

Micro-run single tone 0 (McCartney syndrome): a sounds like a bass tuba!!
Micro-10 bridge and neck pickup 2 / 3: flapping in mdiator (for Pink Floyd is nickel)
The two-microphone and the tone of 10: well balanced and goes everywhere (although somewhat flat).

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a month, it is second hand and manufactured in 2001.
What I like most is the organic characters of the instrument, we feel an acoustic particulire, a living! I mounted in The Bella nets dishes: you can approach the grain of a bass! But beware: there must be strings "Medium scale"!
What I like least is the dsquilibre General for the instrument, both sitting and standing. It would have taken the allger mcaniques and a head finer and a more massive central beam to ensure a minimum balance.
The report price is duly quality. I do not know what value objectively sries 250 Chinese, but if it's the same, you could buy it! It seems to me qu'Epiphone reserve of surprises in the low (the EB3 looks delicious too).
I would do this but I choose to compare the Hfner manufactures in China, especially for observing comfort.
However, I am considering the purchase of a Fender Precision 51 for a wider sound range. I put 9 because of dsquilibre.

The one I played was made in China and ... it shows.
22 frets, two humbeckers, I do not know the wood but it sounds like a soft wood vacuum, set neck, floating bridge, round handle is a short scale.La finish to close is not exceptional, the Made in China what! the edging, the contours are a little hard to see a close up. But nothing nasty.

UTILIZATION

The handle ets super super, yes! really cool, you can get away with anything (good for slap eh obviously there are better) access to acute nickel.

SOUNDS

Disappointed with the sound! I played a Mark Bass and the sound is very round so big but I think lack of heat. I'll change the pickups pronto! But it made no matter deg either.

OVERALL OPINION

It is worth its price and if there is a defferent Coréeenne, I hasten to try one! But for 270 euro, I do not buy it, unless to change the pickups and the bridge that is just junk cu closely, and yes we can etr a wicked bass!

It is a current model, therefore made in China!
The finish is not perfect, but the violin seems in good order. Overall, for the price I'm quite pleasantly surprised.

Bass violin, everybody knows who made this type of low-famous: o)
Floating bridge
Short-scale
Passive pickups, a handle and an easel
controls: volume and tone for each pickup

UTILIZATION

handle very nice, very easy to ride for a novice like me. I do not have big fingers, so the short-scale is a plus.

Pleasant to play lightly. Note that the handle tends to fall if we loose, but it makes sense because the table is hollow, so the center of gravity is shifted.

No worries for access to acute, possibly a little tricky on the last 2-3 frets, but I do not use them for now: o)

The sound is very simple, it is the level you want on each microphone, adjusting the tone and it's over. Setting changes along very well and saw that there are few now everything sounds appropriate.
It sounds rather round, typical pop-rock, not metal (but that might be expected). Anyway, I like!


SOUNDS

I like this kind of round sound and clear is pretty boilerplate and pleasant to listen.

I use a whole head Ashdown MAG 300 EVO II H + pregnant MAG 410T Deep. nickel it sounds, just the amp that lack of gain on the passive input, it limits the maximum volume.

Important point: it is a passive bass, so it must therefore be an external preamp or an amp with high gain. Associated with an EBS preamp Microbass II, great!

I prefer the sound of the neck pickup than the bridge pickup, but it's just a matter of personal taste.

OVERALL OPINION

I just started to play with, I would put myself more seriously as a complement to the bass drums.

I also have an old house I used RBA 380 from time to time, much less enjoyable to play and its not terrible next to Viola (and yet I had paid more money there over 10 years!) .

I love the look, she has a mouth of hell, and I find the sound very nice.
At that price, I am under no illusion, it's low-end in ropes, mechanical, electronic, etc. ... But the violin sounds good and it turns the rest if needed.

I intend to take him to a luthier to put strings of good quality and make proper adjustments.

Overall I am very satisfied with this instrument, especially for the price: it is well worth the 232 €!

I would do this choice without hesitation.
One can also find models made in Korea, used but at much higher rates of the orde of 400 €. When I see one I got, frankly I'm not convinced that the models are so interesting Korea, especially with the bonus that they have taken since the increased production in China.