Opinions on the Hofner Verythin Bass?

[TheOriginalName]

Are they any good?

 

[funkinbottom]

First off, welcome to talkbass. To be honest, I didn't know there was a Verythin model. I was hoping to see a couple pics and check them out. The search feature here can sometimes save a lot of time. Here you go. Search Results | TalkBass.com it only took a sec.

I think there is a Hofner owners club here too. Try posting in there. I imagine those guys know these basses pretty well, and you will most likely get a better response.

 

[fermata]

Yes, please.


And there's a long scale version, too.

 

[chris_b]

Back in the day, in the 1960's, they were OK as a second bass, while you were saving up for your first Fender.

These days people like all sorts of stuff, and if it's old they like it even more.

 

[GretschWretch]

Back in the day, in the 1960's, they were OK as a second bass, while you were saving up for your first Fender.

These days people like all sorts of stuff, and if it's old they like it even more.

Back in the day there was no Hofner Verithin bass. However, there were the Hofner Senator and President, which at the time were Hofner's top of the line. Stu Sutcliffe was the celebrity endorser.

Seguing, what other bass do the Verithin's cutaways most resemble?

 

[mongo2]

Back in the day there was no Hofner Verithin bass. However, there were the Hofner Senator and President, which at the time were Hofner's top of the line. Stu Sutcliffe was the celebrity endorser.

I have the current HCT 500/5 President...nice bass.

Seguing, what other bass do the Verithin's cutaways most resemble?

Nobody said there was going to be a quiz...lucky for me I know the answer: Gretsch

What do I win?

 

[HaphAsSard]

Back in the day there was no Hofner Verithin bass.

I also thought as much, but upon a websearch I stand corrected - the Höfner Verythin bass dates back to 1963:
Invalid Link Removed
^ Scroll down/page-search for "HOFNER VERITHIN BASS GUITAR"; also look here:
Verithin Bass
The corresponding Euro model appeared in 1966:
Visitors' Gallery
^ Scroll/search "500/7", and see here:
5007
[There was a similar model with curved body edges - see (1) again and scroll till "500/6", and (2)]


That the Verythin was a popular stopgap choice for Fender bass fans in the '60s is a new one to me anyway, and I'm not convinced the hipster market alone can sustain the re-issue - I guess there is someone who likes them for how they sound and play, besides/instead of the fact they're "old". JMO.

 

[Richard Blair]

There was most definitely a Hofner Verythin bass “back in the day”. I had one 50 years ago. It wasn’t a stopgap to save up for a Fender. As far as I knew no one I had seen had one as a stopgap or anything else. Until the new reissue I never actually saw one in person. When it got stolen, I used my upright on all my gigs until I found a used 1969 Gibson Les Paul bass. The Hofner and the LP were both short scale, which is my preference still although I’ve usually kept a 34” in my stable. The Hofner had a warm sound but it was nothing like the “Beatle” bass to play. It was a bit of a hog.