4001s vs The Hofner

[bigbajo60]

Having a Hofner bass wasn't ever a serious consideration until I saw these two videos (one of which is that 'funky' Chris Wood selection):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5TB-6VXenA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgyHqJ4U1UE

[Medicus1963]

Hi all,

who can ever say the violinbass is a joke or a toy after having seen these videos.
If you like the bass, play it. If you do not, leave it. It is quite that simple.
By the way, i too think the Rickenbacker is a great bass !

Peter

[grenadilla]

I have two 4003 basses and most of the time they sound better on recordings. They are not too bassey. I also have a Hofner CT 500/1 and those 'buckers get a ton of bass. I learned to set the EQ with just the bridge pickup (add bass and cut the mids some at 300-500 hZ). Then turn up the neck pickup to add fatness. I use a pick on roundwounds . Paul probably uses flatwounds and only the neck pickup . More bite would help him reach "Penny Lane".-my $0.02 .

[woodyng]

I pretty much dislike any short scale,trapezed,floating bridge basses....and like what a lot of people say about Ric basses,i just don't enjoy the feel of Hofners. It certainly sounds good in Macca's hands. Did anyone see him playing the Hoffie on "for the benefit of Mr Kite" on Colbert Report a few monthes ago? It sounded fab.

[DrRick]

If you wanna make sure you cover all the Beatles basses don't forget Stu's Hofner 500/5!

I have all 3... a "c64", a "Vintage 62" and the 500/5 Contemporary.

All excellent in different ways, I've only had the German hofner for 3 days though! Before that I had the Ignition, which was very good for a very cheap bass. Would really recommend the Contemporary version of the 500/5 though... Like a small acoustic bass that happens to have pickups.

However, all that said... The Rick is the best to play by a country mile

[Ashgray]

I don't think it's a case of Rickenbacker vs Hofner - more a case of "horses for courses". Without wishing to compare myself in any way to Sir Paul, when I'm writing a song or working out a cover, the first thing I think of from a bass player's perspective is - what sound best suits this song?

I'm sure McCartney did the same, as most musicians do - choose a bass with a sound that best suits the soundscape you're aiming to achieve in the song. There are some Beatles songs, particularly early ones, where I cannot imagine a Rick fitting well within the overall sound, and others where it's just perfect.

Ash

[teb]

I really love my Hofner V63. It will do things and make sounds that my other five basses can't - just as they can do things the Hofner can't do. I probably wouldn't want it as my only bass, the same way I wouldn't want my Pedulla Buzz or Hagstrom 8-string to be my only bass, but it is a pretty good choice as a general purpose good bass sound for the stuff I record, and always worth giving a try when figuring out what sound I want on a particular tune. If I have a song where I think I want the bass sound to be kind of a woody, thumpy tone (especially with some up-the-neck accents thrown in) it's the first thing I pull off the wall.

Bass samples, in order - Kala fretless U-bass (rubber strings), Fretless Frankenstein Gibson LP (tape-wound flats), Rickenbacker 2030 (half-rounds), Hagstrom 8-string (TI Jazz Flats), Pedulla Buzz Fretless (rounds), Hofner V63 (TI Jazz Flats).

http://webpages.charter.net/tbradshaw/M ... amples.mp3

[cassius987]

That's not the one I heard him do at MMW concert in Denver but I'm glad to hear a version of that song where Chris is playing the Hofner too. Great tone. The first video sounds just like my dad's faker.

[Kiddwad57]

Paul has mentioned that he is proud of the fact that people identify the Hofner with him, and has said that the Hofner is very light and comfortable to play and that he likes the sound. Those all seem like good reasons. Of course he has also said that he bought them because they were cheap and that it was embarrassing when the intonation went sour as he played up the neck. His technician has apparently gotten that resolved. I love the picture on the "Mersey Beat Poll Winners" with the Beatles in leather holding three of their iconic guitars, and, in my opinion, McCartney looks great with the violin bass.

I had a Hofner for about a year and loved the tone, the construction, especially the beautiful spruce top and flamed sides and back. On the other hand, I had moved from a Precision to the Hofner and the close string spacing just didn't work out. My Hofner needs are now met by an acoustic archtop - same aesthetics in a super playable guitar.

