Vintage Hofner 500/1 Beatle Bass, 1965

[RQBassist]

This guy sounds just like Bob Fossill from 'The Mighty Boosh' :L

[MackieMack14]

that's very true, dude. you should never sell your guitars. I sold my Midnight Wine Tele last year and I still miss it :(

[timmytumy1966]

You should narrate documentaries

[basssmaaan]

favourite!!.. definitely more cooler than the other..:D

[hofnerbass1000]

I mean 1

[hofnerbass1000]

I like the Beatle 11 best B-D

[ShadowDarkness51]

@cursedswordsman My uncle gave me his 4001 when I was 12. It was a christmas present. So technically I didn't purchase it. Though I'm still aiming to get a 4003. Hope this clears up your question.

[knight1oo6]

"rock on beatles man!" \m/

[ShadowDarkness51]

I've been sticking to a Rickenback since I was 12. Since I'm like 26 now, I've been deciding to buy a violin bass (the beatles one ) off of amazon. Is it worth buying?

[cursedswordsman]

@ShadowDarkness51 Uh, how did you afford a Rickenbacker when you were 12 o_O

[PeaceEagle72]

I have one, it is great i put some swing bass strings. it is Green.

[RelaxNplay64]

I like the older ones color WAY more cause it looks more like McCartney's

[AssHoleBandit]

it was an even pluck..you are a fool sir,

try plugging the basses in and then plucking them. you will find that the tone is nigh on the same.

The ct is a great bass the german is a overpriced great bass

[toobsockproductions]

i'm getting a black one for my birthday, cannot wait. i'm turning 15 and i hope i have it for as long as you

[MartinSoundLabs]

yeah, i'm really glad i've hung on to my 1968/69 500/1 i traded a Gibson Ripper for in 1980 in San Francisco.. i'm 46 so have had mine for about the same time. replaced the jack out of necessity (saved the original) but now the switches are buzzing abit, but what an incredible tone for recording.

[GTSBELOVER]

ive been saving up for two months for a vintage hofner 500/1 bass but its to much haha it has such a warm, fat sound and i love that if ne 1 is selling for under 1k id like it lol

[venomchaser88]

hey is it possible to remove the pickguard off the contemporary bass like you did with the original hofner...???

[CJbass420]

You know anything about the jack for the hofner, mine's fucked up the jack wont stay in place it falls inside the body, i think im missing a part that holds it in place, but im not sure, think you can help me out?

[eddiewarlord]

hahah you sound like rich out of snuff box, especially when you say the 80 qid part

[thebeatlesrockism]

i wanna get a hofner bass because its paul,s insterment

[jamesosman]

I've seen one in a second hand shop for £280 ($452) and I've just lept at it and I'm gonna get my hands on a hofner!!!!!!!!

[spikesagal]

It's a little scary how obvious the difference is in sound, even with a crappy YouTube sound compression, played on a laptop.

[StephenFiorentini]

Dw I believe it was an even pluck. Aww you are so lucky noone phoned to buy it

[korva010]

sorry but nice to say I'm korva010 an d I'm from holland.

[korva010]

Sir , the new bass I bought I'm very proud to posess such a hofner. And as I understand, all the parts are german but completed in china or indonesia? I try to get the sound as good as possible like the record, and I must say it's great! I'm playing in a band and also in the band it sounds great. I play for over 30 years now beatlemusic, and isn't it also true that there's another very important ( forgotten) fact that make's the sound? and isn.t that how you are playing?

[savage642]

i thought the 1961 and 1963 hofners were Beatle bass since it was the 1961 and 1963 hofners that Paul McCartney actually used while he was in The Beatles

[lordduckstraw]

@savage642 61 and 62 basses. Paul was given his 62 in 63, but comprising of 62 parts.

[BrianMorrison71]

You, haven't heard,  of the millennium, Falcon? She's, fast enough for you, old man....

[BandOnTheRun87]

no rickenbacker bass?

[CE750]

great Bass! I refuse to buy anything made in China, German, American or otherwise parts! I bought two Fender Custom Shop model Jazz basses over the years and my goal is a vintage model... no imported crap form Mexico etc..

