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One reason the Hofner was affordable to McCartney is that he bought it in the same country it was built in--an import bass would cost more. So the whole 'cheap bass' argument isn't really about quality.
As for German Hofners (I've never had the pleasure of playing one...yet), the construction methods (see video above) seem comparable to a high end acoustic guitar build--and $2800 isn't an absurd sum for a good acoustic. (On various levels, it probably makes more sense to think of Hofners in relationship to acoustic instruments than solid-body electrics.) Also, they're handmade by luthiers in a country with high production costs.
I play a CT, and the build/sound quality is certainly in line with the $800-900 cost. The Ignition also sounds great, but the build isn't on par with the CT, hence the lower price.
As for German Hofners (I've never had the pleasure of playing one...yet), the construction methods (see video above) seem comparable to a high end acoustic guitar build--and $2800 isn't an absurd sum for a good acoustic. (On various levels, it probably makes more sense to think of Hofners in relationship to acoustic instruments than solid-body electrics.) Also, they're handmade by luthiers in a country with high production costs.
I play a CT, and the build/sound quality is certainly in line with the $800-900 cost. The Ignition also sounds great, but the build isn't on par with the CT, hence the lower price.
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ONE WORLD ORDER! THE ANTICHRIST! THE ILLUMINATI! and other popular conspiracies, so we can have a fair trade deal on bass guitars.
In that case, should we actually compare them to Martins, Taylors, and Gibson acoustics? That would be a logical explanation the the high price.
I like McCartney's tone with the Hof, but he would have sounded good on a milk jug + 2×4 with a single gut string. You'd be better off asking him to play your bass for a minute and hoping some of his mojo gets stuck in your instrument.
Why are they so expensive? Several reasons...
1. When Sir Paul bought his Hofner, Germany was still recovering from WWII. The exchange rate at that time was roughly 4 Marks to the Dollar, and everything German was (relatively) cheap - including Porsches. It isn't that way any more...
2. Watch the video, and see how German Hofners are made. Craftsmen may have had to work for cheap in the '50s and '60s, but they certainly don't any more. Skill costs money...
3. As somebody mentioned, part of the price of a Hofner here is taxes, fees, import duties, etc. Uncle Sugar doesn't work for cheap, either (it would be nice if he was a better worker, though)...
4. And finally, it's because Germans have so many holidays - paid holidays. In addition to the 30 or so days of paid vacation they all seem to get, there are at least that many "Federal Holidays" as well. When I was in the Air Force, I always liked temporary duty in Germany - except for trying to get hold of the German civilian I needed for one thing or another. "Oh, this is (insert holiday here); they're all off today"... used to drive me up a wall...
1. When Sir Paul bought his Hofner, Germany was still recovering from WWII. The exchange rate at that time was roughly 4 Marks to the Dollar, and everything German was (relatively) cheap - including Porsches. It isn't that way any more...
2. Watch the video, and see how German Hofners are made. Craftsmen may have had to work for cheap in the '50s and '60s, but they certainly don't any more. Skill costs money...
3. As somebody mentioned, part of the price of a Hofner here is taxes, fees, import duties, etc. Uncle Sugar doesn't work for cheap, either (it would be nice if he was a better worker, though)...
4. And finally, it's because Germans have so many holidays - paid holidays. In addition to the 30 or so days of paid vacation they all seem to get, there are at least that many "Federal Holidays" as well. When I was in the Air Force, I always liked temporary duty in Germany - except for trying to get hold of the German civilian I needed for one thing or another. "Oh, this is (insert holiday here); they're all off today"... used to drive me up a wall...
Saw a way cool ESP Hofner on FB over the weekend. Black with EMG's in it. Of course I can't find it now. Pretty nice price, bet someone grabbed it up. I wish I had grabbed a picture. He was getting all kinds of hits on it.
The video illustrates that Hofner has made a conscious choice to favor hand craftsmanship and old school assembly techniques over modern CNC machining, that's cool, it employs a handful of workers with high skills who would otherwise be driven into unemployment by cheaper alternatives. I'm probably a closet socialist, so I don't begrudge the average German worker his enviable salary, healthcare, and generous vacation schedule. I've just made a personal choice not to support that lifestyle by buying overpriced German products. Hand assembly does not guarantee better quality by any means, but if the unique aspect of a hand-built instrument appeals to you, and you have the spare change to invest in the Hofner brand as a means to an end in itself, it's all good. My point is, having played virtually all of the Hofner variants, and the hugely less expensive clones, I'm damned if I can hear or feel a difference that could remotely justify the cost difference, but then that's true of many basses. I get it, why would many women, given the choice between two identical handbags, often even made in the same factory, choose to pay 4 times as much for the one that has the shiny little "Gucci" label on it over the identical bag without?
I'd much rather support German craftsmanship than Chinese knockoffs, but that's just me.
I did have a CT for awhile, and must say it was a pretty nice bass, but I still favor my German Hoffies. The quality is worlds better, particularly compared to the Ignitions.
I did have a CT for awhile, and must say it was a pretty nice bass, but I still favor my German Hoffies. The quality is worlds better, particularly compared to the Ignitions.
Dude just dropped the price down to $1800 which is a good deal on that bass. Not something I'm interested in, but that's about a grand less than it went for new.
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Not meant to derail but according to Macca's book he had 2 Hofners. The first one bought in Hamburg and the second given to him by Hofner in 1963. The first one was played through a thousand and one sweaty Reeperbahn and Cavern nights. It was stolen after the rooftop gig and never found.
There is a Hofner dealer in my town and I wander in there from time to time. He has German Hofners as well as the cheaper non-German ones. The German ones are nicer.
In addition to the violin basses he also occasionally has one of the Hofner "Verythin" hollow bodies, both the bass and the guitar versions. I haven't seen a German-made Verythin yet, but the non-German ones are a really nice design. If I ever find myself in the market for a hollow body I would consider them seriously. I think they are beautiful.
In addition to the violin basses he also occasionally has one of the Hofner "Verythin" hollow bodies, both the bass and the guitar versions. I haven't seen a German-made Verythin yet, but the non-German ones are a really nice design. If I ever find myself in the market for a hollow body I would consider them seriously. I think they are beautiful.
They're pricey. I've shared this little movie before that shows some of what goes into making them. Be forewarned: the soundtrack is elevator music Beatles. Best to mute the video and play some music instead.
There is a Hofner dealer in my town and I wander in there from time to time. He has German Hofners as well as the cheaper non-German ones. The German ones are nicer.
In addition to the violin basses he also occasionally has one of the Hofner "Verythin" hollow bodies, both the bass and the guitar versions. I haven't seen a German-made Verythin yet, but the non-German ones are a really nice design. If I ever find myself in the market for a hollow body I would consider them seriously. I think they are beautiful.
Wow! I love this.
