Epiphone Viola Bass

I picked up this 2007 Chinese made USA setup Epiphone Viola bass almost by accident. The last digits of the serial are 7 so I am assuming its an '07 but could be wrong. The floating bridge is something I always figured was for stricly jazz players but this beast can take it. The passive humbuckers are beefy

Like most musicians, I test out a lot of gear before settling on one ax for a particular type of music. So before even plugging it in I was very impressed with the sound un-amplified
The warm loud tone is to die for and with the right settings it comes through with a Geddy Lee sound or just a fretless tone. It has truly an amazing pallet. I guess I will change out the tuning machines as it does go out quite frequently. Any advice on which good grover or Schallers would go with this ax would be appreciated
(rlwizek@earthlink.net)

I am not a pro and so had the guy at Guitar Showcase swap shop play it and give me his take. He ran it through some serious fret work and I was very enamored with the changes in tone he was getting. If he had given me a negative response I'd have bought it anyway Set up was just great and for this price. I has a Music Man sterling that didn't sound this good for 5 timess the bread.

I would not play any gig without a backup, but I'm not a hard player either. I like getting the tone I want working within the instruments capabilities. I would not play this bass like a P. Haven't had it long enough for truss adjust, the tuner I use shows no waver right from the factory on each string. Gorgeous sunburst finish like my Epi Les Paul. A marvel for a great price.

I'm about 5 years into bass and as a regular drummer I find bass like playing melodic drums. I am hooked. I own a 5 string TBC and the Epiphone only having paired down my arsenal recently. I'd beg borrow or steal (well maybe not that)another one of these basses in a heartbeat. I wish it came with stock Grovers but I know for the price thats asking a lot.

Same features as all the other Epiphone Viola Basses. I added strap locks as I don't like dropping my rigs. Love the finish, a small spot under the neck where it meets the body was less than perfect but not worth sending back to get touched up.

Perfect sound for what I play. We do Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Beatle's covers as well as using it in church for worship. I love the semi-acoustic sound that it makes and the thump is as close to an up-right as I have heard in an electric 4 string bass with no pedal.

Played it straight from the store, no extra set up needed. I may change the strings to flat wounds eventually but I am content with the factory strings. Only flaw was a bit under the neck in front of the front humbucker.

Seems good to me, changed to Schecter strap locks, personal preference.

Never had to deal with them, bought it from Long and McQuade and they are fantastic.

I just started playing bass about 2 years ago, I was primarily a six string both acoustic and electric. I took to the bass like a duck to water and it is now my main instrument. Strictly amateur but lots of fun.
If it was lost or stolen I would replace it, I love this bass even though I have only played a couple of others. I tried lots in the stores and this was the one for me.

The physicals features have been covered many times. I will say that for the money, I don't know how you can pass this up. The two humbuckers offer a great deal of range... they are not the most powerful pups out there but look at the price. It is light and comfortable for hours of play. The laminated maple top and back look great. The neck scale is great for us guitar players.

At our last jam, we played Metallica, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Bush, and the Beatles. With a few adjustments to the pups and amp, it was ready to change directions. The best sound is clearly the acoustic tones you can pull out of it. It offers a warm natural sound. Even the true rockers in my group gave it a nod.

The neck came adjusted perfectly. Intonation took a minor adjustment which would have been needed anyway. The floating bridge comes with a plastic protector installed. I was expecting to pay for a set up. Not needed on mine. The frets were nicely finished. The body had no flaws. The flame is beautiful. Everyone keeps commenting on how great it looks.

Don't know yet. It's only two months old. If it is like my other Epiphones, if there is an issue, it will be handled. I purchased the big box store's extended warranty just the same.

No need yet. Chances are I won't ever need it.

Buy it. Don't even think about it. I have a friend who picked one up years ago for $400. He loves his. I ws sure there had to be a difference between the $399 versions of the 04-05 and the $250 version of today. We held them and played them side by side. We couldn't see and significant changes. This bass is a steal!

The finish and look of the instrument could not be better. The tuners are bigger that the Hofner, which makes it easy to tune. I use it as a bass for around the house. It is small and semi hollowed bodied; so you can play without an amp and it doesn't take up much space. The short scale makes it a fun and practical instrument.

The viola bass has two pick-ups for differnet styles. You can get a stand up bass feel with one pick, with two a rock feel. The pick-ups are humbuckers that really deliver. At one jam the guitarist said my amp was loud for a small one, but it wasn't that it was the Viola's humbucking pick-ups. It has a warm likeable tone to the instrument that everyone I have come in contact with likes.

My bass wasn't set up from the factory. I ordered it specially. It can take alot of time to get it set up just right,and if it is not set up right it will go out of tune easy. I set the bass at the G string as low as I can, which brings the strings closer to the instrument. The E string I set higher because of buzzing and tuning. It seems I can get a truer pitch at the higher end with the bridge raised a bit on the E string. With the floating bridge you can't be play it as hard as other basses, yet the Viola is sturdy.

It is a very durable bass for a hollowed bodied instrument. The finish has to be relatively solid with the foating bridge; or the paint would strip off when you postion the bridge on the bass. When I change strings I have to take the bridge all the way off the instrument, and I noticed no marks at all after doing this. I have a picture of the bass I use as a guide for putting the bridge back on the instrument.

I have played bass for many years, abouts 35. Compared to other bases the Viola is more comfortable. I have Tendonitis in my hand and this bass gives my hand less stress than others that I have tried. I will have this bass for as long as I live. It is fun, sounds good, and looks good.

Bought new in early 2004. Paid $AU 189 extra for fitted case. Price has actually fallen, you can now get them for about 25 bucks less.

Hollow laminated body, with almost bookmatched top and bottom, no F holes. 30.5" scale with zero fret and rosewood fingerboard. Floating bridge with tailpiece. 2 passive mini humbuckers with 2 volume/1 tone. Violin 'Beatle Bass' shape. It looks like the side and 'binding' is actually one multi coloured piece of black/white plastic, possibly with a wooden back.

Same tuners as are used on numerous other cheaper instruments. Rating was marked down slightly because of the 2 Vol/1 tone setup. I would prefer a pickup switch.

Not suited to slap or lowered tunings.

See also other reviews for other features.

I play my age.... Mostly 50's, 60's rock and pop with some later rock and pop. No slapping, popping or detuning for me. I primarily play with my thumb, the original strings do give a nice midrange thump but they are cheap, the large diameter winding wire makes them rough and quite floppy. Pickups are LOUD for passives.

I am strictly amateur and play through either a Yamaha PA or Bass Cube 30 (mostly on the Bassman setting), very rarely with effects. The pots are dead silent and the mini humbuckers are very low noise.

I recently changed to a set of Thomastik-Infield Jazz flatwounds. You need medium scale (32") strings because of the length of the tailpiece. The difference was immediately obvious. The instrument is now one of the most versatile around.

No more floppy strings and the sound is unbelievable. You can go all the way from a classic rock thump on the neck pickup to a Danelectro like hollow 'thunk' on the bridge with lots of treble (with or without a pick).

Very versatile instrument (for its intended market that is).

Very high standard of build. No adjustment required for me straight out of the box. No flaws in the finish. Fretwork is well done. No buzzing or flat spots. Good chromework. The tuners feel loose but stay in tune. The only possible flaw is that the G string tuner is very slightly misaligned compared to the others. However it took me a while to notice, and you wouldn't notice unless it was pointed out.

