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jersey · Feb 6, 2005, 07:26 PM

during the old super bowl half-time?

Anyone know? My GF now wants whatever it is, and I bet it's real expensive.

Thanks,

-j

PurpleGiant · Feb 6, 2005, 07:31 PM

pity we don't have anyone related to him around here....

Silky Voice of The Gorn · Feb 6, 2005, 07:34 PM

It's a Hofner bass.

http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar...hof_basses.htm

selowitch · Feb 6, 2005, 07:41 PM

Originally posted by Silky Voice of The Gorn:
It's a Hofner bass.

http://www.edromanguitars.com/guitar...hof_basses.htm

You beat me to it. Yup, it's a Hofner indeed. Probably one of his original ones that he played when the Beatles were together. Cool. McCartney is one of the most influential bass players ever.

sugar_coated · Feb 6, 2005, 07:50 PM

Sure looked like a Hofner! Vintage man playing a vintage guitar!

jersey · Feb 6, 2005, 08:01 PM

you guys rule.

thanks.

my gf thanks you as well.

-j

DeathMan · Feb 6, 2005, 08:16 PM

Originally posted by jersey:
you guys rule.

thanks.

my gf thanks you as well.

-j

PIXPLZTHX

jersey · Feb 6, 2005, 11:40 PM

SND DIGICAM PLZ THX.

MilkmanDan · Feb 6, 2005, 11:47 PM

An electronic one.

nath · Feb 7, 2005, 04:33 AM

Originally posted by jersey:
during the old super bowl half-time?

Anyone know? My GF now wants whatever it is, and I bet it's real expensive.

Thanks,

-j

It's a Hofner viola bass.

They were actually very cheap and nasty when he first started using them with the Beatles, supposedly because they were light, easy to tour with and easily replaced when destroyed by rampaging Beatle groupies, etc.

As far as I know he still only uses them for live performance, but these days has them custom-built at great expense, so now they probably even sound good.

As far as sound goes, generally they're really not great guitars and drop out of tune very easily. I think his usual preference in the studio these days is for a 5 string Wal, which naturally confuses the hell out of anyone listening to his records for 'that trademark viola bass'....

Randman · Feb 7, 2005, 04:44 AM

nath · Feb 7, 2005, 05:14 AM

Originally posted by Randman:

living proof that true inspiration is fleeting.

RAILhead · Feb 7, 2005, 06:10 AM

They're only around $2000 -- not too expensive for a "pro" bass. HOWEVER, this bass is only that expensive because of the Beatles. If you're going to spend that much money, get a Rickenbacker. The Hofner seems of thin out too much in the upper register, so if you do a lot of scale walking, you aren't going to get a great consistency in sound.

Of course, you could replace the pickups and that would help -- but the issue is really more with the body than anything.

Maury's 2�

AssassyN · Feb 7, 2005, 06:40 AM

The best part is he's left handed like me

nath · Feb 7, 2005, 06:45 AM

Originally posted by AssassyN:
The best part is he's left handed like me

There is actually a slight mystery as to how he was able to acquire a left-handed viola bass in Hamburg in 1961.

Probably customised it himself I suppose, though I'm not sure how easy that would have been!

selowitch · Feb 7, 2005, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by RAILhead:
They're only around $2000 -- not too expensive for a "pro" bass. HOWEVER, this bass is only that expensive because of the Beatles. If you're going to spend that much money, get a Rickenbacker. The Hofner seems of thin out too much in the upper register, so if you do a lot of scale walking, you aren't going to get a great consistency in sound.

Definitely. I'm a Fender man myself (I have a J-Bass that I just love) but you're right that the Rick is a terrific instrument as well. Hofner? I'll pass.

Randman · Feb 7, 2005, 07:15 AM

Originally posted by nath:
There is actually a slight mystery as to how he was able to acquire a left-handed viola bass in Hamburg in 1961.

Probably customised it himself I suppose, though I'm not sure how easy that would have been!

I thought he played a rightie but backward. Or upside down, or however the orientation would be. Didn't he simply string the guitar in the opposite direction?

chris v · Feb 7, 2005, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by RAILhead:
They're only around $2000 -- not too expensive for a "pro" bass. HOWEVER, this bass is only that expensive because of the Beatles. If you're going to spend that much money, get a Rickenbacker. The Hofner seems of thin out too much in the upper register, so if you do a lot of scale walking, you aren't going to get a great consistency in sound.

Of course, you could replace the pickups and that would help -- but the issue is really more with the body than anything.

