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Can a Hofner do motown/soul?

N

nibbles

Jul 20, 2022
5
4
#1
Heya, I'm looking to buy my first bass and am in a bit of a pickle.

I have smallish hands and am left handed, so there are limited options for me.

I really like the sound of Hofners, as one of my favourite genres is psych rock and they work really well there. From Beatles to Tame Impala. The Hofner, as a small, short scale bass, is also one I can play very well with.

I also really like Motown/Soul type music, where there's a danceable groove to it.

For this, I'd expect to choose a P-Bass, which seems to be the most common bass for these musicians, people like James Jamerson etc. It seems to be THE classic sound.

A P-Bass is obviously a regular, larger size bass so my expectation is it will feel difficult with my hands.

I was wondering, given the Hofner is more to my preferred size, if I could get close to the P-Bass sound with the Hofner. From researching online the general opinion seems to be heck no!

But, I wanted to re-ask it here because from what I can see, the Jamerson sound, apart from his amazing ability of course!, seems to come from a P-Bass, DI'd, with labella flats and often with a foam mute.

From listening, this gives it a nice thump...which reminds me of a Hofner. Admittedly I am definitely an amateur with bass stuff, learning as I go along, so I am assuming I'm still wrong.

But I was wondering if anyone felt it was outrageous to think that for that sort of motown/soul sound, actually the Hofner might be alright? (So I can take advantage of the short scale)

Or, would you suggest that no actually the P-Bass is still the one to go for, even if it'll take some stretching with my hands!

Plus - if you'd suggest the P-Bass, then is there a level of quality that is suggested one go for? As in, is Squier/Fender Player alright, or would you suggest levelling up etc? I'm looking for something that will last a long time.

Also, quite reminder that I am left handed so I need something that I can get as a leftie. IE I did think about a Mustang bass but they don't do them as lefties unfortunately!

Thank you for any thoughts!
 
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#6
As someone with stubby fingers who absolutely loves short scales but also plays a full-size 5-string jazz bass, I don't think you need a short scale P-bass to play unless you're a 10-year-old girl.

But, if you really want a short scale lefty P bass, you can get this one from Harley Benton, but the shipping to the US will be nearly as much as the bass itself:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

If you're in Aus or Asia, you can find higher-quality 3/4 and 7/8 lefty P basses from SX for a good price.
 
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#8
GIBrat51 said:
View attachment 3077343 View attachment 3077346
Click to expand...
To answer your question; yes, you can use a Hofner bass for Motown/Soul. With few exceptions - which, as a lefty, you're unlikely to get your hands on - you can use pretty much any electric bass for any kind of music that electric basses are used for. They might not look "right"; and they might not be the perfect bass for what most people think is the exactly "correct" tone for that genre; but they'll get the job done. As for a short scale P-Bass? For left handed players, any style of solid body, short scale basses are kinda hard to come by, and are mostly either at one one end of the $$$ spectrum or the other; not much in between. A couple of years ago, I got tired of looking for a mid-priced one - and just built one. This is my Warmoth Mini-Precision Bass. Does it sound like a "real" P-Bass? Well, with the same GHS Precision Flats as my '78 Fender P-Bass... yeah, it pretty much does. It does Motown/Soul - and 50's/'60s Rock, Rockabilly, and C&W - just fine... Another shorty that will work well - but probably looks a little odd - is a Danelectro Longhorn. I have very light flats on mine, since I use it for other music; but, Dano's are string chameleons; change the strings, and it's a completely different bass. For what you want? La Bella 760FL's - or the GHS Precision Flats - would be just the ticket on a Longhorn...
So... if you want to use a Hofner? Go right ahead. Personally, I've managed to get my hands on 2 or 3 left-handed short scale basses that I might prefer to use for Motown/Soul; my headless, aluminum-necked '81 Kramer Duke, for instance. But I've been looking for, and buying lefty basses for a long time... But, if a Hofner's what you want? Just play it, and don't worry about what other people think...:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
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#9
The Ibanez mikro looks promising. Looks pretty versatile as far as tones too.
But if you're more into the hofner look, the answer is: there's no reason you couldn't play Motown on it. Or anything for that matter.
The mikro is even a little smaller than the hofner and probably made well and really easy to play. But I agree that it's not 100% necessary to have a small scale for smaller hands. I'm just not sure what's available in a lefty 32".
Anyway, something to check out and read reviews on.
Ibanez miKro GSRM20 Left-handed Bass Guitar - Black
 
#10
nibbles said:
Heya, I'm looking to buy my first bass and am in a bit of a pickle.

I have smallish hands and am left handed, so there are limited options for me.

I really like the sound of Hofners, as one of my favourite genres is psych rock and they work really well there. From Beatles to Tame Impala. The Hofner, as a small, short scale bass, is also one I can play very well with.

I also really like Motown/Soul type music, where there's a danceable groove to it.

For this, I'd expect to choose a P-Bass, which seems to be the most common bass for these musicians, people like James Jamerson etc. It seems to be THE classic sound.

