McCartney's Hofner

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:39 am

While watching Paul play this week I noticed that he tipped the Hofner up so that he could see the fingerboard before the start of a song. It makes me wonder if the side position markers are either gone or worn to the point where they can't be seen easily.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 3:34 am

I have side dots and still do this occasionally, even after 40 years of playing. And I ain't nearly as inventive as McCartney is. Probably just a habit.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:45 am

The new issue of Bass Player has a nice little piece on his Hofner. It explains what happened to his Beatle playlist, and some of the work that had been done recently.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:32 am

Was it Penny Lane by any chance? He did the same thing on the Live In Red Square DVD, and that's the only song I remember him doing that for. That might also be the only song he begins with the bass at the upper registers though...

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 3:13 am

Yeah, Penny Lane was one of them but there were a couple more. I think the Hofner's side markers start at the 5th fret, I could be wrong.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 4:19 am

He needs this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/FRETFX-for-4-5-6-7-8-12-string-Guitar-Bass-Fretless_W0QQitemZ7354609481

hozy · Post by **hozy** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:12 am

Do they all have markers on them?

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 6:58 am

My Alembic has LED's for position markers. Cool!

britye · Post by **britye** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 1:59 pm

now I know how to decorate for Christmas this year. LOL

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:21 am

My Hofner doesn't have side dots.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:51 am

IIRC the Hofners with unbound fretboards don't have side dots, at least not from the factory.

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:23 am

That could be the problem,,,,no dots!!!!!! How the hell can he play that thang?

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:48 pm

Side dots are OK when you're starting out, but I think they are unnecessary after you've played a while. I'm sure Paul feels comfortable with the Hofner but wanted to make usre he didn't start the song in the wrong key. Did he ever look at his guitar positions? I do occasionally glance at my frets if I'm doing a new song but it's usually only to grab an initial position. Dots are practically useless if you're singing, too. Playing becomes second nature to almost everyone. After 40 years, I'm pretty much on automatic pilot. I can also tell where I am on the neck just by how my left hand feels. And of course I have ears as well. Now, fretless would kill me without side dots.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:50 pm

Habit.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:22 am

Yesssssssssssss, my precious! Oh, sorry ... that's hobbit.