Happy Jack

All the vintage Hofners that I've owned have had either Pyramids or Thomastiks fitted, but having played mainly Precisions fitted with LaBella FLs for several years, I now wish I'd tried using the LaBella Beatle Bass strings at least once!

Not sure what a 'Mersey' model is - I'm guessing you mean a 'Cavern' model with the two pickups close together? Much depends on exactly which bass this is. The 500/1 Violin has been in production (in Germany) in at least three quite separate periods: original 1957-1969ish, first re-issues in late 70s through to mid 80s, and modern re-issues late 90s onwards. That's all without dragging in genuine Hofners manufactured in Spain, Japan and China. Most likely you're being offered a '62 Re-Issue' made in the last 20 years, but DO check! If that's the case, then it will be in classic tobacco burst, with 2 x staple pickups, and a pearloid guard. Because of manufacturing costs in Germany, the price of these has soared over the last 10 years, which means that second-hand prices have held up very well. These basses are handmade the old way in Germany, so essentially every one is a custom instrument. They are absolutely lovely pieces of work, and a delight to own and play. They are not copies of the old basses ... they ARE the old basses, so they sound exactly as they always did back in the 60s. If that's what you're after, then you can buy with confidence. What they are NOT is in any way modern, or particularly precision. Intonation will indeed be dodgy in some places. That's part of the charm - they all do that sir. Playability is great. These basses are FUN. String spacing is tighter than on a Fender, which can be an issue for some. On the other hand, they're so lightweight that they feel as if they're filled with helium. Regular neck resets? Yup, that's right, roughly every 30-40 years. How old are you?

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1454057797' post='2965783'] How did you hear about it? I wonder if you know someone that I know. [/quote] Damned right I do. His name is Tom, and he's the manager of Wunjo's Bass.

So that was you! I heard all about your purchase at the time, and again when I bought mine. I had no idea it was another Basschatter.

Just take a middle aged bass player. He'll have everything you need in his people carrier parked outside.

Say that again in three days ...

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1453825855' post='2963177'] I'm pretty thick skinned & don't take offence easily. [/quote] Can't believe you got away with posting that, given some of the responses you might have had.

[quote name='DorsetBlue' timestamp='1453741321' post='2962340'] The strings are a metal flatwound type, with quite a high tension (or that is how they seem to me anyway). Would love a mellower sounding E with more projection. So am I looking at different strings and/or more EQ experimentation. I have a B3 available as well. [/quote] Welcome to wonderful (and bloody expensive) world of DB string experimentation. Try searching this bit of the forum for numerous very helpful posts in the past by Clarky.

Shortscale basses are undeniably fun. I can't imagine why a 3.5" difference in scale length would have that effect, but it does. The sound tends to be a bit more thuddy, which can then be further emphasised by using flats, but for many types of music that works wonderfully well. How different the bass feels when you play it is really very subjective. My first choice gigging basses are 35" scale, but I can pick up my Hofners or my Mosrite without any need to think or play differently - I find that I adjust almost instantly. More significant for me is the string spacing. As long as a bass has 19mm spacing at the bridge then I'm happy. That's not the case with the Hofners of course, but they're what I started with so I'm prepared to make allowances. If you're anywhere near West London, feel free to come and spend an hour or two playing half a dozen shortscales in my studio.

More details would help, Si. What time is your band on? How long will you be playing for?

I'm lost ... is there some connection between 'Mark_Bass' in 2012 and 'Black Whiskey' in 2016?

Didn't he go DI to the board?

Tailpeace Dsignz? Guess I'm really, sorry, rilly not down wid da kids. Thank God.

I've just realised that the title of this thread may actually have been a request ..

Meanwhile, somewhere in La-La Land, there's a fretless fiver with a BiN of £550! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Colletion-Fretless-Custom-5-string-bass-made-in-Japan-/231824666605?hash=item35f9d3afed:g:hy4AAOSw5dNWnlFQ In fairness, it is listed as a Bass [i][b]Colletion[/b][/i], so maybe it's a rare transitional model ...

Apparently it's not a slab-body, it's a POA.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1453720271' post='2962020'] I sometimes wonder why I still come on here as I don't really play bass anymore, but then I remember the vast wealth of bass related knowledge & experience I have accumulated over the years & it seems such a shame to deny people of it...... [/quote] What's the best bass for metal then?

I may be right, I may be wrong, but I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1453666452' post='2961610'] Just checked my P Bass and it really doesn't have a single dead spot. But to be pedantic, it's a Limelight and not a Fender. HOWEVER... my 76P is most definitely a Fender and that doesn't have any dead spots either. Well OK, one. In a position where I'd never play it. [/quote] Beyond the nut doesn't count Mark.

Way too far into 'novelty guitar' territory for me, but I can imagine that being played on TOTP in the early 80s by someone with silly hair and lots of lycra, maybe with their suit jacket arms pushed up above the elbows.

Those graphics are like a parody of a bass amp. I particularly like the graphic for the [foot] + [switch] = [compression] They couldn't have made it any more literal if they'd tried.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1453499953' post='2960182'] [/quote] Just LOVE that photo.

When I see "The Players Guitar" I imagine an instrument made of No.6 cigarettes ...

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1453476745' post='2959852'] But the market is being undermined by rubbish bands and naive landlords...! [/quote] [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1453478096' post='2959884'] And too many of them... [/quote] Yup - damn those clowns who like to play music who ... erm ... aren't us!