One for Bassist Barry..

[Hello Goodbye]

Not so cool...

[Hello Goodbye]

Not cool at all...

[nimrod]

Barry
Re learning bass, you should start with a walking bass line, to get your fingers trained

[Hello Goodbye]

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

[peterbell1]

google was invented for things like this Peter 


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?

[peterbell1]

Right.  He did that very early on...

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

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 

The Who - Young Man Blues - HD

[Bobber]

It seems to be pretty common in the early days.

[nimrod]

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

[Hello Goodbye]

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.

[peterbell1]

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?!

[Hello Goodbye]

Peter, there's no question that Paul's use of the Hofner 500/1 violin bass did so much for Hofner.  This color poster came with my new Hofner bass...

[nimrod]

I have a Gibson SG and it too has the neck dive problem.
It affected Pete Townshend as well

Yes the SG is well known for neck dive problems, I had an SG bass once (it was famously used by Jack Bruce in Cream) and it was terrible, Leo Fender made very balanced guitars and basses so Ive never had a problem with a Fender.
Its not a massive problem on the Hofner Violin bass as its so light (hollow bodied) mine has a strap button where the neck joins the body and I find by using a fender webbing type strap it doesnt slide on my shoulder and sort of grips my shirt preventing the dive, this wouldnt work on a heavier guitar like an SG though.

I think Hofner should make him honorary chairman or something - where would they be without him?!

Ive thought this loads of times Peter, check ebay there are loads for sale (new ones) so its still a big seller, its funny theyve never made a signature model like Fender do with strats (Clapton, SRV, Jeff Beck, etc ) but then again its like every violin bass is a McCartney signature as no-one else uses it.
If you can ever get him to sign it on the picguard Barry it would be worth about $10,000 

[Hello Goodbye]

Kev, although Hofner never made a "signature model," their Vintage Series includes the two Hofner bass guitars Paul used...




Hofner 500/1 V61 "Cavern" Bass






Hofner 500/1 V62 Bass



I guess "Cavern" is as far as they'll go acknowledging Paul McCartney.

[Hello Goodbye]

Peter, here's the zero fret on my 1963 Gretsch Country Gentleman...

[Hello Goodbye]

I know, I know.  That's an old picture Kev.  I have a guitar stand now.