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

#3,181
SouthPaul71 said:
So after lots of internal debating, including here, I finally got me the ‘upgrade’ from my lefty Ignition to a Contemporary… thought I’d share.
Such a fine instrument, great sustain, great tones, great build quality, really enjoying the hell out of it.
First thing I did was put the Ignition’s LaBella’s on the HCT.
The Ignition really struggled at band practice, I had to push it to its absolute limits. I expect that to feel quite differently next practice.
It came with teacups too!
I saw that updated on the Hofner website, but not yet on any of the websites that actually sell them. So I expected it to come with the regular knobs.
I always end up removing the pickguard from my basses and guitars at some point, but for now it’s still on there. Kind of like how it ‘keeps the bridge in place’ with that little screw.
Anyways, here it is.
Click to expand...
I've never owned an Ignition, but they've always felt like toys to me. My Contemporary was much better, as are my German ones.
 
#3,183
In light of recent reports regarding Hofner’s financial troubles. I wanted to share my two hofners! One of them is a 2013 German club, and other is a German mystery Hofner 500/1 ‘61 cavern bass!

I honestly never thought I would own a Hofner, much less two of them! But here we are !

I originally wanted a club bass when my search began; and ended up landing on the Cavern. It originally came with toaster pickups that the previous owner installed! I quickly returned them to the original diamond style pickups! It’s strung with the thicker La Bella’s and it is my favorite out of the two! Unfortunately I have no idea what year it’s from, my best guess is that it is from 90’s.

Then a few years later I walked into my local music go round and saw the club bass hanging on the wall! I told myself I didn’t even want to play it because I was happy with my cavern bass. Well a few weeks later I ended up playing it, fell in love and went back on Black Friday to see if there was a deal to be made! Long story short with a trade-in, and a Black Friday sale I got this for less $1k. Probably the steal of a lifetime, not even my wife believed me until I showed her the receipt! Anyways this string with the lighter gauge la Bella’s and sounds nice! But there is something about the cavern that sounds fuller and richer !

Anyways i love these guitars ! They have their limitations and they are not for everyone or everything, but that’s the fun part!
 

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#3,184
Starduck1476 said:
In light of recent reports regarding Hofner’s financial troubles. I wanted to share my two hofners! One of them is a 2013 German club, and other is a German mystery Hofner 500/1 ‘61 cavern bass!

I honestly never thought I would own a Hofner, much less two of them! But here we are !

I originally wanted a club bass when my search began; and ended up landing on the Cavern. It originally came with toaster pickups that the previous owner installed! I quickly returned them to the original diamond style pickups! It’s strung with the thicker La Bella’s and it is my favorite out of the two! Unfortunately I have no idea what year it’s from, my best guess is that it is from 90’s.

Then a few years later I walked into my local music go round and saw the club bass hanging on the wall! I told myself I didn’t even want to play it because I was happy with my cavern bass. Well a few weeks later I ended up playing it, fell in love and went back on Black Friday to see if there was a deal to be made! Long story short with a trade-in, and a Black Friday sale I got this for less $1k. Probably the steal of a lifetime, not even my wife believed me until I showed her the receipt! Anyways this string with the lighter gauge la Bella’s and sounds nice! But there is something about the cavern that sounds fuller and richer !

Anyways i love these guitars ! They have their limitations and they are not for everyone or everything, but that’s the fun part!
Click to expand...
Nice basses. I know what you mean about getting different sounds out of them. The Cavern spacing definitely is a different vibe. I almost bought one once, but decided to stick with my '63 reissue.
 
#3,186
I recently bought a relic 63 and It came to me with frets which were terribly unlevel in multiple places. It's sorta disappointing, and i'm just paying to have it fixed, but is this terribly common with these? I was under the impression that they are usually really meticulous with their craftsmanship
 
#3,190
I am still looking for recommendations for luthiers who are willing, able, and competent to replace the fretboard on a hofner violin bass with a fretless unlined fingerboard, and replace the stock controls with a simple volume and blend setup…no tone control. due to injuries to my left shoulder, I can no longer play long scale, large body, heavy basses. my Ric is 9 lbs, and with the ergos, I simply cannot play it comfortably. my Hofner green line violin bass is less than 1/2 the weight of the Ric and the ergos with the short scale and particularly the small body make it far more comfortable to play. But it has frets!!
I am thinking to sell the Ric and get a CT Hofner violin bass and have it set up with an unlined fretless fingerboard and just volume and blend pots.
Any recommendations?
 

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