[TheElectricSalad]

so fun to play

[georules0005]

I saw a Hofner 500/1 autographed from Paul McCartney for $75.00

[psychospeakempire]

I agree with you. Don't sell your guitars. I regretted every one I ever sold. I won't do it anymore. Great guitars. The old original is awesome. Good wood just keeps getting better, and sounding richer as time passes so I'm not surprised it sounds better. great post.

Paul

[keyblok]

$255?? I though it was more, because of the actual beatlemania..

[Mikanish]

the one on the left is an actual german made hofner? not some kind of knockoff of the original?

[JackCrofty]

yay 80 quid

[650Golf]

No ones gonna sell their höfner. But if u are, sell it to me :)

[Tyler18GoPhils]

haha 80 quid but I'm not english!

[NHurford1]

my favourite hofner bass is the 500/1 cavern bass

[Noise789]

it's so hard to believe that back in the 60's, a hofner was only 256! haha paul got his for 96 dollars. (: lucky son of a gun. ;P

[Noise789]

did the 65 come with a pickguard?

[05olieat]

you are the man bro

[MsBobohj]

im never sellin my hofner

[beatlesguitarcovers]

what string are on the contemporary?la bella beatle bass strings?

[LTLfilms]

the guitar store i live near fixed a problem in paul mccartney's Hofner viola bass  they have pictures and autographed shit there :)

[MsBobohj]

why do some hofners have pickguards cuz for bass u dont use picks unless its for a decoration

[MsBobohj]

i just got a hofner yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!



[animepwn3r]

gotta love that aged sound:P

[Peacefrog35]

The vintage one even has the tweed case too? Very nice man. That's one of the nicest 1965 s I've seen. I bet you are glad you didn't sell it.

[CheekySheepy]

The contemporary has more of a high pitch twang than the 500/1.

[Shancus32796]

I'd give anything for the one on the right!

[devilfish13977]

"Never sell guitars" :(

[saemikneu]

did you use the same strings? and which one did you choose to achieve McCartney sound?

[balianmachiavelli]

do you still have the pick guard

[steffenla4]

Wow! the difference in sound is just insane. Considering it's the same basic build and, I'm assuming, the same types of woods

[andantinowithaswager]

you can also tell the difference from the volume knobs

[meadowqueen]

Very cool! I have one too that I bought 2nd hand in the 1990s. I think it's from the 1980s but not too sure. It has the serial number on a sticker on the back but I haven't been able to trace it. It's got the "blade" pickups and black knobs. Of course I dig those teacup knobs yours has. Thank goodness no one called you on your original baby!

[SotR59]

This design looks cool but they neck dive like crazy. You basically have to hold the neck up while you play.

I have an early 60's Japanese copycat and although I love the bass and it has a great and unique tone I only play it sitting down.

Just something to consider if you're thinking about getting one.

[FlyingxBear]

Have you compared the '65 to the '62 or

'63 reissues? Was there still a large difference?

[Peacefrog35]

The reissues sound exactly like the vintage ones. They are made by hand in Germany in almost exactly the same way.

[nosecone33]

I'm saving up for a hofner violin bass.

Between yours, I liked the one on the left much better

[birdy47]

i would do ANYTHING to get a Hofner ive been obsessed with them for a while.

[Explorer766]

I'm selling the Contemporary on E Bay right now (2/7/10)...my seller name is Retroguy766...

[dudecool34]

didnt you say in your video dont sell guitars its not worth it?

[Explorer766]

This is true. I think mainly I'm going for vintage stuff now if I'm going to keep anything around. The contemp was great. If I buy it again I think I'll go for a color instead of the sunburst.

[NinjaDuck1337]

@birdy47 You can buy them from Guitar Center. They have them for around $770.

[bongskie34]

@birdy47 ..hey man how do you sell that beatle hofner base?...im a base player and i really interested to buy it..but can you give me a discount pls?..

[bongskie34]

@birdy47 ..how much is it?..can u give me discount pls?...thanks!

[Yvabien]

@birdy47 me too; it s totaly

insane!

[lukefenderrhodes]

@birdy47 the solid body hofner replicas give hofner a bad name for the same price a person can get a hollow body hofner from hofner my favorite bass

[speedking186]

i want it so bad to

[jenjenjojo12345]

MAN I WANT THOSE SO BADLY! Im such a big fan of the Beatles and Ive played the bass guitar since I was in 4th grade and I was 10. I currently have a Really small simple black Ibanez bass with the same genaric strings on it since I bought it 15 years ago (Im 25) and it has a terrible rattle that I just can't seem to fix!

