Any recommendations? Not looking to spend too much. Just looking for something lightweight and fun.
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Beatle Basses
- Thread starter leegreenman
- Start date
If you're looking on the budget side, I know two people who have Rogue Beatle basses and they're really happy with them. I haven't played them yet myself. I was tempted to pick up an Epi, but haven't done that yet, either. I played with one in GC, but not for very long.
The Hofner Icon is a pretty great sounding bass for the money. Its tonally VERY close to the 500/1 and is completely hollow unlike the Contemporary(which is a great bass as well). I would check them out.
I don't think you can find a better deal than this on a Beatle-type bass: Link Removed
The quality of these is amazingly good for the price and you won't be out a lot of $ if you decide that you don't like the hollow-body short-scale type of bass.
Rick B.
The quality of these is amazingly good for the price and you won't be out a lot of $ if you decide that you don't like the hollow-body short-scale type of bass.
Rick B.
- Nov 27, 2003
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- Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars
We once had a very early Hofner (pickups close together) coming in at Knooren for repairs, the neck had come off.
After we fixed it I hooked it up to our shop's Ampeg SVT and let it blast.
Man that thing had a deep sound and I wondered if any dub players know of it. I also found out why Macca had the Mandolin Brothers refit his bass with a new fingerboard, since it was impossible to intonate that thing.
I played the new Cheap Hofners and they sound really good and don't have the intonation issues of the old ones. But frankly they don't have the power those old Hofner pickups had.
After we fixed it I hooked it up to our shop's Ampeg SVT and let it blast.
Man that thing had a deep sound and I wondered if any dub players know of it. I also found out why Macca had the Mandolin Brothers refit his bass with a new fingerboard, since it was impossible to intonate that thing.
I played the new Cheap Hofners and they sound really good and don't have the intonation issues of the old ones. But frankly they don't have the power those old Hofner pickups had.
I'd probably get an import Hofner rather than an Epi/Douglas/Rogue, etc. They're at least as good as the clones, inexpensive and, should you sell it, will probably be easier to unload.
Get a Hofner. They sound very similar to Paul's tone with The Beatles and are relatively inexpensive.
If you're looking for something cheap and looking like what Paul uses, try an Epiphone Viola. I played one once, uber weightless, thin neck, but after playing a 34" bass, it felt like a Guitar Hero controller.
Check out my thread on the Douglas I just purchased (pic + soundclip).
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/nbd-douglas-violin-770167/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/nbd-douglas-violin-770167/
Mandolin Brothers is up the street from where I live. DiMarzio pickups is a 3 minute walk from my front door. Small world.
I love my Epi Viola with Pyramid Flats. Very, very nice tone, super lightweight, great playability, and (most important to me) it doesn't 'feel' cheap. I can't say the same thing for the Hofners I've played.
Stick with the Hofner Icon, they are constructed more like the original Beatle bass (like a violin) than the Epiphones, Rogues and other knock offs which are made by stacking plywood with plenty of glue.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I have a 70s Hofner and had an Epi Viola and a couple of other older 70s Japanese made Hofner clones. But none of them, including the real Hofner, could get the type of low action I like. Then I bought a Jay Turser Hofner copy. The Turser has a better bridge design that lets you get the string height very low and makes this by far the most playable violin bass I've ever tried. I would definitely recommend you out the Turser.
I had the Brice from Rondomusic.com. It was my first bass and I didn't know enough to know the impact strings could have one a bass. Sold it because it only did the "beatles" sound. Did VERY well, but I wanted to explore other sounds and I couldn't get any out of it.
Had flats on it.
Sold it and have since discovered that playing one with rounds on it is a completely different experience. Would still own it if I had purchased it with rounds on it.
The quality and finish of that Brice were absolutely excellent.
Have played an Epiphone version in a local shop. Great sound, but the fit and finish were definitely a step below. Understand that that may just be on that bass, but of the two versions I had my hands on...Brice for the win.
Had flats on it.
Sold it and have since discovered that playing one with rounds on it is a completely different experience. Would still own it if I had purchased it with rounds on it.
The quality and finish of that Brice were absolutely excellent.
Have played an Epiphone version in a local shop. Great sound, but the fit and finish were definitely a step below. Understand that that may just be on that bass, but of the two versions I had my hands on...Brice for the win.
+1 for the Epiphone, I was quite impressed with it, as mentioned earlier, it doesnt feel or sound cheap, a great bass for the money. Ive heard good things about the Douglas' too (apparently they're made in the same factory) but have no first hand experience with them
Robbie Shakespeare is known for using Hofners
Robbie Shakespeare is known for using Hofners
I own an Epi. It's well made and very nice looking. And an absolute breeze to play. But I was never much impressed with it's sound - no matter what strings I have on it. And it really doesn't sound all that much like the Hofner 500/1 which I am very familiar with.
I tried out the Hofner Icon and was very impressed with the sound.
Definitely would have bought the H-Icon if I had been able to choose between that and my Epiphone.
I tried out the Hofner Icon and was very impressed with the sound.
Definitely would have bought the H-Icon if I had been able to choose between that and my Epiphone.
Thanks for all the feedback. The Hofner Icon sounds great, but I'm not sure if I can adjust to the tiny neck. It also costs a bit more than the clones. From what I hear the Rogue's neck is a bit beefier.