The floating bridge and tailpiece are an obvious problem with rough treatment. I would recommend the fitted case, although they are specific to the instrument and therefore tend to be expensive. The finish is thick and should last without any problem. A pickguard would make the Viola look more like a 'Beatle Bass'. However if you play with a pick the body curve is such that it shouldn't be a problem.

Strap buttons are quite deep but the top button is on the back of the neck heel. The strap leans back a bit and if you use a skinny vintage style strap like me it could easily come off. I fitted Schaller straplocks.

Truss rod has never needed adjustment, even when the flatwounds were fitted (they have a higher tension than the original strings).

No reason to think this instrument will be less reliable than a solid body, provided you protect it.

Rating marked down slightly because of the extra cost of buying the straplocks. Factor in the cost of a case and deal harder when you buy !!!!

Never dealt with Epiphone but the local dealer (Better Music) is excellent.

Have had a guitar for 20 years. Switched to bass about 4 years ago. I have gone through several instruments (Yamaha RBX 170, Danelectro Longhorn)in the last couple of years to make up for lost time. I currently also have one other short scale (Fender Mustang) plus a Japanese '51 P Bass and a Belman (Aussie made) active Jazz style bass.

The Viola is much better built and more versatile than the Dano but due to the shape is not as comfortable to play, either seated or standing. It also suffers from a bit of neck dive which seems to be typical of small bodied basses (funnily enough mostly Gibson/Epiphone guitar shaped basses).

The Mustang is better built and much more ergonomic (it's really in a higher price bracket). However the sound isn't as versatile.

An ideal instrument for classic rock. I would recommend you try and do a package deal with the extras (case, straplocks) and maybe even the flatwounds (or better quality roundwounds). The original strings really are rubbish.

The facts:

This is a 2003 Epiphone Bass, made in Korea (don't know which).
22 frets, 4 strings, 30 5/8" from nut to bridge.

It's marked as a 2nd, but I have no idea why. It's perfectly
functional and sounds great.

This instrument has a hollow body with an arched top
and back, but no f-holes.

Two passive pickups, don't know what type (solid metal
rectangular -- hey, I'm not a hardware guy, I'm software!)

I'm still getting used to the controls. This is a three-knob
job, with separate volumes for the bridge and neck pickups
and a single bass-treble control. It does give all the
sounds I've looked for so far.

The finish is a nice sunburst effect.

The bridge is floating (i.e. not fixed to the body, and
the intonation can only be adjusted by moving the individual
metal bridge pieces into one of four slots each. Fortunately
the intonation was nearly perfect when I bought this
axe (from a brick-and-mortar store).

The tuners are good -- nice and wide, and I've had no problems
tuning this axe, and it stays in tune even though I pluck
rather hard.

This bass came with no extras -- I heft it around in a padded
gig bag that I bought separately. It's sturdy enough to be
placed even not-so-gently in the back seat of my car.

I'm a former guitarist turned bass player (strictly amateur).
I play rock'n'roll oldies: Zep, Clapton, Stones, Doors, Beatles,
etc., but I'm also a fan of blues, some jazz, and some (but
only some!) commercial stuff. This bass suits these styles
very nicely.

I do not use any effects with this bass. I chose it because
it speaks very plainly -- like an upright string bass. The
on-board electronics are all the variation that I need for my
style and taste.

This bass has a nice tone that at its extremes echo every finger
movement or can be toned down to give only the most subtle
accompaniment. I can't see it doing head-pounding music.

I have little experience either recording or playing live, but
I believe that this bass is up to both.

This is a gorgeous instrument.

The action is perfect, as far as I can tell. No buzzing at all.
Great height.

The pickups were too low for me, so I raised them a bit. I pluck
hard (for that upright bass sound) so they didn't have to come up
too far.

I've scrutinized this machine pretty closely, and played it a lot
in the month that I've had it, and I have yet to find a serious
flaw.

I like a thumb rest, and I can use the pickups to some extent,
but I'll probably have to have one put between them as well.

I don't have much experience with live playing, but I think
a conscientious player should have no problem with this bass.

The hardware seems just fine.

The finish is definitely delicate. There's no pick guard but
my picking style (I mostly pluck) will probably not require one.

N/A. Haven't had to call them. Don't expect to.

Overall opinion:

I bought this bass when I was looking for an inexpensive
short-scale instrument. I'd decided on the Fender
Precision Bass Jr. on specs alone, but when I had the
chance to play the two face-to-face, the Viola Bass
was clearly superior.

The only thing I'd wish for that this bass doesn't have
is controls like my telecaster: separate volume and
tone, and a five-way switch. I still may have someone
do this modification.

I love this bass!

This bass is apparently made in Korea, but that is not a deterrent.
It's light weight and gorgeous looks are what attracted me, and I
obtained this one (sold as "6 month old") on eBay for $350 U.S.
I was able to find a good fitting case at a large music retailer.
The neck is only one and one-half inches wide at the nut, which is
just like my old Mosrite bass that was getting too heavy after
thirty odd years.
What I didn't like was the Viola's TWO volume controls instead of
a pickup selector switch, so after two on-stage jobs, I installed
a 3-position rotary switch in place of one volume control, and wired
the other as a master volume control.

With two pickups and a tone control, I can get all the sounds I want,
whether I'm backing up cajun or bluegrass fiddlers, or playing surf
and Ventures type stuff. It seems to be set up very good for finger
picking, but I get the odd string rattle when I pick it hard with
the nail of my index finger (a habit left over from using a pick in
the past). It came with round-wound strings, but I intend to install
flatwounds, mostly to prevent fret wear.

Everything seems to be set up very well, but this may be because it
had a previous owner. He says he wasn't really a bass player, and bought it on a whim, before learning he was about to become a dad.
Construction seems to be very high quality, with smooth edges everywhere.
I was concerned about the ease with which the tuning pegs
can be turned, but after two on-stage gigs, and no required re-tuning,
I am no longer worried.

The instrument has a solid feel, and appears to be of quality
construction. The new strap I bought for it has tight slots for the
strap buttons, so I feel safe that it won't come loose.I don't jump
around on stage, so I trust this bass completely. I've used it twice
without a backup, and will continue to do so.

No warranty on used guitars, but as an electronics tech, I
am not worried. If you would like a schematic of the bass
with the pickup selector installed, just e-mail me and I'll
reply with the image attached.

I've played bass since the mid sixties, mostly with a 2 pickup
Mosrite. I use a Fender Bassman 25 for small venues, and a Traynor
Group One (2X15s) for others. If I lost this bass, I would quickly
start looking for another one just like it. Of course, I would again
replace one volume control with a 3-way rotary switch for selecting
either or both pickups.

Purchased new in 2003. Korean made. Two mini humbuckers with lots of punch & bottom end. Passive electonics. Floating bridge, some reviews say it has a center block in the hollow body, but I don't believe so. You can play it without an amp for practice. Mine has Grover tuners. Beatiful neck, great action.

Wide variety of sounds, perfect for Beatles, blues, rockabilly, C&W, some progressive rock like Yes, Rush, or ELP. Probably not for metal or punk style. You can get everything from a well rounded thump to a warm low purr from it. Very rich sound. I will however switch to flatwound strings on the first change; the factory ones are a little "twangy" if you don't muffle them a bit with your palm (I play with a pick). Only one dislike; no pickguard. I am having one custom made.

