Interesting. I use a pultec style eq, so i dont think it would benefit much from that mod. I am though considering a creation labs redeemer to unload the pickups and make it active. Id like to hear the mod though.
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Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
- Start date
Interesting. I use a pultec style eq, so i dont think it would benefit much from that mod. I am though considering a creation labs redeemer to unload the pickups and make it active. Id like to hear the mod though.
Here is my recent aquisition, have smallish hands so I love the narrow string spacing and slim neck, the light weight is awesome too and the tone pure chocolate, nice warm woody thump.
What settings are people using with there Hofners? I love the tone I get with the Bass slider in the on position
What settings are people using with there Hofners? I love the tone I get with the Bass slider in the on position
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I do solo, bass on, and treble off. On the amp I have a bass heavy EQ with boosted mids and cut treble. Just the right amount of each to sound really full but still cut through the mix.
Another good sound is all sliders up (Solo, Bass off, Treble off); turn up both volumes, then back off the bridge pickup volume until the sound fattens up.
I like using that too occasionally but with the bridge pickup volume at zero. It's a less bassy side of the neck pickup.
So it arrived! A 1959-1960 control panel. What I plan to do with it is reinstall some super high quality 250K pots and wire it up to a switchcraft jack to put in my V62. Unfortunately the plate itself is a bit too wide for 62 spec, looks like I measured wrong, no big deal, the colours of the celluloid don't match anyway, so I'll be putting the celluloid plate on my modded contemporary which will be a nice complement to the 1961 cavern guard. That bass specifically is a Frankenstein of many different characteristics and years, so it'll add to that.
I plan to clean the vintage electronics and carefully restore it to original spec using top-knotch parts. I've done some electronic work before, but this one will be an endeavor just trying to keep everything clean and perfect. I've already installed the vintage knobs on my V62, the shine is unbelievable. The luster of these vintage knobs is something the reissues don't capture.
So the completed project that will be installed on my V62 will have:
-vintage electronics (the switches aren't as tall as the reissues, closer to McCartney spec, pretty cool!)
-vintage teacup knobs
-Bourns 250K pots
-Switchcraft jack
-really nice cloth wire connecting circuit to input jack
Any tips and tricks for this would be appreciated!
I plan to clean the vintage electronics and carefully restore it to original spec using top-knotch parts. I've done some electronic work before, but this one will be an endeavor just trying to keep everything clean and perfect. I've already installed the vintage knobs on my V62, the shine is unbelievable. The luster of these vintage knobs is something the reissues don't capture.
So the completed project that will be installed on my V62 will have:
-vintage electronics (the switches aren't as tall as the reissues, closer to McCartney spec, pretty cool!)
-vintage teacup knobs
-Bourns 250K pots
-Switchcraft jack
-really nice cloth wire connecting circuit to input jack
Any tips and tricks for this would be appreciated!
Update! I've installed the celluloid plate onto the contemporary. I'm starting to think this plate may not be from 59-60 but late 64-65 based on the size. Hofner experts, what do you think?
Here's a shot of the two plates, you can see the difference in colour and wear, the vintage one is on the right:
Installation shot, I always like to check everything works before fully tightening everything, even if it's a minor mod like this, it's better to know it works before having to take everything apart a second time (it works!):
And now this is how my cavern bass looks, vintage control plate with reissue electronics and knobs:
I can't wait to start working on the vintage electronics to install into the V62!
Here's a shot of the two plates, you can see the difference in colour and wear, the vintage one is on the right:
Installation shot, I always like to check everything works before fully tightening everything, even if it's a minor mod like this, it's better to know it works before having to take everything apart a second time (it works!):
And now this is how my cavern bass looks, vintage control plate with reissue electronics and knobs:
I can't wait to start working on the vintage electronics to install into the V62!
Thank you! I actually made the strap with my grandfather. It's looped under the neck and bolted to the tailpeice, so it's never going to slip off. The pad is from a fender strap and is very comfortable. I made a pad to go with it, but the fender one is much more effective.Oh my gosh, @ICM, where'd you get that strap?? And beautiful bass)
So I've ordered the 250 mini-pots. I got bourns solid shaft. I'm going to have to widen the holes in the control plate to accommodate, but that's well worth it for higher quality pots, compared to the alpha ones in it right now. I've tried researching the output wire but have come to a dead end so I have a question for everyone:
What kind of wire do I need to wire the control plate to the output jack? Ideally I'd like cloth covered, but I've noticed that in the bass there is one wire with two wires in it. I am unable to find this type of wire. Can I use the standard black and white Fender cloth wires, same two wires, they're just separated. I really don't know much about the electronics side of things so I can't even begin to guess.
