A bass for playing Beatles

[Nemo2000]

Hello everyone.
I've been offered the opportunity to play bass in a cover band that also plays some of The Beatles' masterpieces. Therefore, I'd like to achieve a bass sound as close to the original as possible.
Unfortunately, I don't want to spend money on a Hofner violin bass, which I don't like at all (purely for aesthetic reasons; I don't want to offend anyone). So, I've considered a few alternatives: 1) using my Fender Precision with a fretwrap at the bridge and flatwound strings, or 2) buying a used Fender Coronado II bass, or 3) buying a used Epiphone Jack Casady bass, or 4) buying a new Hofner Verythin bass. As for options 2), 3), and 4), there's no opportunity to try these basses before purchasing them.
Which of the above alternatives do you think would be best for my purpose? (please, do not consider money, only the sound!) Thanks!

 

[ThatScotsBas]

I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that most of the second half Beatles bass was recorded with a Rickenbacker 4001

 

[Deleted member 394181]

The Verythin Hofners have a verycool Brown burst flamed Maple, or a 500/5. We know how important pickups and electronics are, so if you needed to you can upgrade to German parts.

 

[TeeSee]

Stick with you P and save money. Unless you are going to become a Beatles tribute band whereas you'll have to wear 60's suits and mop top wigs and fork out for a 4001, I doubt none of the intended audience will give a damn what bass you're playing, as long as your band sounds good to them.

 

[CallMeAl]

Personally, I’d probably go with a Jazz bass. Neck pickup no tone for the violin stuff, pickups full on (or around there) for the Ric stuff. Or just stick with the P.

1 in 100 audience members will notice the bass. It’s the vocals you gotta worry about!

 

[Pdaddy1978]

And besides the Ric, some of it was recorded on a Fender jazz.
I've been getting along fine playing the fabs on a P for years.
The "gotta play a Hofner " thing is more of a visual cue than sound necessity.
Fine if you got one, but unnecessary .

 

[Pier_]

using my Fender Precision with a fretwrap at the bridge and flatwound strings,

that's the easiest way:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

this was my Precision bass a lot of years ago, recorded with Thomastik JF344 flats and some foam under the strings, but not much, because the Beatle's sound has some sustain, it's not Motown.
pick between the neck and the pickup.

nothing more.

the Hofner were recorded only in between 1961 and 1964, then from 1965 and all the studio albums the basses on their records, with some exception in the last two albums, are the Rickenbacker 4001s, a '66 Jazz bass with flats and a Bass VI with flats (usually played by Harrison or Lennon when Paul was playing the piano).

FW: "Maxwell Silver Hammer" is the Jazz Bass played by Harrison "in the style of McCartney", or "The Long and Winding Road" is Lennon on the Bass VI.

so, whatever bass with flats will do the job.

if you're looking for just aesthetics, like some fetish musicians doing tribute bands, you can't use anything other than a 4001s or the Hofner

 

[JIO]

Stick with you P and save money. Unless you are going to become a Beatles tribute band whereas you'll have to wear 60's suits and mop top wigs and fork out for a 4001, I doubt none of the intended audience will give a damn what bass you're playing, as long as your band sounds good to them.

I agree - I once loaned my '66 P-bass to the out-of-town bass-player who played in a band that covered Beatles songs at a holiday loft party. They didn't dress in 'Beatles' costumes and played many classic Beatles songs really well. The bass-player knew that material inside-out and to anyone listening - it sounded like "the Beatles". After their 1st set I asked him how he liked my bass - he replied "how fast can you run?"

 

[Gorn]

I think as long as it's not a buzzy, very roundwound sounding, Musicmanish, grindy kinda tone, you're fine. And even if it is all those things, it's fine too.

 

[jd56hawk]

Only real decision is which finish.

The JC can easily do the McCartney tone, go with some black tapewounds, but it can do much more...very versatile for a single-pickup bass.
Should've never sold mine.
(Sorry, but the others are off the radar.)

 

[gln1955]

If you're just looking for an excuse to buy another bass, then buy what you want. You can make anything work for Beatles covers with strings and EQ.

 

[DWBass]

A P is all you need. No need to chase tone. Just play the notes!

 

[Geogio]

Hello everyone.
I've been offered the opportunity to play bass in a cover band that also plays some of The Beatles' masterpieces. Therefore, I'd like to achieve a bass sound as close to the original as possible.
Unfortunately, I don't want to spend money on a Hofner violin bass, which I don't like at all (purely for aesthetic reasons; I don't want to offend anyone). So, I've considered a few alternatives: 1) using my Fender Precision with a fretwrap at the bridge and flatwound strings, or 2) buying a used Fender Coronado II bass, or 3) buying a used Epiphone Jack Casady bass, or 4) buying a new Hofner Verythin bass. As for options 2), 3), and 4), there's no opportunity to try these basses before purchasing them.
Which of the above alternatives do you think would be best for my purpose? (please, do not consider money, only the sound!) Thanks!

