hofner bass only for playing beatles?

[Pimpernel Smith]

The use of roundwounds, like the T-I Jazz 324R on the Hofner basses has been a revelation to me. They greatly expanded the sound of the instrument and it still sounds like an upright bass. Different string whether Pyramid flats or T-I round wounds will make it an excellent instrument.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I like Hofners, and played one for a couple of years in a '60s pop band (not just Beatles). Still pull it out sometimes, but don't gig it in my Motown band. They're a lot of fun. I'd say the most limiting thing about them is the string spacing. For me, it feels much more comfortable to play a Hofner with a pick or thumb than fingerstyle.

 

[rockinrayduke]

Ditto on the Club Bass. I want one. Hofner sound, no violin shape.

 

[odysseios]

I can't recall any other British 60's bands using a violin bass.

The Searchers (bassist Tony Jackson); Spencer Davis Group (Muff Winwood); Aston Barrett (Upsetters, then Wailers); Robbie Shakespeare (Peter Tosh, 70s); George Alexander (Flamin' Groovies, 70s); Barry Cowshill (The Cowshills); Bob Bogle (The Ventures); Nick Fortuna (The Buckinghams)...
and today:
Curt Smith (Tears for Fears); Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads); Dale Davis (Amy Wynehouse band); Guy Berryman (Coldplay); Tom Petersson (Chep Trick); Jack Daley (Lenny Kravitz band); John Stirratt (Wilco); Brian Wheat (Tesla); Bob Daisley (Ozzie Osbourne); Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith); Tom Petty (Mudcrutch); Chris Wood (Medesky/Martin/Wood)...
I own a Fender Precision and a Hofner 500/1; Hofner is my #1 bass, because i think Fender is for all bassists, Hofner is only for very vintage sound gourmets.

 

[electracoyote]

I play and love both Hofner violin basses and Fenders.

I think if you really want to nail a variety of good useable tones with the Hofner, you really need to have the experience and patience required, because it will involve tweaking all the variables such as set up, electronics settings, pick/fingers/mutes, and string type. I hear some horrible sounding Hofners, mainly because people have them configured all wrong.

With the Fender, slap on your favorite strings and giddee-up. Fool proof.

 

[ToadWarrior]

My Hofner Icon kills in my country/old time band, I wouldn't hesitate to use it in most settings sound wise, however I don't take it to my rock bands because it is fragile, that is the only reason,.

I haven't switched to flats but I am running the deadest rounds in the world and it is so thumpy almost like a personal kickdrum for my attack, much more consistent across the neck than my Fender and Rickenbacker as well, which means I don't need to squash my sound.

I find the spacing abit awkward for fingerstyle, but I still do it sometimes, generally I stick to thumb and pickstyle.

Great bass, that is all.

 

[odysseios]

I hear some horrible sounding Hofners, mainly because people have them configured all wrong.

+1

 

[Music Scholar]

You can't go wrong with the Hofner. But I would recommend a Rickenbacker bass. Alot of the bands you mentioned performed with a Rickenbacker bass.

 

[howlin]

I demoed one of [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] the other day at a music store and was really shocked at how nice it played. I've never been a big fan of the "Beatle Bass" due to the body shape and the pickup configuration. The Invalid Link Removed yes, Beatle Bass no. Also, it was always my understanding that McCartney never uses the bridge pickup and after trying several I could see why - totally useless IMHO. He did have one Hofner that had the pickups closer together like the Hofner President and that seems to work better overall.

If you do go the way of a violin-shaped bass I'd highly recommend the Epiphone version as I found it way easier to dig in with. If the shape is not your main focus then I'd highly recommend checking out the Epi Allen Woody bass and the Eastwood Classic 4. The Classic 4 pickup spacing has the bridge pickup a bit farther away from the bridge and that really made a difference IMO. A way more versatile bass than the Hofner IMHO. The Allen Woody has it's own vibe.

There are several other options in the short scale arena that I'd consider like the Mikey Way Mustang bass. That little humbucker looks real interesting. There are some used Eastwood Club basses around as well. I liked them a lot better than any of the Hofners I've tried outside of the President that I mentioned above. The Hagstrom Viking bass looks real interesting too [haven't tried one though]. There are those new Squier VM Tele basses that might be worth a look. If you really want the Hofner thing then I'd get either an Epi or a Turser. Pretty much the same build & sound quality at a fraction of the price.

Happy hunting!

 

[bill reed]

I have a LE. Marquis viola bass and i just love the woody Hofner sound you get. have had it almost 2 years now and i have used to to play everything from beatles to hendrix.
it seems strange using it for heavy rock but it just has such a great sound it works. sound great on free's "All right now"
the only people that seem to knock the hofners beatle bass is the ones that have never owned one and just tried one in a shop.
yes its light and you have to take a bit more care with it than a solid body but that sound is well worth it.
i can see why McCartney still plays his as much as the Ric.

