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Epiphone Viola vs Hofner contemporary violin bass?

#41
I have my '65-'66 Hofner from when I was young. The CT series is a very well built instrument, dare say better than my jump on the band wagon Hofie. I have also been impressed by the new CT series President bass regardless of point of manufacture (China) it is a beautiful bass. I agree with TD go for the CT series!
 
#42
I became a Beatles fan yesterday.What have i been doing all these years!
Alll this because of experimenting with bass sound. Attracted to Dale Davis playing tone(Amy Winehouse bassist), tried palm muting, placing foam at the bridge, using my thumb to play and....it strayed and lead to the Beatles. Previously was only always into 90's rock/pop onwards, recently 80's and 70's.

More googling today on Sir Paul, his bass tone and rig plus not enough stash of cash plus over eagerness made me jump into buying a johnson viola bass on ebay just now
before even checking further.
And now I bump into this post.
Anyone has any experience with the Johnson ?
cross finger it will at least still be warm sounding when I try it and stringing it with flats.

ps: i've been telling myself not to use a pick all these years...think i'm gonna try with a pick when i receive it.
 
#43
I love my hofner CT 500/1, incredibly fun to play. I love the sub woofer bass tones when playing on the neck pup.lovely tone!! Sounds great with a sans amp bass driver and bass big muff Pi!! Only gripe would be my E string is always a little out no matter where I put the bridge! I've even moved the fret wire saddle. Seems a little better! Great bass though! Can't really say about the Epi.

Why buy a hofner copy when you can have a hofner??
 
#44
My Höfner CT 500/1.

The chap I brought this from put original tea cups and raised hofner logo on this. He also got rid of the contemporary logo on trust rod cover. It looks almost identical to a 500/1 64, it is a lovely bass! I love the weight (I have always played fenders) it's so light!!
I use rotosound swing bass round wounds on her. I don't want to copy Macartney and I prefer the way a round wound sings
 
#45
image.jpg
Höfner CT 500/1 left handed
 
#46
SirMjac28 said:
It sounds like a Hofner to me and a rather good one I might add I had a Icon it also sounded great but the CT has the sound and feel I love.
Click to expand...

Did you find you were able to get the classic Hofner tone from the CT compared to the Icon? I've played both in a shop and much prefered the quality of the CT, but the Icon had that big hollow body sound. But both had roundwounds on so may not have been a good test. I'm after the Macca tone and currently have an Epi Viola. Would you recomend the CT for those Macca tones? I'm interested why you went CT over Icon
 
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#47
boristhespider7 said:
Did you find you were able to get the classic Hofner tone from the CT compared to the Icon? I've played both in a shop and much prefered the quality of the CT, but the Icon had that big hollow body sound. But both had roundwounds on so may not have been a good test. I'm after the Macca tone and currently have an Epi Viola. Would you recomend the CT for those Macca tones? I'm interested why you went CT over Icon
Click to expand...

I've owned both and kept the CT the CT has the classic Hofner thump I have Pyramid Gold Flats on mine and I love it so much it cured my obsession to get a vintage one and as you can see from my avatar if I couldn't play my Beatles on it she would have went bye,bye :)
 
#55
James Judson said:
A friend (played Fenders since the 60's) now plays the Epi. The Epi sounds infinitly better than the Hofner IMHO. Sir Paul is the only bassist that is good enough to make a Hofner sing.

YMMV
Click to expand...
You can add Chris Wood to that short list. He ripped it up on this Hofner this summer, saw him twice up close (less than 5 feet away) and the sound he gets is truly stunning.
 
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