The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: The Bass-ment: Beatle Bass

Beatle Bass

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- Rated: 115 ↑
May 17, 2007 4:18 p.m. wenzel:

I started playing bass in 1990 on a 1964 Hofner Beatle bass. It had all original parts and I put flats on it and it was awesome. I went to a recording studio that year and the other bassist from another band asked me why I was playing such a substandard non-current bass. I said, because I love the sound. He just scoffed at me and proceeded to play his ibanez and said how spot on his action and intonation were and then I scoffed and promptly left the studio. I was young, but I felt that he was disrespecting me because of the instrument I chose to play. He was a good friend and band member of the studio owners, but to me he was just a judgmental loser.

I have looked at gretsch basses and they look fine, although I have never played one yet. I started out on bass guitar in the band, but soon wanted to play guitar since it's easier for a guitar player to play by himself with a guitar rather than a single note instrument, as bass is primarily played.

I would highly recommend learning all of the beatles songs on bass if you want to get good at it. Paul McCartney was a genius at bass and still is. He taught me everything I needed to know and I learned a lot of fundamentals from the earlier stuff. Try it and you won't regret it, unless you want to play tool or puddle of mudd...
- Rated: 6 ↑
May 17, 2007 7:48 p.m. PapaDave:

I started learning guitar at age 11 and started picking up the bass at 13. I'm 53 now so I've been at this for quite some time, playing professionally and semi-pro. Knowing (and loving) both instruments has been very enjoyable and has come in quite handy on more than a number of occassions, as a band member or as a sub.

Through the years I've gone the gamut of basses. I've played a couple of Gibson EB-3s, a Gibson Thunderbird, Rickenbacker 3001 and 4001, Fender J and P basses and even a J bass with a P neck and a Mustang. I believe there was an Ibanez in there somewhere also, but CRS is setting in.

Anyway, for the last 10 years or so I've only owned 2 basses. Both are Hofner 500/1s, a V63 and a V61. I don't care to play anything else. They're much more versatile than a lot of people think and they won't break your back like most others I've owned.

I think your friend just didn't know much (if anything) about Hofners. If you still have that bass, great! If not, maybe you'll want to invest in another.

Papa Dave
- Rated: 47 ↑
May 17, 2007 8:31 p.m. dignan:

I wish I'd gotten wise to Hofners sooner. My Eastwood Club is getting more playtime than both the Jazz and Thunderduck, especially while my SVT languishes in storage and I'm stuck with a tiny practice amp. I'm loving the wide pickup spacing and unusual controls - it's got a nice acoustic zing (even with flats) that a slab just can't produce.

Now if only they'd bring back the big-bodied 500/3...
- Rated: 9 ↑
May 17, 2007 9:00 p.m. Regis:

I'm very happy with my '67 Hofner Beatle bass. I can play lots of musical genres on it, not only 60's rock, but some funk, reggae and pop stuff.
- Rated: 42 ↑
May 18, 2007 9:24 a.m. JC:

Regis,i used to own a 67 Hofner Beatle bass, got it for £250 back in the late 80's, Great little thing.

I agree Wenzel,it's the only way to get that early Beatles sound,i wish i still had mine.
- Rated: 13 ↑
May 18, 2007 9:53 a.m. kelvinator60:

For cheaper bucks you can also pick up an old EKO 995 Violin bass. I have one and with flatwounds on it it sounds great. About a 1/4th the price of the Hofner and I think it looks cooler too!

CHAD
- Rated: 11 ↑
May 18, 2007 10:56 a.m. wenis:

I've always wanted one, maybe one day I'll pull the trigger.
- Rated: 11 ↑
May 18, 2007 11:02 a.m. wenis:

Check it out, Hofner is selling a cheap version of the Beatle Bass

link
- Rated: 83 ↑
May 18, 2007 11:25 a.m. Mark Synchro:

Durn-it! Now you guys gots me goin on a Beatle bass for $350.
- Rated: 1 ↑
May 18, 2007 1:18 p.m. JohnnyHumbucker:

I own a 500/1 63, and I couldn't imagine playing any other bass. It's strung with flats and really nails that Macca sound circa 64/65. When I play it, it feels more like a guitar than a bass, and I find myself doing all these little runs that I probably wouldn't do on any other bass.I love the fact that it's so light, but it's also very sturdy. It looks so damn cool as well!
- Rated: 42 ↑
May 18, 2007 1:18 p.m. JC:

I wonder what this $350 one sounds like?