[LennyDaMouse]

Try loosening the neck. If youre uncomfortable with doing it yourself get a professsinial to do it

[SONICDUDE1509]

you sound brittish

[mattisonlysleeping]

Really cool man.

[TheBeatleno5]

really cool! Rock On Man!

[FOSEEBOY]

Wait...I'm WRONG.....My TURSER BEATLE BASS looks alot PRETTIER THAN YOU FUCKING HOFNER COPY! Its got alot more red tones to the outline...AND AS I STATED....SOUNDS BETTER THAN THE HOFNER COPY! (TURSER GUITARS ROCK)

[viceisthename]

Okay?

[FOSEEBOY]

The JAY TURSUR BEATLE BASS IS A GRRREAT BASS GUITAR you cocky motherfucker! ( And it looks EXACTLY like your HOFNER CHINA COPY......AND it SOUNDS BETTER SUCKER.....

[hofnersinla]

Cool vid!

Ive had 50 of them ..long live MACCA and the 500/1!!!!

[barrydegooijer]

rock on!

[16vcoffin]

Awesome, I love stories like this. Nice collection.

[nosecone33]

i've been thinking about buying a hofner bass but alot of people are saying they don't sound good and arent worth it.

i still want one but do u think they're worth the $?

[thefoolonthehill474]

I think they are worth it yet Ive played a german made hofner and a chinese there almost exactly the same they both sound great and chinese is less then half the price

[hofnersinla]

chinese is shite in comparison!

[thefoolonthehill474]

well if you have a brand new german made they sound preety much the same yet if you have one made in 1962 it will sound much better than chinese

[hofnersinla]

thats what Im talking about.

ICON not to be mentioned in the same sentence with the REAL DEAL ; ).

[Peacefrog35]

@hofnersinla I agree with you 100% The contemporary can compete with the V62 and V63 reissues...only real difference other than the switches and tea cups that can easily be changed is the solid tone block. Great sounds

The ICON...I tried it..couldn't dig it  It sounded ok,but seemed cheap. THe Contemporary seemed on par with quality of the higher priced re-issues.

[dswarlus]

HERMOSO, ME GUSTARÍA TOCAR UNO

[Sacredxsin68]

What you see here...is a guy wanting to brag about two bass guitars that sound pretty damn similar o.O but w/e i guess you have bragging rights if you can get some of those

[fergt500]

THE BEATLES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 eva!!

[bilos1993]

Rock On dude!

Beatles 4 ever!

RIP John Lennon!

[ShardedFire]

ehh...it really depends on how your play it

give a noob an awp and he'll shoot himself

give a pro a scout and he'll pwn everyone

[alejandrostarr]

great video and great accent. loved it.. cheers!

[bono1000001]

only joking i have the first hof you show ...cool bass ...going to see paulie in dec in dublin ireland i cant wait

[bono1000001]

sell em all they are only guitars ...ha ha

[chacer28571]

that is some sexy shit right there.

why the hell did you sell the ibanez (pre-lawsuit)?

I would KILL for oneof those.

[Nick5379]

And all in sexy baritone :0

[Zevonfan524]

Does anyone know where I can locate a vintage Hofner Beatle Bass. Preferably '65 or older and about how much it will set me back?

[Zebonka]

Aside from the cool instruments, that's an awesome accent man.

[dbrowdie]

There is definitely a difference between A Hofner made in the 60's & one made today. The wood is different I think. I love the tone of my original 63' Hofner.

Rock on Beatles Bass!!!

[dbrowdie]

I will never get rid of my original 1963 Hofner Beatle bass. I love the tone + the way it plays. I almost had Beatle Paul sign it when I snuck back-stage during a sound check in 1990. I almost got arrested! It was worth it. I met Linda + she was awsome!

[beatlefan247]

you met paul and linda mccartney?

[dbrowdie]

Just Linda. She was really cool. I really need Macca to sign my 63' Hofner. Maybe one day huh??