Action is fast and no buzzing on the frets, I adjusted the bridge up slightly on the E end. I also raised the neck pickup as it was too low; it improved the low end considerably. No flaws at all.

I have not gigged with it yet, but don't anticipate any problems. Very sturdy bass. Feels substantial in your hands.

No dealings with them so far, although they did reply immediately to my e-mail request for a pickguard (they do not supply).

Been playing guitar for 35 years. Always wanted to learn bass too. Have Epi 335 Dot, Epi Hummingbird, 30 yr old Gibson Flying V and an old Les Paul copy. I would replace the Viola if lost. I chose it because it not only is fun to play but it looks great too. Great aesthetic appeal. Very nostalgic.

Not sure of exact year. Bought in 2003. 22-fret 4-string. Flame maple top. Passive mini-humbucker pickups. Maple set neck. Classic violin-shaped body.

Awesome classic Beatle-bass sound. Vintage thump works great for old & some new rock. Warm semi-acoustic tone.

Set-up & action was near perfect when I bought this baby off the rack. Made a few minor adjustments & it was ready to go. Input jack & all 3 control knobs work perfect as well. Intonation is dead on.

This bass will definitely withstand live gigging. Strap locks are a definite must for this bass, though. I would gig without a backup using only this bass. Those guys at Epiphone know their s**t !

Haven't had to contact them.

I've been playing bass guitar for about 17 years now, and have gone through about 20 basses so far. I also own a Spector 4-string bass which I run through a Peavey T-MAX amp & 4x10 cab. I love this bass. For that vintage semi-hollow tone, you can't beat the quality & sound at this price. I've tried many other "Macca" copies out there, and nothing comes close to the Viola. If it were stolen, I'd definitely track down another of these beauties. Awesome bass !

well all of the features at at epiphone.com but a few stand out

i really love the 2 mini humbuckers... its sort of like a dream come true... having a bass with humbuckers! also this is an extremely beautiful instrument... the finish is fantastic! there is no pick guard which is fine by me sence i dont use picks. the bridge is not connected... which means if you take off all the strings... nothing good will come of it... but there is no real reason to take off all the strings at once anyways... one at a time is much better for the instrument. i bought mine used, so it came with a soft case. i would liked to have had the hard shell... but what can you do? also i added flatwound strings... making it sound much better... i suggest everyone do this. The three knobs on it are two volume and a tone... one volume for each pick-up... the way they are put on the bass is very attractive... i truly love them... but would possably consider new tuning pegs.

This bass is great for my style of play. I play a lot of classic rock such as the beatles... im a huge beatles fan, i have been listening to them sence i was 8 years old... but im sure most everyone buying this bass is a fan of theirs. I play in a rock band... and the beatles are one of our biggest influences, making this bass very nice. Also my guitarist will be purchasing a semi-hollow guitar very soon. That will sound very nice when played with this bass. I would not advise this for heavy rock.... that simply isnt what this instrument was designed for. This bass produces a very warm, welcoming sound.

Very well put together.... quite sturdy. It was inspected and set up in the US. I get minor buzzing past the 12th fret on my A string.... but nothing worth worry. There are no flaws in my finish... at least none that i have seen. I am pleased with the cunstruction of this bass.

So far, no problems, so i cant say it isn't reliable. There is but 1 scratch in the finish on the back of the neckboard... and i am not sure how it got there... i did get this bass used. I wouldnt use this bass live without a back-up, but thats not because i dont trust it, its because i have had problems with basses in the past... though i seem to have less trouble with passive basses.

havent had to deal with them

I also have owned a warwick... which i would advise no one to own... mine died after 3 months of play! and trust me, i treated it very well... i have also owned a squier (my first) and truly do love it... but more for sentamental value than for playing. During the two gigs my warwick was in the shop i played a fender jazz bass which buckdancers let me borrow for free because they were fixing mine (what great people!) and i thought it was alright... If i were to lose it i would probably buy it all over again! I love how it looks, feels, sounds... the only problem is that the neck weights considerably more than the head... but its hollow... so thats to be expected. Overall i love this bass, but i also think it is only for a certain style of play, it really isnt made for everyone... so only buy it if u know it is right for you.

see epiphone for details. I'm not going to repeat what others have said.

I play a lot of Beatles- I'm a beatles freak (specifically paul, i imitate him a lot) so this guitar suits my style. Sound is very Paul McCartney- ish. It has that classic fat round vintage 60's sound- good for both stage and studio. mine's not really noisy at all- no buzzing etc. its very warm and rich in sound. I really like it. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't like it.
I'd give it an 11 out of 10 but you'd know I would be lying because you can't go any higher than 10 if the scale is only up to 10 so i'd say its 10 out of 10.

I don't know why people complain about the action, fit, and finish. i got mine brand new so i think that's the reason why it didn't have any flaws. action was a bit high but i think its ok because it's trying to imitate the hofner. bridge is not glued but again hofner's bridge isn't glued either and its supposed to be an imitation so i dont see why some people would need to complain about this. some people complain about pickups but mine sounds good and flawless, and theres no buzzing on the frets. i guess if you buy it in a second hand shop, it's probably a different story but again, i dont see why people would give it less than a 10 for having scratches etc. of course its going to have scratches and some flaws if its in a second hand store. its been tainted and abandoned by an uncaring- who- knows-irresponsible- owner. i think this bass is just perfect as it is. Give it some loving you all. Love it for what it is not for what it looks. it's a bass that looks like paul's bass. isn't that enough?

i've used this bass live without a backup and it hasn't caused me any problems. it looks pretty solid to me. I actually hit a friend with it to see if its solid enough. and yup. its made of wood. I really think it could withstand anything... well... except if i smash it on the floor of course but i guess the best advice i could give is that its durability will depend on how well you take care of it- really. if you want, you can abandon it in your wet basement in a chair somewhere for months or you could leave it in your car during the winter if you really want to test how durable it is. it's really up to you. but it think this bass is a baby and it needs a lot of spoiling so if i were you id buy the hard shell case, keep it close to your bed at room temperature, and give it some loving with daily cleaning and polishing.
reliability, i think this baby is very reliable. it wont leave you hanging that's for sure- unless you go out of bounds and experiment this baby for what it was not created to do (punk, fusion, metal etc.)- especially slapping. who would slap a baby anyway. you dont slap a baby furiously, you handle it with care.

to tell you the truth they're not the smiling type but again you cant really judge a person just because they're not the smiling type- or can you? well, i really never had to deal with them so i have nothing to give. i'm loss at this one.

my main instrument is really the guitar. i've been a guitar player for 9 years. I've just recently learned how to play the bass. I'm 21 but I play mostly oldies like the beatles and I play a lot of gigs. anyways, I may not have a lot of experience playing the bass just as i have with guitar but I know a very good bass when i hear one. It still puzzles me how you people could give this bass such a bad review. I think it deserves a 10. anything lesser than 9.9 is a blasphemy! remember that you have to judge the bass on the context of what it was made for. It was made to look like Paul McCartney's bass, to sound like Paul McCartney's bass, and to play Paul McCartney songs. I don't know why you have to complain about the bridge not being glued. It's supposed to be an imitation of the hofner 500/1 right? isn't the hofner's bridge detached too? I don't know why you have to bring punk and heavy metal music in the scene. It's clearly not intended for that kind of music so its unfair to deduct marks just because it cant do it. it's like deducting marks for a porsche just because it cant cross the pacific ocean. i think this is a totally perfect bass. the best sounding bass I've ever had. i love everything about it. you should all be thankful that epiphone was nice and generous enough to give us such a beautiful looking and sounding bass at such a cheap price. i wonder when would they start selling those nice gibson les paul for around the same price... but again i think thatys asking too much and i better silence myself before they wake up and raise the price of this viola bass.

