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

#3,221
markjazzbassist said:
someone said thomann bought them and it's business as usual. not sure if true.
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As I said in a March 6 post, retired Hofner manager Nick Wass posted on Facebook that Hofner has been purchased by GEWA and will continue to make violins and Beatle basses. He indicated Thomann is an owner of GEWA.
Mr. Wass is certainly credible, but I've seen no official announcement.
 
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#3,222
Here's some info (same facts mentioned on a number of German news outlets):

www.delamar.de

Die Traditionsmarke Höfner stand vor dem Aus – jetzt kommt die Wende!

Erst die Schocknachricht, dann direkt die Rettung – wie konnte das so schnell gehen? Zwei große Player sichern die Zukunft. Lies die ganze Story!
www.delamar.de www.delamar.de

GEWA (large German instrument distribution company) bought the Höfner production facilities, staff reduced from 52 to 24 (I presume mostly cutting down the management/distribution part?), production will continue.
The rights to the Höfner brand were bought by Streetlife, a joint venture between GEWA and Thomann.
Thomann will handle distribution in Europe exclusively, GEWA is responsible for distribution outside of Europe.

Mostly good news, I guess...
 
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#3,223
RomanS said:
Here's some info (same facts mentioned on a number of German news outlets):

www.delamar.de

Die Traditionsmarke Höfner stand vor dem Aus – jetzt kommt die Wende!

Erst die Schocknachricht, dann direkt die Rettung – wie konnte das so schnell gehen? Zwei große Player sichern die Zukunft. Lies die ganze Story!
www.delamar.de www.delamar.de

GEWA (large German instrument distribution company) bought the Höfner production facilities, staff reduced from 52 to 24 (I presume mostly cutting down the management/distribution part?), production will continue.
The rights to the Höfner brand were bought by Streetlife, a joint venture between GEWA and Thomann.
Thomann will handle distribution in Europe exclusively, GEWA is responsible for distribution outside of Europe.

Mostly good news, I guess...
Click to expand...
I'm really pleased that Hofner as a brand has been saved, and also that it has remained German owned. It is unfortunate that some staff have lost their jobs &, I hope they find new jobs soon.
All the best for the future to GEWA & Thomman.
 
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#3,226
Here's the pickup spacing I posted earlier:
DrSteve

Post in thread 'Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2'

Like this one: Hofner Guitars - Steve Russell's Vintage Hofner Website - Index Page

@RomanS:

As for pickup spacing:
My CV pickup is 10 inches for the center of the 12th fret to the center of the screw in the pickup.
Neck pickup screw to CV pickup screw is 2 5/16 inches.

However, please consider the HCT pickups are not the same as the Ignition pickups. So this info may not be correct for you bass.
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Page 153 of this thread.

Hope this helps.
 
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#3,228
I have been away from this club (no pun) for a bit. NBD and waiting for my 2025 500/2. Kind of wishing I would have picked up a German Club, but this one should be a good time. I am wanting to upgrade the tuners and bridge though. On the Ignition, they are a bit too knockoff looking for me.
Body.jpg
 
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#3,236
iriegnome said:
Would anyone have any insights on this model and serial number? Almost every Club Bass I have seen are a model HI-CB. This is what mine says? Sunburst?

View attachment 7507675
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AFAIK the latest incarnation of the Ignition series is made in Vietnam, so I guess it is one of those. Nice to see the volute re-instated. I've seen a couple of reviews that mention these latest models having a zero fret - does yours have one?
 
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#3,237
Last night, I played my first gig with my 2025 made in Vietnam Cavern violin bass. I've played gigs with a HCT500/7 Verythin over the past few years and like that bass enough to keep it instead of a Jack Casady and a modern Guild Starfire II. I was curious though to try a Hofner with the Cavern pickup placement and wanted to compare an affordable, fully-hollow Hofner to the Contemporary series with the sound block. Yes, it has a zero fret, a blank truss rod cover, and the finish is really nice. Nothing to complain about especially for $499 US. The neck is wider than the Verythin's and a bit more comfortable to play. The only really cheap-looking thing is the plastic nut, which was cut correctly and works.

I'd never played a violin bass at a gig, let alone for over 3 hours, and I was more than pleasantly surprised at how well it went. The Cavern pickup placement is so much better in my opinion. I ran it with the neck pickup on full (or almost) and the other at around 80%. The Verythin would not sound the best with those settings as I find the "normal" Hofner bridge pickup to be mostly annoying though I do use it at around 30% or so. Ergonomically, I found the bass comfortable enough. I playing sitting on a stool (due to some disability) and with a wide strap, there were nothing to complain about.

The extra "bloom" from the fully hollow body was quite noticeable and pleasing compared to the Verythin. The band was loud enough that I was able to push the amp I was using, a Markbass Vintage 58R and Markbass NY121 cabinet (a single 12"), hard enough to make use of the preamp tube and give it some drive. I wouldn't have thought so, but the Hofner sounded fantastic on The Who's Eminence Front, for example. I'd never imagined playing Entwistle licks on a Horner violin bass but it really worked. The Pyramid flats I'm using are perfect for me. I've got TI flats on the Verythin and have tried other flats and tapes, but the Pyramds are my favorite for sure.

Now, I must resist thinking about how cool it would be to acquire a German-made Cavern club bass, what I'd really like to have. Must resist...
 

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#3,238
I have a Hofner Green Line violin and its an amazing bass. Just 2 things keep it from being the “perfect” Hofner for me
first, it needs to have the Cavern pickup spacing while keeping the TTV control scheme of the Green line basses.
Second it needs to have an unlined fretless fingerboard!
 
#3,239
SteveCS said:
AFAIK the latest incarnation of the Ignition series is made in Vietnam, so I guess it is one of those. Nice to see the volute re-instated. I've seen a couple of reviews that mention these latest models having a zero fret - does yours have one?
Click to expand...
Mine is made in Vietnam and it does have the Zero Fret which I was glad to see. I grabbed my Les Paul case and found that my Club fits snug, but very nicely in it. As it will not go into the case nearly ever, this worked out to be a great option. I just bought a LP knock off case for the Club..
 
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#3,240
Hey everyone! I have a bit of a weird question - can someone give me the dimensions of the control plate for an import Beatle/Violin/500/1 bass? I sent mine to a custom manufacturer to clone and I never got it back. I wanted a cool color and to ditch the switches, but now I'm plate-less (and pickguard-less for that matter!)

Edit - I realize I can measure the holes and get an idea of the dimensions, but I want it to look reasonably close to what was on there, size-wise.
 
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