"sustain block inside the body makes for modern, fulminant deep-resonating bass sounds".

Was there any sustain block in the originals? I can't remember any in mine.
- Rated: 9 ↑
May 18, 2007 1:36 p.m. Regis:

JC, never heard about sustain block on a Hofner bass. BTW, lack of sustain is such a cool feature, a trade mark on Hofners, isn't it?
- Rated: 42 ↑
May 18, 2007 3:01 p.m. JC:

Yeah, i don't think these cheap ones will sound anything like the oldin's with this sustain block in'em
- Rated: 11 ↑
May 18, 2007 8:52 p.m. wenis:

I guess the Icon Series is the one for 350 and the CT series run about 750. Still, you can't buy a bag of turds for $350.00 anymore and even though that may be exactly what I'd get, the price is just too good. I'm probably going to have to buy one of these Chinese pigs. Right after I promised I'd never buy Chinese!
- Rated: 47 ↑
May 18, 2007 9:48 p.m. dignan:

For whatever it's worth, the FDP bass guys deem to like the Icon.
- Rated: 44 ↑
May 18, 2007 10:51 p.m. Jeff O(ver to the Right):

I'm thinking the sustain block doubles as a sound post type support to keep the thing from caving in from all the tension on the strings.
- Rated: 11 ↑
May 18, 2007 11:24 p.m. wenis:

Apparently the Icon does not have the sustain block, only the CT.
- Rated: 44 ↑
May 19, 2007 6:34 a.m. Jeff O(ver to the Right):

I've not seen the CT.

Edit:

I looked. This is what I found:

Hofner Contemporary Series Beatle Bass - NOT AVAILABLE, NO FURTHER INFO AT THIS TIME

Could be production problems.
- Rated: 115 ↑
May 19, 2007 6:58 a.m. wenzel:

Jeff, if you go to musiciansfriend and read the reviews on it you'll basically see this. The first couple of guys raved about how awesome it was and how it doesn't sound like the expensive vintage correct models, but it still sounds good and was built nicely. Then, the latest reviews state that the Germans didn't anticipate such a high demand for a lower level instrument and to meet demand they cut every corner to get some more to the U.S. When that wasn't enough to meet the demand they stopped production until they can get enough in stock to ship at once to meet the demand. I feel like the new 3rd releases will be of higher quality than the 2nd batch was, but it's not going to sound like the beatles bass did exactly. Just go and read all of the reviews and you'll see what I am talking about. I just summed it up.
- Rated: 11 ↑
May 19, 2007 12:54 p.m. wenis:

The CT series is made in China as is the Icon, but the CT has mostly German parts, including pickups. The Icon does not, apparently you can't put German Hofner pickups in the Icon either.

Don't confuse the two versions. I've read the CT maybe hard to get here, period. The Icon, yeah I believe there was production issues, but is that still happening?

Anyway, it's got me thinking Hofner way more than I should be.
- Rated: 11 ↑
May 19, 2007 12:54 p.m. wenis:

The CT series is made in China, but has mostly German parts, including pickups. The Icon does not, apparently you can't put German Hofner pickups in the Icon either.

Don't confuse the two versions. I've read the CT maybe hard to get here, period. The Icon, yeah I believe there was production issues, but is that still happening?

Anyway, it's got me thinking Hofner way more than I should be.
- Rated: 45 ↑
May 22, 2007 5:27 a.m. Tsar Nicholas :

My little brother's Epi Viola is a great little machine.
- Rated: 5 ↑
May 24, 2007 6:14 a.m. Tago:

Tsar Nicholas said: My little brother's Epi Viola is a great little machine.

I was just going to ask about that as I've heard a lot of good things about it. I need a bass for recording mainly, and this appeals to me, plus it's very cheap. Anyone have other experiences with it?

Great avatar, by the way.
- Rated: 23 ↑
May 24, 2007 7:12 a.m. noggsly:

Yep I've got one and love it. I've got some Rotosound flats on it. Surprisingly useful tone and very easy to play. Here's mine(Excuse the fuzzy pic It was taken with my old crappy camera)
- Rated: 5 ↑
May 24, 2007 8:32 a.m. Tago:

That looks really good. I'm getting one.