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

[old mark]

The reason they claim that the German bridge won't work is that they are formed to the top radius of the German bass. It's a simple mater to adjust them to your bass. Place a sheet of sand paper, maybe 220 or finer, sand side up under the bridge without strings,(maybe tape it in place to prevent it from moving and scratching the top). Then move the bridge forward and backward on the sand paper. This will make the bottom surface of the bridge conform to the top of the body.

This is the right way to make any floating bridge fit the top of your bass or guitar exactly...you get more contact between the bridge base and the top wood, and possibly improve the sound quality and volume a bit, too.

I have repaired several old archtop guitars and this is THE way to do it!

 

[ICM]

@old mark: You will love your icon, they are great basses and a blast to play.

@rfslick: Putting the sand paper on the body then using that as a way shape and radius the underside of the bridge, that is genius. Such a simple idea, I just never thought of it.

 

[Roger Ford]

Thank you for the compliment but I believe I heard that from my friend Pete Webster, a luthier from Berkeley, CA. We lost him a few years ago to the driver of a car in Berkeley, riding his bicycle.

 

[Musicman20]

Hi all. I'm based in the UK and I've been checking out Hofner and Hofner style 500/1 type basses for some time.

The more I listen to The Beatles, the more I admire Paul's tone, his style, and the melody he creates under the guitars. That almost 'held back' tone of subdued highs, thumpy lows, yet never been too deep, is fantastic.

I'm quite tempted to try a Hofner out, but probably a mid-range version.

What is the Contemporary model like? I realise it has a centre block so might sound more modern.

 

[Peacefrog35]

They are fantastic, great necks, sound superb. The newer ones have a more vintage looking finish as well. They don't have the heavy coat of poly like the old ones. The finish is now very very thin. The sound is very nice. It is a slightly differentsound because of the center block, I say only slightly and with flats on, you still get the true Hofner sound. YOu will only really notice a difference if you A-B them with the totally hollow versions and to my ears( I have several Hofners) the difference is miniscule. They come with stock rounds so when you first pick it up, it will sound very different from what you are used to, but the flats will make all the difference in the world. Opinions like everything else will differ, but that's my 2 cents. I've also yet to hear of anyone having a neck issue with the CT. While they have only been out for 8 years I would expect it by now. As much as I love Hofner, I have heard of people having the need for a neck reset on a reissue bass that was 10 years old...it can happen, but the CT are pretty reliable and well built too.

 

[RickRocks]

I just purchased a Hofner HI-BB-SB on Monday and I love it!
I've been trying to find more information on it though and sort of came to a dead end. While trying to decipher the serial number using the information on Hofner's website, I hit a bump. The list of letters to corresponding years skips the letter I, and there's a note that says "the letter I is not used." Well my serial number's first digit is very much an I so there is my problem. Here's a picture of it. Any information or a push in the right direction is very appreciated.

 

[Thornton Davis]

According to the serial number it should have been made in 2008.

TD

 

[Willie The Pimp]

I just purchased a Hofner HI-BB-SB on Monday and I love it!
I've been trying to find more information on it though and sort of came to a dead end. While trying to decipher the serial number using the information on Hofner's website, I hit a bump. The list of letters to corresponding years skips the letter I, and there's a note that says "the letter I is not used." Well my serial number's first digit is very much an I so there is my problem. Here's a picture of it. Any information or a push in the right direction is very appreciated.

Try asking on hofnerhounds as well.

 

[wingmanborge]

They are fantastic, great necks, sound superb. The newer ones have a more vintage looking finish as well. They don't have the heavy coat of poly like the old ones. The finish is now very very thin. The sound is very nice. It is a slightly differentsound because of the center block, I say only slightly and with flats on, you still get the true Hofner sound. YOu will only really notice a difference if you A-B them with the totally hollow versions and to my ears( I have several Hofners) the difference is miniscule. They come with stock rounds so when you first pick it up, it will sound very different from what you are used to, but the flats will make all the difference in the world. Opinions like everything else will differ, but that's my 2 cents. I've also yet to hear of anyone having a neck issue with the CT. While they have only been out for 8 years I would expect it by now. As much as I love Hofner, I have heard of people having the need for a neck reset on a reissue bass that was 10 years old...it can happen, but the CT are pretty reliable and well built too.

Agree totally.
The ct is maximum bang for your buck.

 

[ICM]

Just dialed in a pretty decent tone on my CT. Both pickups on to max volume, and the solo switch engaged.
I think i wrote off the bridge pickup a little too early.

Ontop of this I've been considering my cavern conversion I was thinking about doing and am leaning toward not doing it. For the sole reason that I love the bridge pup as a palm rest.
It's a perfect place for my palm and then to rest my pinkie under the strings as well.

Slapping with TI's, even on that setting, still sounds a little rough. But playing some lines from Paul Simon's Graceland on that setting sounds pretty nice.

I plan to install a 250K pot for the neck volume to make it sound better.
Now, should I just keep the 500K pot in the bridge volume to keep it hot and ready for modern tone.

What do you guys think?

 

[ICM]

@FranF and @Peacefrog35, PM sent.



EDIT: Also, does anyone know where to get gold headstock decals for hofners. My veneer cracked and I want to just go over it in black and throw a decal on then clear over it.
Or even a cavern decal would be pretty cool too.

 

[Paul_]

@FranF and @Peacefrog35, PM sent.


EDIT: Also, does anyone know where to get gold headstock decals for hofners. My veneer cracked and I want to just go over it in black and throw a decal on then clear over it.
Or even a cavern decal would be pretty cool too.

Ebay is your friend for Hofner decals

 

[wingmanborge]

Does anyone use the 500/1 as their primary instrument? I own a real nice Ignition bass that I bought last year and honestly, I don't have a use for it. I mean not for my primary bass. I feel more comfortable with my Jazz or my L2k or even my Ray34. But I do love it, the ignition, and it has a place among its peers.

I use a CT 500/1 as my one and only bass

 

[UK Philip]

Here are a few pics of my Hofner Razorwood S7B, which I bought new from Barratt's Music Store in Manchester in around 1982 for approx 225 GBP.
It doesn't have a serial number, and I think it's a prototype as the others I've seen have a parallel headstock where mine is angled to the neck.
Can I have a number?

£225 in today's money i hope.

why do almost all the basses i fall in love with have to come from at least 20 years ago?

these companies are missing out on my money with their modern designs - they all look the same!

 

[Waldo19]

Just posted these to the short scale club but I figure they belong here too. So here are my ~1967 Hofner 500/1 and my (late 70s early 80s?) Hofner 182.

 

[Peacefrog35]

Wow, they were using the name HI-BB back then? I thought that was only on the Ignition basses.

 

[ICM]

Wow, they were using the name HI-BB back then? I thought that was only on the Ignition basses.

My icon is a 2008 and it had the HI-BB on the headstock (BB clearly implying Beatle bass) Doesn't have it anymore though, took brasso and removed the lettering some time ago.
I got it back when they were $350 new.

 

[giantbaba]

Hofner bass owned by Mick Karn on the 'bay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOFNER-CL...al_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5b018bc6f2

 

[Peacefrog35]

I couldn't resist.
Hofner Ignition Union Jack. These are only at select Guitar Center stores. Not all got one and I was told they only got one. They are a limited promotional item for their British Invasion themed sale. This one was done with a blue tinted clear over the normal color jack flag. I was told they only did a very very few like this, it was likely to cover a paint blemish, but the result is a rare variant. I took the guard off and threw Labellas on.

 

[DrSteve]

I like it better with the blue tint. Nice fine and congrats Peacefrog