Maury's 2�

I played a Rickenbacker for about 3 years. It had an absolute slab of a neck. Never could get used to how huge it was. Sold it and never looked back. I especially wouldn't reccomend one for a girl, who is likely to have smaller hands. If you go fender, look at the Jazz basses-- slightly thinner neck than a Precision.

Hofners are kinda weird sounding because of the hollow body. I've never liked hollow-bodied bases.

RAILhead · Feb 7, 2005, 07:31 AM

Originally posted by chris v:
I played a Rickenbacker for about 3 years. It had an absolute slab of a neck. Never could get used to how huge it was. Sold it and never looked back. I especially wouldn't recommend one for a girl, who is likely to have smaller hands. If you go fender, look at the Jazz basses-- slightly thinner neck than a Precision.

Hofners are kinda weird sounding because of the hollow body. I've never liked hollow-bodied bases.

True, old Rick did have wide necks -- but they offer two different widths now (and I have an octave plus four thumb to pinky span, so the original Rick neck was comfortable).

I've been playing a Peavy Fury -- the original -- for about 20 years, and as ugly and cheap as it is, I've hopped it up with so much custom electronics, I'm having a hard time parting with it. As for Fender, I love their amps, but I just can't stand the way they look: "dorky" is the only word that comes to mind.

As far as looks go, I'm still fond of the way the Schecter's look:

And of course, the Gibson Tobias is one sweet bass:

Maury

Sherwin · Feb 7, 2005, 07:33 AM

Originally posted by chris v:
I played a Rickenbacker for about 3 years. It had an absolute slab of a neck. Never could get used to how huge it was. Sold it and never looked back. I especially wouldn't reccomend one for a girl, who is likely to have smaller hands. If you go fender, look at the Jazz basses-- slightly thinner neck than a Precision.

Hofners are kinda weird sounding because of the hollow body. I've never liked hollow-bodied bases.

I used a Rick for a while, didn't like it.
A Steinberger M (the one with the body) was pretty much the best bass I've ever played - sweet things.

Mafia · Feb 7, 2005, 07:34 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
I thought he played a rightie but backward. Or upside down, or however the orientation would be. Didn't he simply string the guitar in the opposite direction?

i thought this is what he did also.

RAILhead · Feb 7, 2005, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
I thought he played a rightie but backward. Or upside down, or however the orientation would be. Didn't he simply string the guitar in the opposite direction?

If you did that, the input jack and controls would be on top.

Maury

Mafia · Feb 7, 2005, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by RAILhead:
If you did that, the input jack and controls would be on top.

Maury

edit. now that i look at it i don't see any knobs or inputs.

double edit. looks like your right maury if it were reversed the pick guard would be on top also.

http://www.maitea.com/fotos/beatles/beatles-10.jpg

nath · 10:11 AM

Originally posted by Mafia:
edit. now that i look at it i don't see any knobs or inputs.

double edit. looks like your right maury if it were reversed the pick guard would be on top also.

http://www.maitea.com/fotos/beatles/beatles-10.jpg

He had two originally for use with the Beatles...both were modded by him with the possible help of Pete Best to make them 'proper' left handers (including moving the pick guards etc). Once the Beatles made it around 63/4, Hofner started making him special ones.

I think he still has one of the two originals but for obvious reasons it's not the one he takes out on tour. It's probably worth more than a Stradivarius....

edit: that pic is from Help (65), so almost certainly a Hofner custom job.

2nd edit: McCartney only really started using the Hofner regularly again in the late Eighties. He was working with Elvis Costello, who enquired after it, which in turn led McCartney to finally get the tuning issue resolved so it was a practical touring instrument.

god i love the beatles

Randman · Feb 7, 2005, 10:18 AM

Super Bowl XXXIX half-time star Paul McCartney is such a veggie he won't have any animal products anywhere near him according to the BOSTON HERALD.

This means that at his press conference at the Jacksonville convention center the other day, all the leather had to be cleared out of the room. The football he was toting was foam, not pigskin.

Paul's room at the ritzy Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island was also leather and animal-product free and his Super Bowl menu included: a wild-mushroom salad with fresh herb dressing; creamy tofu hummus; black bean and corn salad; fried green tomatoes with roasted peppers; marinated grilled tofu steaks with fresh tomato and red onion salsa; an eggplant casserole with shredded vegan cheese; brown rice and baby organic veggies. There was organic fruit with sweet soy yogurt for dessert.