Author Topic: Beatle bass copy (Read 501 times)

jlpicard · « **on:** August 07, 2005, 01:45:05 PM »

I know this is way off the topic for the Alembic club but has anyone had any experience comparing the Hofner Beatle Bass with any of the Asian knockoffs? It's been too many years since I've played a real Hofner to tell. I'm sure ther must be some difference but it always seemed to me to not be worth paying ten times the price for the real thing.

jetbass79 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2005, 03:15:22 PM »

The imported ones won't fall apart the way the Hofner basses do. Apparently the Rogue (Musician's Friend's house brand) version is made in Korea which is a good sign -- it's probably the same bass as Epiphone's Viola. They are a better value than the real thing. Hofners always have a neck block cracking problem which causes them to rattle inside and the neck to separate rendering them unplayable. Paul McCartney paid like $45 for his back in the day and now they want $2K for new ones. They're made the same way they were in the '60s and they are no better on any level. I played a real one some 9 years ago and couldn't for the life of me figure out how Paul McCartney played the damn thing. Notice he's the only one who has used them on a regular basis.

lbpesq · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2005, 03:37:05 PM »

And let us not forget that McCartney is notorious for caring little about his equipment

Bill, tgo

bassman10096 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2005, 03:53:26 PM »

I have a friend (a fairly credible bass player) who swears the Jay Turser Beatle copy nails the Hofner sound and is well-built. Never tried one myself. Anyone out there tried a Turser?

jetbass79 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2005, 04:29:13 PM »

I would imagine that instrument is built in the same factory as the Rogue and Epiphone, which incidentally the Samick factory (for real). I don't think anyone could wrong with a Turser or any other import version of the real thing.

bassman10096 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2005, 05:06:05 PM »

I'm sure you're right about that.

bigredbass · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2005, 07:48:38 PM »

As a real Macca fan, I always knew one day I'd play a Hofner . . . and when I did, I realized that Sir Paul must surely have been a genius to get ANYTHING out of that little toy of a bass. But, I realize he was essentially 'doubling' on bass, was originally a guitar player in his little group(!), so I suppose it was not near as big a jump as if he'd gone to a PBass, etc. When he later played Rics, of course they had very slim, guitar like necks as well, so maybe that's the deal. Not to mention the difficulty of finding real left handed instruments. And of course, in the Quarrymen/Beatle days, we tend to forget just how new the electric bass guitar was, and how few choices he had.

J o e y

bigredbass · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2005, 07:50:25 PM »

PS

If I had to have something like that, I wish Hamer would offer a production version of that Hofner-looking axe that Jack Blades played on the Ringo tours.

J o e y

bassman10096 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2005, 08:26:59 PM »

You really have to get along with short scales to warm up to a Hofner. Even then, they feel like a toy. Many years ago, I used to play a Hofner that belonged to a friend on occasion at impromptu jams. After a couple of hours, it would warm right up to me. Still an unusual instrument to play, though.

trekster · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2005, 05:16:24 AM »

bigred:

Can you point me to a pic of Blades with the bass you mentioned? I always thought that he was playing Hamer's version of an SD Curlee bass (like the one he used in the first Night Ranger video Don't tell me you love me -- always loved that 2-sets of P-bass pickups set opposite of each other look -- not sure how it really sounded -- and the Hamers didn't have them!).

--T

adriaan · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2005, 08:31:34 AM »

The first ever bass guitar I ever laid hands on was a genuine Hofner violin bass, and it must have been in 1975. I was 10 years old, and a bit short for my age, so it was a good size instrument for me. It was on loan from a friend of my dad, and so it had to go back to the owner after a few months (and a couple of packets of Pyramid flats later). After that came a genuine Egmond - so yes, I do have warm memories for the Hofner.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2005, 02:41:12 PM »

Sorry for the Non-Alembic, but here is a Giffin guitar this thread recently brought to mind. I am sure Roger would be happy to make a similar bass . . .

richbass939 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2005, 02:43:57 PM »

A while ago a club member (I don't remember who it was, a NYC session player, I think) said a few words about THE Paul Hofner. He said he knows Will Lee (who, last I heard, owns it). He said he has seen it, but didn't say whether or not he has played it. If you're out there reading I'd like to hear what you have to say about it.
Rich

bigideas · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2005, 03:06:28 PM »

if you go a bit further down the page from that guitar in Giffin's custom archive there is a short scale violin style bass.

flaxattack · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2005, 08:51:58 PM »

here is my old eko bass- circa 1965
it still sounds awesome
sometimes they are on ebay but its hard to find one with all original parts