Hofner VS. P. Bass please tell why this is?

[chuckfalcon]

Hi everyone! I have a scenario that has been baffling me. I have a German made Hofner 5000/1 Deluxe Bass with flats that sounds full, punchy, thumpy, and round all over the neck. Its the greatest, and just my favorite bass.

I also have a 1973 Fender P Bass with round wounds that sounds and plays good, but it isn't as full and punchy all over the neck like my hofner. I find myself constantly tweaking my amp, and fiddling with knobs and technique to hit that sweet spot, but never really find it with the P Bass.

I am having the same experiences with all of my basses really through all of my amps:
-1967 Gibson EB2D (rounds)
-2018 Rickenbacker 4003s (rounds)
-1966 Fender Mustang (flats)
-2000's MIJ Fender Telecaster Bass (rounds)
-1960's Teisco Shark Fin Bass (flats)

-All of these basses sounds great and do their own thing and have their own sweet spots but my hofner's entire fretboard is the sweet spot. Can someone please explain to me how this can be possible?

 

[Stumbo]

Possibly the setup including fret leveling/dressing.

 

[fermata]

I don’t know why, but that’s my experience playing my Hofner, too. Most other basses sound anemic or uninteresting by comparison. And I also prefer the feel and ergonomics to most other basses (a minority view, I know).

 

[Son of Wobble]

Sometimes it just all comes together. Rejoice!

 

[mouthmw]

Try some flats on that P.

 

[chuckfalcon]

thanks for all the input. It's just baffled me. I know so many people are opposed to Hofners because they say they are too "Beatley" or too small, or whatever the reason. Its just surprising to be, if they sound THIS good why aren't they as commonly used as a Jazz or Precision. Not a gripe or anything, just curious.

 

[two fingers]

I don't know which Hofner it is, but I saw Chris Wood with this one playing with The Wood Brothers last year.

It. Sounded. Incredible.

But, it was Chris Wood after all. That probably helped.

Dig what you dig and don't search for the "logic" behind it.

 

[acleex38]

I have also been watching/listening to a performance that featured Marc Friedman of "The Slip" (with different guitarist and drummers) just KILLING it on a Hofner. It sounds spectacular all the way through.

 

[JRA]

if you hang on TB too much you might get the impression (based on mob-hysteria) that there are proper, time-proven, absolute do's and don't's. don't ( ) be a sucker! if your instrument feels good and sounds good = it's good! you're lucky! go with it! good luck!

also: your P-bass is limited: you know that from personal experience. not a biggy, and you wouldn't be the first one to discover that!

 

[fermata]

thanks for all the input. It's just baffled me. I know so many people are opposed to Hofners because they say they are too "Beatley" or too small, or whatever the reason. Its just surprising to be, if they sound THIS good why aren't they as commonly used as a Jazz or Precision. Not a gripe or anything, just curious.

I think there are three issues working against a broader acceptance of Hofner violin basses:

1) McCartney. He's the best and worst thing to happen to Hofner.
2) Ergonomics. I love 'em, but if you're used to a Fender-ish bass, a Hofner feels pretty weird.
3) The control panel. It's dumb. It's an outmoded guitar-based switching scheme that nostalgia buffs have trapped in amber (see 1, above).

But for those of us who can get past those issues/prejudices, a world of righteous tone awaits.

 

[Son of Wobble]

thanks for all the input. It's just baffled me. I know so many people are opposed to Hofners because they say they are too "Beatley" or too small, or whatever the reason. Its just surprising to be, if they sound THIS good why aren't they as commonly used as a Jazz or Precision. Not a gripe or anything, just curious.

The Danelectro '58 Longhorn is also one you rarely see onstage, but it is likewise great-sounding, and only about $400 new.

 

[chuckfalcon]

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The Danelectro '58 Longhorn is also one you rarely see onstage, but it is likewise great-sounding, and only about $400 new.

View attachment 2988144

I totally agree. I played one of these once before and it definitely had a "hofnery" type sound and I really dug it. The only other basses that really floored my like my hofner was my 60's Fender Coronado Bass II that I have since sold, and a Fender competition Mustang Bass that I played at Mikes Music up in Cincy.

I think the Hofner is always going to be my "go-to" bass, its just perfect, however, variety is the spice of life. I swapped the old string out for some new elixirs 105-45, and that definitely added some warmth. I play with a pick, meat of hand resting on the bridge, with the tone knob dialed almost all the way back. I love the way the chrome ashtray covers look but i can't mute with them on, so I'm gonna try some foam mutes and see how i feel about that.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Loves me some Hofner action!

 

[Eilif]

Don't fight it. You found a bass that fits you perfectly and sounds just the way you want it too all over the neck. Rejoice and play it often.