Would something like this work?
3 Feet Of Gavitt USA Black & White Vintage Style Cloth Insulated 22g Wire For Fender Guitars, Basses
Could anyone point me in the right direction with wiring the panel to the jack or show me a link to the proper wire? Thanks!
What kind of wire do I need to wire the control plate to the output jack? Ideally I'd like cloth covered, but I've noticed that in the bass there is one wire with two wires in it. I am unable to find this type of wire. Can I use the standard black and white Fender cloth wires, same two wires, they're just separated. I really don't know much about the electronics side of things so I can't even begin to guess.
Would something like this work?
3 Feet Of Gavitt USA Black & White Vintage Style Cloth Insulated 22g Wire For Fender Guitars, Basses
Could anyone point me in the right direction with wiring the panel to the jack or show me a link to the proper wire? Thanks!
Just thought I would like to expose the myth of Hofners being budget basses as nonsense.
It is widely known the Paul Mccartney bought his because it was £30 compared to £100 for a Fender.
What most people fail to mention about this is that
a) American basses were very expensive outside of the usa at the time
b) He was purchasing a German made bass in Germany which would have brought the price down a little
c) If you use an inflation calculator to work out what £30 was worth at the time you will find that at the time it was the equivalent in todays money of around £600
It is widely known the Paul Mccartney bought his because it was £30 compared to £100 for a Fender.
What most people fail to mention about this is that
a) American basses were very expensive outside of the usa at the time
b) He was purchasing a German made bass in Germany which would have brought the price down a little
c) If you use an inflation calculator to work out what £30 was worth at the time you will find that at the time it was the equivalent in todays money of around £600
Objective and logical. But fighting a 50+ year myth is always a challenge.
Plus fenders were far more popular. No one really heard of hofs before. Anyway back then if i were alive and could afford it, id probabaly go for a fender, but today with everyone and their chiropractor playing a fender, its nice to have something different that sounds old. My hof with ti jazz flats sounds almost acoustic, like a cross between an upright and an electric. I get compiments on the sound and looks all the time that i never got with other basses.
Anyone using a mute on their hofner? I have labellas on my hofner and would like to use some kind of mute but not sure what to use,there is very little room to put a mute so it will have to be something fairly dense but thin
I just use my hand. Much more control, and easy with the narrow string spacing. Love being able to mute and unmute any time, any notes of a phrase.That said, simple weather stripping works as well.
Mecca said in an interview"I looked around and wanted a bass that was symmetrical,so it wouldn't look strange upside down".
So cost had nothing to do with it. Also,his father had taught him to never go into debt.So he saved enough to get one. He could have bought anything on credit. But he wanted something that would look "correct"either upside down,or right side up.
Hofner fit the bill.
So cost had nothing to do with it. Also,his father had taught him to never go into debt.So he saved enough to get one. He could have bought anything on credit. But he wanted something that would look "correct"either upside down,or right side up.
Hofner fit the bill.
Been playing Beatles on and off for years in a band called Revolver. Finally broke down and bought my own Hofner. I'm a big guy with big hands so playing it will take some getting used to. Ed Sullivan Show edition.
So I'm almost positive that the electronic panel I bought is a 65-66. After finding some shots of the electronics of 62/63's its no where close to the same.
I drilled my RI plate to fit the new pots and the solid shafts fit the vintage knobs. Thank god for that because I wasn't about to drill into vintage Hofner knobs. They're a perfect fit!
I drilled my RI plate to fit the new pots and the solid shafts fit the vintage knobs. Thank god for that because I wasn't about to drill into vintage Hofner knobs. They're a perfect fit!
Nice! The burst in those is much nicer than the standard icons.
Finally had a budget for one so I naturally started obsessively pouring over every review, critique, sound test and comparison I could find in order to justify my pending purchase. While in this research frenzy I kept coming across article after article praising the Icon/Ignition B.B. models. I’d never really considered adding a Beatle Bass to my “collection” but was somewhat intrigued.
I went ahead and ordered the Verythin (in black, ‘cause I’ve never been a sunburst guy).
Now, of course, due to advertising algorithms, all kinds of Hofner basses start dancing before my eyes...
What’s that? A used Ignition BB... in Silver Sparkle... with a case... for $250! Oh gawd! Looks like I’m a Hofner guy now.
