Query failed: connection to localhost:9312 failed (errno=111, msg=Connection refused). Thoughts on this 64 Hofner Violin bass? - Bass Discussions on The Fretboard
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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Thoughts on this 64 Hofner Violin bass?

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  • UnclePsychosisUnclePsychosis Frets: 12324
    I think it looks like a nice bass, but I could never own one I think. The Paul McCartney association is a bit too much for me - I like the Beatles but playing such an obviously unique/unusual instrument so famously associated with one person is too much for me. 

    It is beautiful though. 
    My trading feedback
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  • streethawkstreethawk Frets: 1628
    UnclePsychosis said:
    I think it looks like a nice bass, but I could never own one I think. The Paul McCartney association is a bit too much for me - I like the Beatles but playing such an obviously unique/unusual instrument so famously associated with one person is too much for me. 

    It is beautiful though. 
    Indeed. Fortunately I also like Tame Impala.  =)
    Would only be used for recording anyway. Scratch an itch and all that.

    Done some research and looks kosher enough. 
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  • OilCityPickupsOilCityPickups Frets: 7616
    tFB Trader
    streethawk said:
    Putting all vintage guitar, sight-unseen caveats aside. What do you make of this? 
    He's selling a 62 for double that. Such are the vagaries of collectability. 


    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144860764772?hash=item21ba5fda64:g:AqQAAOSwmQdjoGZl&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAsM6OuZtANAmlrP+iAB8lQMm48WBLOQ6zFsByq06ZNQLGoDg1CqyDhxfxhaN9/EdklCCm35vQmYguI+PW9NW23KX0f8dVOD45RAZ7THQKSXHEWIdOK6RMQvP6lGwDdFQ9LfIRBOUv9+BWW7GP0ciVChHjqO2lajyZaAbwZd1ejhwGx1CcA1nSzgiErKjUSsdXg1INZCbYNkn+d3j6W/6pZmXTHgiVwiWSePO27LJ9oB9Z|tkp:Bk9SR_bfypSxYQ
    If the pickups haven't been rewound a. it will be a miracle and b. whoever buys it will have that bill to look forward to ... unless they just stick it in a glass case and don't even breathe on it. 
    Professional pickup winder, horse-testpilot and recovering Chocolate Hobnob addict.
    Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups  ... Oil City Blog

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  • JezWyndJezWynd Frets: 5837
    Once in a blue moon you come across one of these basses that hasn't and doesn't need a neck reset.

    I would query the no neck reset, looks as if it might have had one judging by the lacquer touchup(?) around the neck join. I don't think I've ever seen one in that good condition, the lacquer usually has cracks so it must have been stored very carefully if it's all genuine.
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  • streethawkstreethawk Frets: 1628
    edited January 2023
    If the pickups haven't been rewound a. it will be a miracle and b. whoever buys it will have that bill to look forward to ... unless they just stick it in a glass case and don't even breathe on it. 
    Give me a reason to dust off the cnc winder I bought and barely used.  s

    The neck joint wear is hard to make out. I might ask him about it. Really on the fence.
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  • ReggaebassReggaebass Frets: 54
    I don’t know much about those, I’m more of a vintage fender fan, these all original basses are becoming very collectible and imo a nice thing to own and play, if it’s what you’re looking for and you don’t mind spending the money I think it’s worth a cheeky offer 
    Riddim up
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  • streethawkstreethawk Frets: 1628
    Passed on it in the end. 
    Seller is willing to knock a few hundred off though, if anybody else is interested. Looks a pretty good deal if you're close enough to go and view it. 
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    OilCityPickups said:

    If the pickups haven't been rewound a. it will be a miracle and b. whoever buys it will have that bill to look forward to ... unless they just stick it in a glass case and don't even breathe on it. 
    Strangely, I know just the man to rewind them...

    ;)

    Even if you do stick it in a glass case, they'll still die. A friend has an 'heirloom' Senator guitar, which hasn't been played for about fifty years... I tested it for her and sure enough the pickup is dead :(.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 13312
    I was once handed an ancient Höfner 'cello bodied guitar to resuscitate. The laminate behind the control plate was beginning to crumble away to nothing. All I could do was apply electrolube to the controls, screw it back together and fit new strings.

    Luckily for me, the guitar was just a sentimental heirloom from a recently deceased relative of the new owner. It was more important that it should look right on display than actually function as a musical instrument.
    Be seeing you.
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  • stickyfiddlestickyfiddle Frets: 24852
    I've never played one of these but I'd love to have one. I feel like if I wanted a hollow body bass for gigging I'd go for a Club or some sort of Guild to steer around the McCartney thing, but I love the sound of these sorts of instruments. 
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    I've never played one of these but I'd love to have one. I feel like if I wanted a hollow body bass for gigging I'd go for a Club or some sort of Guild to steer around the McCartney thing, but I love the sound of these sorts of instruments. 
    The Violin Bass is a really remarkable-sounding thing - for such a tiny short-scale bass it has an absolutely HUGE depth and bottom end... although only the originals and proper high-end reissues really, the cheap far-east ones don’t. If you want the McCartney or Robbie Shakespeare tone you need a real one. I was lucky enough to be lent a ‘65 original for a while after I’d had one of its pickups rewound by @OilCityPickups, and at least I know know that they’re not for me! It sounded fantastic but the feel is so different from any other bass - even the bigger Höfners - that I just couldn’t get used to it.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • prowlaprowla Frets: 4680
    Nice, but completely out of my price range and I'd never play it.
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  • JezWyndJezWynd Frets: 5837
    The solid body Hofner basses are a joy to play (my 185 has been played daily since I got it three years ago) but the quality is not great with the exception of the necks which I’ve found to be of a uniformly high quality. I sometimes think I’d like to commission a set neck luthier build of an exact copy of my 185 but featuring a better bridge, tuners and earthing. But then it might not have the magic of the real deal so I’ve never taken the leap.
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