dyerseve Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 (edited) A friend of mine has two Hofner basses but has no idea about their history or even a model number. If you have any info about either model I would appreciate your help. Thank you Edited July 23, 2023 by dyerseve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr4stringz Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 I’m no Hofner nut so don’t have lots of info, though from the model numbers you should be able to find out plenty more from t’web. The first one is, I think, a model 189, and the second one a model 185. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 I think @Maude has one of the second one and @Dad3353 knows more than most when it comes to Hofners 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 11 hours ago, dyerseve said: ...If you have any info about either model I would appreciate your help ... The first is indeed Hofner's version of the Jazz bass, from the '70s; here's another... 1970's Hofner Model 189 Solid Bass Guitar ... ... the second is an earlier model 185, 'Artist', mid '60s (with 'staple' pickups and a string tree...); here's another... c1963/4 Hofner Artist Solid Bass Guitar ... They both look to be in excellent condition, and would play well. Nice basses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 The Vintage Hofner site is the place to look. Examples of both of these basses appear on this page towards the end. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyerseve Posted July 26, 2023 Author Share Posted July 26, 2023 thanks everyone for your input, very helpful. I am going to pass the info on to my friend. I am hoping to borrow them from him some time - if I manage that I will report back on how I get on with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted July 27, 2023 Share Posted July 27, 2023 I've only just noticed this. Yes the second one is a 185. I can't remember the ins and out but depending on age and where it was sold they were a 185 or Artist, older ones were, I think, a 182. Lots of info in that Hofner site that has been linked. Mine had been butchered so now has Warman Thunderbuckers and completely different wiring and switching so couldn't comment on how yours sounds. They play nicely though and strangely don't feel like a short scale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 12 hours ago, Maude said: They play nicely though and strangely don't feel like a short scale. According to the Vintage Hofner web site both are 34" scale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 10 hours ago, BigRedX said: According to the Vintage Hofner web site both are 34" scale. Mine is definitely 30", I assumed they all were, maybe they did 30" & 34". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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