Hofner Bass: Part Deux

[wingsdad]

I went in earlier today and edited my post responding yesterday morning to Strum's original thread on the '63 Hofner Violin Bass he stumbled upon, to expand on some points about it, and correct a misstatement about the Reissue models.

Talk about your Cosmic Events, Kharma, whatever you want to call it...:thwap:

I stop in my favorite local GAS Station about an hour after making that post yesterday to order some D'Addario XL Chrome Flatwounds for my Fender Musicmaster Shortscale bass, and what do I find hanging on the wall?

A brand-spankin' new Hofner Icon Series B-Bass. I didn't even think twice. (Maybe I didn't think at all.) I took it down, plugged 'er in to the same little bass practice amp I have, and punched my Ticket To Ride with her a bit.

So, I had to order 2 sets of those short-scale strings, 'cuz I simply couldn't resist my excruciating GAS attack, especially when the GAS Station owner offered her to me for a crazy price, as this one cost him no freight; the Hofner rep had it in his car, cased & boxed fresh:

Oh, my...this little hollow body (no sustain block inside) is as light as can be, even sounds nice unplugged. Now I need to hunt for some knobs to make it resemble 'the real deal' a bit more.

And here she is in my 'Fab Four Family Foto'...none of them are really truly completley faithful reissues, but they work for me :

 

[just strum]

GAS knows no rest.

Nice bass you scored there Wingsdad.


========================

Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head

 

[luvmyshiner]

WOW Wingsdad! I'm not really a bass kinda' guy, but those are SWEEEEET!

 

[mrmudcat]

:master: Yea Baby!!!:bravo:

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Wow, congrats!

 

[wingsdad]

WOW Wingsdad! I'm not really a bass kinda' guy, but those are SWEEEEET!

That's just it, Shiner. McCartney wasn't really a bass kinda guy, either. He was (and always has been) a guitar player first, and pretty much got the bass player gig by default.

Besides the fact that he landed on the Hofner because they were in Germany and not really making much money and it was really an inexpensive bass, compared to a Fender, but probably what appealed to him was that this is a short-scale (30"), so it's closer to a guitar in fret reach and has a guitar shape and feel neck (1 5/8" nut width, very slim and thin. And it's incredibly light. They were playing like all-nighter gigs in dives in Hamburg. A solid body bass would be tough to put up with.

He played (plays) with a pick, adapting his guitar techniques to the bass 'job'.

I truly reccomend this little violin bass to any guitar player considering dabbling into the bass as a second (git) fiddle.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Wow, you move fast on the wing!

Beautiful!

That looks like a terrific three t'me. You'll need one of these:

http://clients.oznet.com/cedarcrest/thekit.html

to have a real Fab Four.

 

[wingsdad]

Wow, you move fast on the wing!

Beautiful!

That looks like a terrific three t'me. You'll need one of these:

http://clients.oznet.com/cedarcrest/thekit.html

to have a real Fab Four.

Thanx, Tot
True, a Ringo drum kit would cover all 4, but (a) I'm no drummer and (b) no room for such in my 10x12 Cavern.

However, I could find a way to make room for these 2 gits, and my eyes are always peeled for one of 'em (but I don't do e-bay)...

 

[pie_man_25]

That's just it, Shiner. McCartney wasn't really a bass kinda guy, either. He was (and always has been) a guitar player first, and pretty much got the bass player gig by default.

Besides the fact that he landed on the Hofner because they were in Germany and not really making much money and it was really an inexpensive bass, compared to a Fender, but probably what appealed to him was that this is a short-scale (30"), so it's closer to a guitar in fret reach and has a guitar shape and feel neck (1 5/8" nut width, very slim and thin. And it's incredibly light. They were playing like all-nighter gigs in dives in Hamburg. A solid body bass would be tough to put up with.

He played (plays) with a pick, adapting his guitar techniques to the bass 'job'.

I truly reccomend this little violin bass to any guitar player considering dabbling into the bass as a second (git) fiddle.

do they ( not just hofner but nockoffs too) make ones with a 34" scale?

 

[wingsdad]

do they ( not just hofner but nockoffs too) make ones with a 34" scale?

All German Hofner hollow/semi-hollow basses (Violin 500/1 and Club 500/2) in all series (levels of 'quality') are 30" scale only. All are 1 5/8" nut. As is my Chinese Hofner Icon Series version of the 500/1, built of lesser grade materials than the Germans, but still, excellent quality and close to spec.

Don't know about any 'knockoffs'.

 

[indianjjy]

Hofner Knock off

In 1969 I had no money but I did manage to purchase at Radio Shack a Hofner Knock off, I know it was made in Japan, the name on the head is Realistic. Don't know much about it but I still have it and it stays in tune. Back then if you didn't have a Fender, you weren't 'in'. I wish I still had the amp,though. I had a Vox essex, But then again, it wasn't a Fender.

 

[Katastrophe]

Wow, you have some great gear there, wingsdad, congrats on the new bass!

 

[wingsdad]

Thanks, Kat-man...

I did change the cheezy stock knobs since I got it.

But I've been waiting the whole time for short-scale D'addario XL Chromes (flatwounds) to come off back-order and get here.

 

[wingsdad]

Due to personal health and family issues that have developed since April of this year, I'm forced to sell much of my guitar collection to cover medical bills and other mounting debts.

Among the pieces for sale is this one.

PM me if interested. Make a reasonable offer.

Thanks.