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Hofner basses.....not worth it?

#101
It's amazing how this thread just keeps going and going. Having seen these basses around when they were new in the sixties - and they wern't much good at that time (feedback, dull sound, poor action, medium build quality) I'd guess these chinese copies would be as good as an original. Hofner now is a completely different proposition though and they are going down the route that everyone follows - a clone model at far east build cost. Great option if you can't afford a new German built model - or try the Epiphone violin bass.
 
#103
You have to remeber at that time we couldn't afford to buy Amercian made equipment. Whe I bought a Rickenbacker in 1964 it cost me £159 and I was earning £7 a week as a tax officer for Inland Revenue (well someone had to do it). So that's the same as paying for a S/H car nowadays - about £5000 by todays price - $7500!! Hardly surprising we looked East to Germany or Sweden for cheap copies (or worse copies from the UK).
 
#105
We were in two different bands. I'd worked with John's mum in an office - she'd put me in touch with a band that needed a guitarist. The band's singer, Pete Kell, had played and sung with earlier versions of what eventually became the Who, so he knew all the guys already. That in turn led to us playing support on the same bill every 2-3 weeks for about six months in 64 before they became really big. We played Watford, The Marquee, Grenwich Town Hall, loads of times at The Railway Tavern at Wealdstone (the scene of the first busted guitar neck) and down at Forest Gate, The Goldhawk in Shepherds Bush and up at Hemel Hempstead. After that I left our band and the next time I met up with Keith Moon, three years later, when they were huge (and I worked for Colgate - duh!). They were the guys who introduced us to Chinese food in Watford - the only place you could eat at midnight. And a great game called 'let's see how far you can drive the van in the dark with your eyes closed!' Pretty tame by their later antics. Keith though was a really nice guy and not much like the image the journalists like to generate - lived a couple of miles away with his mum and dad (as we all did except Roger who was married and in the process of leaving his wife - source of a wonderful off stage row and our having to go on and play whilst his father-in-law tried to beat the s**t out of him). The van incident came about when thier van was reposessed in a managment row (different day / same venue)

OK - that's enough of the old days. But isn't it great to see all these TV programmes rediscovering the music?
 
#106
My '63 Hofner was the 2nd violin bass I had owned in the 60's. Everything was great about the bass (no feedback, great action/sound, near mint condition, no neck problems) except that it was neck heavy and not comfortable for me to play it for 3 or 4 hours. Excellent pickup output. Flatwound strings that were never changed. I sold it and bought a used Gibson EB-3 which I returned at a loss a week later. Found a '64 white Fender Jazz Bass and stuck with it for many years. I played the Hofner through a Kustom 200s with JBL's and the Fender through a Sunn 2000s with JBL's. Kustom sounded very good but wasn't loud enough for the bigger gigs.
 
#107
I have owned an original 1964 Hofner Violin bass for the past 20 years it cost £175 (that's gone by quickly).I used it for 10yrs until the price started to go up & then i retired it.

During those 10 yrs it never let me down once,it was a fantastic little bass.I still love it but now i use a 1992 Rickenbacker 4003.
 
#108
I have a Hofner Senator whish has unoriginal machine heads- and some idiot moved the pickup back a little but it is a beautiful instrument- sounds amazing but feels as though it is going to come apart any second- I have an original Hofner Violin Bass- very feedbacky but I used that in a beatles band for 5 years with no real problems- I wonder how much the Senator is worth now?

cheers

Bob
 
#110
I owned a Hofner in the late 60's. I later sold it and regret that I ever did. I've played Carvins, a MIA Fender P, and a Yamaha, but no other bass guitar has the same groove as a Hofner. I also play upright bass, and the Hofner comes as close to an upright sound as any bass guitar I've ever played. I almost bought one of their new Chinese-made Contemporary models. They are nice, but still not as nice as the German models. I also think the new German ones are much better made than mine was in the 60's. I imagine that is because of modern construction techniques and better glues. I'm hoping to buy another German one in the future...
 
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#111
ForestThump said:
I use an Epiphone Rumblekat and can get very close to the sound of a Hofner with much better intonation and build quality in general.
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Several years ago I used to have a '63 reissue 500/1 and enjoyed it. It gave "the" sound, was a beautiful instrument, always garnered great interest at gigs, and was crazy light but as has been mentioned I always felt a little fearful I'd damage it when I played it out. It worked really well in an acoustic trio, and even for the occasional alt/rock. I sold it off in a fit of G.A.S. for something else.

