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

#2,461
Doctor Intrepid said:
That is a strange one simply because the parts do not fit together. The neck is not the neck that was usually used on the 500/2 and those pickups are not standard to the 500/2 either. So I think there are three possibilities:

1. It was made by Hofner initially back in the 60s. They were overwhelmed with orders due to the popularity of The Beatles and they often struggled to keep up. That is one reason the 500/2 was made. The could could not keep up with the demand for 500/1 bodies. So sometimes things were thrown together and sent out the door.

2. It is a custom shop bass. Folks can order custom shop basses from Hofner. This could be the result of that option. The pickups make me think that is a real possibility, but the neck not so much. I don't think that neck is an option for custom orders.

3. It is a Hofner parts bass put together by someone else along the way. Hofners are not as modular as Fenders, so we don't see Franken-Hofners very often, but I have seen them. So it could be a Hofner that has been altered over time. All of the parts do look legitimate.

My two cents anyway.
Click to expand...
Cool speculations.
Whatever the truth is, I'll treasure it.
On the other hand... I hope it's not 3;)
 
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#2,462
img_5257-jpeg.5251743

July 25th - July 31st 1960
 
#2,464
To the OP did you check if there is there an ink date inside, the body when you removed the control panel?
My own belief is that this could have been made at the Hofner factory by a member of staff using whatever parts they found lying around in the factory.
The more I look at the neck that could have started as a neck from a Senator bass with a different headstock decal. Defiantly a one off and a cool looking bass as well. :thumbsup::cool:
 
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#2,465
Shawn Luckman said:
To the OP did you check if there is there an ink date inside, the body when you removed the control panel?
Click to expand...
I couldn't cofirm any other numbers.:rollno:


Well, thank you everyone. Reading every assumptions is really fun.
My thoughts went to west germany in 1960.
One thing I can say for sure is that this is medley of different styles, just as everyone said.

My next mission is setting up and putting on new Pyramid flat.:thumbsup:
 
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#2,466
Hey Hofner-Hive...

Got a problem with my Contemporary Club. It appears only on the 4th and 5th frets of the E string (G# and A). I get a true dead note that doesn't ring but just kind of flubs there. No sustain, no definition. Not so on the adjacent notes (G and Bb) or anywhere else that I can find for that matter. Is this a classic "dead spot" or something else? Before I start mucking with adjustments and fiddling I thought I'd ask for any quick tips or insights around this. I don't want to put this one on the wall and never take it down! :(

Thanks!
 
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#2,467
dwellers said:
Hey Hofner-Hive...

Got a problem with my Contemporary Club. It appears only on the 4th and 5th frets of the E string (G# and A). I get a true dead note that doesn't ring but just kind of flubs there. No sustain, no definition. Not so on the adjacent notes (G and Bb) or anywhere else that I can find for that matter. Is this a classic "dead spot" or something else? Before I start mucking with adjustments and fiddling I thought I'd ask for any quick tips or insights around this. I don't want to put this one on the wall and never take it down! :(

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Check your neck relief. I usually use Fender specs (I believe Hofner does, too). So, capo at the first fret and fret at where the body meets the neck and see how much of a gap there is at the 7th fret.

To do that, use an automotive feeler gauge that's .012" in thickness and if that gap matches the thickness, you're good to go. If not l, loosen or tighten the truss rod accordingly.
 
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#2,468
dwellers said:
Hey Hofner-Hive...

Got a problem with my Contemporary Club. It appears only on the 4th and 5th frets of the E string (G# and A). I get a true dead note that doesn't ring but just kind of flubs there. No sustain, no definition. Not so on the adjacent notes (G and Bb) or anywhere else that I can find for that matter. Is this a classic "dead spot" or something else? Before I start mucking with adjustments and fiddling I thought I'd ask for any quick tips or insights around this. I don't want to put this one on the wall and never take it down! :(

Thanks!
Click to expand...
This happened to me many years ago.
It turned out to be the string itself. Replacement of the string fixed the problem.
 