Not sure what year. 99 or 00. Flamed Vintage Sunburst Finish. 1 tone knob and two volume knobs. 2 mini humbuckers, set neck. Came with really nice hardshell case and padded strap with strap locks.

What more can I say? Its the best sounding one ive heard. (no lie) well compared to $1000 basses and lower. Not noisy at all. Nice full sound. Sounds really good for any style.

Everything great accept for the bridge. I wish they would have attached it to the guitar. Mine is still with the original strings after 2 years and the bridge is not connected to the body. That can be done easily however.

Its Epiphone and has a lifetime warranty. I would take a backup if I had one because you always need 2 guitars in my opinion. Very dependable. Love It.

Never had to deal with them

Love it. If it was stolen or anything happened to it I would buy it all over again.

Same as all the other Epiphone Violas, a detailed page of the bass will give you a better spec. pic. Bought in 2002...assumedly released the same year. No case, not even a box. It was a "new" floor model. Whatever that means.

Stripped down, just like its role-model.

The bass is perfect for me. I am a singer-songwriter and I just need something to lay down basic bass tracks with (I play guitar and piano). Being a big McCartney fan I decided if I gotta have a bass it's gotta be this one.

I'm sure it will rock out live. I have no worries. It's so warm and inviting. When played along with Sir Paul the tone can be almost identically matched. If you're good enough you'll have difficulty telling apart Paul from yourself.

Just play "Jet" over and over and over and over!!!

The two volume knobs are kind of annoying, I miss the old Hofner switch. I belive the Rogue has that. Otherwise, who cares.

My bass buzzes on the third fret (G) first string and every once in a while elsewhere. However, I'm not a bass player and I tend to be a little rough. Needless to say, it needs a good set up.

Don't pick too close to the bridge or else you'll pull the string out of it's notch. Well, if you play like an idiot like me.

This sucker is solid. Sure it's lighter than your typical GRAPHITE neck bass, but it's still a little hefty. I don't mind though...it's built to last!

The finish is so shiny and perfect. I can't keep myself from polishing it after every use. I hope I can keep it that way forever!!!

The strapbuttons seem just dandy, however I am having them replaced with security locks for, ummmmmm, extra security.

I would totally gig without a back-up. Mostly, because it's my only bass. I see no problems wandering in a gig with just this sucker.

Now hear this folks!!! I got this baby at Guitar Center. As previously stated I am not a pro bass player, I just coulden't help buying this for my particular needs. After discovering the Rogue Viola (and after reading rave reviews about that!) I decided to bring back my Epi and buy the Rogue. Saving myself over $200 (Rogue $229 vs. Epi. $450). On my way out the manager said, "Hey man...those basses are built in the same factory." I said, "So what man...get outta my way." He said, "I'll give you the epi. for the same price as the Rogue."

I didn't hang around. I bough the Epi. back for $218 (ASCAP discount). I don't know what that's all about, but try to make a price comparison with the Rogue. Maybe you'll get lucky like me.

I did, however, order the case too. It has been over a month and they still don't have it in!!! ANNOYING!!!

I love this bass! It's always sounding the way I want it to sound. Very user freindly. It's cozy and gorgous and unique!

If (God Forfend) it was stolen I would buy a Rogue. Sorry, it's supposed to be great and it's cheapo as hello. Especially after going throug what I went through.

It's a great instrument, considering it's manifacturing origins. It's light, the distance between the frets it's short, that makes it easier to play( at least for me).

looks a lot like Hofner bass, excellent for Beatle fans.

Maybe I would change the head, and the tuners, it would look better with old-style looking tuners.

it is great for rock'n Roll blues and maybe jazz. it's not a slapping bass, estrictly for smooth playing.

It can last for years, of course depends on how you treat it.

until now, I haven't need assistance, but I live in Mexico, so it's hard to find Specialized Epiphone assistance here.

In general it's great, one of my most preciated objects, I'd never sell it, except perhaps if someone trades it me for an original Hofner with Paul McCartney's signature.

Hollow-body,violin shape. Vintage sunburst finish with cream binding. Two mini-humbucker pickups. Floating bridge and short scale neck.

This bass suits my style, Beatles, early Stones all the 60's stuff.I generaly use my front pickup with my tone turned down to replicate this sound, but you can get a bright funky sound by turning up the bridge pick up and turning the tone up. I also put flat-wound strings on, which is what this bass needs to shine! Some reviews have mentioned feedback but I have yet to experience any myself. The only thing you can't do with this bass is slap, but I'm not a slapper so it ain't no thing.

It came set up pretty good, but I made a couple changes to suit my style. As I mentioned I put a set of Dean Markly flat-wounds on, which I belive is the way it should be shipped. I also lowerd my action down the 3/32.Turners are great,stays in tune very well.

I belive this is a very solid bass. I do use it without a back up and I'v had no problems. I did put strap locks on though.

When I first got it the front pickup did,nt work, I had a new in a couple days, so far no complaints. It does have a liftime warranty.

I have been playing for 30 years and I've played a varity of bass's and owned my share of Fenders(which is a nice bass to, but that's for another time),but I truly love this bass. To me it is the classic style of what a bass should look, feel and sound like. It looks like a miniture stand up bass. It's a very comfortable bass to play, light weight, narrow short scale neck.If it were stolen I would replace it with another Viola, in a heartbeat!

See it at epiphone.com.GREAT FINISH!

The sound of this bass is very punchy and vintage,there is a little buzz with the pickups but it's not so important!Not only for classic rock,this bass is great for modern rock,punk or experimental music,maybe not for metal and the heavy things it's true...

Great!the hardware is very beautiful.Hey!This is an EPIPHONE VIOLA!!!

The strap buttons are good for me,I think I will gig with this bass!Why a backup??$$

I play bass since 4 years,this is the best bass I own,I like my epiphone viola!Not a copy of a Hofner bass!Great and Beatiful!

1997 Epiphone Viola, laminated mapel body, flame maple top. Mapel set neck with rosewood fingerboard. Two mini-humbucker pickups, chrome hardware. 30.5" scale, 22 frets, one tone and two volume controll knobs. Adjustible bridge, chrome butterfly tuners, great finish.
Came with Epiphone hardshell case.
The only two things that i would have made different would be the head design and the controll setup.
I'm also big on pickguards, since this bass hasn't one from factory i made my own from a sheet of pickguard material and a reshapped pickguard holder for a Epiphone Less Paul.

