Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm considering a McCartney Hofner clone since I can't afford the real deal. I've narrowed my choices down to Epiphone or Jay Turser, I think. Does anyone own either of these or could recommend a good, quality replica to capture the Macca Beatles sound without breaking the bank?? Any advise would be appreciated.

Hi,

My music buddy, who plays the Bass with me, recently bought one of those Rogue Basses, which are essentially a knock off of the Hofner. Now he's big time into Beatles, like me, and it has a great Beatle's bass sound. Kind of boomy in the right frequencies. And it has a pretty good fit and finish considering he paid around $279.

We've jammed playing beatles stuff and even did a bit of recording for fun and it's probably the cheapest way to get that sound.

Welcome to The Rickenbacker Forum Mutato. If you like the Beatles, you will have a great time here.

I have the Rogue my self & I think it's every bit as good as the real deal save for the fact that it's plywood. The Jay Turser is the same bass - comes from the same factory in China. Rogue is the Musician's Friend house brand. It's on sale now for $199: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/508160/

I play bass in a Beatles trib band. I used to play an Epi Viola bass. It was well built had a good tone once I put flats on, sounded bad with the factory rounds. Very solid feeling for a hollowbody. I have played a Hofner for the past six years now and there is no comparision in tone. The Hofner is in a class by itself as far as tone goes. I was very surprised when I first got it. But....for the money, the Epi is hard to beat. Good action, good tuners(better than the Hofner), nice finish. Unless you're going to be in a trib band the Epi will suit you just fine. Just buy some flats when you get one.

I agree, I heard an Epi Viola played live earlier this year, sounded good but don't kid yourself, only a Hofner nails the Hofner tone.

Ten days ago a saw a Beatles tribute band up in Austin and the bassist was playing a Hofner in the first set (Ric in the second). No mistaking that Hofner tone, he had it right on.

I think his name was Ronn, or something like that...

Great photo Dave. Thanks for taking the time to post it here.

Just what is it that gives the Hofner this booming sound. I jam with a guy who uses his Hofner almost exclusively, and he has a Rickebacker 4001.

I still prefer the Rickenbacker tone as it seems to have more definition. The Hofner is somewhat muddier. What are your thoughts on this?

If I may...having played both, yes the Hofner has a muddier tone, but that can be used to your advantage, as it sounds like a natural overdrive of sorts...I think that came across on a lot of early Beatle records. Doesn't it appear that Mac tried to get close to the same tone when he started using his Rick?

P.S. in the '80's I played a '60's Crown violin bass. Played nice, but can't compare it to a hofner sound.

That's Ronn Roberts

Exactly right Jaymi. I suspect that Dave was having a little fun with us.

Ah, yes, that gig was a couple weeks ago. I think the temp was only 98degrees. Dave appeared to have fun at the show too, too bad no photos with the Ric

I tried to get Ric photos but it was getting dark by the time the second set got going, my camera's LCD screen had already gone out (permanently) and I just couldn't see through the tiny viewfinder in the low light.

Ronn's 4003 did have more definition, of course.

I think the small enclosed body and the bridge design contribute a lot to the Hofner's boomy low-mids, but the Hofner pickups have a lot to do with it too. The mini-humbuckers found on the clones aren't bad but they just don't sound the same.

The (passive) circuitry on the Hofner is the key to its boomy tone, methinks.

Yes, it's the BASS ON position.
This gives the rich deep, but not too muddy tone.
It is the Hofner neck pickup (approx. 4H inductivity) and in parallel a series connection of a 47nF capacitor with a small resistor.
To emulate it on a Rickenbacker bass (with a pick up inductivity of 2-2.5 Henrys), try to
double the 47nf capacitor or change it to 0.1 microfarad (neck pu tone pot), using only the neck pu and turn down
the neck tone pot ALMOST to the cut position. You may turn down the volume pot a bit, too.
This may give a similar rich, deep sound, but not muddy, as it may sound if you turn the treble pot completely down. I have not tried this, I have no Rickenbacker bass.
But I played a Hofner in the late seventies, then
brushed it white and eventually gave it away to a friend.