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#2,470
markjazzbassist said:
Also, I would recommend going onto and watching that backbeat vintage guy He shows a method to sand down the bridge the bottom of the bridge to make it have more connection with the curved body the arch top I found that that really helped eliminate dead spots. Wolf tones overtones a lot of funky stuff.O
Click to expand...
A violin luthier would shape the bridge bottom better than I could. For that job, that's who I would go to.
 
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#2,471
Thanks for all the suggestions. It seems that putting a little relief in (slight backbow) fixed it, at least at home. What is really weird is that I think it might have been a strange amp effect. I was using a small Ampeg Rocket 110 mostly as a monitor, and it seems that the problem was there but not at home, even before the truss adjustment. Acoustically, the string sounded weird but plugged into my rig at home, it sounded fine. So could it have been some weirdness with that frequency and that amp? I could have just tuned the E string to a different pitch and see if it followed the pitch or the fret but didn't have time before the performance. I will definitely try it next time though.

Again, thanks for the tips. I will keep at it until it's fixed one way or another!
 
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#2,472
TAKUMARU said:
Hi,
I need help from hofner experts.
about this.
View attachment 5251195
Click to expand...
I've been looking at this bass again & had another thought on how this may have come together. Yes the "Club Bass" was from 1965 as they couldn't keep up with the orders, for the, Violin basses quick enough and this was where my thought process was going.
To keep up with the hectic production at that time what if Hofner brought in extra staff to help get these orders filled and the, Luthier's that were there at that time were teaching & testing the new staff to see "If" and how good & quickly they could put together a bass to Hofner's standards.
And the OP's bass was just that a test bass to see if they could build a bass, & this bass somewhere down the line ended up being given to someone and taken home and played for a while and then later sold on to someone else.
Just my daft thought with nothing to back it up :D.
 
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#2,473
I have a really dumb question but the difference between these two

Hofner 500/1 '63 Artist Violin Bass - Bass Direct

Hofner 500/1 '69, Roof Top, Violin Bass - Bass Direct

It's not just a set of strings and a bit of sandpaper is it? (I have played both and the rooftop is better, but it also had the tapes on it which just thump better)

I'm torn between one of these and a '67 with blade pickups I've come across on my travels. The '67 needs some work, new nut, probably a neck reset and who knows what else.

I've been advised to just buy new but I don't know what a standard german violin bass is between the artist series and all the novelty more expensive ones.

I miss my 185
 

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#2,474
TaySte_2000 said:
I have a really dumb question but the difference between these two

Hofner 500/1 '63 Artist Violin Bass - Bass Direct

Hofner 500/1 '69, Roof Top, Violin Bass - Bass Direct

It's not just a set of strings and a bit of sandpaper is it? (I have played both and the rooftop is better, but it also had the tapes on it which just thump better)

I'm torn between one of these and a '67 with blade pickups I've come across on my travels. The '67 needs some work, new nut, probably a neck reset and who knows what else.

I've been advised to just buy new but I don't know what a standard german violin bass is between the artist series and all the novelty more expensive ones.

I miss my 185
Click to expand...

The Artist line is meant to be an entry level model into the German made Hofners. They have a poly finish, which makes them cheaper to manufacture and more road worthy. I have heard very positive things about them.

I love the blade pickups to most of any Hofner pickups I have tried. They are a bit brighter and thinner that other Hofner pickups. I use rounds on my 68, though, and I am not going for that traditional thump sound.

Anyway, the best place to get the Artist models is from Thomann. They have the best prices.
 
#2,476
Shawn Luckman said:
I've been looking at this bass again & had another thought on how this may have come together. Yes the "Club Bass" was from 1965 as they couldn't keep up with the orders, for the, Violin basses quick enough and this was where my thought process was going.
To keep up with the hectic production at that time what if Hofner brought in extra staff to help get these orders filled and the, Luthier's that were there at that time were teaching & testing the new staff to see "If" and how good & quickly they could put together a bass to Hofner's standards.
And the OP's bass was just that a test bass to see if they could build a bass, & this bass somewhere down the line ended up being given to someone and taken home and played for a while and then later sold on to someone else.
Just my daft thought with nothing to back it up :D.
Click to expand...
It's my ideal speculation, "proto Club bass" made in 1960!
If it's so, this is great discovery.
That would be too good to be true:)
 
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