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Hofner basses.....not worth it?
- Thread starter 74rickbass
- Start date
I am on a budget where I can't afford anymore than 400 for a bass or guitar.
Then unfortunately you are in another world > sorry . You don't know what you are missing.
You are welcome to play one if you are ever in my neck of the woods .
Man, that's a lot of future neck repairs!
I am on a budget where I can't afford anymore than 400 for a bass or guitar.
Then unfortunately you are in another world > sorry . You don't know what you are missing.
You are welcome to play one if you are ever in my neck of the woods .
Wow! Cool!
Hofners are in a class all thier own. What other bass sounds like them?
It's nice to be able to pick up something like that and enjoy its unique tone.
It's nice to be able to pick up something like that and enjoy its unique tone.
Boy I learn something new here everyday! (Side note: This Forum will kill a couple of hours easily every time I get on!!) My Hofner it appears is a 1967, 500/1 (with the 513b p-ups) I got it in 1969- played it for a few years then put it away. Recently at church the message was about Community with one another. We opened with Come Together! I got to dust off the old Hofner. It really worked for that sound. The rest of the set I went back to my baby (LB75 Carvin) Boy did it get the musicians that have been around a while a talkin!! It was fun. Dont know when Ill get the opportunity to play it again but it aint going nowhere soon!
Blessings To God be the Glory!
Blessings To God be the Glory!
Isn't it true that mccartney got one not only because it was all he could afford, but also because it wouldn't look stupid when he flipped it over to play lefty? I mean, I've really loved the ones i've tried out...I just can't justify paying that much for them.
i have an Epi Viola. that thing could get down and dirty when i used it live.
the only reason i stopped using it live was because i tend to move around quite a bit, and it's just delicate enough to where i don't want to subject it to that.
EXCELLENT recording bass. there's a myriad of useful tones that can be had if you know how to tweak your controls and play in certain ways.
the only reason i stopped using it live was because i tend to move around quite a bit, and it's just delicate enough to where i don't want to subject it to that.
EXCELLENT recording bass. there's a myriad of useful tones that can be had if you know how to tweak your controls and play in certain ways.
I have to get a shot of my new '64 Hofner Senator in here just to be in the same thread as that fantastic collection above. I just bought this and I'm loving it more than I can express. Boomy but clear, light as a feather and gorgeous to look at. Only thing that sucks is that it's impossible to find a case for it. I guess I'll be shelling out big bucks for a custom case for this at some point.
This has been a great topic. I picked up a Hofner at 30th Street Guitars for the first time a month ago. It's small and it's delicate as many here have said. It would take me a bit of time to play it well but then I've only played a Tele all my life. Till my recent Spector acquisition.
One thought as to why Macca used it for so long (besides its signature sound) is that he learned on it as a teen. That made it easy for him to continue.
I wouldn't mind having a new Hofner 500/1 Vintage 63.
One thought as to why Macca used it for so long (besides its signature sound) is that he learned on it as a teen. That made it easy for him to continue.
I wouldn't mind having a new Hofner 500/1 Vintage 63.
I have no experience with Hofner basses but I'm a huge Beatle fan and I love playing Paul McCartney chops but I think his "tone" sucks. I saw him just a couple years ago and I wondered why he is still playing that axe that sucks. But he makes it work so if you can make it work more power to you.
A good friend has the Epiphone copy and his sounds great.
JJ
YMMV
A good friend has the Epiphone copy and his sounds great.
JJ
YMMV
i don't know about that. doesn't he play a les paul when he plays guitar? that's the heaviest guitar on earth.
anyway, i would love a real hofner, especially the club bass. they have a great look and a big sound. but i figure if paul mccartney were starting out today, he wouldn't be buying a hofner. maybe an icon, but certainly not a real one. so i have a jay turser copy
I have been wanting one for years but always see them with astronomical prices. I was bopping around on ebay, looking at Hofners, then I looked at something else and when I came back it had just been listed with a buy it now price of 700 pounds. I was completely not in the market for a new bass but somehow my right hand hit the buy it now button before I had a second to stop myself.
Pretty sure that most musicians and fans disagree with you vehemently. I honestly cannot think of a better bass tone in all of recorded music- except possibly McCartney on his Rickenbacker. Just curious, what kind of tone would you prefer he have? It's hard for me to imagine.
