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Can a Hofner do motown/soul?

#41
I'm pleasantly surprised at not finding more replies to the effect of
- "no, or maybe, but get the P bass anyway" (because duh, P bass)
- "get a long scale bass" (because...you'll grow into it?)
- "get a right-handed bass" (because pianos / because more choice / because man up, son).

Not knocking those per se, mind you - opinions=openings, and all that jazz - just marvelling at them not being the majority, for once.
 
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#43
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!
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Yes.
 
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#44
Absolutely- IMO, the main thing is to put flatwounds on it, or stuff a hunk of foam under the strings or over the strings using masking tape. The rest is in your technique. They are great little basses. :)
 
#45
I play Motown on a 32-inch Squier Jaguar H with La Bella flats. I play Motown on a 30-inch travel bass with a Nordy Mustang pickup and GHS Balanced Nickels. I play Motown on my Ibby 5-string with a custom 33-inch neck, EMGs, and D'Addario XL's. It is mostly in the fingers. And why not a P-bass? My hands don't like 34-inch scale basses anymore.
 
#47
The note dies off a little quicker on short scale but Höfners have been spotted in reggae, rock, jazz, you might have to turn your amp up a bit , but I think you might be pleasantly surprised. I enjoy playing mine in various settings but I also have a p-bass that I play on louder gigs.
 
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#53
Yes. In fact I would imagine with the tone rolled off just a bit and foam under the bridge it could actually sound very much like the recording in a live setting more so than a P bass might. It's way easier to say what wont work. An active bass with an aggressive Jaco honk.
 
#57
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...
It's the player not the bass, technique over tool. Eventually you will sound like you no matter the gear. I would grab a Longhorn it's a versatile bass.
 
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#59
As a long time owner of Danelectro Longhorn, having a steady gig with 60s rock, pop and the odd motown song, AND having tried the original Höfner bass, I would pick a Dano 11 times out of 10.
It is a better built instrument, basically as robust as a Precision. It offers greater tonal variation (with a usable bridge pickup solo sound), better (more flexible) ergonomics, has much better sustain if needed, is marginally heavier. It also is much less prone to feedback, and is easier to set up, especially if you go with a metal bridge model.
Most importantly, it sounds more like a Precision. If you want no top end, limited deep lows, crap sustain, foam in the bridge will get you into Höfner territory...
 
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