McCartney... why Hofner?

[Peacefrog35]

The pup spacing is different with each bass. My cavern reissue has very narrow spacing between the pups. My CT cavern has them spaced further apart like Maccas was. Truth be told, I"ve seen the spacing be all over the place. I don't think there is a standard Cavern spacing which is why if you look for a spare reissue Cavern Pickguard, you won't find one as the spacing is not the consistent.

 

[pfox14]

Given the fact that Sir Paul still plays a Hofner to this day, blows the whole "it was a cheap bass at the time" theory right out of the water. By the mid-60s, he could afford to get any bass he wanted, but chose to stay with the Hofner. Yes, he played Fenders and Ricks too, but when I saw him two years ago, he was playing a Hofner.

 

[Skokiaan]

Given the fact that Sir Paul still plays a Hofner to this day, blows the whole "it was a cheap bass at the time" theory right out of the water. By the mid-60s, he could afford to get any bass he wanted, but chose to stay with the Hofner. Yes, he played Fenders and Ricks too, but when I saw him two years ago, he was playing a Hofner.

It WAS a cheap bass at the time.

You're forgetting that Paul didn't play the Hofner at all for 20 years before breaking it out at Elvis Costello's request. He fell in love with it again and it's been his main bass again since 1989.

 

[DrSteve]

I think he stopped playing to get away from the Beatle image ( and also the intonation issues up the neck). But you're right, Elvis convinced him to bring it back and embrace his Beatle past. Which he now does. Plus it just sounds great.

 

[ICM]

Given the fact that Sir Paul still plays a Hofner to this day, blows the whole "it was a cheap bass at the time" theory right out of the water. By the mid-60s, he could afford to get any bass he wanted, but chose to stay with the Hofner. Yes, he played Fenders and Ricks too, but when I saw him two years ago, he was playing a Hofner.

The thing was that Paul was extremely frugal. He didn{t even buy the rick. He waited for them to give it to him.

 

[JimmyM]

My favorite quote of Paul's:

"I'm anybody's for a free bass."

 

[pfox14]

I would not be a bit surprised if Paul owns more guitars then he does basses.

 

[Skokiaan]

I would not be a bit surprised if Paul owns more guitars then he does basses.

Let's see, based on what we know...

Paul's basses
Hofner 500/1 - 1963

Hofner 500/1 - recent (2nd from the left)

Hofner Jubilee - recent

Hofner 500/1 50th Anniversary Model Club - 2006

Kay K5970V Jazz Special

Rickenbacker 4001 - 1964

Rickenbacker 4001 fretless - circa 1979 (over Paul's left shoulder)
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Rickenbacker 4003/5 - circa 1989

Yamaha BB1000S

Wal 5 string

Fender Jazz

Fender Jazz - right handed

Linc Luthier

Bill Black's upright

Whatever this is, presented to him by a Ukrainian fan club

Zemaitus (?) acoustic bass

Plus we know that he lost his original Hofner

Paul's guitars
Epiphone Casino - 1964

Gibson Les Paul Flame Top - 1960

Gibson Les Paul Gold Top - 1959

Gibson Les Paul "People"

Gibson Les Paul Lite

Fender Esquire

Fender Stratocaster
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Fender Telecaster

Dan Armstrong
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Rickenbacker 330 (2nd from the right)

Gibson L-5 (?):

Gibson 12 string acoustic

Martin

Martin (right handed)

Another Martin

Ovation 12 string

Ovation 6 string

Gibson

Epiphone Texan

Whatever this is (G&L prototype?)
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Gibson Firebird

Music Man Albert Lee

Cigar box guitar

Rex

Zenith (which he supposedly still has)

Aria?

Paul said he keeps all his instruments. I skipped instruments we know he doesn't own anymore (besides that first Hofner bass). Am I missing anything?

 

[pfox14]

I think you covered ALL the bases with that amazing array of pix. Nice job

 

[FrednBass]

His ukulele
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The mandolin

the Yamaha piano
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the piano painted by The Fool
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I believe that the mellotron used in 'Strawberry Fields Forever' belongs to Paul now

I think the thread has just been hijacked. Sorry.

 

[pfox14]

I forgot about his c1928 Gibson uke that George Harrison gave him. He played the crap out of that too when I saw him live. Is there anything he can't do great?

 

[BawanaRik]

My guess would be that it was cheap and light. Remember two things that may sound strange but back in the day were solid truth.

A Fender bass would have been a fortune in post war Britain. And with rationing and recovery there weren't many fortunes laying around.

The second is these young men were playing long sets. I have heard it was 8 hours plus.

Try shouldering a Ric for 8 hours.

 

[Skokiaan]

the piano painted by The Fool
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That's a replica of the Magic Piano created in the late 80's, not the actual one painted by The Fool. It's not even a piano - it's either a digital piano or a synthesizer. Paul has used it on stage as a piano, electric piano and harpsichord.

The real Magic Piano never leaves the house.

 

[Skokiaan]

I think the thread has just been hijacked. Sorry.

To continue the hijacking, here are shots of Paul playing drums and trumpet:

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Not to leave the others out, here are some bonus shots:

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[Ferret]

Another note like when he went to a Rick was because it was free as with other basses and guitars he uses and used outside of first hofner.

 

[SasquatchDude]

I can understand using a short scale... he's not the biggest guy to begin with, he started on guitar, etc. I can even understand ending up with a Hofner to start off with if there was nothing else around, but for goodness sake, I'll never understand how he could stand to not replace it with a solidbody shorty like a Mustang or EB as soon as his resources allowed.

I picked one up once, and it felt about as sturdy as a cardboard box... I can't imagine playing one, let alone gigging it on the scale of the Beatles.

 

[drummer5359]

People really DO expect him to play the Hofner. Non-musicians who don't know a bass from a guitar could very likely pick his instrument out of a lineup. Pictures of him with that bass are so prolific that it is as recognizable as the pitchfork in the painting "American Gothic".

 

[drummer5359]

I want to share a clip of Sir Paul that blows my mind a bit.

He plays Bill Black's upright while singing "Heartbreak Hotel". Okay, that is sort of cool, but apparently he didn't want to mess with it and have it restrung lefty. So if you look closely, he is playing a right handed upright lefty. I get that "Heartbreak Hotel" isn't the most difficult song. Still, that is pretty. cool.

And my apologies for hijacking this old thread...

 

[Stick_Player]

John working out the trumpet solo on Penny Lane?

Actually mot. Here's the real guy.

And another.

 

[Stick_Player]

I can understand using a short scale... he's not the biggest guy to begin with...

5'11"