For the record:
Link Removed
Hofner Model 500/1 "Beatle Bass" History and Dating Tips
In 1961 Paul McCartney purchased a left handed Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass from Steinway's Music in Hamburg Germany, an event that would make Hofner a recognized brand word wide. As the popularity of McCartney's band increased, the 500/1 Hofner violin bass earned it's nick name "the Beatle Bass" forever linked to the most popular band of the 20th century.
The 500/1 bass featured a symmetrical violin style design, was very light weight, had very good playability and a was offered at a reasonable price. The 500/1 was conceived in 1955 by Walter Hofner who believed a violin shaped bass would be easy to manufacturer along side of his existing double bass production line. The 500/1 was unveiled in 1956 at the Frankfurt Music Fair. It's ironic but the 500/1 was not available in the UK until 1963. The Selmer company began importing Hofner guitars into Great Britain in 1958 however they did not import 500/1 violin basses until about 1963. It's a good thing McCartney visited Steinway's Music otherwise the Beatles might be known for using a Fender or Rickenbacker bass !
The 500/1 featured a hollow body, was light weight and had a 30" scale. The back and sides were made of laminated flamed maple with a solid spruce top. Later the top was changed to laminated spruce. The fret board was made from Brazilian or Indian rosewood and had 20 frets (the 1957 models had 21 frets). The finish consisted of nitro-cellulose lacquer. Early Hofner basses used strip style tuners however later models used individual tuning machines. 500/1 necks were originally quite fat using solid maple but truss rods were added later to allow a smaller stronger neck. Pickups were originally positioned in traditional neck and bridge locations however in pickups were moved together in late 56 close to the neck however they were moved apart again in 1962 to improve tone.
It should be noted that Hofner did not included serial numbers on early 500/1 basses however many distributors added their own serial numbers to the headstock or near the tailpiece.
Dating Vintage Hofner basses is always tricky as transitions were often gradual and older parts can appear on newer models depending on parts supplies and other factors. Here are a few general rules of thumb that can be used as general guidelines but there are always exceptions to these guidelines. When in doubt pick up a book or two about dating hofners and be sure to consult several sources.
Link Removed
Hofner Model 500/1 "Beatle Bass" History and Dating Tips
In 1961 Paul McCartney purchased a left handed Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass from Steinway's Music in Hamburg Germany, an event that would make Hofner a recognized brand word wide. As the popularity of McCartney's band increased, the 500/1 Hofner violin bass earned it's nick name "the Beatle Bass" forever linked to the most popular band of the 20th century.
The 500/1 bass featured a symmetrical violin style design, was very light weight, had very good playability and a was offered at a reasonable price. The 500/1 was conceived in 1955 by Walter Hofner who believed a violin shaped bass would be easy to manufacturer along side of his existing double bass production line. The 500/1 was unveiled in 1956 at the Frankfurt Music Fair. It's ironic but the 500/1 was not available in the UK until 1963. The Selmer company began importing Hofner guitars into Great Britain in 1958 however they did not import 500/1 violin basses until about 1963. It's a good thing McCartney visited Steinway's Music otherwise the Beatles might be known for using a Fender or Rickenbacker bass !
The 500/1 featured a hollow body, was light weight and had a 30" scale. The back and sides were made of laminated flamed maple with a solid spruce top. Later the top was changed to laminated spruce. The fret board was made from Brazilian or Indian rosewood and had 20 frets (the 1957 models had 21 frets). The finish consisted of nitro-cellulose lacquer. Early Hofner basses used strip style tuners however later models used individual tuning machines. 500/1 necks were originally quite fat using solid maple but truss rods were added later to allow a smaller stronger neck. Pickups were originally positioned in traditional neck and bridge locations however in pickups were moved together in late 56 close to the neck however they were moved apart again in 1962 to improve tone.
It should be noted that Hofner did not included serial numbers on early 500/1 basses however many distributors added their own serial numbers to the headstock or near the tailpiece.
Dating Vintage Hofner basses is always tricky as transitions were often gradual and older parts can appear on newer models depending on parts supplies and other factors. Here are a few general rules of thumb that can be used as general guidelines but there are always exceptions to these guidelines. When in doubt pick up a book or two about dating hofners and be sure to consult several sources.
