While poking around online and thinking about replacing my Gibson SG bass with something lighter/more versatile I found this gorgeous 500/1 artist series in black!
So of course I had to buy it.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Just placed an order for… (Hofner content)
- Thread starter BassGreaser
- Start date
While poking around online and thinking about replacing my Gibson SG bass with something lighter/more versatile I found this gorgeous 500/1 artist series in black!
So of course I had to buy it.
I have a cheap Hofner. It feels like a toy because it is so small - tiny body, tiny neck, narrow string spacing, etc. I bet the “real” ones feel like toys too. They’re just petite.
The thing is, though, they’re lightweight, comfortable, and easy to play. Mine only feels like a toy because I’m used to bigger basses. In the right setting, my cheap Hofner can easily be the best bass for the job.
I would love to have a German one!
The thing is, though, they’re lightweight, comfortable, and easy to play. Mine only feels like a toy because I’m used to bigger basses. In the right setting, my cheap Hofner can easily be the best bass for the job.
I would love to have a German one!
Lovely looking bass & they do look good in black, my black HCT with my 1964 500/1.
D
The German ones are definitely in a different league. At least if you're comparing them with the cheapest Ignition series. A German Höfner is a hi-end, luthier made instrument. A Höfner Ignition is a cheap, mass manufactured instrument made in China. The specs/dimensions of the Ignition series aren't the same as "real" Höfners and they're lacking certain key features, like the zero frets. Original German Höfner parts (pickups, tuners) aren't even compatible with the Ignition series.
The mid priced CT-series are really good instruments though. Like the Ignition series they're made in China but while the Ignition series feel like cheap Höfner clones, the CT-series feel more like real Höfners. They're a huge step up from the Ignition series. The build quality is surprisingly good and the parts are compatible with German Höfner parts. In fact, I believe they ARE original German Höfner parts. But the Violin/Club models in the CT-series aren't hollowbodies. They are semi-hollowbodies with a sustain block, which make them somewhat different instruments altogether. Good, but different. Some of the other CT-models used to be true hollowbodies (like the President bass) but I think they've been discontinued.
The specs of German made Höfners vary a quite a bit from model to model btw. I've got a reissue '61 "Cavern" Violin bass. The neck is one of the chunkiest necks I've ever played. Very deep front-to-back. It's equipped with the period correct Diamond pickups and of course it also has the Cavern pickup configuration, neck + middle "P-bass(ish)" position, which is far more useful to me than the more commonly seen neck+bridge configuration. The build quality is amazing, as expected from a hi-end, luthier made instrument. If you compare this bass to an Ignition it wouldn't sound or feel even remotely like the same instrument, even though they're both Höfner Violin basses.
Last edited:
Although German made products have a reputation for quality, German made Hofners being "high-end" is highly debatable. What, no "Luthiers" in china? Many products that are mass manufactured anywhere in the world, are of high quality.
This isn't saying much either.
Nice looking stuff though. Classy if nothing else. All black looks better that I though ti would.
Last edited:
IMO the German Hofner's are very well built. Not sure of the differences between the Artist series and the "Regular" Hofners, but I wold expect the same high quality. Love yours. Hope you enjoy it for many years.
I've had a few German made, but sold those in favor of my Contemporary models. I like the solid feel and sustain a little better and don't feel I give up much, if anything, in tone.
I've had a few German made, but sold those in favor of my Contemporary models. I like the solid feel and sustain a little better and don't feel I give up much, if anything, in tone.
I honestly don't know the answer I'm afraid as you see the '64 500/1, is how I found & bought it back in November 1988.
My own thought on this is that Hofner were getting these basses assembled, as quick as they could to ship out to the UK that a few may have their pickups in reverse.
I have never wanted to change it back.
Thank you! I think the difference is the artist series has (from what I’ve read) a thin poly finish rather than the standard nitro.
P.S. really love that black three pickup setup!
If you want to talk petite, I recently gave up all my other bass ukes/mini bass guitars in favor of a 21" scale Chinese knockoff Hofner style bass uke (7.5 pounds, $229), which I have modified by Eric's Guitar and finished by Pat Wilkins.
Wow, stunner. You could wear tuxedo tails with that bass and not look over-dressed.
I’m pretty excited about finally owning a bucket list bass!
I’ve checked off many.. Pbass, Alembic, pedulla, custom 5er.
I’ve checked off many.. Pbass, Alembic, pedulla, custom 5er.
