Höfner files for insolvency

[scrumpymike]

I've just read that Hofner have filed for bankruptcy protection in Bavaria. I assume this is the same as filing for 'Chapter 11' in the USA, which means that the business will be run by administrators in a way that protects the company from market forces for a limited period of time. The idea is to give them a last chance to avoid bankruptcy.

[LawrenceH]

7 hours ago, Bass Direct said:

Some big names there in the bass world, shocked...

This came up in the Sky Arts thread (where I also mentioned Robbie Shakespeare to general blanks). For some reason they've got to be punk/new wave/prog to get the basschat radar pinging!

[RichT]

Oh look, successful musicians playing Hofners and none of them pretending to be in the Beatles...

 

Curt Smith of Tears For Fears

 

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala

 

Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads

 

Nicolas Godin of Air

 

Johanna Soderbergh of First Aid Kit

 

Robbie Shakespeare of Sly & Robbie

 

Paul Weller of... you know

[ajkula66]

43 minutes ago, RichT said:

Oh look, successful musicians playing Hofners and none of them pretending to be in the Beatles...

 

Tina is the only one on that list who played a Hofner for most of her career. 

 

Nothing against Hofner instruments, but they've been a niche offering for more than 50 years now. Time for a change.

 

 

[Downunderwonder]

What do you expect with an endorsement from Richard Nixon?

[Cato]

I wonder if the McCartney association is as much of a curse as a blessing for the violin bass.

 

In the same way that some people are put off by signature models because they don't want people to think that they are trying to emulate that player.

 

And the association between McCartney and violin basses is very strong indeed, to the point where it's one of the few models where non playing audience members might actually recognise it and think of it as the 'Beatles Bass'.

 

Obviously McCartney is a great player, but not everyone wants their playing to be associated with or compared to someone else.

 

 

[prowla]

8 hours ago, RichT said:

Oh look, successful musicians playing Hofners and none of them pretending to be in the Beatles...

 

Curt Smith of Tears For Fears

 

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala

 

Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads

 

Nicolas Godin of Air

 

Johanna Soderbergh of First Aid Kit

 

Robbie Shakespeare of Sly & Robbie

 

Paul Weller of... you know

 

Well, there are people there who have played Hofners at some point, but I don't associate them with those instruments.

Of course, they're not bad instruments; I've played one and was surprised at how good it was (but I didn't buy it).

[Geek99]

2 hours ago, Cato said:

 

Obviously McCartney is a great player, but not everyone wants their playing to be associated with or compared to someone else.

 

 

I’m not proud - I’d happily play a (standard) one if I thought 0.01% of his undeniable talent would rub off - much as I dislike much of his output. 

[BigRedX]

The sad fact is that without the McCartney connection Höfner would have probably folded decades ago.

 

Even so there's a limit to how many "Beatle Basses" they can sell, and they have obviously reached now.