You can definately get by with flats and a plec... and a little help from your friends.

My step brother had the Höfner... he bought a P later, I played the Höfner for a little while and I think the bridge pick up and the bridge, along with the tail piece is just a little bit crowded for my hand, I wasn't happy with it. Plus if you start rockin' out strings pop out of the bridge slots... I gave it back to Davy and he sold it off, in the late 70s. He really dug the Pbass but I guess the Höfner was a "thing" for a bit.

Don't get me wrong the Höfner is a fine overpriced nostalgic piece of lumber, but it is a wee bit delicate when played robustly.

 

[mikeswals]

Just put flatwounds on what you are currently using.
I don't understand the need for one to buy a matching bass, unless you are completely tribute; clothes and in looks.

Is the rest of the band playing period type instruments too? If not, then no.

I recently watched a band doing a complete Beatles night. These guys were pretty old and one singer was a woman, so any visuals didnt matter. Yes, they sounded great. But the bassist was the only one that used a Hofner... everyone else had Les Paul's and half stacks JCM Marshall's, and the drummer had a modern DW kit.
In other words: the rest of the band just played their normal gear.

 

[Nemo2000]

If you're just looking for an excuse to buy another bass, then buy what you want. You can make anything work for Beatles covers with strings and EQ.

ah ah... true, the GAS is always unconsciously running under the skin...

 

[bwildt]

If your set includes some Beatles songs with whatever other songs you usually play, I'd stick with one bass. I hate swapping instruments mid-set and don't like to see it when I'm watching other bands. Too much waste of set momentum. Turn down the tone if needed and foam/left/righthand mute to kill the sustain. Wichita has a popular band, Across the Pond, that plays British Invasion stuff, including a lot of Beatles. They have picked up a new bassist, but the original guy, Paul, played a j-bass on everything.

If you want a dedicated bass, about anything with flats should work. Maybe a foam mute.

Soapbox time: I agree with an above comment. Unless you are a STRICT note-for-note and costumed tribute band, don't worry too much. I myself hate being a note-for-note and tone-just-right band. Also, I have yet to run across a recorded bass part that I didn't think could be improved with a couple of note or phrase changes, just make sure you keep the signature hook. That may just be me. Really, the only people that notice a note-for-not bassline are other geeky bassists and I'm not there to cater to their critiques.

Every band has a personality. Embrace it.

 

[Wyrdlow]

Stick with you P and save money. Unless you are going to become a Beatles tribute band whereas you'll have to wear 60's suits and mop top wigs and fork out for a 4001, I doubt none of the intended audience will give a damn what bass you're playing, as long as your band sounds good to them.

☝ Precisely that.

 

[g-dude]

Make sure you buy an absolute rubbish bass amp if you really want the right sound.

I recall an interview where Macca said they didn’t really play below an A on the E string because it sounded lousy.

 

[Boneless]

If you want to go with a Hofner-type bass but not a violin bass, you could get a Club.

Höfner HCT-500/2-SB Club-Bass

Basso elettrico Serie Club-Bass Contemporary, Forma del corpo: corpo semi-hollow con blocco centrale (Center Block) e cutaway, Top: legno di abete rosso, Corpo: acero, Manico in 3 pezzi: acero/faggio/acero, Tastiera: jatoba, 22 tasti, Lunghezza...

www.thomann.it

This is the Contemporary version, which is "not quite a true hollowbody but close to it", or you could even get the Ignition version, which is closer to the real deal but even cheaper.

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It plays well, but it's reaaaaally shoddy. I have one and I love it to bits, but the fit and finish is laughably bad
In my opinion, a Hoefner is one of those basses with a very specific personality that you should really try out.

But yeah. A Hoefner will cover the first few albums (up to Rubber Soul, I think? Or Revolver? Can't remember). Then it's a Rick 4001. In both cases, just the neck pickup. I don't care much for the "bass" switch on the Hoefner; it rolls off the treble completely. But that's how McCartney used it (that and the rhythm position engaged, IIRC). I modded mine to have a master volume and a master tone, and the switches switch between pickups... and I added a middle pickup, but it was an experiment, I ended up using the neck pickup 100% of the time anyway. I always think of mounting a different pickup there in the middle, possibly a TV Jones Thunder'blade or Thunder'Mag pickup, but I've never got round to doing it.

 

[aprod]

Play what you own. Nobody will notice any difference.