Hofner controls

[mfleming1963]

Here's a question for Hofner owners, what are the different controls on a Hofner bass?

There are 2 pots and 3 switches.

 

[bill reed]

two pots are the volumes for each of the pick-ups.
you have a rhythm/solo switch that is like a boost, it shorts out the cap giving you more volume.
the other two switched switch on and off the pickups.
there is no tone controls on a hofner beatles style bass.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The Bass and Treble switches are pickup on/off switched, basically (they do some cap changes too, IIRC) but the reverse of how you'd think they work. The Bass On turns off the bridge pickup and the Treble on position turns off the neck pickup.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

Here you go. Click on image below.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Here you go. Click on image below.

I always thought it weird that when both the Bass and Treble switches are set to ON that the bass produces no sound.

 

[GIBrat51]

Here you go. Click on image below.

^This^...It helps if you remember that, like a Rick, "treble" is the bridge pickup; and "bass" is the neck pickup. It has nothing to do with tone; other than the 'solo/rhythm" cutting caps in or out, a Hofner has no "tone" controls. It might also help to remember that Hofner pretty much cribbed these controls off of their electric guitar. Where, if you think about it, they do kind of make sense - kind of... I just set mine like Sir Paul set his, 50 years ago - and just play the thing...
Personally, though? I still think that this mess of a control setup, is simply Hofner's revenge for Germany losing WWII...

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

I just set mine like Sir Paul set his, 50 years ago - and just play the thing...
Personally, though? I still think that this mess of a control setup, is simply Hofner's revenge for Germany losing WWII...

Me, too, for both.