McCartney... why Hofner?

[ICM]

That's because everyone knows he's not the REAL Paul McCartney!

The big question is "if they are any good...if they are really worth more than my car...then why aren't there all that many other other famous Hofner players?" (and yes, I know there are people who "have" used them...but I can't think of anyone who is "linked" to them)

I'm going to go with the standard: it was cheap and The Beatles weren't The Beatles just yet. After that it became part of their mystique. I don't here much in the way of a "magic tone" that you can't get with numerous other bass set ups. If there was...there'd be a cult around it just like there is around Fender.

That said...my second bass (after my first got...ahem...lost when I went to study abroad for a semester in college...and by "lost" I mean my brother sold it for drugs) was a Hofner knockoff with action so high I almost needed to used both hands to fret a string. Worst bass ever...but it built up my finger muscles, that's for sure.

We all know Faul is a Rickenbacker guy.
If anything he got used to it. I taught myself to play on a Hofner icon, then moved to a CT, now I've got the german V62. Basically, I got used to the neck and string spacing and absolutely love it.
What started as McCartney mimicry turned into an honest love for the 500/1. I won't play anything else, just doesn't feel right to me. Every time I try to force myself to play another bass, it lasts for about a week and I go right back to the Hofner.
You know how the P-Bass feels like 'home' for many people? That's how the Hofner is. I think "magic tone" is relative, as the neck pickup on with a set of old TI's is my magic tone. A Hofner is like an old record, sure an mp3 file is technically better and more durable, but there's something special about the quality of it's oldfashioned-ness.

 

[fermata]

If anything he got used to it. I taught myself to play on a Hofner icon, then moved to a CT, now I've got the german V62. Basically, I got used to the neck and string spacing and absolutely love it. ... I won't play anything else, just doesn't feel right to me. Every time I try to force myself to play another bass, it lasts for about a week and I go right back to the Hofner. You know how the P-Bass feels like 'home' for many people? That's how the Hofner is.

Similar story for me. The first time I tried a Hofner, it felt all wrong. But it sounded so right, I gave it another chance. That's how I ended up with my CT, and it quickly became my number one.

 

[Rocker949]

That's because everyone knows he's not the REAL Paul McCartney!

The big question is "if they are any good...if they are really worth more than my car...then why aren't there all that many other other famous Hofner players?" (and yes, I know there are people who "have" used them...but I can't think of anyone who is "linked" to them)

I'm going to go with the standard: it was cheap and The Beatles weren't The Beatles just yet. After that it became part of their mystique. I don't here much in the way of a "magic tone" that you can't get with numerous other bass set ups. If there was...there'd be a cult around it just like there is around Fender.

That said...my second bass (after my first got...ahem...lost when I went to study abroad for a semester in college...and by "lost" I mean my brother sold it for drugs) was a Hofner knockoff with action so high I almost needed to used both hands to fret a string. Worst bass ever...but it built up my finger muscles, that's for sure.

I'd say Dale Davis who played bass for Amy Winehouse might be said to be "linked" to them. Michael League usually plays Fender, but here he is with a Hofner.