Best bass for Beatle songs.

[SuzyCreamcheese]

A left handed Ampeg Dan Armstrong Plexi bass. End of thread.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Hofner and on the latter Beatles Material a Sadowsky 24 fret with soapbars.

 

[docrobert]

I was wondering if the Orange 20b or the 35b would work well with the Hofner Icon. I am after a vintage sound. Can anyone help me?

 

[iamthebassman]

I play bass in a Beatles tribute band, and often at out-of-town shows we use rental backline, I have been supplied the Orange 35B and been able to get the required tones from it.

 

[docrobert]

Thanks! That's what I wanted to know...

 

[Rob Martinez]

Short scale bass with flats.

I use a Hofner Icon with La Bella Beatle Bass flats, extra lights. I use only the neck PU, with the volume wide open and tone ALMOST all the way off. I play with a pick.

For an amp, I also use a VOX T60 combo or an Ampeg B100R. I put a lot of bass, half mids, and just a bit of treble. Works great for me!

These days, McCartney himself uses a Hofner live, even on tunes he used the Rick to record. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

When he plays guitar, Brian Ray plays what looks like a short scale Gibson SG bass. Don't know if it has flats on it.

 

[pringlw]

Obviously you can't go wrong with a Hofner - it's a "Beatle Bass" after all. However a Rickenbacker is just as "authentic" and - frankly I'd rather invest in a Rick than a Hofner.

 

[BlackFenderBass]

Hofner or Ric. I've never really heard of Paul McCartney playing any other type of bass.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Obviously you can't go wrong with a Hofner - it's a "Beatle Bass" after all. However a Rickenbacker is just as "authentic" and - frankly I'd rather invest in a Rick than a Hofner.

I hear ya. Still, the general public, when they see a Rick, don't say, "Cool! I Beatle bass!" They tend to do that with a Hofner only.

I also hear ya about investing. I play a Hofner Icon ($300) and cannot see $2000 for a German made Hofner. I also have a Rick bass, and it is more expensive and is a great instrument. My band plays early Beatles so the Hofner is just a better fit in every way. I suppose if your band is playing Sgt. Pepper's and later stuff, the Rick would be a better choice.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Hofner or Ric. I've never really heard of Paul McCartney playing any other type of bass.

He has played others (Fender P bass, Jazz bass, Yamaha, Wal, Kay) but the Hofner and Rick are what he is known for.

 

[carlos840]

Is that cheeky way of asking what the worst bass for metal is?

 

[sedan_dad]

I use my Jerry Jones Longhorn with flats to cop that vibe, pretty effectively IMHO. Short-scale helps if you're talking trying to sound Hofner-esque. Flats for sure.

Big +1
I'm working with a band that does a few Beatles tunes and my Fenders don't cut it nearly as well as my Longhorn with flats.
Very thumpy.