Rickenbackers are great basses that play, sound and look fantastic. Another of my favorite Beatles photos is in the Magical Mystery Tour album cover when they are miming to I Am the Walrus.

P.S. Thanks for this forum, it's been a long year and tuning into this Rickenbacker world from time to time has made things much easier!

[Chris P]

The Ignition Series (or Icon B for a while) are really entry level instruments. Okay, but cheap. The Contemporary Series are much better and more like the real deal, although they have a center block. Still very very light. they have the right pickups and so, only the controls are like a Fender J. But great basses. I have a Club and a Verythin and i tried several others like the Stu Sutcliffe President (great) and a 500/1. The last one now is also available with Cavern spacing, so with the pickups close together.

Completely different animal than a 4001.

[Chris P]

BTW: here's Flea playing a 500/1. Yep. Flea. Really!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krMqqipGftQ

[rictified]

Paul has mentioned that he is proud of the fact that people identify the Hofner with him, and has said that the Hofner is very light and comfortable to play and that he likes the sound. Those all seem like good reasons. Of course he has also said that he bought them because they were cheap and that it was embarrassing when the intonation went sour as he played up the neck. His technician has apparently gotten that resolved. I love the picture on the "Mersey Beat Poll Winners" with the Beatles in leather holding three of their iconic guitars, and, in my opinion, McCartney looks great with the violin bass.

I had a Hofner for about a year and loved the tone, the construction, especially the beautiful spruce top and flamed sides and back. On the other hand, I had moved from a Precision to the Hofner and the close string spacing just didn't work out. My Hofner needs are now met by an acoustic archtop - same aesthetics in a super playable guitar.

Rickenbackers are great basses that play, sound and look fantastic. Another of my favorite Beatles photos is in the Magical Mystery Tour album cover when they are miming to I Am the Walrus.

P.S. Thanks for this forum, it's been a long year and tuning into this Rickenbacker world from time to time has made things much easier!

I also went from a Precision to a Hofner years ago and it felt like a toy to me (went right back to the P). McCartney gets a good sound out of it nowadays thanks to great PA's with great EQ's. I saw him during the early 90's and it didn't sound very good was kind of thuddy and mushy, some basses sound good right out of the box and some take a lot of EQ and I think a Hofner falls into the latter catagory. That being said I would like another one but not at the prices they are charging for them nowadays.

[coolingitdown]

Paul probably uses flatwounds and only the neck pickup.

I think he actually uses roundwounds these days. When I saw him live I could hear finger noise on the strings when he would run his fingers over the strings between songs. I wouldn't be surprised to find out his tech put them on to get his tone to cut through better, and, not being terribly picky about his gear, Paul probably just went with it.

You have to remember, this is the man who, when asked what kind of strings he preferred, replied, "long shiny ones."

[daveman]

The Ignition Series (or Icon B for a while) are really entry level instruments. Okay, but cheap. The Contemporary Series are much better and more like the real deal, although they have a center block. Still very very light.

I tried all three price levels of the Hofner violin bass and surprised myself by buying the Ignition. I think it sounds and feels closer to the German model than the Contemporary. It did need some work on the frets - they were not well-leveled - and the finish is not quite as nice. But I'm happy with it.

For me, the Hofner works for mainstream jazz (i.e., not fusion), acoustic guitar duo gigs, and reggae (yes!). Not on rock gigs - the notes lack definition in that context and there's too much low end.

It can be strange switching from a "normal" solid-body full-scale bass to the Hofner - it feels fragile and tiny - but it's a lot of fun to play.

[rictified]

Paul probably uses flatwounds and only the neck pickup.

I think he actually uses roundwounds these days. When I saw him live I could hear finger noise on the strings when he would run his fingers over the strings between songs. I wouldn't be surprised to find out his tech put them on to get his tone to cut through better, and, not being terribly picky about his gear, Paul probably just went with it.

You have to remember, this is the man who, when asked what kind of strings he preferred, replied, "long shiny ones."

You might have a point because his sound on the Hofner nowadays is a lot better than it used to be.