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Hofner Beatle Bass

wattsman

wattsman

Supporting Member
Dec 29, 2013
334
487
Texas
#1
Guys

I'm an old musician moving to bass for my new band. I'm trying to find my sound, and i have played several basses, mainly fenders. My main one now is a fender Sting artist series. However, i also have a an ignition beatles bass that i have adjusted very well and put some la bella beatle strings in it. It plays great, has a very cool deep sound and Its also very light, so i'm leaning towards using that instead of the precision.

However, I don't see many players using Hofners live. Is there something i don't know? are they not fit for live gigs? do they not cut through mix? are they unreliable?


thanks for your help!
 
#5
I had one for a while. I played it out once for about a half hour with a jazz/poetry thing which went well. Sounded good to me and looked right for the gig. I played it for about three songs with the cover band I play in, switching over from the keys I usually play in that group. I went straight to PA instead of going through the bass players amp and the lead singer commented to me that it sounded much better than the bass players washburn.
 
#7
I used my Violin bass for a rock gig earlier in the year. It sounded great, received many compliments.

Like with any true hollowbody instrument you need to be aware of the potential for feedback when playing live.

I like my Fender basses as well but I prefer the sound and easy playability of Hofner basses. There is nothing else quite like them.
 
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#8
Stick_Player said:
Unfortunately, the Hofner is paired so much with Sir Paul, that no big-time pro will use one.

"Hey Mr. Big Time Famous bass player, why are you playing a Beatle Paul's Bass?

Not gonna happen.
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right?

There are several "pros" who play them here and there. They play them because they like them and they like the way they sound. Yeah, it's associated with McCartney and The Beatles, so what? That doesn't stop legions of guitarists from playing Epiphones and Rickenbackers. Like Pet Sounds said earlier, Hofner basses are not everybody's cup of tea because of the short scale, string spacing and thumpy tone, etc..
 
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#10
My only gripe about Hofner's is that they neck dive pretty badly. They hang fine on a strap though. The electronics are odd too, but they sound really nice. I just went to GC this weekend with my son, he has a Jay Turser Beatle bass clone that I thought actually sounded better than the low-end Indonesian (Ignition Series?) Hofner. Epiphone makes a clone as well that is gorgeous to look at, really nice fiddleback maple body, bound fingerboard, and headstock, etc. I thought it was a much nicer bass than the Hofner for the money:
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Bass/Viola.aspx

The Epiphone is is a little heavier than the Hofner, but both are way lighter than a solidbody bass. By all means play one, if you like a warm thumpy sound
 
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#11
I gig with one often in two different bands. I picked up the Icon (now the Ignition series) prior to joining a Beatles tribute group here in DC as a fun, lightweight bass to play around the house. If I could do it again, I'd grab a Contemporary series model. The electronics in the Ignitions are awful (the pots and switches are soldered to a wonky circuit board that is attached to the plate- I can upload a pic if anyone is curious) and it is definitely worth spending the little extra for the Contemporary series. I've spent as much on that bass as it costs new getting it fixed up to be reliable.
 
#14
Kestrel said:
You're kidding, right?

There are several "pros" who play them here and there. They play them because they like them and they like the way they sound. Yeah, it's associated with McCartney and The Beatles, so what? That doesn't stop legions of guitarists from playing Epiphones and Rickenbackers. Like Pet Sounds said earlier, Hofner basses are not everybody's cup of tea because of the short scale, string spacing and thumpy tone, etc..
Click to expand...

I was NOT kidding. Rics & Epis are not as associated, with a single player, to the same degree as the Hofner "Beatle" Bass is.

Sure, LOTS of pros own them. However, the Hofner is forever aligned with the Beatles and McCartney. Not kidding.

I own one and have never held a job other than music. Does that define me as a "pro"?

Complete your statement: "There are several "pros" who play them here and there", with some names.

:thumbsup:

I'll get you started - I'm not getting the sense of "short scale, string spacing and thumpy tone, etc.", from these.

These two examples are as far away from the Beatle Bass as one can get:

Ralf Gauck

Garry Goodman
 
#15
In my experience the "Beatle basses" -- German or the Asian ones -- are not "plug n play" instruments. You must set them up and, for live use, EQ them correctly. Right out of the box, they will not punch like a Fender, but they can be made to have punch and IMHO, a better low end. Conversely, I love the sound of my Icon recorded direct with very little EQ. Ala McCartney, I use only the neck pickup, and it's strung with LaBella flats, although TIs also work well.
 
#16
I have owned two, never gigged either. I just could not adjust to the small scale or its size. Weight was great, and I had no issue with the tone. It just wasn't for me. That said, I have seen another player do magic things with one. I had thought the small scale would make it easier fot me to play, but that along with the neck profile did not work for me. I wish it would, they are cool looking basses.
 
#18
Tim1 said:
I have owned two, never gigged either. I just could not adjust to the small scale or its size. Weight was great, and I had no issue with the tone. It just wasn't for me. That said, I have seen another player do magic things with one. I had thought the small scale would make it easier fot me to play, but that along with the neck profile did not work for me. I wish it would, they are cool looking basses.
Click to expand...
Mine goes to the semi-acoustic and coffeehouse gigs, though I've used it for things like pit orchestra, oldies shows and just about anything else that doesn't require slapping.
Hofners will do a lot, but they just aren't a slapping bass. ;-)
 
#19
I've owned a Hofner Icon for several years now. I've never gigged with it, but I've used it at practices quite a bit. After working a shift for 8 hours where I'm on my feet all that time, then heading out for rehearsal, a nice lightweight bass like a Hofner is a godsend, perfect for these old legs of mine. However, I do prefer my P-Bass for gigs since I think it sits in the mix better.
 
#20
I use a hofner 100% of the time live. The intonation isn't perfect, but I've used an Icon and a CT extensively. I played the icon into the ground and then bought a CT. They're great basses to record with and to use live. Once you "get to know" the idiosyncrasies of a Hofner, you'll learn how to deal with it and you'll learn to love the bass.
Trust me, man. These basses are great. I don't wanna say always on only here, I reserve the right to change...but it's the only bass I'll play live, I'm comfortable on it...it's almost like a safety blanket. I have other basses, but I ALWAYS play my hofner.
 
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