Today I have a Allen Woody Epi Rumblekat and it is very close to the sound I got from the Hofner, but without the drawbacks I experienced (many of them mentioned elswhere in the thread). The bridge is better, the pickup placement seems to work better for me, I like the controls better than the Hofner's switching, and the overall "feel" of the build quality is great. It certainly feels sturdier, and I like the mahogany. Best thing is it was about $1100 less than I paid for the 500/1.

Not a knock on the Hofners, they are great if that's what you are looking for, but for my purposes the Rumblekat works best.
 
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#112
Spiritfield said:
Several years ago I used to have a '63 reissue 500/1 and enjoyed it. It gave "the" sound, was a beautiful instrument, always garnered great interest at gigs, and was crazy light but as has been mentioned I always felt a little fearful I'd damage it when I played it out. It worked really well in an acoustic trio, and even for the occasional alt/rock. I sold it off in a fit of G.A.S. for something else.

Today I have a Allen Woody Epi Rumblekat and it is very close to the sound I got from the Hofner, but without the drawbacks I experienced (many of them mentioned elswhere in the thread). The bridge is better, the pickup placement seems to work better for me, I like the controls better than the Hofner's switching, and the overall "feel" of the build quality is great. It certainly feels sturdier, and I like the mahogany. Best thing is it was about $1100 less than I paid for the 500/1.

Not a knock on the Hofners, they are great if that's what you are looking for, but for my purposes the Rumblekat works best.
Click to expand...

That's good to hear. I just recently "discovered" the Rumblekat when looking at the Jack Cassidy and thought it might be a kick to play. I may have to own one eventually. :bassist:
 
#113
I think every professional bass player should own a Hofner.I have recorded many tracks with a 500 Clubbass reissue and and can attest that the thick sound sits well and is easily mixed in the right song.Check out Colbie Callaits' million selling debut album. With the exception of two fretless tracks ,the rest of the record was recorded with the Hofner by both the producer Mikal Blue and myself.
It should not be your only bass, just an addition to your arsenal of sounds.
 
#114
Max said:
I played a real 63 Hofner one afternoon with flatwounds and the Beatle vibe was awesome. But I felt like I was holding one of those trembling chihuahuas and worried about breaking it. Wasn't McCartney's reasoning for getting the Hofner in the first place the fact they were cheap?
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Great analogy! I worked for a major music store in the early 70's we had all the models they made, even the blonde ones. I was tweaked to try one out, but as soon as I picked one up? I thought I was going to break it if I sneezed. Built like violins great attention to fit and finish, but not tough enough for the long run.
 
#115
Max "Wasn't McCartney's reasoning for getting the Hofner in the first place the fact they were cheap?"
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Cheap often refers to poor quality of materials, workmanship, etc and Hofner's are anything but.

Actually I believe the correct word would be inexpensive. That's because McCartney bought his Hofner in Germany, and it was made in Germany which eliminated import duties and tariffs.

All American imports to the UK back then had huge import duties applied to them making them cost prohibitive for most musicians. Which was one of the main reasons why European made instruments were so popular in England at the time. They were affordable and well made!

TD
 
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#117
Love these ancient threads that just won't die. Just today, I tried an Epi Viola bass, and a Hofner Icon bass. Of the two, I felt the Epi was a bit more solid, but as much a Beatle fan I am, I just can't justify buying either one. One GC had an original '63 500/1, for $3500. Didn't play that one, but then, maybe I could've found out the mystery of these famous basses.
 
#120
I subscribe to Bass Player, there has NOT been three Hofners in the last year. The latest issue does have a Club bass review. In fact there is TOO much about modern gear that SUCKS in that magazine.

In high school I borrowed a friend's Hofner bass, and it was very light and felt like a toy compared to my Rickenbacker. That does not mean it is a "tinker toy" it just means it is designed differently. Would I use it to play metal? No.

Paul McCartney does NOT play a Hofner "because his fans expect it." What a ludicrous insight. The man could play ANY bass in the world, and has (Fender, Rickenbacker, Yamaha, Wal), I read he even has a left handed Waterstone TP 12 string bass. I think the Hofner is just comfortable for him, it is his choice. He is FRIGGIN' Paul McCartney!!! He can play WHATEVER he wants! And he chooses to play a Hofner, and play it KICK ASS.

I'd love one, and may get an Icon, but $2000 is too much to pay, IMO, and for what I would use it for.

I play a short scale Waterstone Indra bass with LaBella Beatle Flatwounds and is sounds AMAZING!!

I just read in the new Bass Player that Tom Petersson has a Hofner Custom Shop Club bass. $3500!!!! I'd LOVE one, but I cannot justify spending that much for a Hofner. Maybe I'll get the copy version of the Club Bass (I forget the company!).
 
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