Jay Turser Hofner Copy

Would you mind posting a clip of how it sounds? I have always been fascinated by the Violin style basses.

 

It worked a treat! Thanks for posting that. Nice to know that there are other options out there for violin basses.

 

I have one I bought new in 05 or 06, and I think it's quite a solid little bass. I quit using it for years when I bought a late 60's Realistic violin bass, but over the past couple of years, I really think the tone has improved. I don't think it's quite at the level of the Realistic sonically, but it's getting better, plus it plays better. And I recently discovered that solo mode sounds a LOT better than normal mode. And while I don't always buy into conventional wisdom, after trying several different sets of strings, LaBellas and violin basses do seem made for each other.

 

I got a Turser knockoff many years ago. I can't date it other than they had just started making colors and I got a black one off ebay. I think the guy might have played it 1/2 dozen times - it was basically new.
I figured if I go here I go all the way and immediately bought a set of Pyramids for it.

I must say I was (and am) very impressed with it overall. The neck came with a limited lifetime guarantee to the original owner!! At this price point? Kudos to Turser. Neck remains laser straight. Fretwork was good. I always felt the electronics were squirrely, so once I get it working/sounding best I leave it alone.

Once I got it set up I haven't touched it. I did gig it early on and was impressed by the pretty "authentic" tones, and it's certainly fun to play. I think I paid $160? Not sure, it wasn't much - better than having $2K sitting around in my closet....

It has been lolling around for a bunch of years and at last check I think it's time to finally retire the Pyramids. I know there's a "can't have flats too old" contingent, but I have a limit. I have 2 sets of LaBella Hofner flats that have been awaiting their turn. This could be my weekend project, and once revitalized could be back on the regular menu!

IMO, it's an excellent bang for the buck. I don't know how it stacks up to the Epi (which was my other choice) but overall it is well done and sounds great.

You just can't beat this with a stick.

P.S. It still amazes me how instruments like this, and all their components, can be completely fabricated, assembled, put in a case, shipped to us, sold to a retailer and then sold to us for around $200 +/-. There are so many "starters"(say <$400) that are good to go right out of the gate. I've been playing for over 50 years and have watched the growth of the business. My first bass (1967) was a "gold foil pickup" import my Dad got me (he didn't know). I went to my friend guitar player, we plugged it in and...nothing. Wiring checked, then we figured it out. The pickups were too far away from the strings!!! We had to build them up before the magnets kicked in! It was a hunk of firewood and I was glad to get it. Nothing like that now, and I'm happy for all beginners!!!

 

I’ve been interested in getting a Hofner and this might be the ticket for me.

 

Great discussion, all! My personal experience with violin basses is limited to Rogue VT-100 (MIK) and Hofner Ignition (MIC). So I find it interesting to read about Epi's and Jay Turser's, with all the similarities and differences noted among the four. But I'm in total agreement on LaBella flats for that vintage 'thump'.
The one suggestion I can add is, if you change only one string at a time, you avoid the floating bridge falling out of position and thus totally throwing off your intonation. Cheers!