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

[Pimpernel Smith]

Major Metal:

How do you think the Hofner violin bass would look with F Holes?

I'm not certain about F-holes, but when Klira used cats-eye holes instead, it looked great, and sounded great.

 

[SJLee]

SJLee:

I've been more than interested in the 58 re-issue bass. Would you tell us about how the sound compares to more modern Hofner's with staple pickups? Also, how does the neck compare to modern German made Hofner's?

I find tone sometimes a little difficult to describe. Maybe a little more open than my Club. This cover of Starman gives a good approximation of the tone. In regards to the neck, it is wider and thinker front to back yet still comfortable.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

I find tone sometimes a little difficult to describe. Maybe a little more open than my Club. This cover of Starman gives a good approximation of the tone. In regards to the neck, it is wider and thinker front to back yet still comfortable.

Love the tone in that video. I've watched a few times.

 

[SJLee]

Love the tone in that video. I've watched a few times.

Yes, it’s a favorite of mine.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I find tone sometimes a little difficult to describe. Maybe a little more open than my Club. This cover of Starman gives a good approximation of the tone. In regards to the neck, it is wider and thinker front to back yet still comfortable.

Lovely bass line in the chorus, nicely done.

 

[SJLee]

Lovely bass line in the chorus, nicely done.

Actually, this is not me playing but someone who has a 58 Hofner with the bar pickups.

 

[Stempelloos]

How do you think the Hofner violin bass would look with F Holes?

Link Removed

Hoyer London Violin Bass

VOX Astro IV violin bass

Crucianelli violin bass.

Welson violin bass

Eko 995


Link Removed

Orpheum violin bass.

I guess more people in the sixties wondered about that question.

 

[Stempelloos]

Bartolini

Moreschi

Recina

Rex: Ugo Beccacece

 

[Thornton Davis]

Thornton:
Nice looking bass, indeed.
What's the neck like on the CT Cavern bass? Is it a bit bigger than the other reissues? And, how does the sound compare to the other CT versions and the German versions?

The neck of the HCT500/1 CV is just a fraction larger than the standard HCT500/1, but still very comfortable. From a tone perspective, with both pickups on you still have the thump but with an edge due to the pickup closest to the bridge being on. I've always played my Hofners with only the neck pickup on so this is a nice change as I'm getting better clarity added into the output of the bass.

I can't offer an opinion on how the Contemporary CV compares to the German version as I've never bothered with the Cavern version before in either German or Contemporary versions.

The flat back is taking some getting use to. It's essentially a slab back with no contours. After having owned Hofner's for the past 50+ years the flat back on this bass provides a different feel when playing it. I'll have to post a photo of it along side my 2007 HCT500/1.

TD

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

The neck of the HCT500/1 CV is just a fraction larger than the standard HCT500/1, but still very comfortable. From a tone perspective, with both pickups on you still have the thump but with an edge due to the pickup closest to the bridge being on. I've always played my Hofners with only the neck pickup on so this is a nice change as I'm getting better clarity added into the output of the bass.

I can't offer an opinion on how the Contemporary CV compares to the German version as I've never bothered with the Cavern version before in either German or Contemporary versions.

The flat back is taking some getting use to. It's essentially a slab back with no contours. After having owned Hofner's for the past 50+ years the flat back on this bass provides a different feel when playing it. I'll have to post a photo of it along side my 2007 HCT500/1.

View attachment 4733861

TD

The flat backs for the HCT Caverns must be new. I have an HCT Cavern and the back is curved. The neck is also slim just like my 63 reissue.

Here is a pick of my HCT alongside my Ignition.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Link Removed

Hoyer London Violin Bass

VOX Astro IV violin bass

Crucianelli violin bass.

Welson violin bass

Eko 995


Link Removed

Orpheum violin bass.

I guess more people in the sixties wondered about that question.

~
Interesting history lesson !

And note how most of them kept the Zero Fret in their designs.

Even the Epiphone Viola bass has it, I noticed recently.

Side Question :

How are you putting the pictures into your posts ?

I wish to do it that way.

Thanks.
~

 

[Stempelloos]

~

Side Question :

How are you putting the pictures into your posts ?

I wish to do it that way.

