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Author Topic: One for Bassist Barry..  (Read 29558 times)

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peterbell1

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #20 on: July 02, 2013, 11:08:00 PM »

I guessed you'd choose the Hofner the tone is lovely, very 'woody'..........Ive always wondered if you removed the frets whether it would sound very much like a double bass

Its also very light, the only drawbacks I can think of is the tuners are a bit weak and it does go out of tune more than a Fender or Rick (the humidity and temperature affect it more as its not as solid), also its not balanced so unless you tie a strap to the machine head (like Paul used to do) you get some 'neck dive' as you stand on stage, so you have to keep your left hand supporting the neck.

Hi guys.
When did Paul used to tie his strap to the machine heads? I couldn't find a pic of this when I did a Google search.
I saw a reference to the fact that he had strap buttons fitted to his Hofner, and before that he had a dog-clip strap which he clipped to the tailpiece end of the guitar, with the other end tied under the neck.
To be honest, I had never really considered how the strap fitted on the Hofner before reading the post above (never having played one!) so I'm sure you will be able to fill me in.

And what is the "zero fret"?

Sorry for my ignorance  ;D

Pete
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nimrod

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #21 on: July 02, 2013, 11:21:54 PM »

The strap button on a hofner is where the neck joins the body, Paul used to use a longer strap and tie it round the machine head, thereby eliminating the 'neck dive' you can see it in this pic.

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #22 on: July 02, 2013, 11:24:51 PM »

Right.  He did that very early on...


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nimrod

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #23 on: July 02, 2013, 11:26:12 PM »

Quote
And what is the "zero fret"?


google was invented for things like this Peter  ;D


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_fret
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #24 on: July 02, 2013, 11:36:26 PM »



Peter, here's the zero fret on my Hofner.  It holds the strings the proper distance above the other frets on the neck.  The nut (white with a black stripe) provides the correct spacing of the strings. 

On many guitars there is only a nut.  My Gretsch Country Gentleman has a zero fret too.
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #25 on: July 02, 2013, 11:37:39 PM »



Kev, my guitar was built last year.  It's got decals like this on the headstock.
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #26 on: July 02, 2013, 11:46:18 PM »

Right.  He did that very early on...





The Beatles were coolest when they looked like that!








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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #27 on: July 02, 2013, 11:51:54 PM »

This guy would soon change all that...




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nimrod

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #28 on: July 02, 2013, 11:52:28 PM »

they were probably happiest too Baz
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #29 on: July 02, 2013, 11:53:44 PM »

I think so too, Kev.
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #30 on: July 03, 2013, 12:02:57 AM »

Not so cool...





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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #31 on: July 03, 2013, 12:12:33 AM »

Not cool at all...






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nimrod

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #32 on: July 03, 2013, 12:17:46 AM »

Barry
Re learning bass, you should start with a walking bass line, to get your fingers trained
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #33 on: July 03, 2013, 12:20:54 AM »

I've been doing scales, Kev.  It's back to basics again.
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peterbell1

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #34 on: July 03, 2013, 08:43:44 AM »

google was invented for things like this Peter  ;D


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_fret


Well, you learn something new every day! I have been playing guitar for 35 years or so and had never heard of a zero fret until now!
So, do Hofner make basses with and without the zero fret?
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peterbell1

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #35 on: July 03, 2013, 08:55:53 AM »

Right.  He did that very early on...





See - I knew you guys would come up with the goods  ;D

In the later Beatles pics when Paul is using the method where the strap goes under the neck - does the neck have to be removed and replaced to fit the strap, or is there a gap there between the neck and the body?
And does this method eliminate the "neck dive" that was mentioned earlier?

I have a Gibson SG and it too has the neck dive problem.
It affected Pete Townshend as well - check out this clip around 3.45 - although in his case the guitar was probably trying to make a run for it as it knew what was in store for it at the end of the gig  ;D

The Who - Young Man Blues - HD
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #36 on: July 03, 2013, 09:30:39 AM »



It seems to be pretty common in the early days.
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nimrod

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #37 on: July 03, 2013, 10:28:34 AM »

Well, you learn something new every day! I have been playing guitar for 35 years or so and had never heard of a zero fret until now!
So, do Hofner make basses with and without the zero fret?

Yes the cheaper Asian Hofner basses dont have it
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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #38 on: July 03, 2013, 05:15:22 PM »

In the later Beatles pics when Paul is using the method where the strap goes under the neck - does the neck have to be removed and replaced to fit the strap, or is there a gap there between the neck and the body?


Peter, there is space between the neck and the body to secure the strap.  Here are pictures from the instruction sheet that came with the vintage-style Hofner strap...




1. Remove original plastic strap button from bass.
2. Install small, folded leather strap with "D" ring in its place. The "dog clip" end of the strap attaches to the "D" ring. See center photo at right.
3. Pass other end of strap under the neck pocket
4. Use slender leather lace to affix the strap end to the strap. See lower photo at right.






This only works with German Hofners.  The Asian guitars have their necks attached to the bodies differently.

My guitar came with an extra strap button for permanent mounting in this area on the guitar.  I'm leaving it in the case.
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peterbell1

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Re: One for Bassist Barry..
« Reply #39 on: July 03, 2013, 10:45:45 PM »

Thanks once again guys!

I know many musicians are associated with one particular instrument, or at least one brand of instrument, but I doubt any musician is so closely identified with an instrument than Sir Paul and the Hofner bass. This is a man who has had a music career spanning more than half a century, and the violin bass was only used for a relatively short period of that (until it was resurrected for touring from the 90s onwards), yet it is still the first instrument that comes to mind when you think of him, and he is the first (and probably only) musician that comes to mind when you think of the Hofner violin bass. I think Hofner should make him honorary chairman or something - where would they be without him?!
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