It's Beatle bass time - any help greatly appreciated!

[meursault42]

I think the main difference between the German and CT models is that the Germans are fully hollow, no "sustain" block. I can't imagine how that wouldn't have an effect on the sound. But then again, I've never played a CT model.

[Biggbass]

I've had both German and CT and cannot tell any difference in the tone. Especially once it's amped and mixed into a live band. Currently I have a CT. It's a LOT of Beatle bass for the money. The sustain block doesn't seem to alter the actual tone of the bass. It might give it a bit more sustain, which is good imho. But once you plug a CT in and play with a band, it sounds like you want it to.

[Pimpernel Smith]

Has anybody opened up their CT Hofner 500/1bass and seen the tone block?

How big is it? Width? Height?

And, does it run the length of the body?

[bill reed]

Originally Posted by Pimpernel Smith

Has anybody opened up their CT Hofner 500/1bass and seen the tone block?

How big is it?

And, does it run the length of the body?

I had a look through the control slot and my LE. MARQUIS has the block running the full length of the body as far as i could tell, would think this would make the bass stronger and less prown to real damage. i tried a Vintage Hofner 500/1 in a shop and compaired with mine and could not really tell that was any more sustain or any great change in tone,
the main diffrence i could see was the much better finish on the Vintage.

[odysseios]

Approximately this way (maybe is greater, upper and lower part of the body doesn't communicate):

[meursault42]

Originally Posted by odysseios

Approximately this way (maybe is greater, upper and lower part of the body doesn't communicate):

Interesting. At the very least, it must make the bass weigh slightly more. But I still have a hard time believing that it wouldn't have SOME effect on the sound and/or response of the instrument. I mean, in one, you've got a solid (and apparently rather large) slab of wood. In the other, you've got air...nothing. Guess I need to get my hands on a CT and see for myself....

[bill reed]

the one think i notice with my beatles bass over the other basses i have is the way it vibrates into my body when i play it, you can almost feel the note resonating through your body. i'm not sure if all beatles basses are like this.

[odysseios]

Originally Posted by meursault42

... it must make the bass weigh slightly more. But I still have a hard time believing that it wouldn't have SOME effect on the sound and/or response of the instrument...

500g over the 2Kilos of the current german hofner weight.
I often asked to german+CT owners if there's some difference. They told me there is a little more sustain on the CT, but the sound is the same, do not forget pickups are the same of the german V62/64.
One guy having a lot of Hofners (including the CT) told me there can be the same difference between 2 german hoffies.
And recently i discovered the CT necks too are made in Germany, then shipped to China.

[stratovani]

Here's a shot of my Icon taken last summer. Since I bought it two years ago I've jazzed up its looks with La Bella Beatle Bass flats, teacup knobs, painted the switches white, and used white auto pinstriping to simulate the look of binding. With discount coupons I paid $260 for it at Guitar Center. Plays and sounds fantastic, and it takes to pedals very well. Just favor the bridge pickup, crank up the overdrive, use a pick, and you can play Rush all day and all night!



The bridge looks a bit crooked, but I had to in order to get it to intonate properly.

[Pimpernel Smith]

Wow, the size of the internal sound block that you indicated surprises me. It makes me glad that I bought the Ignition. With a proper set up, and Pyramid flats on it, it sounds as good , and possibly better than the 5 German made Hofner's that I've owned.

[bill reed]

the block is more like a extension of the neck and as far as i can see, more like the blue part on the picture its not conected to the top or the botton of the bass, only at the neck and the bridge end, so there is a little space above and below the block. maybe that why it sound loud when playing without an amp. it's to loud for me to play late at night as the neighbours would still hear it.

[meursault42]

Originally Posted by bill reed

the block is more like a extension of the neck and as far as i can see, its not conected to the top or the botton of the bass, only at the neck and the bridge end, so there is a little space above and below the block. maybe that why it sound loud when playing without an amp. it's to loud for me to play late at night as the neighbours would still hear it.

Woah, you must have paper thin walls.

[odysseios]

I remember the block completely isolates the pots and jack compartment.

[bill reed]

Originally Posted by meursault42

Woah, you must have paper thin walls.

if you look at the back its bowed out! the same at the front, its not flat! if you open the controls and look in you see a very small space between the bottom and the suport strut. its only a few mm.
the suport does not block of the control side from the top side of the bass there is some space betten them.

[bill reed]

Originally Posted by Pet Sounds

Most of the clones also lack the Hofner tailpiece. The German models are definitely better than the Asian ones, but I've seen some decent Icons. Hofners are fun basses! And, while I mostly play P Basses, nothing else sounds like them and they work great for some styles of music.

the hofner have the long tailpiece that goes all the way up to the neck volume. this means that the floating bridge has to be so far forward it often touches the pickup. with the none-hofner ones they use a short tailpiece that only comes up to the solo switch, this makes the stringes longer and are med length not short and also the bridge is about one /two inches behind the bridge pickup so you get really good intonation.
look at some pictues of hofners and most not all have the bridge at an angle and part of it touches the pick-up. that why McCartney had so many problens with his, he need his floating bridge forward a bit more but the pick-up was in the way. the German ones are much better made but would be better with a shorter tailpiece.

[Floyd Eye]

Get a German Hofner.

[meursault42]

Originally Posted by bill reed

if you look at the back its bowed out! the same at the front, its not flat! if you open the controls and look in you see a very small space between the bottom and the suport strut. its only a few mm.
the suport does not block of the control side from the top side of the bass there is some space betten them.

Ha, no I meant the walls of your apartment/house :-)

Originally Posted by bill reed

the hofner have the long tailpiece that goes all the way up to the neck volume. this means that the floating bridge has to be so far forward it often touches the pickup. with the none-hofner ones they use a short tailpiece that only comes up to the solo switch, this makes the stringes longer and are med length not short and also the bridge is about one /two inches behind the bridge pickup so you get really good intonation.
look at some pictues of hofners and most not all have the bridge at an angle and part of it touches the pick-up. that why McCartney had so many problens with his, he need his floating bridge forward a bit more but the pick-up was in the way. the German ones are much better made but would be better with a shorter tailpiece.

Interesting. Guess I don't have that problem with mine on account of the "cavern" pickup spacing. Although I did need to move the bridge QUITE a bit in order to correct the horrid intonation the bass had upon arrival. I was honestly shocked that they would've let the bass leave the factory that way. And indeed, the bridge needed to be moved forward, as all the notes going up the neck were extremely flat.

[bill reed]

Originally Posted by meursault42

Ha, no I meant the walls of your apartment/house :-)



Interesting. Guess I don't have that problem with mine on account of the "cavern" pickup spacing. Although I did need to move the bridge QUITE a bit in order to correct the horrid intonation the bass had upon arrival. I was honestly shocked that they would've let the bass leave the factory that way. And indeed, the bridge needed to be moved forward, as all the notes going up the neck were extremely flat.

yes i do live in flats and the walls are thin!!! Ha!!! you had me laughing when I realised what you meant about the walls.

some owners have to cut the pickguard to get the bridge forward enought.

[meursault42]

Originally Posted by bill reed

yes i do live in flats and the walls are thin!!! Ha!!! you had me laughing when I realised what you meant about the walls.

some owners have to cut the pickguard to get the bridge forward enought.

I had to shorten the little metal rod that goes from the pickguard into the little hole in the bridge. But I didn't actually have to cut the pickguard itself thankfully.

[odysseios]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Get a German Hofner.

That would be good. But having a CT with pickups, control panel, bridge, strings, pickguard and original 60s strap buttons, so near undistinguishable from a V64, sure it will not be a V64.