I want to apologize if you or anyone thought I was talking trash about German Hofners. Definitely not my intent with my “toy” comments. I’m very familiar with the entry-level vs. mid-level vs. high end versions of various brands, even though I can’t comment about German Hofners. I have no doubt there is a big difference between my Ignition/Icon (I can’t remember which it is) and the real deal. In my hands, though, I still know that I’m so used to 34” scale and up that a skinny neck, short scale bass is going to feel like a toy to me, even if the short scale is objectively the better bass in every way.
Like I said, I’d love to own a German Hofner. My expectation is that there isn’t really another bass that is quite like it.
I agree the HCT 500/1's are really well made & "if" I didn't already own a German made one, I honestly think I'd be happy to just have the HCT and not worry about the difference.
D
No need to apologize!
You were really just saying what I'm thinking. The cheaper ones do feel a bit cheap (although I wouldn't personally go as far as "toys"
).I was just trying to point out the differences between the different Höfner series.
I actually get the impression that a LOT of people think of Höfners as cheap "toys". Probably because most people's experience with this type of bass is either Höfner's own entry level Icon/Ignition series or even cheaper Höfner clones. There's a very good reason for this of course. Even though the German Höfners are superb quality instruments they are still "niche instruments". Most bass players will never want to spend $3000 on a Höfner unless they specifically want THAT tone/feel. Buying a cheap Höfner clone (or an Ignition) as a "fun" third or fourth bass in you collection makes a lot more sense to most bass players. As it should. As good as the German Höfners are, they are not suitable for all players or all styles of music.
I also think Höfners may get a bad reputation because many older German Höfners are in rather poor condition by now. They do have one rather significant flaw. The pickups in older Höfners tend to go bad. I think it's an issue with the insulation they used for the wires in the pickup coils. Luckily Höfner still offer a very good selection of original replacement parts for their vintage models. This means that most vintage Höfners can be restored to original specs, using NEW original parts. Pickups can simply be re-wound too of course.
And just to be clear: I'm not saying the Icon/Ignition series are useless. They're decent instruments for the price. But comparing an Icon/Ignition with a luthier made German Höfner is the equivalent of comparing a Squier Affinity with a Masterbuilt Fender Custom Shop instrument.
UPDATE: Hofner has shipped! So far it looks like Monday is the arrival date.
Obviously the Ignition is not in the same grade as the German Höfner - that would be absurd. But my experience with the Ignition Club I bought recently is nowhere close to Squier Affinity. Nor should it be at almost 50% more on the retail price. My point is that my particular Ignition greatly exceeded my expectations at the price point. I can't say the same for the (handful) of Affinity I've tried to date which were obviously built to a price.
Regarding the Ignition, the finish is excellent (barring one or two tiny bubbles in hidden corners). The burst is smooth and even with good depth of colour and the neck feels great, with no sharp ends and good fretwork. The differences go like this:
- The neck is one-piece with a scarf joint for the headstock clearly visible through the finish. The neck grain is visible through the finish - it is straight, perfectly flat-sawn and aligned along the length but still cheaper than the German multi-laminate construction;
- The body wood looks like 3-layer ply - clearly not solid wood like the Germans. I guess the flame back is very thin laminate but it is book-matched and looks the part;
- Body binding is a simple thin single layer compared to the deep multi-laminate of the German models;
- The arch-top is not as deep and the neck angle is shallower compared to the German models, therefore the pickups are mounted in body cutouts rather than surface mounted*;
- There is no Zero Fret (but I prefer that);
- The nut is cheap plastic (but as I discovered, easily replaced with bone);
- The fingerboard is not bound and was not completely polished smooth;
- The neck/fingerboard is attached all the way to the end, not floating like the German models. My guess is this is stronger meaning less 'engineered' strength is needed in the fully hollow body;
- The bridge is bare Rosewood not polished Ebony but is (dys-)functionally identical;
- The bridge is not 'fitted' from the factory and needed some work to make it 'right';
- The tailpeice feels a bit flimsy and is cast, not machined.
*Does this change the sound compared to a top without cutouts - probably, but I can't say anything is compromised - there are no dead spots or resonant hot-spots.
But yes I agree that the Ignition makes sense for a lot of players looking for genuine Höfner tones - yes it really does - without laying out a few thousand bucks for a German model that may only get limited or occasional play-time. I thought that's what mine would be but I actually find myself using it more and more.
YMMV