I play all McCartneys walking bass lines in all the Beatles songs, along with all their LP's, or with my fellow guitarist. I also have a reissue 63 Hofner 500/1, two 2000 Rogues, 60's Univox Lectra, 60's green Greco w/F holes, 70's Crestwood.
The Hofner of coarse when played along with the Beatles albums has the exact vintage sound that only a Hofner can produce. But with the string change i made on my Viola to a better stainless steel flatwound, the Viola does a very good job when played along with the Beatles albums.
My Viola when being played has never had any static or any other sound problems.
This bass in my opinion is just as good either in the studio or on stage.
The amp i'm using for the basses is a vintage 1970 Fender Bassman 135 piggy-back.

Factory setup works very good, authough i did lower the bridge just a bit as i like a low action. Pickup adjustment was good, overall condition of the bass i found to be very good. No flaws, nothing loose, good chrome plating, great slick finish. Controlls work smooth with no problem.

Everything about this bass, hardware, finish, electronics, body and neck in my opinion will last a lifetime----again that depends on how well you take care of it ???
This is a bass that you can depend on without having to have a back-up bass.
As far as having the neck adjusted----i've never had to !!!

Never had any problems.

I've been playing 30+ years.
Other gear i have is another vintage 1968 Fender Bandmaster piggy-back amp. Six string guitars, 97 Epiphone Dot 335 in sunburst, 99 Epiphone Less Paul in sunburst, 65 Rocket Harmony 3 pick-up arch top style in red, 2000 Crestline 335 in maroon, 2001 Johnson acoustic in blueburst.
If anything ever happened to the Viola---even though i have other basses i'd replace it, its just as much fun to play as my other violin basses. Authough the Viola is a bit heavier than all the other copys its still comfortable to use. The Hofner is a much lighter weight bass than ALL COPY'S, also a Hofner is much more delicate bass.
Theres nothing i can truly say that i hate about this bass.
As far as comparing it to other basses----i have the other violin shape basses to compair it to----JUST AS WELL MADE----SOUNDS JUST AS GOOD !!!!!!!
The only other bass that i'm currently getting is a reissue 1961 Hofner Cavern.

Recently manufactured. Retro-Violin (Hofner) shape.
No markings as to where or when it was made.
Four string, hollow body, short-scale, fretted, set neck.
Two mini-humbucking pickups, two volume, one tone control(s).
Mother of Pearl inlays on Logo, Dots and control panel.
Maple with a tobacco burst finish with body binding.
Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Thinner neck syle.
High quality sealed tuners. No hardcase available!!! :(
It would be nice if it had on/off switches for the Bass and Treble
pickups like the Hofner and Rogue versions.

I generally play classic rock. Alot of Beatles, Apples In Stereo and such. I also play modern Jazz. It has that classic McCartney/Hofner sound down cold! Nice deep bass, a bit darkish though and it
can be made to sound 'snotty'. Flatwounds are silky smooth, but are
probably keeping it from making any top end. However, Flats are what
this bass needs in order for it to sound 'right'.
The pickups are a bit noisy with some low level hum and buzz.
I think a different capacitor value on the tone pot might be a tweek one should investigate as well.
I mainly use a Acme B-1 Bass Cabinet and a 300 watt Acoustic Image
Class-D Amp. They make for a great, small full-range combination.

I purchased this used, so I am not sure how well Epiphone originally
set it up. The intonation and neck were perfect. Slightly floppy,
but evenly so across all four strings; right for this type of bass.
There was absolutely no dead spots or any fret buzzing at all.
Neck pickup was a little to low. Slight re-adjustment improved
bass response on Low-E. Finish was flawless, save for one light
surface mark on the back by someone's belt buckle and one very
small dimple on the side of the neck. Note here that my bass'
headstock was stamped as being a factory '2nd'. :/
All hardware was first rate and everything was tight and well-made.
I did replace the 1/4" cheapy jack with a USA Switchcraft piece.
All guitar companies seems to overlook this one important area.
Given the low price these things sell for, they are a bargain!

Live playing reliability...hmmmm...that is a tough question.
Well...since Gibson/Epiphone has stupidly decided to not offer a hardshell case for this, I dunno.
The hardware seems to be first rate.
The strap buttons are okay, but could be better.
The wood-stains and assembly are first rate.
The final finish on the wood seems even and fairly thick.
So far the neck hasn't moved around on me. Yes, If I could secure a
good hardshell case for it, I would take it with me on a gig without
a backup bass.

I haven't had any personal experience with Gibson or Epiphone's customer support departments. However, I've been told it's not good.

I have been playing bass since 1971. I also own a early 80's Fender
P-Bass (Candy Red-Pearloid pickgaurd) with a butterscotch maple neck.
The Epiphone makes a great option to the Fender. Totally different
feel and sound between the two of them! :)
Would I buy another one? In a heartbeat!
I have always wanted a Hofner but didn't want to let loose of the
big bucks to buy one. I'd be afraid to play it! ;)
This fits the bill nicely, thank you!

Check it out at www.epiphone.com

Came together with a cable.

Basically, it sounds good when my group plays old school stuffs such as songs from the Beatles, Led Zep etc. We're not really a hardcore/punk/thrash metal outfit, so the sound of the bass really kinda suits what we play. I'm using it through a 90watt Marshall amp, sometimes with a Fuzz effect (sounds good for that 70s rock sound!!).
It has a very fat and plummy sound...yup, a la Mccartney. Been using it for studio recordings and several performances on stage. Sounds REALLY great if you're into retro stuffs. Applicable for modern music too, alternatives and stuffs...but certainly not for the heavy ones.

Everything seems to be in perfect order. Typical Epiphone features.
Great instrument ....what can I say?

YEAH.....if you can lock the straps. You see, with a heavy neck and headstock, you'll probably have to adjust your bass position every once in a while....it'll make a good stage instrument. The finish is marvellous....the sunburst finish will last long. I would certainly use it in a gig....with a backup.

Nope. Never contacted the company.

I've been playing the guitar/bass for 2 years already. I also own another bass, the YAMAHA ERB 300 (great for heavy metal!!). I should've asked about the availability of the hardcase, since it's very hard to find a suitable case for the Viola here in Malaysia. I'll definitely buy it again if something happened to it. This bass suits people who has small hands like me and it is a very huge advantage for people who has bigger hands due to the small frets and neck. The bass always slant towards the headstock...plus the handrest makes my arm numb. I like every feature on it, simply excellent. Nothing compares to this one...except the Hofner 500/1( But seriously/ honestly it sure beats Hofner in terms of sound, durability, feel, looks...as it is the the modernised version of the Hofner bass) ...but then again, it's perfect for those who want a Hofner but couldn't afford the real thing.

I had the opportunity to play my friend's Viola bass both onstage and off and can attest to what everyone else says about it. For a Korean instrument, it is well-built and looks great. The hard case is a recommended optional purchase as this is not an instrument to drop or leave leaning on an amplifier. I'd also recommend a humidifier for those living in dry climates because the bass is light enough to be affected by climate changes.
I can't tell you what wood it's made of, and I suspect if I opened it up I'd find lower-quality electronics inside, but once you plug and play this instrument, I tell you none of that really matters - the SOUND is THERE!
What else? I measured the scale at 32 inches, not the 30.5 inches claimed in the literature, but this is a plus for intonation purposes as tuning a 30-30.5-inch scale bass is an exercise in patience and persistence.

