Annoying Twit Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) No idea if this is a reasonable price or not. Just posting to say that this looks pretty damn cool IMHO. Surely ripe for a reissue? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hofner-Senator-Bass-Circa1962-Vintage-Rare-Classic-Bass-/160601262275?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item256494c8c3"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hofner-Senator-Bass-...=item256494c8c3[/url] Edit: Reissue Hofner President bass doesn't quite match it, visually, IMHO. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/hoefner_hct_500_5_sb_president_bass.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/hoefner_hct_500_5...sident_bass.htm[/url] Edited June 14, 2011 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I've been watching the Senator. Shame about the crap photos, which don't show the main area of concern - the neck joint. If only for that reason, I would not (as a player) recommend a bid. The pickup is not the 'Blade' type (introduced late 1966) but the classic 'Staple' type. The bridge is from the 500/1 and 500/2 hollow-body series, so not correct for a Senator but certainly an acceptable substitute. The listing for the re-issued President is a bit of a dog's dinner. It is NOT a President but seems to be a take on the late 1950's 500/5 with the Bakelite pickups in "Cavern" pattern, a.k.a. the Sutcliffe bass. I'd be interested to know the depth of that body - the President was made shallower than the 500/5 at Selmer's request. The Thomann description of the pickups as Staple single coils is laughably inaccurate. Please note that I'm NOT having a pop at the bass, which I think is a great idea, but at the Thomann listing description. Anyone buying one of these should realise that tonally it's going to be fairly limited in range, and that it will be more of a home & studio bass than a stage bass because of feedback issues. Also that, in the interests of historical accuracy, Hofner have retained a very bad bridge design and a control panel that verges on complete lunacy, all of which is actually part of the charm of these basses (and I'm not trying to be funny). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted June 16, 2011 Share Posted June 16, 2011 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='1269190' date='Jun 14 2011, 08:48 PM']I've been watching the Senator. Shame about the crap photos, which don't show the main area of concern - the neck joint. If only for that reason, I would not (as a player) recommend a bid.[/quote] Me neither. I used to have one just like this, it was my first bass guitar. The dagger headstock design marks this out as a 1964 model (not 62) and the tuners are clearly not original either , so now way is it worth the asking price. Can't remember what the bridge on mine looked like but I seem to recall it had thumbwheel height adjustors. As a bass, it wasn't great but I'll always have a soft spot for it. It was certainly better than the Vox Wyman I traded it for. What a heap of sh*te that was! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 It's interesting to read your experiences with these basses. Thanks for sharing, if that's not too new-age of me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 (edited) I've just been offered one of the 500/3? in straight swap for the Aerodyne Jazz I'm selling. Apparently early 60's in good nick. Have I dropped a clanger here? Karl. Edited, found it, linky below, comments chaps please? [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/hofner-senator-5003-bass-guitar-1960s/81197689"]http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/hofner-s...-1960s/81197689[/url] Edited June 17, 2011 by karlfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 The one that Annoying Twit linked to didn't sell, and has been re-lilsted at £399. I still think that's too much! There are a couple of others in varying states of repair around the 300 - 350 mark. £650 is a ridiculous asking price for one of these IMHO. Happy Jack is exactly right about the neck joints - I wouldn't consider buying one of these without some very good photographs of the neck joint. As a bass, an Aerodine Jazz is superior in every possible way. I'd be looking for at least £50 your way in addition to the Senator for that Aerodyne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Yup, £650 is way too much. I have a mid-60's Senator, without the staple pickups. Took it to Denmark Street about 8 years ago to sell for a friend, barely got offered £250 for it. And that's without a broken neck. Like Happy Jack said - they're a great recording bass and for noodling around the house, but live they are very limited. (But very cool if you compress the life out of it;) ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Thanks lads, top class as ever. I don't actually want anymore bloody basses, I'm just weak . Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99ster Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 [quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1273072' date='Jun 17 2011, 07:16 PM']Yup, £650 is way too much. I have a mid-60's Senator, without the staple pickups. Took it to Denmark Street about 8 years ago to sell for a friend, barely got offered £250 for it. And that's without a broken neck. Like Happy Jack said - they're a great recording bass and for noodling around the house, but live they are very limited. (But very cool if you compress the life out of it;) )[/quote] My 1965 needed a complete neck re-set ([url="http://www.andyviccarscustom.co.uk/"]Andy Viccars[/url] did a great job - plays like new now)... I [b]love[/b] it for recording - really pleased with the tone [url="http://soundcloud.com/thereverbtale/piano-drums-bass"]on this recording[/url] I did recently... But I've never tried one live - they are very light - so I'd bet they'd feedback like mad if you really whacked up the volume. You do see people try & sell them for mad prices... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 [quote name='karlfer' post='1272338' date='Jun 17 2011, 06:36 AM']I've just been offered one of the 500/3? in straight swap for the Aerodyne Jazz I'm selling. Apparently early 60's in good nick. Have I dropped a clanger here? Karl. Edited, found it, linky below, comments chaps please? [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/hofner-senator-5003-bass-guitar-1960s/81197689"]http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/hofner-s...-1960s/81197689[/url][/quote] The chap who's selling this approached me about a swap for my John Birch Rickenfaker - I did a bit of research and this has been around for ages in various sales/swaps forums, its not a particularly desirable bass and they tend to go for the 300 quid mark and that is all original excellent condition. The chap was friendly enough however (until I mentioned cash to balance the value) and I think genuine - he probably thought it was the model associated with Stuart Sutcliffe. I wouldn't bother as your Jazz would fetch far more - swap you for my JB plus cash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 [quote name='ash' post='1274814' date='Jun 19 2011, 03:13 PM']The chap who's selling this approached me about a swap for my John Birch Rickenfaker - I did a bit of research and this has been around for ages in various sales/swaps forums, its not a particularly desirable bass and they tend to go for the 300 quid mark and that is all original excellent condition. The chap was friendly enough however (until I mentioned cash to balance the value) and I think genuine - he probably thought it was the model associated with Stuart Sutcliffe. I wouldn't bother as your Jazz would fetch far more - swap you for my JB plus cash! [/quote] Tempting Ash, but, I must repeat, No more bloody basses, No more bloody basses, No more ................. . Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 [quote name='karlfer' post='1275001' date='Jun 19 2011, 05:32 PM']Tempting Ash, but, I must repeat, No more bloody basses, No more bloody basses, No more ................. . Karl.[/quote] I think I should adopt that policy too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 I'm weak, I will fail . Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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