munkonthehill Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230400834664&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url] now im in 2 minds with these, are they cool or naff. lets face it, if you pull this out at a gig everyone will say hahaha mccartney. im just not sure, plus how close are they to the originals, cos for 250 seems a bargain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumnote Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 [quote name='munkonthehill' post='662179' date='Nov 22 2009, 10:08 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230400834664&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url] now im in 2 minds with these, are they cool or naff. lets face it, if you pull this out at a gig everyone will say hahaha mccartney. im just not sure, plus how close are they to the originals, cos for 250 seems a bargain[/quote] I struggle a bit with all of these 60s guitars, Hofners, futuramas, Watkins Rapiers etc. My first guitar was a hofner president, but i couldnt afford a proper gibson or fender at the time. I couldnt wait to get rid of it and buy a 'proper' instrument, Now I see them up for silly money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 First up, that's not a "proper" Hofner, like McCartney used to play. It's a Hofner Contemporary (CT) which is a licensed copy made in China. It has a central "sustain" block running through the body, which translates as [i][color="#8B0000"]it's way cheaper to build it this way but it doesn't sound the same and the balance is quite different. [/color] [/i] Second, if you try to play this like a Fender or a Warwick then it will feel horrible, sound horrible, and generally be no fun at all. The feel of the neck will be weird, the string spacing far too narrow, the scale too short. On the other hand, if you play it like a Hofner then it's a light-weight barrel of laughs, and capable of sounding really great and really cool. The neck is unbelievably easy to get around, it plays really well with either a pick or just your index finger, the controls are so bizarre that you'll smile every time you fiddle with them, and flatwounds sound superb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrenleepoole Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Not a huge Hofner fan myself, but just saw Ralf Gauck at Bass Day using a lovely fretless version with black flats. A really nice earthy and woody tone, and made me GAS for one. Great player too who did lots of solo bass arrangements of Beatles tunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I mostly play Aria Pro II SB basses these days, after years playing G&L basses, and used to have a Hofner 500/1, which I sold about five years ago. Oddly, I've got a Hofner 500/1 itch again. I'll go with "cool". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='662229' date='Nov 22 2009, 11:02 PM']First up, that's not a "proper" Hofner, like McCartney used to play. It's a Hofner Contemporary (CT) which is a licensed copy made in China. It has a central "sustain" block running through the body, which translates as [i][color="#8B0000"]it's way cheaper to build it this way but it doesn't sound the same and the balance is quite different. [/color] [/i] Second, if you try to play this like a Fender or a Warwick then it will feel horrible, sound horrible, and generally be no fun at all. The feel of the neck will be weird, the string spacing far too narrow, the scale too short. On the other hand, if you play it like a Hofner then it's a light-weight barrel of laughs, and capable of sounding really great and really cool. The neck is unbelievably easy to get around, it plays really well with either a pick or just your index finger, the controls are so bizarre that you'll smile every time you fiddle with them, and flatwounds sound superb.[/quote] So how exactly do you "play it like a Hofner"? I struggled during my recent flirtation with a (non Hofner admittedly. An Ibby AGB200) short scale semi with flats on. I think the lack of sustain foxed me. I Like the whole flatwounds, narrow neck, lightweight idea a lot if it could work for me. I did like Captain Sensible's one with the silver sprayed top too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Picked one of these up to play in a shop not so long ago - felt like a child's guitar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Macca got a Hofner because it was a cheaper copy of the Gibson he wanted. Gibson stopped making the violin type basses soon after and the rest is history. Interesting that Hofner managed to transcend the Gibson-copy label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) [quote name='MacDaddy' post='662436' date='Nov 23 2009, 10:13 AM']Interesting that Hofner managed to transcend the Gibson-copy label.[/quote] I s'pose it was because Gibsons and other US instruments were so rare in the UK in the early 60's (due to eye-watering import tax), that few had ever seen an EB1. By the time people knew about them, Macca had already popularised the Hofner. First time I saw a picture I thought - "Blimey, Gibson did a Hofner copy?" And original EB1's still pretty difficult to find - I've only ever seen one in the flesh and that was 20 years ago. They look so good with the 'banjo' tuners. I won't say where in Denmark St I saw it because I don't want to upset you Edited November 23, 2009 by skankdelvar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 [quote name='skankdelvar' post='662470' date='Nov 23 2009, 10:36 AM']I s'pose it was because Gibsons and other US instruments were so rare in the UK in the early 60's (due to eye-watering import tax), that few had ever seen an EB1.[/quote] Hofner basses cost around £20, while the likes of Gibson basses cost over £60. Nuff said, when you're a scouse scally looking for a guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 [quote name='noelk27' post='662529' date='Nov 23 2009, 11:45 AM']Hofner basses cost around £20, while the likes of Gibson basses cost over £60. Nuff said, when you're a scouse scally looking for a guitar.[/quote] Sutcliffe paid £60 for his 500/5 because he bought it in Liverpool (from Hessey's, of course). Macca didn't pay £60 for his 500/1 because he bought it in Hamburg, so he'll have paid in DeutschMarks. I'll get my anorak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 [quote name='Low End Bee' post='662416' date='Nov 23 2009, 09:53 AM']So how exactly do you "play it like a Hofner"?[/quote] Come along to the Coach & Horses on Thursday and I'll bring my 1964 Violin bass with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 If it's a faithful copy, it'll be truly horrible to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='662582' date='Nov 23 2009, 12:50 PM']Come along to the Coach & Horses on Thursday and I'll bring my 1964 Violin bass with me.[/quote] I bet you say that to all the boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Once you've seen my shortscale, you'll want to extend your range. :brow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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