 

[N.F.A.]

I used a Rogue Beatle Bass for a couple of years when I played in a pop/rock band. We did mostly acoustic/electric folk and pop. It worked great. I used flats, btw. The bass didn't sound good with rounds on it.

 

[bill reed]

I used a Rogue Beatle Bass for a couple of years when I played in a pop/rock band. We did mostly acoustic/electric folk and pop. It worked great. I used flats, btw. The bass didn't sound good with rounds on it.

I changed to roto 88s low tension flat strings and the diffrence was amazing, have them on my 5 string fretless too.

 

[RED J]

I want to add my.02 with those who recommended rounds instead of flats. Much more versatility. You can always mute rounds, but cant "zing up" flats.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Get a Hofner.

If you are a SERIOUS player with LOADS of money, get a German made Hofner.

A good compromise is the Hofner CT.

If you are on a budget, but still want a nice instrument that says Hofner and gets THAT tone, get an Hofner Icon/Ignition.

I'll join the resounding chorus and say make sure you put flat wound strings on it!

 

[savofenno]

I've only heard a few songs from the non-Beatle bands mentioned in the OP but I don't see why that nice rounded Hofner sound wouldn't fit well with that kind of music. If you really like that bass, then go for it

Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters has played Höfner bass at some gigs. Club Bass, single cutaway hollow, but technically & tonewise same as 500/1 iconic Paul McCartney bass.

 

[savofenno]

I like Hofners, and played one for a couple of years in a '60s pop band (not just Beatles). Still pull it out sometimes, but don't gig it in my Motown band. They're a lot of fun. I'd say the most limiting thing about them is the string spacing. For me, it feels much more comfortable to play a Hofner with a pick or thumb than fingerstyle.

Exactly. I have Pyramid flats on mine, it`s fun to play Beach Boys tunes from Pet Sounds(!) to second Smiley Smile period with!
God Only Knows is a tune created for Höfner 500/1 bass.
Even very early Pink Floyd music is suitable, and Camel`s songs.

 

[troy mcclure]

Ok, my 1st bass was a hofner copy, that being said I wouldn;t own it as my only bass but def want one in my collection. If I only could own 1 bass it would be a P bass of some kind, especially if you play covers.

 

[SDMFJay]

A Hofner was used on recordings from the Beatles to Ozzy Osbourne... I'd say it's versatile in any capacity. Enough said.

 

[AuntieBeeb]

My only experience was of trying one in a shop - mainly at the guy's suggestion, to be honest - and I have to admit I was impressed by just how much tonal flexibility it offered. As a lot of people have suggested, it probably wouldn't be as limiting as you might initially think, especially not for stuff like REM and the Smiths that you mentioned.

One thing to watch out for: make sure you get a good feel for that neck before you part with your cash. The violin bass is a tiny bass with a tiny neck, and it certainly felt very strange to me! Granted, I'm used to long-scales, but this felt small even compared to the last 30" I picked up.

 

[savofenno]

I demoed one of [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] the other day at a music store and was really shocked at how nice it played. I've never been a big fan of the "Beatle Bass" due to the body shape and the pickup configuration. The Invalid Link Removed yes, Beatle Bass no. Also, it was always my understanding that McCartney never uses the bridge pickup and after trying several I could see why - totally useless IMHO. He did have one Hofner that had the pickups closer together like the Hofner President and that seems to work better overall.

If you do go the way of a violin-shaped bass I'd highly recommend the Epiphone version as I found it way easier to dig in with. If the shape is not your main focus then I'd highly recommend checking out the Epi Allen Woody bass and the Eastwood Classic 4. The Classic 4 pickup spacing has the bridge pickup a bit farther away from the bridge and that really made a difference IMO. A way more versatile bass than the Hofner IMHO. The Allen Woody has it's own vibe.

There are several other options in the short scale arena that I'd consider like the Mikey Way Mustang bass. That little humbucker looks real interesting. There are some used Eastwood Club basses around as well. I liked them a lot better than any of the Hofners I've tried outside of the President that I mentioned above. The Hagstrom Viking bass looks real interesting too [haven't tried one though]. There are those new Squier VM Tele basses that might be worth a look. If you really want the Hofner thing then I'd get either an Epi or a Turser. Pretty much the same build & sound quality at a fraction of the price.

Happy hunting!

I must mention it was other way around with Maccas basses. He used that middle and neck pups violin Höfner only a year and half. He still uses his other 500/1 with pickups wide apart.
I have good tone in my Ignition`s bridge pup, although my fav setting is 60% of volume from neck and 40% from bridge, solo on.
Original design is usually the best, but i can`t write down your favorites either, without experience from them.
Happy playing!