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Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group

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#81
jackajesusfreak said:
Please pardon my change of direction, but I just wanted to make a comment concerning Paul McCartney, who obviously made the violin bass what it is today. I believe, after actually 'listening' to his bass patterns in the old Beatles music, that he was one of, if not the best, bass player of all times.

Now, I don't want to stir up a hornet's nest, but the reason I give him those honors is because while he was playing those superb patterns, he was also singing too! That would be kind of like a lead guitar player doing a riff and trying to sing at the same time. Very difficult to do and takes a very talented individual to pull it off. Kudos to Paul!! :bassist:
Jack
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Right on, Jack. Macca is the sole reason that I'm a musician to begin with. John was my favorite Beatle but it was Paul's playing that really lit a fire within me. I started out as a bassist in the mid '70s and moved over to guitar in '83. Over that time, I worked as a Blues guitarist and have had the opportunity to have worked with some monster players in the studio as well as a sideman. Then, I got off the road in '05 and worked locally again. Back in '07 I reestablished my love affair with the bass and where was the first place I went to get my chops back? Back to McCartney! Then made my way back to Duck, Cogbill, Babbitt and Leroy Hodges. My current gig is in a Fab Faux-type Beatles cover band and I haven't had this much fun in a really long time! :cool:
 
#82
Funky_Duck said:
Right on, Jack. Macca is the sole reason that I'm a musician to begin with. John was my favorite Beatle but it was Paul's playing that really lit a fire within me. I started out as a bassist in the mid '70s and moved over to guitar in '83. Over that time, I worked as a Blues guitarist and have had the opportunity to have worked with some monster players in the studio as well as a sideman. Then, I got off the road in '05 and worked locally again. Back in '07 I reestablished my love affair with the bass and where was the first place I went to get my chops back? Back to McCartney! Then made my way back to Duck, Cogbill, Babbitt and Charles Hodges. My current gig is in a Fab Faux-type Beatles cover band and I haven't had this much fun in a really long time! :cool:
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Thanks for sharing FD. Myself, I took guitar lessons at 11 because of the Beatle influence and have played off and on ever since. (I'm 56 now). Last February our new praise band needed a bass player and I took up the challenge. After trying several bass guitars and seeing the Douglas violins for only 150 bucks, I decided to give it a try because I always liked the way Paul's looked. I fell in love with the violin bass for the reasons already stated in here. I then jockeyed around and sold to get the 2 Hofner Icon Bs that I now have. It was in this past year while learning the bass that I paid attention to Paul's playing and was dumbfounded. I never realized how good he was. I knew he was an awesome composer and vocalist, but had no idea how superb he was on the bass.
 
#84
jackajesusfreak said:
Thanks for sharing FD. Myself, I took guitar lessons at 11 because of the Beatle influence and have played off and on ever since. (I'm 56 now). Last February our new praise band needed a bass player and I took up the challenge. After trying several bass guitars and seeing the Douglas violins for only 150 bucks, I decided to give it a try because I always liked the way Paul's looked. I fell in love with the violin bass for the reasons already stated in here. I then jockeyed around and sold to get the 2 Hofner Icon Bs that I now have. It was in this past year while learning the bass that I paid attention to Paul's playing and was dumbfounded. I never realized how good he was. I knew he was an awesome composer and vocalist, but had no idea how superb he was on the bass.
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Hey Jack a frk,
I guess I'm far from the only old fart here. I started in 60 or 61. Been going on and off ever since. More of a guitar nut than a bottom guy. When you got your Douglas did you check out the brice copies? I guess you weren't satisfied with the Douglas since you bought the Icons. Are they that much better?
 
#85
bluzjamer said:
Hey Jack a frk,
I guess I'm far from the only old fart here. I started in 60 or 61. Been going on and off ever since. More of a guitar nut than a bottom guy. When you got your Douglas did you check out the brice copies? I guess you weren't satisfied with the Douglas since you bought the Icons. Are they that much better?
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I don't know his reason, but the reason I picked up an Icon/Ignition when I already had a Rogue Viola I liked was I didn't think the Rogue pickups had enough bottom end for that deep Hofer tone I was after. The Hofner's pickups aren't German either but for whatever reason they sound a little better to my ear. The fit and finish on the Rogue seems a little better, however. Maybe I could have bought new pickups for it instead?
 
#86
Ok...now that my icon has been gone a week...my new baby arrived today. Even for someone like me who is just beginning to play bass, this is a dream to play... straight up. I'm hooked!:hyper:
She's a contemporary...looks every bit the part of a V63... plays as well too I'd imagine.

HofnerContemp015.jpg



HofnerContemp017.jpg
 
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#89
bluzjamer said:
Hey Jack a frk,
I guess I'm far from the only old fart here. I started in 60 or 61. Been going on and off ever since. More of a guitar nut than a bottom guy. When you got your Douglas did you check out the brice copies? I guess you weren't satisfied with the Douglas since you bought the Icons. Are they that much better?
Click to expand...

The main differences were 2 fold: they are much lighter in weight and more variety of colors. I like the small body, short scale, and light weight because it just fits my physical stature better.
 
#90
Peacefrog35 said:
Ok...now that my icon has been gone a week...my new baby arrived today. Even for someone like me who is just beginning to play bass, this is a dream to play... straight up. I'm hooked!:hyper:
She's a contemporary...looks every bit the part of a V63... plays as well too I'd imagine.

HofnerContemp015.jpg



HofnerContemp017.jpg
Click to expand...

Did you buy this already modded or have you been really busy? :hmm: It looks exactly like my v63. Very nice, enjoy!
 
#91
Congrats Tahoe Ed!....looks immaculate.

--------------------------------------------
Been following the bidding on ebay for this.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-1967-be...1QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101

The seller explains dating a 60's bass, but I'm wondering about the 70's/80's,....anyone know the numbers system for post-60's Hofner's?

"I opened the control area and read the codes on the potentiometers. One was 250 (ohm)-227....the other was also 250 (ohm) - 227. It was stated that the last digit referred to the production year (therefore 1967)...and the first two digits referred to the week of production within that year. Therefore 22 = 22th week of 1967, apprx end of May 1967."

If 227 means May '67.....would a May '71 read 2211?
 
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#92
Hi TahoeEd. Yeah, I was really busy. haha. It arrived looking so good, I almost didn't need to do anything,but since I already had planned on it, I modded out my control panel, about an hour later from when I received it, she looked like you see above. It really exceeded my expectations. The wood grain is beautiful..it really doesn't show in the pics. I also thought the contemporary had thicker laquer. My ICON had really thick laquer. At least on mine, it's alot thinner and looks more correct. Shiny yes,but not too thick. I couldn't be happier and it sounds like fresh butter. I've named him Kermit. :D
 
#94
The bass is a rare bird indeed , they only came out with that knob configuration that year. No modding done. All original parts. The case is in pretty bad shape, but still works. I bought the case in the picture last year. Sweet bass, It is used on many recordings for other artists,the songwriter specifically asking that the Hofner be used.
 
#95
john_martin_sai said:
Congrats Tahoe Ed!....looks immaculate.

That one belongs to Peacefrog35. I will post pics of my Icon later today when Brown coughs it up. :hyper:


If 227 means May '67.....would a May '71 read 2211?
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Actually 221. The real confusion begins when the numbers repeat every 10 years! Fortunately there seems to be enough other information to make an accurate dating. Hofner is somewhat quirky in that when they make production changes, they will at times have something old and something new on the same bass. It was explained that they were just using up old inventory. Makes dating of these unique instruments a challenge at times. One must be a real sleuth. :ninja:
 
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