It does Paul Mc Cartney and Jack Bruce very, very well! This is a 60s-sounding bass but the quality of the electronics and the lightweight body makes this sing. Beats out my '69 and '71 Gibson EB-3s without a hitch, and it's inexpensive enough to own a spare to leave at home. I've also used it with a Zoom BFX-708 to fatten up the tone a little and compress the sound a little, but it's not necessary. No noise, no f-holes to feed back (sorry, Hofner fans, this is why I can't handle a Hofner at any price). Speaking of the EB-3s, there is "THAT sound" that I used to think only came from a vintage EB-3 on overdrive (the growl that Bruce gets on the Wheels of Fire live cuts) but I was able to duplicate it onstage using a little compression from the Zoom pedal and a little extra bass tone from an SWR Workingman's 15 combo. Surprises a LOT of bass players, especially the Fender-cats.

Action is fine, but I'm not crazy about a wooden bridge that uses little metal fret-pieces to set intonation - kinda limits your string choices there. I made the mistake of removing all the strings at once to do a good polish job and spent the better part of an hour trying to get a new set of strings to hold the bridge in place. It is NOT RECOMMENDED you do this! I replaced the Korean-string set (speaks for itself, but it did deviver some good tone) with a set of Dean Markley light groundwounds, and that worked very well - I got better intonation on the E and A strings than with the original set.
Flaws? Couldn't find any, except for the non-intonabloe retro-bridge, but this is surprisingly a very tunable instrument.

DEFINITELY an instrument that sings live! I'd swap the wooden bridge for one that can be fine-tuned, but that might spoil the retro-look and sound. I'm not a fan of Korean guitar hardware but you get your money's worth. I'd change the strap buttons to Schallers or Straploks as insurance - I've dropped too many instruments im my time not to do that.
I own a few Epiphones, and although they're not Gibsons they're built to hold up to roadwork and storage. If Gibson built one of these it'd have to sell for $800 up and you'd get some incremental upgrades, but hey, this baby rocks as it out of the box!
My gigs are a combination of retro and new tunes, and I'd still bring a slap-bass with roundwounds anyway, but this baby is a pleasure to wear and light on the shoulders - you working stiffs know what I mean.

I've learned in my time that you don't expect much help from a company once you buy an import instrument - you're on your own. I'd locate a good local guitar tech (ask around, there are too many adequate ones making a living in guitar stores these days) and have him/her check it out for neck twists and other nightmares. As most states have a "lemon law" that gives you a few days to get your purchase examined, I'd have the guitar tech lined up before I bought the bass. Also I'd recommend you play 3 or 4 of the same instrument at the store (never mind the salesman, he's paid to sit there and help you and if he doesn't, go to another store!) because chances are the floor-demo model isn't the best one in stock.

Let's see - 29 years of weekend gigs, about 9-10 working basses and another 30 in storage, a dozen amps of all sizes... if I kept everything I ever bought I'd have my own music store! Despite the obvious limitations and risks in buying a foreign-built instrument, Epiphone has better quality-control than most out there and this is one of their best basses out there.
I own some nice Alembics, Fenders, Gibsons and Pedullas but I work with Ibanez, Yamaha and a '76 P-Bass that's ready for retirement - I don't make enough to hire a roadie and I've had a few pieces of gear "grow feet and run away" if you know what I mean. I'm sold on this one!

I bought one of the fist ones that came out as i love the sound of a hollow body bass. This bass is pretty simple as far as its features. 2 mini humbuckers, a tone controll and two volume knobs. its got a pretty short scale but it still plays pretty well

This bass sounds great. It is really warm and punchy and it has tons of sustain. It sounds really good considering it is not a terribly expensive bass. i think epiphone put a lot of effort into this one.

looks great, plays great, sounds great.

havent gigged with it yet so im not sure

This is a Great bass!

This one is a '99. Short scale "Beatle" bass, similar to a Hofner 500/1. Very nice flame maple top and back. No pickguard like the Hofner has, but with such a nice top who would want one. Two passive mini humbuckers. 2 volumes, 1 tone. Finish is sleek. Bridge is wooden with two height adjusting screws. NOTE: The bridge is not secured in place. If you remove all the strings, the thing will fall off. For this reason, I replace the strings one at a time. Mine came with a form fitting hardshell case ( a must as it's hard to find a standard case that fits ).

If this is your sound, then this is THE bass for you. Warm, round and singing. You can't really get much spank out of this bass, but if you want to play lots of melodic stuff ( ala McArtney ) or are doing lots of retro or especially alternative stuff, this it THE one. What can I say - sturdier than a Hofner, newer appointments, a LOT less dough, and really nice sounding. I have not noticed any appreciable noise from the pickups, but then I roll off the tone knob some. You can't get a whole lot of different sounds out of her - but what she does, she does quite well.

She was set up pretty well from the factory. I lowered the action a bit, which messed up the intonation, so then I had to loosen the strings and move the bridge around, retune, and check the intonation over and over again till it was back. This took a good hour, so beware if you start to change to different guage strings - you better have time to mess with it. Pickups were set well for optimal tone with little pull. Only minor flaw was one of the tuners was slightly out of alignment. You could only see this from the back. No big deal. Everything else was flawless and clean.

Havn't tried her live yet - I beleive she will take a lot and come back for more. Hardware looks really solid - no junk metal. Finish is solid and should last a lifetime. Strap buttons - what can I say - if you don't like 'em , replace 'em. I would depend on this one for my only bass at a gig without a backup. The only reason I would carry a backup is if I needed to get a different sound for some songs.

Never dealt with them, but it comes with a Lifetime warranty.

I've been playing bass for about 7 years. I also own a Fender P-bass,
and an MTD Kingston 4 string and a Fernandes Retrospect 5 string. I mostly play through a SWR head with a 4 X 10 SWR cab. If Viola was lost I would be bummed, but I think Epiphone makes these with pretty consistent quality, so I would just get a new/used one to replace it.
I love Viola because she is beatiful to look at and easy on the shoulder, and opens up new musical ideas. I don't really hate anything ( except maybe brussel sprouts ).

This is a newer release, 1998 or 99.
Purchased from Long & McQuade (Victoria)
Paid (overpaid: $550) Canadian. I say overpaid because they're currently on for $445. Shoulda waited.
She's a beautiful axe. I use her for home recording, haven't gigged with it. Very nice weight and balance, picked up a hard shell case which I shaped with coned foam and she fits nice and snug in there.
As someone else stated, if you haven't got the bucks for a Hofner, this is a VERY close second.

Overall tonal response is excellent. Obviously this depends on what amp you're running through. I'm using a rare Rickenbacker TR35B, and the sound is smooth. You can get hard and punchy if you want, but I don't go there very often, generally using a very warmnon resonating tone.

She's pretty to look at, Photographs well, and is a pleasure to wear for any length of time.

I use this bass for my home recording project so I can't comment on gigging with it.

Owned an Epiphone Les Paul copy in the past. Never had any problem with it. Epiphone makes a good product.

I've been playing (guitar, bass, keys) about 35 years now.
Yeah I wish Long & McQuade had suggested I hold off for 8 months to a year because it wouldn't have cost me so much. But that's them.
Lost or Stolen??? Probably not because I could supply whatever bass I might need from my Workstation.
Love about it: It's just so cool to play and cradle.
Hate about it: Hey....it's close, but it's not a Hofner
Favourite Feature: would be he weight.
Comparison: Almost purchased a Washburn, but didn't like the weight.
If you're a novice, and you'd like a nice first bass, this would be an ideal unit, just for the weight alone, but also the tonal and sound capabilities of this bass are pretty impressive. In a word or two: I'm keeping mine, and I'm glad I have it.

