Sweetwater offers more ways to pay than any other music retailer. Learn more »

Cart (800) 222-4700 Español (800) 222-4701


May is Mic Month at Sweetwater!

Expert Center Sweetcare

«Back to Glossary Menu

Search:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Violin Bass
While this could certainly refer to any hollowbody bass guitar built more or less in the distinctive shape of a violin (such as the Eko models of the 1960s), it is specifically used when referring to Sir Paul McCartney's original left-handed Hofner Violin Bass, which he purchased at the Steinway store in Hamburg, Germany, most likely early in 1961 for the princely sum of 30 pounds (which he paid off in 10 installments). It's interesting to note that a Fender bass was also available, but at closer to 100 pounds, it was simply out of McCartney's price range at the time. By 1963, The Beatles were already famous enough that Hofner presented McCartney with a slightly upgraded version of its Model 500/1 Violin Bass, which he owns to this day. It's hard to say today how much different The Beatles' sound would have been had McCartney decided to purchase a Fender bass.

Vacuum Tube

Vako Orchestron

Valve

Vaporware

Variable Pattern Mic

Variable State Filter

Variac

Varispeed

Varitone

VAST

VBR

Voltage-controlled Amplifier (VCA)

VCA Group

VCF

VCO

VCR

VCXO

Veiled

Velocity

Velocity Compression

Velocity Curve

Velocity Split

Veneer

Venetian Cutaway

Verse

VESA

VESA

VFO

 VGA

Very High Frequency

Vibrato

Vibratone

Vibrato Tailpiece

Vibrola

Video Card

Video Controller

Video RAM

Video Sync

Violin Bass

Virtual Analog Synthesizer

Virtual Dolby Digital

Virtual Dolby Surround

Virtual Instrument

VirtualMemory

Virtual Slave Reel

Virtual Track

VISE

Vistalite

VITC

Vivace

Virtual Network Computing

VOC

Vocal Booth

Vocoder

Voice

Voice-Stealing

 Voice Coil

Voice Leading

Voice Over

Voicing

Volatile Memory

Volt

Volt-Ampere

Voltage

Voltage Clamping

Voltage-controlled Filter (VCF)

Voltage Depression

Voltage Regulator

Voltage Sag

Voltage Spike

Volume

Volume Pedal

Volute

Vortal

VOS

Vox Treble Booster

Vox Ultrasonic

VRAM

Virtual Studio Technology

VST2

VST Instrument

VTR

VU (Volume Unit) Meter

     
Home | Gear Reviews | Videos | Buying Guides | Glossary | Tech Tips | Show Reports | Publications | Featured Articles

Our Customers Say...

“My Sales Engineer has always been really knowledgeable; he's right there with all the information I need. I've been very happy dealing with Sweetwater in general - there haven't been any negatives.”
Ted Kynard, Charlotte, NC

Sweetwater Sound Inc.
5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W
Fort Wayne, IN 46818
Get Directions »

Toll Free (800) 222–4700
Español (800) 222–4701
Local (260) 432–8176
Fax (260) 432–1758
E-mail us

Phone & Retail Store Hours:
9–9 Monday–Thursday
9–8 Friday
9–7 Saturday
(All hours listed are
Eastern Standard Time.)

© 2012 Sweetwater Sound Inc. All rights reserved. Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Links | Press Releases