Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group

[5StringBlues]

It's become a habit really.......

 

[VS]

Could someone please help me to identify this bass that has been sitting in my closet for years? It was given to me about 3 years ago. The bridge has been changed and the tuners have been changed. It's in pretty rough shape and there is no way to identify it, but I believe it's a Hofner. Thanks guys! -Luke

 

[Stempelloos]

Could someone please help me to identify this bass that has been sitting in my closet for years? It was given to me about 3 years ago. The bridge has been changed and the tuners have been changed. It's in pretty rough shape and there is no way to identify it, but I believe it's a Hofner. Thanks guys! -Luke

Looks like a Hofner 185.

More examples: Invalid Link Removed.

 

[Nick901]

Looks like a cross between a 184 and 185.
Here's the 184.

 

[Tahoe_Ed]

I concur on the 185. Look at the mounting holes. Too bad someone did a mod on it. The strings do not line up over the pickups.

 

[VS]

Yeah, I'm leaning on the 185 as well. The bridge mounting holes are in the same place and they are really similar. Mine has the two switches on it though, which seem to be some sort of bass/treble boosts. -Luke

 

[Stempelloos]

I just remembered this Italian that sells Hofner parts on E-bay.

TAILPIECE stop Hofner Höfner Bass guitar original vintage 1963 | eBay

BRIDGE Hofner Höfner Bass guitar original vintage 1963 | eBay

May come in handy, if you're planning to restore the bass to it's original features.

 

[VS]

Thanks!

 

[iamandrew248]

I ordered a new set of strings for my hofner, but for moneys sake, i ordered XL flatwounds, and not the classic la bellas, is there going to be a drastic diference?

 

[JimmyM]

XL flatwounds? You mean D'addario Chromes? It won't be a drastic difference, but the Chromes are a little more ringy for longer and more middy than the Labellas.


If you didn't mean the Chromes, never mind.

 

[oerk]

Yeah, I'm leaning on the 185 as well. The bridge mounting holes are in the same place and they are really similar. Mine has the two switches on it though, which seem to be some sort of bass/treble boosts. -Luke

It's definitely a 185.

Originally, there aren't any holes where your bridge sits now. There's supposed to be a tailpiece near the strap button, the bridge itself is floating (yours certainly has a lot of holes where the tailpiece is supposed to be).

The switches are pickup on/off switches, making this a 1964 or later model. There's a date code on the pickups if you take the pickguard off. For example, mine had 363 stamped on them, meaning 36th week of '63. The rest of the controls are Vol/Vol/Tone/Tone.

Höfner did have more information on that model on their site, but it's been redesigned since I last visited it:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[VS]

It's definitely a 185.

Originally, there aren't any holes where your bridge sits now. There's supposed to be a tailpiece near the strap button, the bridge itself is floating (yours certainly has a lot of holes where the tailpiece is supposed to be).

The switches are pickup on/off switches, making this a 1964 or later model. There's a date code on the pickups if you take the pickguard off. For example, mine had 363 stamped on them, meaning 36th week of '63. The rest of the controls are Vol/Vol/Tone/Tone.

Höfner did have more information on that model on their site, but it's been redesigned since I last visited it:
Invalid Link Removed

Thanks! That helps. -Luke

 

[njfrese]

I am going to be selling my Beatlebass, which I bought used in the early 1980s. Pix can be found here. I was wondering if anyone has a clue as to what I should be asking for the bass. I do hate to sell it because I just LOVE the look of the instrument, and shoot, I've had it for some 30 years! But I want to buy a very nice acoustic guitar, and my Hofner has been hanging in my office doing nothing for far too long. Any help would be greatly appreciated. As you can see, it was a "working" bass, so it has its share of wear and tear.

 

[Nick901]

Was it refinished? There seems to be a drip run on the body in one of the pics.

 

[Alkali Ike]

So I just got my new Hofner Icon violin, transparent black. From MF, nice discount using coupon codes. The factory setup was a joke (neck convex instead of straight or concave) but the truss rod works so t I can deal with that.

More disturbingly, the bridge pickup was loose on one side. I removed it and discovered the coil is mounted in a plastic holder with threaded nuts on each end. The nuts are set into the plastic so they're secure. One of them was jammed in and the plastic cracked, and someone glued it back in place, leaving the crack plainly visible. The other nut wasn't even molded in. They assembled the pickup with a nut attached to nothing but the screw so it didn't really do anything.

Nice QC on the part of Hofner's Indonesian contract assembly plant.

MF is looking into sending me a replacement pickup, since I'd just as soon keep the bass rather than return it, as long as this issue is resolved ok.

 

[Alkali Ike]

Musicians Friend is sending me a replacement bass, and they gave me a UPS return shipment tag for the defective one. I guess I can't ask for any more than that.

 

[iamandrew248]

The worst pain is a box staring at you, the box has my new hofner in it. And i cant play it until christmas day:/

 

[Rob Martinez]

Musicians Friend is sending me a replacement bass, and they gave me a UPS return shipment tag for the defective one. I guess I can't ask for any more than that.

That is cool. Please report on the bass when you get it.

 

[Rob Martinez]

The worst pain is a box staring at you, the box has my new hofner in it. And i cant play it until christmas day:/

That is the definition of pain!

 

[Tahoe_Ed]

Looks like we will be growing again after Christmas. It great to see so many new members that are new to Hofner and old members that can share their vintage instruments and experiences to all.