Also -while there are gems in all eras- IMO, 70's Fenders are frequently over-heavy, over-hyped pieces of poo that no one wanted until 60's fenders became unattainable.

 

[Maxdusty]

Don't look for explanations, you've found your Excalibur - the right kind of bass for you, I would be happy with that.
To be fair though, if you're looking for punchy in other basses, you probably have to look at other basses you don't have on that list. A Stingray or a jazz for example are punchy everywhere on the fretboard- it all depends on how you play, what you play and what's pleasing to your ears. I do like the thumpiness of a Hofner basses with flats though that being said.

 

[cnltb]

Hi everyone! I have a scenario that has been baffling me. I have a German made Hofner 5000/1 Deluxe Bass with flats that sounds full, punchy, thumpy, and round all over the neck. Its the greatest, and just my favorite bass.

I also have a 1973 Fender P Bass with round wounds that sounds and plays good, but it isn't as full and punchy all over the neck like my hofner. I find myself constantly tweaking my amp, and fiddling with knobs and technique to hit that sweet spot, but never really find it with the P Bass.

I am having the same experiences with all of my basses really through all of my amps:
-1967 Gibson EB2D (rounds)
-2018 Rickenbacker 4003s (rounds)
-1966 Fender Mustang (flats)
-2000's MIJ Fender Telecaster Bass (rounds)
-1960's Teisco Shark Fin Bass (flats)

-All of these basses sounds great and do their own thing and have their own sweet spots but my hofner's entire fretboard is the sweet spot. Can someone please explain to me how this can be possible?

short scale + hollow body+flats maybe?

 

[Rib 13]

it boils down to personal taste and subjective hearing: While I know Hofner basses have a 'thing', I thing that thing is gawd-awful.....The words "Hofner" + "flats" would never be in my personal vocabulary (let alone adding the word "punchy" to that)...but, hey, thats just me --- theres plenty of bassists that think they are the cat's meow and would debate the contrary.....Its kind of like asking "Why does chocolate ice cream taste better than vanilla ice cream?"

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

it boils down to personal taste and subjective hearing: While I know Hofner basses have a 'thing', I thing that thing is gawd-awful.....The words "Hofner" + "flats" would never be in my personal vocabulary (let alone adding the word "punchy" to that)...but, hey, thats just me --- theres plenty of bassists that think they are the cat's meow and would debate the contrary.....Its kind of like asking "Why does chocolate ice cream taste better than vanilla ice cream?"

I agree to a certain extent, as I do think there is a certain amount of subjectivity to these things. Different people will like, and want to achieve, different tones. Or people simply prefer different bass concepts or profiles. For example, even though I don't mind the P tone it's not something I desire, I also don't like the P bass concept (neck profile and stuff like that), Nonetheless, I totally understand that for others - the majority - it is the apex of basses,

On the other hand, I think people unfairly put the Hofner in a limited box - a box it is not actually restricted to. Consider, for example, that a 500/1 was used on Ozzy's Over the Mountain. Great song with great bass line and tone, but most would not guess it is a Hofner.

 

[bobyoung53]

Hi everyone! I have a scenario that has been baffling me. I have a German made Hofner 5000/1 Deluxe Bass with flats that sounds full, punchy, thumpy, and round all over the neck. Its the greatest, and just my favorite bass.

I also have a 1973 Fender P Bass with round wounds that sounds and plays good, but it isn't as full and punchy all over the neck like my hofner. I find myself constantly tweaking my amp, and fiddling with knobs and technique to hit that sweet spot, but never really find it with the P Bass.

I am having the same experiences with all of my basses really through all of my amps:
-1967 Gibson EB2D (rounds)
-2018 Rickenbacker 4003s (rounds)
-1966 Fender Mustang (flats)
-2000's MIJ Fender Telecaster Bass (rounds)
-1960's Teisco Shark Fin Bass (flats)

-All of these basses sounds great and do their own thing and have their own sweet spots but my hofner's entire fretboard is the sweet spot. Can someone please explain to me how this can be possible?

Put La Bella Deep Talkin' flats on the P bass, you'll probably be singing a different tune.

 

[Rib 13]

On the other hand, I think people unfairly put the Hofner in a limited box - a box it is not actually restricted to. Consider, for example, that a 500/1 was used on Ozzy's Over the Mountain. Great song with great bass line and tone, but most would not guess it is a Hofner.

Once again, subjective: It is a great Bob Daisley bassline, but I always thought the tone on that song completely sucked (EDIT: I'm thinking "Flying High Again" is the song he used the Hofner on -- thats the one Im talking about. He used it on "Over The Mountain" too?)