Dillion DHB800 Beatle Bass

2003 Dillion Beatle Bass, made in the same Korean factory as Tokai. Best Beatle Bass copy I've ever laid my eyes on. Excellent craftmanship, real flame maple top and back. 30"scale with slick & slim neck just like the Hofner. Why pay 3 grand when you can have it for $600. Hardcase was extra $100 and put some $77 Rotosound flatwounds on it (not the black ones though). It came with roundwounds that weren't bad but you need flatwounds for the real thing. Of course it has 2 volume controls and solo, bass, treble switches just like the Hofner

I play Blues, Rock, Hardrock and R&B and frankly this bass plays it all. It has a beautiful deep tone. I have yet to play it through the amp I am lusting for yet (Mesa) but I've played it on a SWR350 with 4X12 cab (great sound) and a 150W Galien Kruger (sweet thunder)through an Aphex Bass Exciter (great DI and really fattens up the sound). The pickups are single coil but are quiet. It is a versatile bass although it only has one really good sound, but what a sound. Deep, full and warm. I have not tried this one in the studio yet but it probably can do it OK. As for stage I would definitely bring a backup, it is fragile just like the Hofner but Paul still has his, so....just don't go jumping around and dropping it on the floor and you'll be OK.

I got it on Ebay and although it was brand new the shipping didn't help it. It has a bit of a ding on the side from shipping across country. The set up was OK but I set it for the way I like it (ow and fast action). Had a heck of a time intonating it because the bridge kept sliding so everytime I picked it up I would have to reintonate it so decided to fix it by taking it to a freat tech (Barry Ewart in Vancouver) who screwed the bridge into the body (it's a sliding bridge remember?). It was reintonated and now stays intonated. Easy fix. Everything else was good. Now that it's fixed I give it an 8, the fix cost it at least 2 points.

Like other Hofners, if you don't jump and thrash around you should be OK. It dings easily because it is semi-hollow but it should last. Mind you, I take very good care of my babies so I'll have it for a long time. Hardware seems sturdy enough although I haven't had it that long and not gigged extensively with it. The finish is a beautiful flame maple tobacco burst. Will probably put straplocks on it since it is light and the buttons are not very big. I would bring a backup just in case.

I did email John Dillion before purchasing it and he replied the very next day and directed me to dealers and seemed friendly. The warranty is useless in Canada (good only in the US). But for the price, just buy another.

I've been playing guitar for many years but only started playing bass 22 months ago (the band I was in needed a bass player - I was elected). Because I am a woman with small hands and short arms I have to play shortscale basses so my first one was a Danelectro Longhorn, beautiful neck but bridge cannot be intonated (they have a new Pro model that can be intonated now). Very nice small bass but needed something better so ordered a custom shortscale Warwick Corvette (took over 1 year to get it from Germany) but that's a really nice gigging bass, great tone and growl, versatile and no need for a backup. Warwicks have big necks so had it shaved down to a C shape by Eiichi at Shuriya Guitarcraft in Vancouver (great job). I have just ordered a custom Fish Bass from Jeff Ziebart in Kelowna, B.C. Will submit a review when I get it (hopefully his shop will come out unscathed from the forest fire burning at the city limit - Aug 2003). Can't wait. I use a Zoom BFX808 to practice with headphones. My first amp was an Ashdown Mag210, very nice but not aggressive enough for Rock so got a Galien Kruger MBE150. What a great little amp, very versatile and has all the inputs and outputs needed and very light and easy to carry. Of course I would like something a little bigger and louder but it has to be light so I've been shopping around. I've got my eye on the Mesa Boogie Walkabout 300W. That should cover most gigs. I doubt I'll ever play an arena anyway so 300W should be plenty, just want more ooomph if you know what I mean......In any case, I would buy another Dillion Beatle Bass if something happened to this one. Very easy bass to play and very light. Fingers just slide on that neck, great little bass.