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Can you play Beatles without a Hofner?
- Thread starter rickenhawk
- Start date
I'll echo what others have said: It only matters if you really care about the visuals. A Rickenbacker would be just fine, and the Beatles fans in the audience would get the McCartney connection.
That would probably be something a hard-core Beatles fan might notice,
the bass, I doubt it.
Didn't he just get the Hofner because he needed a bass real-quick,
and it's the only one available that wouldn't look weird being played left-handed, upside down?
and it's the only one available that wouldn't look weird being played left-handed, upside down?
My acoustic/electric Beatles band is now in our 11th year, and I've never used a Hofner. I've played a Rickenbacker for most of that time, however, last year I started using a Serek as well. The common denominator is using flats with a pick, using primarily the front pickup, and have your tone controls rolled waaaay back. I personally use TI flats exclusively (killer tone, and their low tension is very reminiscent of the flats that Rick used to string their basses.)
You're not in a costume & wig impersonator band, so don't sweat the Hofner thing. BTW, I tried one a few years ago and personally hated the feel - it was shipped back to the store the next day. They're cool basses, it just wasn't for me.
With headphones on, you can hear an example of the tone I've been using with my Ric:
Good luck and have fun!
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I've played in a Beatles-only cover band for over 10 years. One Beatles geek in the crowd might care but nobody else does.
Unless you're a hard-core tribute band, I wouldn't worry about it at all.
I seriously doubt most people who loves Beatles music would have a clue what instruments they were using,
and I doubt they'd care anyways so long as it sounded good.
Like my mom who was part of Beatlemania in the 60s... when I had said something about Paul on bass, she said no, he played guitar. So I then asked her who was the bassist, and then finally realized that just maybe I was right haha.
drumvsbass
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I just had this thought myself last night. We're pretty myopic around here. Many of us could easily tell a P-bass from a J-bass from a Stingray in a mix; some of us can pick out the era of the bass according to the sound.Musicians, especially those who've been musicians since youth just don't get it that people don't see that stuff.
Before I got into playing which was pretty late in life, I'd see bands in bars, and I swear I never looked at the instruments being used, what speakers they were using, etc. I wouldn't know the difference between a Strat or a Tele or a Les Paul.
Sounds crazy to me now, but that's how it is for non-musicians.
But that is what we care about. I wonder how many of us can tell the difference between a Strat and a Tele, or if we care. And we're musicians.
I played Beatles on a six string Dingwall, which is as far as you can get from a Höfner and still stay in the realm of electric bass. If someone minded, they kept it to themselves. People danced and enjoyed the music.
However, the 500/1 is generally referred to as the 'Beatles bass' - even though Sir Paul also played a Ric on many tunes.
However, the 500/1 is generally referred to as the 'Beatles bass' - even though Sir Paul also played a Ric on many tunes.
I play a couple Beatle's tunes at a weekly gig on my upright. Uh - oh, guess I'll have to apologize to someone.
The only one that might care what they are playing, brand or otherwise, is the person playing. Maybe another musician in the crowd may notice, but who cares? I'm playing what I like and the way I like. Not there to provide a "look at me" gig. I enjoy stage time and playing with my band. Hopefully helping people forget a crappy day.
last saturday night my band played a half dozen beatles tunes (or parts thereof) and i played them all on a fretless! 
i voted "yes."
i voted "yes."
I'll pass on going all on for Beatles covers. But I might be tempted to get a Hofner if it made me sound more like this:
I can tell without trying one that what I really need is more practice - and possibly brain surgery [to get more blood flowing to the part of the brain that lets one be so world-class tasty yet busy at the same time].
I can tell without trying one that what I really need is more practice - and possibly brain surgery [to get more blood flowing to the part of the brain that lets one be so world-class tasty yet busy at the same time].
If it's a Beatles tribute band then yes, it probably would be a good thing. If you're just covering some Beatles songs ... play whatever you got and it'll be good'nuff.
