Hofner Education

[T.A.R.]

Thanks for the input guys especially the clips, that really fed the HAS. I was pretty amazed by the tone of the KALA actually not a dog in any of those clips, Thanks Todd! The club bass would be like finding hens teeth but if one comes along that may just feed my desire for a Hofner.

[JakeK]

I'm pretty much in the same field and agree that a Club is the best way to go. It has the sound of the Beatle, but is much more practical when sitting.

[sloop_john_b]

I'm pretty much in the same field and agree that a Club is the best way to go. It has the sound of the Beatle, but is much more practical when sitting.

I can't say I notice much difference there. My comments are in regards to getting 100% of the tone without looking like a wannabe Sir Paul.

I had to have a Hofner after hearing "Handshake Drugs".

[Ivan3000]

I've never played a club, so can anyone chime in about how the neck compares to a 500/1?
My problem with the club, is that it as a cutaway, I've never been a fan of the single cutaway. Its not symmetrical.

[iiipopes]

It's the same instrument but for the difference in body shape.

[teb]

I can't say I buy into the proposed problem of sitting while playing the Beatle body Hofners (at least the German ones). I pay and record mine that way all the time. True, if you don't hold onto it, it will neck-dive, but it's pretty hard to play bass without touching it and they're so light that just your picking arm resting naturally against the body will hold it in position with no additional effort. I think you would be quite safe to buy whichever body style you like the looks of best. Once you start playing it, you won't even think about it.

Notice the snappy dress and perfect playing posture. Luckily, it was on a radio show.

[Ivan3000]

I couldn't disagree more with the sitting down thing. The hofner is an extremely easy instrument to sit and play. It rests on your leg perfectly.

[antipodean]

I find the body shape and string positioning on the 500/1 really uncomfortable when sitting - I prefer a traditional body shape that gives a feeling of security (as the concave section fits snugly on my leg) and find that a higher string placement (relative to my legs) makes a bass easier to play when I'm seated. I've used the Hofner when seated at a couple of gigs and quickly reverted to standing as the comfort issues distracted me. In any case, if I feel like I need to sit for a gig, the advantage of lightness that a Hofner offers goes out the window.

[jps]

Play with a strap while seated, it should make things more comfortable.

[Coach]

I've only had two basses I like playing sitting down. The Hofner and a Vox Sindwinder that I really wish I had not sold, pretzel neck and all.

-Harry

[DavyR]

Good to see some Hofner talk here. I have three German Hofners. My 2008 5000/1 Deluxe seems to weigh more that my other two older 500/1's. I've favored round wounds for 20 years now after 20 years of flats, nylon & ground rounds. I do not like the Icon/B-Series. Yuk! IMO, they have NOTHING to with with a German Hofner. They are two very different basses. However, the CT does come closer, except for the center block.

[Ivan3000]

Good to see some Hofner talk here. I have three German Hofners. My 2008 5000/1 Deluxe seems to weigh more that my other two older 500/1's. I've favored round wounds for 20 years now after 20 years of flats, nylon & ground rounds. I do not like the Icon/B-Series. Yuk! IMO, they have NOTHING to with with a German Hofner. They are two very different basses. However, the CT does come closer, except for the center block.

Out of the box, the icon isn't very good, but with some changes it can get pretty nice!

[ilan]

I had to have a Hofner after hearing "Handshake Drugs".

Great playing and sound.