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That's a cool coincidence !I'll bet a lot of us have a similar story. Mine was a Raven copy of a Jazz bass, $150, bought with summer job (pizza chef) money when I was 15.
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Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
- Start date
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Its pretty far gone. IDK if its even possible. When I joined the Army it stayed behind. My kid got a hold of it like it was a toy while I was gone for eleven years.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i bought a 68 beatle bass in 1974 (pictured below) with its original hardshell case, receipt and import papers for $125. i actually bought 2 of them back then (the second one, also for $125). i sold the second one for $250 so i basically got the first one for free and i still have it. man, you could buy them really cheap (used) back then!
i looked at a brand new one in a music store in 1969 and they wanted $550 for it (way out of my price range, so i bought my first 1969 p bass brand new with HSC for $300.
i looked at a brand new one in a music store in 1969 and they wanted $550 for it (way out of my price range, so i bought my first 1969 p bass brand new with HSC for $300.
D
I found one in a small town music store in Germany where it was basically wall art behind the counter. Owner had it for awhile. It was covered in thick dust. $100.00 in 1987.
Well my HCT 500/1 arrived today and if i'm honest a little under whelmed with it. I started a NBD thread on it but will put some pictures on here a well, does anyone have any ideas of when it was made? There is no neck binding or fret position markers on the side, of the neck & the flatwounds look like Dunlops. Will it grow on me I hope so but not a good start to the honeymoon period. 
Maybe i'm unfairly comparing the HCT to my '64 500/1.
Maybe i'm unfairly comparing the HCT to my '64 500/1.
It looks good anyway. Hopefully you can get it to where you want it.Well my HCT 500/1 arrived today and if i'm honest a little under whelmed with it. I started a NBD thread on it but will put some pictures on here a well, does anyone have any ideas of when it was made? There is no neck binding or fret position markers on the side, of the neck & the flatwounds look like Dunlops. Will it grow on me I hope so but not a good start to the honeymoon period.
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Well my HCT 500/1 arrived today and if i'm honest a little under whelmed with it. I started a NBD thread on it but will put some pictures on here a well, does anyone have any ideas of when it was made? There is no neck binding or fret position markers on the side, of the neck & the flatwounds look like Dunlops. Will it grow on me I hope so but not a good start to the honeymoon period.
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I believe the F in the serial number indicates it was made in 2005. I'm not an expert, but I've never seen one without binding and fret markers.
Hope you like the neck and flats at least.
Looks great!
Thanks DrSteve I've had a quick look online & believe your right about the year 2005/08, and the pics I've seen from this era have unbound necks so who knows.
Sorry to hear that, looking at it the action looks a little high, I would see if that can be lowered.Well my HCT 500/1 arrived today and if i'm honest a little under whelmed with it. I started a NBD thread on it but will put some pictures on here a well, does anyone have any ideas of when it was made? There is no neck binding or fret position markers on the side, of the neck & the flatwounds look like Dunlops. Will it grow on me I hope so but not a good start to the honeymoon period.
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Also the stock tuners on the HCT basses are junk, I ordered a set of nicer tuners pretty much as soon as I got mine as the tuners on it were shocking, I would recommend doing the same as they make a decent bass like a HCT feel like a cheap toy
Yes I lowered the action straight away and you are so right, about the tuners they are utter junk and will be replaced at some point. Maybe I'm being harsh on the HCT as I've had my '64 500/1 for almost 35 years, and the neck on that just feels so nice & the overall feel of the bass as well.
Well my HCT 500/1 arrived today and if i'm honest a little under whelmed with it. I started a NBD thread on it but will put some pictures on here a well, does anyone have any ideas of when it was made? There is no neck binding or fret position markers on the side, of the neck & the flatwounds look like Dunlops. Will it grow on me I hope so but not a good start to the honeymoon period.
View attachment 5005751 View attachment 5005752 View attachment 5005754 View attachment 5005761
my 1965 German made Hofner does not have side fret markers. Hofner doesn’t do them. So I don’t see how that’s a negative. If you really want some get a 1/16” drill bit and put the holes in (that’s what I did and they are plenty fine) or go all the way and glue the plastic side dot stuff in from stewmac.
My HCT certainly has both binding and side markers. Couldn't live without them. It also has decent tuners, and lots of other things I like. It's probably a newer model.
maybe the contemporary has them since it’s a departure with the semi hollow nature and “modern”. But I don’t believe the new German models have the side dots either. Anyone confirm that?
My '64 500/1 has side markers although there small & faded a little now. It is one of the things I have got used to with owning this bass for so long, though my mates '63 doesn't have them so maybe the early HCT's were going for a 62-63 look.
I have both basses out now and going between the 2 of them I have just straightened out the, neck on the HCT & the action is nice and low which has helped plus the flats on it feel nice. I am going to have a look on eBay for some sticker guitar dots to see if that helps as well. Just going between the 2 of them one big factor is the neck feel, the HCT fingerboard edge feels squarer were as, the '64 the fingerboard edges are a lot rounder probably after being played so much over it's 59 years.
Well I have just put the 2 500/1's away & come to a conclusion. I'm going to change a few things on the HCT & leave it how it is as Doctor Intrepid said and he was right.
The HCT was bought as a spare for those times, when I just want to pick it up and mess around, with it & not worry to much about it getting knocked. So I'm going to change the Machineheads, & the bridge for the German one, and get the black control panel & 2 Tea Cup knobs it already has a decent set of flats on it. And I found some side marker stickers on eBay for not much so that's my plan.
Hello, I bought a nice German Hofner with interesting specs. My worry is that it does not have a truss-rod cover on the headstock. Is it at the butt of the neck? With the pickup there, how much of a hassle is to adjust the neck relief? Thanks!
I've seen that model before. I'm sure the access to the truss rod is on the headstock, so I am surprised to hear it is not.
