I'd get a cheap bass first and see if you have fun with it. I have a cheap bass that doesn't sound amazing, but does play quite well and I will often grab it to do bass lines on my looper. Usually when I pick it up it stays out for a while because, well bass is fun! I'm actually even thinking of gutting the electronics and putting some half decent pickups and pots in her some day.

I won't write off the hollow though. I have a Maton BB1200 and it's amazing! I just bought a Hell Zerodot, which has taken my attention away from new guitars for a while (the thing is freakin amazing actually) but I can see myself with another hollow, in the vein of an Artcore or a Gretsch most likely.