[DarkZekeX]

dude O.o thats damn cool

[mrbassman25]

pity that they are known for tunning issues though. its always put me off... hofner basses today seem to be getting cheaper... ive considered getting one... but after reviews and hear say from previous owners ive been put off. i dont fancy retuning after every second song when playing live. lol

but they go for about £500 over here now

[vacuumboy13]

how much is a new hofnor bass?

[Ybanez893]

alot like 3 grand or more. the gay thing is paul bought his cuz it was cheap like 30 bucks. now theyre so much

[dbrowdie]

About thirteen hundred dollars. Maybe alittle less. Look online. I am sure you will find them.

[twinsmm1]

Hey Chritopher Walken plays bass! -who knew?

[phlizmo]

@twinsmm1 ??

[MrPagattack]

@twinsmm1 i thought he played electric guitar thats waynes world 2 fault

[zerobox94]

@twinsmm1 Lol I knew his voice sounded familiar!!

[keyblok]

@twinsmm1 I didn't :/

[BigEagles33]

You got an authentic vintage '65 for $250?!

[scottwillems]

When he was 14, hes 45 now.

[fantacist]

the 65 hofner sounds sexy.

[Noise789]

is that first one... "new one" an icon bass?

[Noise789]

oops so sorry... lol didn't read the info

[diamonddust22]

I love your basses, but your voice sounds like a character out of ElderScrolls 4..lol The guy who is drunk and sings Sky Racer. It's not an insult, I just can't get it out of my head when I hear your voice.

[Noise789]

very nice bass guitars my friend

[naejimba]

Ah hell.. that was night and day man. I'm really kind of chasing Paul's sound as a place to branch out from... and was thinking about getting a hofner. So the new ones you can buy are that bad? Also, the era I'm really looking to capture soundwise is the white album. Anyone know if Paul was using the hofner then or the Rickenbacker?

[argus525]

I think I heard stories that he used a Jazz bass on the White Album.

[spicbuddha]

yeah they have the hofner on musician's friend for 200 dollars, and they have the budget one for 400. I'm totally saving up for the 2000 dollar one.

[dbrowdie]

I have an original 63" Hofner. I wouldn't give it up for anything! There is nothing like it. It sounds great through my Ampeg SVT3-Pro all tube head.

[MindTheDrift]

You did right not to sell its/there beautiful!Saved of evry cent from my job on a construction site last summer and bought one,I love it and I dont agree with BROOKS39,The idea of the interchanging pick ups provide some very unique and characteristic sounds great for anything or even just messing around with the warm sound anyway

[Tintinvid]

there are two at my local guitar store ITS AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!

[Quader4x4]

you can still buy them reproduced made in Germany ... in Europe ^^ xDDD for about 2000 Euro

[deucesolo]

No doubt the true vintage Hofner's have a killer sound. We hired(rented) a vintage '62 during our Abbey Road sessions last year, incredible!

[BROOKS39]

The Hofner 500/1 bass is a classic case of been famous for been famous... Its like the Rickenbacker 325. Its only good for strumming away on Beatle tunes. Hopeless for anything else!!

[Breenyboy06]

I might be getting a Honfer Contempory Violin Bass just to start out, will it produce a good sound through a 600W cab?

[JP5466]

I have a 6 string Hofner violin guitar -great player! Tobacco sunburst. It has a built in fuzz and distortion (needs 9v batt) which sound fantastic! I bought this guitar for $150 bucks back in 1987... I still have it put away for a rainy day.

[FlatwoundProductions]

I'm 18 now (profesional musician), and among my guitar collection I have a Danelectro '63, which I was planning on selling...

You have just opened my eyes... I'm not selling it...

[peasmarsh]

....I like the Hofners...have a bunch meself!

[QVrat123]

i had no idea idea ibanez made les paul model guitars

your right dude thank god nobody called selling it for only 325 bucks prolly would have made you wanna kik your own ass, i wouldnt have the heart to sell it for any price really thats a real jewel you got their

[DayTripperLennon]

dude that was an awesome video! How much would that '65 go for today?

[gus23a]

@DayTripperLennon

if its an original ´65, built in ´65,like this one, 2000-4000 €, if its a new one (´65 reissue) 1500-1600 €.

but its only worth, what people are willing to pay.

hope that helps.