A P-Bass is obviously a regular, larger size bass so my expectation is it will feel difficult with my hands.

I was wondering, given the Hofner is more to my preferred size, if I could get close to the P-Bass sound with the Hofner. From researching online the general opinion seems to be heck no!

But, I wanted to re-ask it here because from what I can see, the Jamerson sound, apart from his amazing ability of course!, seems to come from a P-Bass, DI'd, with labella flats and often with a foam mute.

From listening, this gives it a nice thump...which reminds me of a Hofner. Admittedly I am definitely an amateur with bass stuff, learning as I go along, so I am assuming I'm still wrong.

But I was wondering if anyone felt it was outrageous to think that for that sort of motown/soul sound, actually the Hofner might be alright? (So I can take advantage of the short scale)

Or, would you suggest that no actually the P-Bass is still the one to go for, even if it'll take some stretching with my hands!

Plus - if you'd suggest the P-Bass, then is there a level of quality that is suggested one go for? As in, is Squier/Fender Player alright, or would you suggest levelling up etc? I'm looking for something that will last a long time.

Also, quite reminder that I am left handed so I need something that I can get as a leftie. IE I did think about a Mustang bass but they don't do them as lefties unfortunately!

Thank you for any thoughts!
Click to expand...

Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

Will the Hofner nail the P bass tone? Nope.

BUT...

The Hofner does have a gorgeous, warm, woody tone that will lend itself very easily to old-school soul music. Man I wish my big hotdogs could get around one. I saw Chris Wood make one sing at a Wood Brothers show once. Ever since, I pick one up every time I'm near one. But, alas, my big fingers trip over each other playing one.

Do yourself a favor. Don't get bogged down in details. You seem excited about the prospect of playing bass. Keep your eye on that ball. Find JOY in music. Keep an open mind and allow your tastes to change as you grow with the bass. Let the journey take you wherever it does.

Also, the Hofner beats the crap out if MY first bass (some no-name piece of junk).

Go get that tiny neck and learn how to work it!
 
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#12
nibbles said:
Heya, I'm looking to buy my first bass and am in a bit of a pickle.

I have smallish hands and am left handed, so there are limited options for me.

I really like the sound of Hofners, as one of my favourite genres is psych rock and they work really well there. From Beatles to Tame Impala. The Hofner, as a small, short scale bass, is also one I can play very well with.

I also really like Motown/Soul type music, where there's a danceable groove to it.

For this, I'd expect to choose a P-Bass, which seems to be the most common bass for these musicians, people like James Jamerson etc. It seems to be THE classic sound.

A P-Bass is obviously a regular, larger size bass so my expectation is it will feel difficult with my hands.

I was wondering, given the Hofner is more to my preferred size, if I could get close to the P-Bass sound with the Hofner. From researching online the general opinion seems to be heck no!

But, I wanted to re-ask it here because from what I can see, the Jamerson sound, apart from his amazing ability of course!, seems to come from a P-Bass, DI'd, with labella flats and often with a foam mute.

From listening, this gives it a nice thump...which reminds me of a Hofner. Admittedly I am definitely an amateur with bass stuff, learning as I go along, so I am assuming I'm still wrong.

But I was wondering if anyone felt it was outrageous to think that for that sort of motown/soul sound, actually the Hofner might be alright? (So I can take advantage of the short scale)

Or, would you suggest that no actually the P-Bass is still the one to go for, even if it'll take some stretching with my hands!

Plus - if you'd suggest the P-Bass, then is there a level of quality that is suggested one go for? As in, is Squier/Fender Player alright, or would you suggest levelling up etc? I'm looking for something that will last a long time.

Also, quite reminder that I am left handed so I need something that I can get as a leftie. IE I did think about a Mustang bass but they don't do them as lefties unfortunately!

Thank you for any thoughts!
Click to expand...

I’d suggest an Epiphone viola bass over the Hofner. The real, expensive Hofner’s really wouldn’t be good for that type of music, but the Epiphone is built sturdier and the pickups have a wider range. I can get deep thump out of mine (strung with flats) on the neck pickup and an almost “Jaco” tone out of the bridge pickup. If you’re doing old school Motown, it would work. No slapping, though. The floating bridge would probably slip. I love the narrow neck and the short scale length. It’s effortless to play.
 
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#15
I've used a Hofner Ignition violin and Ignition Club basses for several years playing many genres including Motown/Soul. Approximately 30% of the repetoire of 96 songs I play with the duo I'm in with a jazzy guitarist/singer is Motown/Soul. My Hofners have nylon tapewounds and work very well for all the genres we play.

I've never had the bridge slip in the years I've used them but I recently started using double sided tape just for an extra sense of security.
 
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#16
Came in to say:
two fingers said:
Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

Will the Hofner nail the P bass tone? Nope.

BUT...

The Hofner does have a gorgeous, warm, woody tone that will lend itself very easily to old-school soul music.
Click to expand...

but it looks like I don’t have to anymore. You sound excited! Take that and run, you’ll be fine. Welcome to the club.
 

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