I bought my Epiphone Viola Bass two months ago after playing a friend's and getting sticken by its looks, in the first place, but also by its comfort, playability. It's got a very wide tonal range, but I do prefer bottoms, so I've set some flatwound strings on it to get that vintage, Hofner tone - and it really worked!
Although I haven't had it for a long time, I would recommend it for anyone who'd like to have a Hofner but can't afford one. What's more, I honestly think it looks, feels, and sounds better than the real stuff.

I own a Rickenbacker replica that until very recently I thought it was original. A luthier worked on it and did not discover it was a fake, so that might give you guys a plug of what a nice work these people got done! I myself played on original Rickenbackers, and I think my bass (made in the 70's by Brazilian make Giannini) sounds exactly the same, but as it is lighter, feels much better. By the way, another luthier (who spotted it was not an original Rick) told me Giannini imported all hardware and pickups from Rickenbacker,so the only difference is the kind of wood used (as you know, Brazilian woods are high quality material, and Giannini respected the through-neck construction). This is illustrative on how relative it is to think that the original stuff is the best. I guess the same thing happens with the Epiphone Viola versus the Hofner 500/1. The Viola is a modern and improved version of the Hofner, and that's why it is, on the whole, a better bass, at a much lower cost (one fifth of the price or so ??!!).

* This is a 30.5" short scale. * Set maple neck with a flame maple semi-hollow body, light brown fade edging with black/white creme double piping trim at the edges. * Fret markers have pearl dots; white dots along the neck edge * Sides are black and the back is flame maple burst as the front * Rosewood fretboard. * Gold Volume controls for each stacked, chrome, mini-humbucking pickup and a Tone control on a creme, pearl rectangular mount. * Pickups are passive. * Floating bridge and fancy chrome tailpiece. * Tuners are stnadard Epi enclosed types with nylon bushings. * Head stock is finished in black with a pearl Epiphpne inlay in script, creme piping at the edges and a script Viola badge centered above the nut. * Strap knobs supplied are too shallow for leather or other heavy straps and need to be replaced immediately with Schaller strap locks for protect this 5 lb. lightweight. * No accessories.

* A very good range of sound for a short scale with warm E string notes and very nice high end - depending on the amp/speakers you use. * Passive Humbucking pickups are clean and quiet. Noises are usually due to low quality amp/speaker cominations with relatively high Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). Not recommended for the cheaper combo bass amps. * Capable of a wide range of sounds e.g., Funk, Reggae, C&W, Top 40, Alternative, Jazz, Pop, Light Rock, some Classic rock, Church backup etc. Probably not the best for Heavy Metal, Fusion or other super thump tunes. Although, with the right amping and detuning , I think it can cover most grooves just fine for a 4 string. * May not have a low enough E for some tastes and or satisfy the low B 5 string crowd (but I dig it anyway). * The Epi Viola has a body style that takes a little getting used to (especially for the right arm/hand placement), since it does not have the usual comfort curves of most electric basses. However, it makes up for it with light weight and a definite cool factor. It also looks great slung on and photographs extremely well, especially when wearing darker colors to set of the flame Maple and shading contrasts. Get a lot of compliments on the looks. * Excellent resonance and sustain on all stings with an Eden combo.

* Made in Korea and setup by Epiphone in the USA - nice job * Action is just fine with no buzzing or dead spots noted * Fit, and finish are very well done overall, a lot of detail work done * Minor flaws: dots on the 12th fret no perfectly aligned, black plastic guard around the top, treble pickup not perfectly square (but very close) and a couple of sanding touches needed before laquering on the edge of the neck with the fret dots. All very minor, but I'm picky. * All hardware and fittings excellent, except the strap knobs did not extend out enough * Needed to install a thumb rest, since I was not able to to find a comfortable position between the two pickups. Accomplished this with a Velcro setup and a 2" rectangular piece of car dash burl trim. No holes needed and easy to relocate if desired. * You will never get a back ache after a 3 or 4 set night with a 5.5 lb. unit that includes the strap locks and a heavy leather 3" wide stap. It's like playing air guitar. Very enjoyable.

* No problems playing with this bass live for gigs as long as strap locks are installed. * Very satisfied with the hardware. * Need to be reasonably careful with the floating bridge and a set neck. * Stays in tune very well with round wound stings of medium gauge. * Since the pickups are passive it is very reliable. * Set neck requires no adjustment and seems very solid. * No need for a backup with this ax unless your a wild man jumping about and crashing into things for stim. * I've whacked it a few times on a ceiling fan, chair, etc. and haven't chipped it yet. Tough finish and wood materials.

* Never dealt with the company, just my local dealer and luthier * Epiphone has an exetensive web site * Two year warrenty * If an Epi Viola is good coming out of the store, you should have no probs other than regular maintenance items

* The more I play it, the more I like it. * I have bought a lot of music and PA equipment over the years * I knew what I was getting into v. the longer scales and some of the tone trade offs. Nonetheless, I found that almost all tones I need can be achieved if using the right amp and understanding the nuances of the guitar. Like anything else in music, this takes considerable time and experimenting. The results have been gratifying as well as fun so far. * I tried out a lot of basses and wanted to get this one first. It had my vibe and then I got the fever for the plunge. * If if were stolen, lost or broken, I would probably get another one. * Hated the stock strap buttons that were too shallow for a decent hitch. Again, gold Schaller's cured that for $20. * Love the classic tone, depth and wide freq range it can produce. * Love the stacked, mini-Himbucking pickups -- very low noise and lots of vibration pull. Need a gain control on your amp though. * Love the overall look and hardware. * Love Epiphone and MARS Music for putting forth a moderately priced semi-hollow body bass that fitted my retro dream. It showed me that you don't necessarily need to spend a thousand or two on a decent electric bass. There's something out there for everyone now. The best of times to be a bass player.

see www.epiphone.com for details

Well I was very very impressed by the sound of this bass. I figured for the money that it would have a bad sound but WOW! This guitar has a vintage sound that has been lost over the years. ITs very unique! I haven't be able to stop playing it since I got it. Alot of people say it has a thumping sound that is no good for heavy metal or punk, that might be true but I can really tell, it sounds good to me I think its just a different sound then there use to.

The action was great, the floating bridge on the other hand needed some work to get the intonation right but when its there you'll know quickly because the notes are clear and tight.

I think it is probable reliability. everything is pretty tough, I haven't really put it thru the mill yet.

I never had to deal with epiphone. There is a warranty, one year I think.

I was very impressed by this guitar this is going to be my sole Bass for all my bass work on songs. I'm not an old Beatles junky ether I'm 22 and still impressed with the sound, its ashame that this type of sound isn't more popular with people my age it really open ups doors in your writting.

There are a couple other submissions for this bass, so I won't repeat what I don't need to repeat. It's a Hofner style hollowbodied bass with two 'mini' humbucking pickups, 2 volume and 1 tone control. 30.5" scale neck. I bought mine with the hardshell case. I hate the floating bridge. It makes setting the intonation a bitch every time I change strings. But I knew that's what I was getting when I bought it. Hofner's have the same problem.