Thanks.
~

Click with the right mouse side on an image that you want to post.
Then 'copy image link'.
Next, on Talkbass, click the image icon in your post window.
Wait for the image window to appear.
Then paste the image adress into 'Image URL'.
Click insert.
Then you're done.

 

[Stempelloos]

The flat backs for the HCT Caverns must be new. I have an HCT Cavern and the back is curved. The neck is also slim just like my 63 reissue.

Here is a pick of my HCT alongside my Ignition.
View attachment 4733951

Original Caverns have a flat back and a chunkier neck profile, at least the German made ones do. Curved backs were generally used at other models.
It might just be that they've decided to construct the HCT Caverns closer to the original specs.

 

[SJLee]

Original Caverns have a flat back and a chunkier neck profile, at least the German made ones do. Curved backs were generally used at other models.
It might just be that they've decided to construct the HCT Caverns closer to the original specs.

Correct, the flat back goes back to 1958 and possibly further. My 58 is a flat back.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

…

How are you putting the pictures into your posts ?

I wish to do it that way.

I don’t bother with image URLs, as mentioned previously. I do either of the following:

• I simply copy an image to the clipboard and paste it into my post or reply at the location of the cursor.
• I use the Upload a File option to select the desired photo(s) in the Photos app, and then insert them at the cursor location.

For either option, make sure that the cursor is in the desired location before you paste or insert a photo.

If you rely on image URLs, the photo will disappear if it is removed from the referenced webpage or if the URL changes.

 

[SJLee]

…

I don’t bother with image URLs, as mentioned previously. I do either of the following:

• I simply copy an image to the clipboard and paste it into my post or reply at the location of the cursor.
• I use the Upload a File option to select the desired photo(s) in the Photos app, and then insert them at the cursor location.

For either option, make sure that the cursor is in the desired location before you paste or insert a photo.

If you rely on image URLs, the photo will disappear if it is removed from the referenced webpage or if the URL changes.

This should be a sticky. If I was to write a best practice for uploading images to TB this would be it.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

....How are you putting the pictures into your posts ?

I wish to do it that way.

Thanks.

Click with the right mouse side on an image that you want to post.
Then 'copy image link'.
Next, on Talkbass, click the image icon in your post window.
Wait for the image window to appear.
Then paste the image address into 'Image URL'.
Click insert.
Then you're done.

~
The reason that I liked your method at first glance is that when I replied to your post, the reply showed thumbnails of your pics in the quoted portion.

When I began another reply, I figured out that if I click on one of your images WHILE in my post composition/edit box, I get a popup which shows me your source, which is indeed online somewhere for those images, so while I like the way that your images present themselves, what Michael said next is completely true, about them possibly disappearing later.
~

I don’t bother with image URLs, as mentioned previously. I do either of the following:

• I simply copy an image to the clipboard and paste it into my post or reply at the location of the cursor, OR
• I use the Upload a File option to select the desired photo(s) in the Photos app, and then insert them at the cursor location.

For either option, make sure that the cursor is in the desired location before you paste or insert a photo.

If you rely on image URLs, the photo will disappear if it is removed from the referenced webpage or if the URL changes.

~
Most times, I use the second of your methods, because usually the image which I wish to include is locally stored on my hard drive already, from being previously downloaded or created.

But while that works, I do not see the thumbnails in the parts of peoples' posts which I quote in my posts, instead only links.
~

 

[Shawn Luckman]

With me playing my '64 500/1 bass more I remembered that, it was 25 years or more since I'd linseed oiled the fretboard. So in my dinner hour today nipped into my local Wilco and bought a bottle. Couldn't wait to get home and put some on and what a difference, the Brazilian rosewood board looked so much like dark chocolate with a slight sheen to it. So carried on a gave the rest of the bass a clean up as well.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

With me playing my '64 500/1 bass more I remembered that, it was 25 years or more since I'd linseed oiled the fretboard. So in my dinner hour today nipped into my local Wilco and bought a bottle. Couldn't wait to get home and put some on and what a difference, the Brazilian rosewood board looked so much like dark chocolate with a slight sheen to it. So carried on a gave the rest of the bass a clean up as well.

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Apologies not the best light but, here are a few I'm pleased how it turned out.