[starofthewesttuba]

plus, the ct has a sustain block so it's gonna sound different

[starofthewesttuba]

i like the older finish better than the sunburst

[dbrowdie]

I agree with you 100%

[ogreboy608]

Just like Ike Eisenhower or Jack Kennedy or

[GTM57]

Hi Explorer766....I for one appreciate everything you just said & showed. I happen to own a 1965 Hofner 500/1 lefty bass that i've had now for 30yrs. I too have compared the newer Hofners, but the sound just isn't the same so hang on to what you got and keep on rockin!

[JJLumbers]

the one on the right is the one that mccartney used.

[TeddyboyEd]

1:05 ''Awsome"

[Virpatrick]

Yes, Höfner made 6 string violin guitars.

[WilburyVision]

I'm the same age as you, and in 1977 I was in York, Northern England with my parents, and spotted a mid sixties Hofner violin 6 string guitar, for £50. Sadly, it seemed too much money for me at the time, so I didn't buy it, a decision I have regretted at leisure! I have never seen another one like it - wonder whether it was a personal conversion to a six string guitar - anyone know?!

[Explorer766]

yes, I'm quite sure that Hofner made 6 string violin body guitars You can confirm or dent at the Hofner website. Thanks for the story.

[HippyShake9]

for all of those guitars at that price, god it's a miracle nobody called...... I would have! xD

[paulosanchez29]

Great video man! I've been toying around with the idea of buying the Icon but I know I'll never be content until I get the real deal. I'm gonna have to wait a little longer but you've inspired me, thanx

[58boy]

Great wee video, Great story. Nearly fell off my seat laughing. Thank goodness no-one called right enough ! Rock on The Beatles !!!

[PrinceLornie]

Rock on mate...To The Beatles and to Sir Paul McCartney!!!

[GibsonKLO]

Are you a collector or are you just a guy which love guitars and instruments?

Peace from a guitar lover;)

[Explorer766]

I like to buy guitars, own them for awhile and sell them. The only keepers are the few I had when I was a kid.  It's a fun hobby.

[WannaBeatle]

ha! that's cool. ya can certainly tell that you love your ol' Hof to death. I almost bought a '65 about 18 or so years back, but it was super duper expensive (at the time it was) but, I found an '82 for super duper cheap that same year.

I know how it is, once ya fall in love with a Hofner, it's for life...treat her gently, son ;)

[captainflush1971]

hey dude what strings do you have on these babies flatwound or roundwound very twangy sound is it possible to do another video comparing sound but plugged into an amplifier by your way is good to because you can tell the differnce in the timber of the guitar anyway if you could do another video show the two via a bass amp that would be awsome

[Explorer766]

They're flatwound Thomastik Infelds. Flatwounds are the only way to go for a Hofner 500/1, trust me.  That's a great idea for a plugged in video. I'll try to do that soon.

[cjorata]

Ok ... but this is nothing new ... i can't expect that a 400/500 $ bass sounds like a vintage 2000 $ bass ... for what i hear here on youtube, icon are a good compromise for sound and price ...

[XB0XFR34K]

hey i have a hofner but its not a beatle bass

its a classical guitar i didnt even know they made basses!

oh its a hofner hf 17

[GooglelyTube]

Nice vid. I've got a '67 501 (with the blade pups) & I too am the original owner. Dad owned a music store and I worked all summer for it. He surprised me with a '68 Fender Bassman amp (Beatles Rooftop Model) as well. And like you, I too was a fool - I sold the amp! Dang it! But still have my beloved 501 "Mac".

[Explorer766]

awesome, thanks for the story. make a video!

[happysexytime]

i wanna buy the 1965 one how much ?

[Explorer766]

sorry, I'll going to my grave with that guitar.

[bongoboy8]

i wish they were still £80 quid. now the contemporary costs about 370 quid

[jprg1966]

1:40-1:46 -- that's why I can't bring myself to get the Hofner Icon.

[happysexytime]

what do u mean

[jprg1966]

The bass on the left -- the real deal -- sounds so much fuller and richer than the Icon.

[greenpoo69]

i called the number and it was some spanish woman

[HofnerBass63]

I agree with you 100% Rock on and Rock Out!!

JPMac

[frenchytouch]

nice story :)

[shakey64]

Rock on Beatles. Nice bass's.