I play in a 50's/60's rock show band, so naturally, the bass suits my style well. I've been playing this bass exclusively for over a year now. I coninue to be amazed at the depth of the tone. It has a nice, full bottom end-- surprising considering the short scale. With proper eq, I can get any tone I want out of it. I have had a couple brushes with feedback, however. But hey, the thing is hollow, and we're talking about 3 or 4 instances out of quite a few gigs. It's also noisier than I would like. Epiphone claims that these are humbucking pickups, but I am skeptical. Most gigs, the bass is silent, but there are some where I'm forced to roll off some tone to cut down on the hum. To sum up: The tone is fabulous, I think you will be surprised how good this bass sounds. But it's a little too noisy in some environments. If it weren't for the hum I'd give it a 10.

The guitar was set up fine, with really good, low action. Epiphone ships the Viola with roundwound strings. I switched to flats because everyone said 'switch to flatwounds'. I'm not sure if I will stick with them or not. Flats give it a more vintage Hofner sound, I guess, but I think it may have sounded better with roundwound strings. Punchier. The next time I change strings I will probably go back to roundwounds. The finish is just gorgeous. If you're wondering about the lack of a pickguard you'll know why when you see one of these beauties. Flawless binding on the front and back, and binding on the headstock. The front and back has a knockout flamed mape finish, the sides are black. As far as looks go, the Viola totally blows away a Hofner. Everyone whines about Epi tuners, but mine are smooth and accurate. I've owned this bass for a year and played about 150-200 gigs with it and it stays in tune just fine.

I stopped bringing a backup bass for my Viola after about 3 months. It's hollow, but it's solidly built. Again, it has a much more substantially solid feel to it than a Hofner. The finish still looks like brand new after a year of solid gigging, but I am getting some belt buckle checking on the back, which is my own damn fault. The tuners are as good as any I've used, despite what people say about Epiphone hardware. The first thing I did when I brought the Viola home was put straplocks on it. Not using straplocks is just plain irresponsible. Likewise, unless you don't gig, a hardshell case is a must. The Epi case is a a tough one with a form fitted interior with blue/grey padding. Really nice case, although the latches on mine are starting to get corroded. It was only something like $80 so when I beat mine to death I'll just buy another one. Summing up: After a year, it still looks great, is still in great shape. This is a great, high quality instrument.

Never dealt with Epiphone. Has a lifetime warranty, though.

I've been playing professionally for 11 years. I also own a 70's Guild 302 bass, a Fender Precision, G&L Legacy guitar and a Rickenbacker 360. I gig with my Viola through a SWR head and a Carvin 4x10 cabinet. I've played nearly 200 gigs with my Viola now and it has totally surpassed my expectations in every way. I'm in love with it. If it were stolen, I would buy another one immediately following a respectul period of mourning. As for comparing it with other basses, I guess the only comparison that's appropriate is with Hofner. I'm in a successful act, and I make pretty good money playing music, so I could have bought a Hofner if I'd wanted to. I tried out several. Hofner's are not good basses. The action is bad, the finish is poor, they feel flimsy and they sound like crap. Even Paul McCartney admits this. Plus they are expensive. In absolutely every single measurable regard, the Viola is a better bass. Unless you are in a Beatles tribute band or something that absolutely REQUIRES you to have a Hofner, you're much better off with the Epiphone. There's nothing more that I can say to recommend these basses. The most satisfying bass I have ever owned.

`99 model. Made in China, I think. Laminated maple body with binding, beautiful flame mample top, vintage sunburst finish. Bound headstock with normal pearl-style logo inlay and binding. Rosewood 22 fret fingerboard with dot inlay. 30.5" scale. Set neck joint. Two chrome mini humberbuckers (passive) with separate volume controls and a shared tone knob.

As you would expect, it has the vintage tone of the Hofner "Beatle Bass" used by Paul McCartney. Some may find it a bit boomy, particularly if you play with your fingers instead of a pick as I usually do. But I LOVE the warmth. It sounds like nothing else! Flatwound strings (not standard equipment) are a must to get the authentic Hofner tone. There's a bit of buzz from the pickups, but it's very low, and that's the cost of vintage tone. Obviously it's not for all music types. Old or light rock, blues and jazz -- yes! Hard rock or punk -- forget it.

I found the action to be well adjusted. One model I played had small cosmetic defects in the finish or binding. With another, the knobs were not mounted flush to the body, and the middle one was raised higher than the other two. It also had smudgy lettering (volume/tone). The instrument I chose was almost perfect, but look at your bass carefully before you buy if small imperfections would disappoint you. The flame maple tops were all beautiful, even on less than perfect finishes. The necks all felt great.

The instrument is VERY light as basses go. You'd never want to drop it, and with the very small strap buttons, that's a distinct possibility (I've almost done so a couple of times this week alone). I haven't tried installing stap locks on this bass, but I intend to see if they can be added! For longevity, the optional moulded hardshell case is almost a must. It cost me an extra $90 Canadian, but at least I won't worry about damaging the bass.

No experience with this company yet.

If you don't have the money for a Hofner 500/1 or 5000/1 "Beatle Bass", try this one out. At roughly one third to one quarter of the price, how can you go wrong? To me, it sounded as good as the Hofner, and was no more fragile than the genuine German article. The instrument in general feels like better quality than the Jay Turser Beatle basses I tried for comparison, although the Epiphone design isn't as good a copy as a Turser is. I'm very happy with this bass , although until I can ensure that my strap will stay on it reliably, I'm scared of dropping the thing.

Pretty normal features, I guess. I mean it's not like a TV pops out of the headstock or anything. It's got 2 humbucking pickups, volume kobs for each, and a tone knob. The bridge is really neat - it's only held on by the tension in the strings, and it's all wood. Very stylish; I have no idea how it affects the sound of the bass, though (it doesn't matter 'cause it sounds fine, but I'll get to that). It has a mettalic tailpiece and normal tuning pegs. I got it without the normally included case to save money. The neck is pretty thin from one side to the next, but is nice and fat from front to back. And the neck/headstock is one piece.

The sound is awsome. If it's "your sound". It *is* my sound, but it might not be for everyone. It's a very soft, round, fat bottom bass sound. Great for rock (a la early beatles[duh], berry, holly, etc.), blues, and soul/motown souning stuff. It'd probably sound cool in a jazz setting, too, but I haven't tried it. But it'd suck ass for any kind of heavy music, like metal or hardcore, punk. However, that's to be expected given that it's hollow. That, however, is the only reason the soud gets a 6 instead of a 10. A 10 sound would be excellent in every possible environment, and this one is only excellent in a limited number of environments.

The factory setup was fine. The strings are nice, the action was high, but not unbearable. The intonation was perfect. I couldn't find any flaws at all. The finish is beautiful, nice and shiny.

I guess it's reliable. I haven't really put it through the ringer - I reserve my Hamer P.O.S. for that. It has withstood some pretty nasty bumbs against my bedpost.

I've never dealt with Epiphone.

I've been playing for about 6 years. I also own a Hamer Slammer Series, which I reserve for my punk/hardcore tendencies. The Viola is definitely NOT a punk bass. It is awesome for the old-school stuff, blues, soul, 50s rock... you get the idea. I'd definitely buy it again if it were stolen, except I'd pay the extra for the case.