Happy Jack

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1392894326' post='2373847'] Did 'etc' play all their old hits? [/quote] Yes, but that's before they went all prog and changed their name to Ampersand ...

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1392892555' post='2373824'] How do the new German Hofners stack up against the old ones, as that might be a better comparison than the CT series? [/quote] Troo dat. I had a V62 German Re-Issue of the violin bass (the Beatle bass) and it sounded every bit as good as my 1964 500/1 Violin. I've also had both a CT and an Icon and neither of them really cut the mustard. Quite apart from the electrics (especially the pickups) what really does the damage is the "sustain block" which is of course merely a way of making the instrument in a cheaper and more mechanised way. You can't take a hollowbody or semi-acoustic design, and shove a bloody great lump of 4x2 down the middle of it, and expect it to sound the same. Nor does it feel the same, or hang/balance the same. Perfectly capable of being a good, playable instrument ... just not the same as (or as good as) the original.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1392891361' post='2373801'] I played it last week with an early 60's British rock'n'roll band ... [/quote] I forgot I had this: [attachment=155706:Airplay Studios Rehearsal (15).JPG]

Nope - it was a factory extra.

Oh look! Look! It's NOT a Fender!!! [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Hofner%20vintage%20instruments/Hofner%20500%207%201964%20CURRENT/DSCF3395.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Hofner%20vintage%20instruments/Hofner%20500%207%201964%20CURRENT/DSCF3395.jpg[/IMG][/URL] It's a 1964 Hofner 500/7 Verithin. I played it last week with an early 60's British rock'n'roll band (Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, The Big Three, etc.). It sounded sublime, thuddy and with dodgy intonation, it sounded as if it was the original bass played on those recordings. Because ... erm ... it probably [i][b]was [/b][/i]the original bass played on those recordings. I've played the current Hofner CT re-issued Verithins. They're very new and shiny, and they look real purdy. But vintage basses sound better.

[quote name='4low' timestamp='1392869470' post='2373686'] [sup]Swirly Bubinga ... especially for this rum.[/sup] [/quote] I'd drink Swirly Bubinga rum, probably with Coke.

I feel that it is, essentially, bad form to count one's basses.

I bought a Sabine twin-channel feedback destroyer for my covers band about three years ago. I can honestly say that we've had not a single issue with feedback since, and that's maybe 70 gigs in at least 20 different venues. It's fire & forget. No need for any tweaking, I don't even think about it.

Yup - does that count as a Stadium Gig?

Very good programme, but a real shame about Stephen Berkoff's appalling portentous voice-over.

Nah, not Wunjo's! The guy you need is Andy Gibson, whose workshop is underneath the Denmark Street branch of Macari's. Macari's are the official UK dealer for Hofner. Give me a shout when you're ready and we can hook up.

Yes, but are you famous?

I've only been able to see four of the photos but that looks like a cracker, very deep tobacco-burst and in beautiful condition. What state is the neck in? Any banana there? What about the neck joint? If you want the electrics sorted out, my regular guitar tech is the main Hofner guy in London. He's based in Denmark Street - happy to take you down there if you want. If you haven't already pulled the trigger on this, bear in mind that the President was a sort-of slimline version of the 500/5 which has an even more woody, resonant tone.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1392382876' post='2367975'] Veering off-topic a bit, the thing that has surprised me most in this thread is not where Markbass source their cabs but the comparison between ply and MDF. Having (at least partly) grown up on boats, I rate good-quality ply very highly indeed whereas I've always considered MDF to be a rather toxic form of chipboard, cheap & nasty. May need to re-calibrate ... [/quote] OK, if I wasn't confused before, I certainly am now.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1392648565' post='2371032'] Wow, you're nearly famous!! *Hero worship* [/quote] Pah! That's nothing! I've shaken hands with someone who once shook hands with The Beatles. And I've been photographed with someone who played bass for Elvis Presley. That means I'm much more 'nearly famous' than Ian, so there!

So a clear picture has emerged. Some people like passive. And some people like active. I'm glad we got that cleared up.

[color=#000000][i]The disadvantages are the hefty weight[/i] ...[/color] [color=#000000]He's not wrong, is he? The glue used in that body probably weighs as much as a normal bass.[/color] [color=#000000]It does look bloody wonderful though.[/color]

[quote name='The fasting showman' timestamp='1392631738' post='2370726'] I've always loved 'John, I'm only dancing' for the walking on the chorus. [/quote] +1

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1392458688' post='2368935'] Unless you are Robert Fripp no one plays and electric instrument sitting down. [/quote] I'm definitely not Robert Fripp, I checked. I guess I'm just no one.

Passive, always passive. I play almost entirely in pubs where issues like power, cables and space are important. Three powered cabs is three more things needing power sockets, three more cables trailing across a tight space, and a huge increase in weight to be lifted onto PA poles. I have a rack containing a power distribution board (so a single 13A plug does everything) feeding the mixer, a feedback destroyer, and a power amp. XLRs go in, speaker cables come out. Simples. It's all modular so each component can be upgraded as needed. The power amp is a 4-channel unit with independent volume controls. Two channels for the tops, one for the drummer's foldback, and one spare for me to use in emergency should my bass rig die on me.

So it's basically an improved Orange Terror Bass?

D'y'know I never actually realised there was an album ... I thought it was just a one-off single.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1392237855' post='2366413'] My guitars are on one of those 5-guitar stands. I use gig bags so they're in the bags, on the stand, bags are not zipped up so I can pull them out, but it means I don't bang them together when I put one back. [/quote] That's smart ... never occurred to me.

Veering off-topic a bit, the thing that has surprised me most in this thread is not where Markbass source their cabs but the comparison between ply and MDF. Having (at least partly) grown up on boats, I rate good-quality ply very highly indeed whereas I've always considered MDF to be a rather toxic form of chipboard, cheap & nasty. May need to re-calibrate ...

The weight/backpain thing is a bit like seasickness, people never really 'get it' until it happens to them. After that, they take it very, [i][b]very [/b][/i]seriously. I've sold some of the best basses I've ever owned simply because they were too heavy. It doesn't matter how great it sounds if you never play it. The lightest Precisions I've owned all weigh 7.5lbs ... and I own all three of them right now. No coincidence. The heaviest all weighed over 11lbs. For those who don't think in terms of the weight of a bass, 11lbs (roughly 5Kg) is a bass that, if you play it sitting down with it resting on your knee, it cuts off the circulation to your leg and your foot goes numb. This is not a good thing. Two of the best-sounding Precisions I've owned were very heavy, apparently supporting the weight=tone argument. But the two best-sounding that I own now are both Mike Lull 5-strings, and each of them weighs just 7.5lbs. Go figure.