Author Topic: Paul McCartney (Read 271 times)

rockbassist · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2005, 08:15:15 PM »

I'm not sure that he is playing the same old Hofner. He was on television recently saying that he paid $35 pounds for that bass in the early 1960's. I think that he has it hanging on a wall somewhere. Since then, he has had several made for him. If I had the original, I think that I would play it on occasion. Maybe record with it and then put it away. A good friend of mine has the Stratocaster that Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad wrote and recorded I'm Your Captain with. Mark gave it to him as a gift. We played a few gigs with it but now he hides it in his basement. Obviously, it's not the same as the legendary Hofner of Sir Paul but it is an important part of rock history.

jacko · « **Reply #16 on:** October 06, 2005, 03:01:42 AM »

According to an interview in this months Bass Player magazine, he has had the intonation issues with his first hofner 'sorted', playing it exclusively on the new album and only having his second hofner and his rickenbacker on stage as backups.

Graeme

borisspyder · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2005, 05:22:22 AM »

I don't know about McCartney's Hofner, but I've got one of Entwistle's last Status Buzzards. I play it frequently in the house but only gig with it twice a year: the anniversary of his death & the anniversary of his birth. When it's out of the house I NEVER put it down, not even for a second. It's frightening to think of losing something you can't replace.

j_gary · « **Reply #18 on:** October 06, 2005, 07:14:05 AM »

Hi Graeme, very interesting, sorted out. I bet he has no idea what, if anything, was done to that old battle stick. If I were his tech, ( does he even have one? ), I'd send the baby to Alembic to sort her out. On second thought, if that is indeed the Hofner on his new CD, I would not touch it. Damn this is posessed.

I've been trying to get my subscription to Bass Player fired up again, and having some difficulty. Anyone else having trouble? I'm ticked I missed the McCartney article. They must have heard me play and decided I'd be better off with Mop & Broom magazine.

ox_junior · « **Reply #19 on:** October 06, 2005, 10:04:14 AM »

The Hofner Paul plays now is the second one he purchased. His first Hofner he bought in '62 when he became the bassist of the group. This bass had the two pickups close to the neck and was stolen in the late 60's or early 70's, not sure what year (Paul can be seen playing it in the live TV performance of Revolution on the Anthology DVD). It was largely retired from service around the time the Beatles started to hit the charts.

The second Hofner, purchased in '63 and still played today, still has a setlist from the Beatles' last tour scotch-taped to the top of it.

Unless this bass has been painstakingly reproduced, down to the setlist, the one he plays on stage today is indeed the original.

I'm sure he still plays it because of its iconic status and the immediate identification with the Beatles that it brings to fans. Plus....I understand he simply LIKES the thing! It is nice and light and easy to play...if the thing can stay in tune.

What would I do with it?

Buy a nice house for my mom.

j_gary · « **Reply #20 on:** October 06, 2005, 02:05:47 PM »

Mike, I'm sure you are a nice son, but just a house? How about a Ferrari, tennis courts, bowling alley, a small country, three Alembics, a partridge and a pear tree? (Maybe she won't noticed you slipped in the Alembics)

borisspyder · « **Reply #21 on:** October 06, 2005, 02:49:32 PM »

In NYC & SoCal a million bucks buys an ok house...no Ferrari, Alembics, etc. Actually, since Claptons most famous Strat Blackiewent for $1MM, I'm guessing the Hofner is worth a lot more than that.

ox_junior · « **Reply #22 on:** October 06, 2005, 02:55:51 PM »

My mom lives in suburban Detroit, so the price of the Hofner might get her the cool pad plus a Ferrari, a pear tree (but perhaps not the partridge) and a couple more Alembics for her loving son.

jacko · « **Reply #23 on:** October 07, 2005, 12:38:25 AM »

Mike.
According to the BP article, the set list was removed so the bass could be 'restored' and the intonation issues resolved. I think this was fairly recently, must re-read the article.

Graeme

j_gary · « **Reply #24 on:** October 07, 2005, 06:25:32 AM »

Hi Graeme, I would love to know who did the work on his Hofner, if it says in the article. Seems to me this was not a bass to be restored but rather left as it was.

Mike, I fear now you may only be able to by Mom a house.

j_gary · « **Reply #25 on:** October 07, 2005, 06:52:15 AM »

Mike, by by I mean buy not by, bye bye. ( I'm a dope )

ox_junior · « **Reply #26 on:** October 07, 2005, 01:54:16 PM »

Wow...too bad they had to remove the setlist. I am sure Paul has enough quid to somehow reattach it, if it didn't fall apart on contact.

I can't recall the name of Paul's Guitar Master. Geoff something I think? Have to look.

J Gary, I think I got the jist of your message, by the by.

rockbassist · « **Reply #27 on:** October 07, 2005, 07:57:28 PM »

During a recent television interview Paul stated that the original had been stolen and that he bought another one (I believe in 1963). He stated that he did have the '63 bass refinished and mentioned the set list. He also said that he does not take it on the road. He had 2 basses made that were exact copies of the one he bought to replace the stolen bass and that the 63 never leaves his house. He did acknowledge his bass tech and admitted that he is the only person other than Sir Paul that touches the 63 Hofner. It really doesn't matter what he plays, He was great in concert and whether you like him or not he is not only one of the greatest bassists ever he is one of the greatest, song writers and one of the best performers ever. He admitted in concert that there was a point when it didn't matter what the Beatles did, people would have bought it. I hate to sound graphic or insult anybody but from the time that I was 10 years old I said that if The Beatles belched or farted into a microphone people would have bought it just because it was The Beatles. I can't think of any other band that can make that claim. Paul is not one of the best technical players ever but he is one of the best at playing what was right for the song. He did not over play and he rarely under played. He did what was necessary and he and Jonh Lennon complimented each other extremely well. I once heard Paul say that even though Ringo wasn't the best drummer from a technical standpoint, he was one of the best time keepers ever and that's what made him great. He was the right drummer at the right time. It's kind of hard to argue with success.

richbass939 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 07, 2005, 08:19:08 PM »

J gary, the BP article (October 2005) says that the intonation work was done in or around the early '90s by Mandolin Bros. in Staten Island. Since then the 1963 Hofner 500/1 has been Paul's main bass.
It mentions that he plays his main Hofner (with a newer Hofner and his 1965 Rick as backups) with his live band. The setlist was from their last live show in 1966. It was removed a few years ago to restore and preserve it.
Mike, Keith Smith is listed as Paul's technical manager for 16 years, and Paul's longtime personal assistant, John Hammell, helps Keith tend to the entire band's gear.
As far as the value of the Hofner, it could end up 50 years from now setting records in the big auction houses like Van Gogh's Irises or the like.
Rich

bigredbass · « **Reply #29 on:** October 07, 2005, 08:29:24 PM »

It may be in the DNA; his drummer's dad is the great Abraham Laboriel, the well-known LA session player, with his own signature bass built by James Tyler.

One day I'll post my homage to Sir Paul, surely one of the biggest in my small collection of BIG influences.

J o e y