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Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2

#2,401
MAJOR METAL said:
Hofner players, are you playing fingerstyle or with a pick on your Hofners?

I've been playing a lot of fingerstyle on my 58 RI. Coming from 5 string bass with a 19mm string spacing, I've actually found fingerstyle the easiest adjustment with my new Hofner.
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Fingerstyle only on all my basses including my Hofner Ignition Club, Galaxie HCT, 500/5 President HCT and Violin bass.
 
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#2,403
MAJOR METAL said:
Hofner players, are you playing fingerstyle or with a pick on your Hofners?

I've been playing a lot of fingerstyle on my 58 RI. Coming from 5 string bass with a 19mm string spacing, I've actually found fingerstyle the easiest adjustment with my new Hofner.
Click to expand...
When I play a Hofner (not often these days, frankly) I tend to use my thumb or maybe a pick. I find the string spacing makes fingerstyle difficult, at least for my sausage fingers.
 
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#2,404
MAJOR METAL said:
Hofner players, are you playing fingerstyle or with a pick on your Hofners?

I've been playing a lot of fingerstyle on my 58 RI. Coming from 5 string bass with a 19mm string spacing, I've actually found fingerstyle the easiest adjustment with my new Hofner.
Click to expand...

Being that you have 2 actual tone controls, and not just 2 volume knobs, I'd think you have a bit more versatility in getting the sound you want from either finger style, or using a pick.
 
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#2,405
markjazzbassist said:
My string quest is done, I've been through a bunch of rounds, tapes, and flats. For my 65 hofner club (staple pickups) my favorite strings are Thomastik-Infeld flats in the speciality hofner gauge (it's the short scale set just with a smaller .96 E string). My hofner has very little sustain, and IMO too much bottom end. I find the mid centric and bass shy TI a perfect fit to balance that out. I've had to get used to the lower tension but I have adjusted and they just sing in the upper registers.
Click to expand...

Hey, mark! Would you mind telling me the exactly model you bought?
 
#2,407
markjazzbassist said:
1965 hofner club bass 500/2, it's the first run with the smaller pickup surrounds and no holes in the body for the pickups (ie they can't be lowered very much).
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Thanks again, my brother! I'd love to know the model of the strings (you said that your search was over). Just for context, I live in a Third World country without many options for Hofner strings (I own a Hofner Ignition violin bass). I'm buying the strings from the internet (right now I'm using the stringsbymail, if you guys have any other suggestions, feel free to tell me), which is why I'm asking what exact model you bought. Last time I bought a string that did not fit my hofner... Thanks!
 
#2,408
The control panel on my '64 500/1 has the serial number 403, the 40th week of 1963 which happens to be this week between 30th of Sept to the 6th of Oct. 60 years old and looks untouched & has never let me down in my, almost 35 years of ownership. :thumbsup:
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#2,409
I'm planning to order the upgraded control panel for my Contemporary Club. It's currently black with the pearl guard and panel. Thinking of going all black. Thoughts? Maybe remove the pickguard completely? If anyone has photos of alternative looks for a black Club, would love see them. Maybe torty?

Barry Clark a good trusted source of these parts and advice? Looks like he has both the black and torty in stock.
 
#2,410
dwellers said:
I'm planning to order the upgraded control panel for my Contemporary Club. It's currently black with the pearl guard and panel. Thinking of going all black. Thoughts? Maybe remove the pickguard completely? If anyone has photos of alternative looks for a black Club, would love see them. Maybe torty?

Barry Clark a good trusted source of these parts and advice? Looks like he has both the black and torty in stock.
Click to expand...
It's not black, but this is what my Ignition Club looks like without a pickguard. I much prefer it this way.

IMG_1461.jpeg
 
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#2,412
Zam said:
Thanks again, my brother! I'd love to know the model of the strings (you said that your search was over). Just for context, I live in a Third World country without many options for Hofner strings (I own a Hofner Ignition violin bass). I'm buying the strings from the internet (right now I'm using the stringsbymail, if you guys have any other suggestions, feel free to tell me), which is why I'm asking what exact model you bought. Last time I bought a string that did not fit my hofner... Thanks!
Click to expand...

TI jazz flats the hofner version.

JF324H is the number.


Thomastik-Infeld JF324H Jazz Flats, 4-String Short/Hofner .043-.096
 
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#2,415
I've been playing bass for 50 years but I'm a newbie to Hofner basses ,I picked a 500/1 Contemporary 64 Violin off the shelf at Long and McQuade this year, played it through the store's Mesa WD800( same as my home amp) and loved it. It amazed me how woody, warm and solid the tone is. Took it home, ordered a new Hofner (made in Germany) panel to replace the stock China panel, and replaced the rounds with LaBellas. This bass is amazing for the price but I was surprised it didn't come with a hard case to protect it. I did eventually get a beautiful tooled leather hard shell case from Hofner though. I am surprised at how well made this bass is. I binged every " Backbeat Vintage" episode on Youtube and this bass hits the mark on every expected measurement in build quality. I come from a world of owning top line MIA Fender Jazzes, Pre's , and a 75 4001 Ricky. This is a VERY underrated instrument for the tone, the playability, and price .
I'm looking to replace the pegs now because I find these to be less than spectacular. Other than that, it was a lucky day when I randomly snagged this beauty off the shelf. Any suggestions as to the best place to order them ( pegs for this model)from on-line? One day I'll figure out how to get my pictures in here ..lol
Can I join the club in the meantime?? Thanks everyone .. I now get why Sir Paul stayed true to this bass now...
 
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#2,418
Did the upgrade and it was pretty darn easy. Definitely higher quality feeling part. Not sure it sounds much different or better but I like the color! Only challenge is that the new jack is so short I didn't have room to use the washer. I don't like that but I'm not going to sweat it a ton as this bass is a player!

Here's what she looks like now...

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#2,419
Question...for those of you with German Clubs, do you have many issues playing in live situations? The semi-hollow Contemporary has been fantastic with respect to feedback and my understanding is that fully hollow German models are susceptible to feedback. True? I would hate to shell out all that money for a German Hofner only to have become a classic (wall) queen.
 
#2,420
dwellers said:
Question...for those of you with German Clubs, do you have many issues playing in live situations? The semi-hollow Contemporary has been fantastic with respect to feedback and my understanding is that fully hollow German models are susceptible to feedback. True? I would hate to shell out all that money for a German Hofner only to have become a classic (wall) queen.
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I play out with my 68 Hofner on the regular and I only had a feedback issue once. This was because the original pickups became too hot over time. So I had to swap them out for a new set. I just played out on Saturday with a Rumble 500 with no issues.
 
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