KLIRA REBORN!

[Feral Feline]

I've always liked the Klira, better than a Höfner, with its Cateye sound holes, elegantly curved control plate — classy.

IMO, the Höfner's klunky and incongruous rectangular control panel destroys the lines of the bass — Höfner, you should never have given up the beautiful orb-like control centre from the earliest of your voilin-shaped efforts...


I digress. ANYwayyy...


Eastwood is coming out with a Klira klone, so if you've ever coveted a Klira but were unable to capture one in the wilds, then clearly Eastwood's klone could be a keeper.

A $150 deposit, on $599 total (includes gigbag), will secure your Klira kopykat:
Link Removed

Maybe Klira-owners will get one as a backup, to be used at dodgy-or-outdoor gigs.
I would, just need to find a '66 Klira to back up... oh, and money.

 

[Axstar]

I think @godofthunder59 has a small army of these, so he might be an early adopter?

I agree that the lines of the Klira are cleaner than those of the Hofner.

 

[Feral Feline]

Yeah, I've seen him in the Klira threads, good collection of Klira he has. drool

 

[Axstar]

I love Eastwood's custom shop model. This is where offshore production shines; you see if there is interest in bringing back an unobtanium design then, once the backing is there, you build a limited number of that design.

 

[godofthunder59]

I think @godofthunder59 has a small army of these, so he might be an early adopter?

I agree that the lines of the Klira are cleaner than those of the Hofner.

Did I hear my name? My first bass was a Klira 356, got it way back in 1971! I own 4 complete, two projects awaiting parts and a NOS body never routed for the neck or cutout for the control plate. I like my Kliras better than my '65 Hofner. The pickups (chrome
/ foil) are stronger than Hofner staples and the neck feels a lot like a early 60s EB0. I will be curious to see what Eastwood produces, honestly most of what I have seen I haven't been impressed with. $600 for a Klira knock off ? I just don't know about that. The most I ever paid for one was $495 that was over five years ago though. I see them on Reverb asking prices 1,000-1,300 but I don't think they are selling for that. Even at the $1,000 asking price I say buy the real deal, every bit the Hofners equal. Here's a pic of my first Klira with it's recently installed original neck pickup, unfortunately as a Lad I improved it with Gibson SB 400 pickups.

 

[godofthunder59]

A few of my Kliras. Lots of subtle variations in the line, basically there is the 162 with a more Hofner like neck joint and sometimes Hofner like headstock. Also most 162s had the white single coil apposed to the later chrome/foil pickups. Here is another of my a 356s

 

[godofthunder59]

My 162, note the hint of red in the burst, a bit unusual for Klira.

 

[godofthunder59]

This 356 with no F holes is one of my favorites.

 

[godofthunder59]

356 project on the bench. Bought the carcass off Ebay a few years ago and finally some parts showed up. I paid almost as much for the control plate, knobs, and bridge and tailpiece as I have for a entire complete bass!

 

[Flamingo21]

IMO, the Höfner's klunky and incongruous rectangular control panel destroys the lines of the bass

+1

 

[HaphAsSard]

IMO, the Höfner's klunky and incongruous rectangular control panel destroys the lines of the bass

+1

+2.
I especially hate that it's pearloid, though. It ruins the Old World aura that the shape [of the instrument] gives, and the pearloid + the shape [of the plate] anchor it firmly in '50's lo-bro formica aesthetics. JMO.

 

[johnson79]

Never heard of Klira before, but I must agree, they are an aesthetic upgrade to the Hofner.

 

[markjazzbassist]

i love the looks of klira, i have to admit, you can get a vintage one for 600-800 why buy an eastwood? their stuff is junk far east components and not great finishing. sharp frets, etc.

 

[Michedelic]

If you're into cat's eyes, there's also these; I've got a couple of the Meadens, wide, fat necks though.
Waterstone Meaden 2014 Greenburst

I'm trying to talk myself out of getting this, but it's not like the real thing is going to get any more available or cheaper...
Waterstone ME-3 2008 Chartreuse

 

[ProgressiveDoom]

Nope never liked it and still dont.........Im kidding, not gonna be one of "those guys".. Truth is I never liked that style of bass but once I visited the Eastwood page I was kind of surprised at how nice that bass looks. Its actually pretty sweet looking and the detailing is great. Eastwood has been producing some nice looking instruments.

 

[woodyng2]

Here’s a real Hoffie with NO contol panel. (And the best looking one i’ve seen).

 

[user362432]

That thing was never my choice. Back in a day, when someone could not buy anything else, they would buy "violin" bass (regardless of brand).
Give it to me as a gift, I would sell it without even trying to play.
It's just plain ugly form of any instrument.

 

[Copperhead]

This is sweet. There are few things as satisfying as finding a old bass carcass with good bones and bringing it back to life.

 

[Zant]

I've always liked the Klira, better than a Höfner, with its Cateye sound holes, elegantly curved control plate — classy.

IMO, the Höfner's klunky and incongruous rectangular control panel destroys the lines of the bass — Höfner, you should never have given up the beautiful orb-like control centre from the earliest of your voilin-shaped efforts...


I digress. ANYwayyy...


Eastwood is coming out with a Klira klone, so if you've ever coveted a Klira but were unable to capture one in the wilds, then clearly Eastwood's klone could be a keeper.

A $150 deposit, on $599 total (includes gigbag), will secure your Klira kopykat:
Link Removed

View attachment 3111153


Maybe Klira-owners will get one as a backup, to be used at dodgy-or-outdoor gigs.
I would, just need to find a '66 Klira to back up... oh, and money.

Don't forget the vox v250

 

[mikewalker]

If you're into cat's eyes, there's also these; I've got a couple of the Meadens, wide, fat necks though.
Waterstone Meaden 2014 Greenburst

I'm trying to talk myself out of getting this, but it's not like the real thing is going to get any more available or cheaper...
Waterstone ME-3 2008 Chartreuse

I don't even LIKE long-scales, but I would be all over that Chartreuse one, if only it had the nice rounded top-contours of a real 4005. (without the "WB" option!)

Nothing puts me off an instrument faster than the hard edge of top binding scraping against my forearm...