Höfner Owners

OK, so maybe the 'Höfner 4577 Owners Club' was narrowing things down a bit too far. At least it conveys an air of exclusivity - I am the only member. Although the social events list isn't that exciting.

But there must be owners of other Höfner models out there, if only Sir Paul Macartney. Bass players welcome.

Well move over just a little !!, it's 1969, i'm 12 years old and about to start gigging with my first band and my Hofner Verithin !!

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/crop0001.gif

Thats 'Verithin' guitar not Me of course.

Welcome, Man In Black!

I'm not alone! Beginning to get a bit para!

I've been trying to find out more about my Hofner and I'm amazed how many models they've put out over the years. I suppose not many got to USA.

You'd think that with the Beatles success that at least the violin bass would have been more popular.

I wish i'd kept that Verithin, it was a great guitar but at 12 what did i know ?

They're putting out some really nice jazz models now. I was eyeing a New President for a long time, but in the end couldn't convince the government to allocate the money.

s.

It is sad that Hofner discontinued the Verythin standard and even then only offered them
with a stop bar and no pickguard......if they did make the Hofner Verythin standard with
the diamond mini humbuckers,pick guard and either the lyre tail piece or a bigsby they
would have sold.....and to be authentic even do the original fret markers.
The German made Hofner semi acoustics are top quality and great guitars and the more
jazz inspired current Hofner Verythin classic with cat eye sound holes is very cool.

I bought my 4577 years ago because I wanted a guitar that sounded like George Thorogood's, but I couldn't afford a thinline 125! It was cheap, as it had been damaged and badly repaired. I never got round to learning to play it properly and I was put off it by an old timer who said he didn't rate Hofners because the pups weren't hot enough.

I've recently started to take playing the guitar seriously and actually learn how to play it properly. And I've realised the Hofner is a fine guitar. These pups are pretty hot, about the same as the p90s on my Squier Custom II, and I love the woody semi acoustic tone. The sunburt is lovely and the back (stangely) has beautiful figure. After a refret and set up it plays great. I'm thinking about getting it restored properly - the opposite of the relicing fashion!

I have an early 80's 500/1 bass. You guys should check out the HoffyHounds forums @ Hoffy Hounds (http://www.hofners.co.uk/index)
Lots of info there, and there are a few other sites with much info.
Steve Russells Hofner page (http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/)

Here's my beloved transparent green Icon bass!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/rob3566/P3100532.jpg?t=1248657607

I have a 2007 HCT-500/1. It's the only bass I use no matter what the genre. I've done bluegrass, jazz and (mostly) CCM with it. I have a P-Bass copy too. I might us it if I had to do funk, but I can get every tone I want out the the Beatle bass.

I'm very fond of my Hofner Icon Beatle bass as well.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p202/Apollo3000/DSCN4361.jpg

Well move over just a little !!, it's 1969, i'm 12 years old and about to start gigging with my first band and my Hofner Verithin !!

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/crop0001.gif

Thats 'Verithin' guitar not Me of course.

My cousin had a Verithin in 1963, and quit playing shortly therafter - I finally talked my aunt into selling it to me 10 years later - I still have it! It originally had a stick-on Noble marque over the Hofner logo on the headstock. The pickups are thin sounding and Very microphonic. One of these days I'm going to pot them and fix the stuck switches too. Hey, as a jazz guitar, it's a really fine instrument, and as light as any axe out there. Mine's in the trad Hofner sunburst, ala the 'Beatle' bass.

I have an early 80's 500/1 bass. You guys should check out the HoffyHounds forums @ Hoffy Hounds (http://www.hofners.co.uk/index)
Lots of info there, and there are a few other sites with much info.
Steve Russells Hofner page (http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/)

I have a lefty made around the same time. Love this bass ! I don't play bass live but I use it for demos.

My first guitar - 1959 Hofner Club 40 (aka as the John Lennon model) bought new by my late Dad back in 1959. Serial number 421 - the 1st Club 40 of 1959! Still have the original case too.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n183/billybuck_2006/49581b73.jpg

Well move over just a little !!, it's 1969, i'm 12 years old and about to start gigging with my first band and my Hofner Verithin !!

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/crop0001.gif

Thats 'Verithin' guitar not Me of course.

Looking GREAT there John - and thanks for the invitation to join this very exclusive club!! Here's my newest family member - I'll post proper pics and a few words when she arrives...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/hofner1.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/march68/hofner2.jpg

:mrgreen:

I have a Icon BB and a Contemporary Club, a few years ago I had one of the Coloramas, all are fun guitars with a unique sound & feel

I've got a German made Club Bass. I dig it, although I mostly play guitar and haven't played it in a while. I bought it because I love the small Hofner bass funkiness of the Violin Bass, but I feel that McCartney is so associated with that bass that it just looks weird when anyone else plays it.

Just bought a Thin President....Photos soon....Played through a AC30H2......heheh
heheh...gotta stop myself from giggling...

Best
jim in gold bar

I love the small Hofner bass funkiness of the Violin Bass, but I feel that McCartney is so associated with that bass that it just looks weird when anyone else plays it.

I think of the Hofner with Robbie Shakespeare, who is this McCartney fellow?

This is a sicknesss...A Verythin Classic came up on the bay....i suscumbed..now
there is a beeeeeeutifull Verythin Standard -German made - but I spent all of my
money. :(. Soon as the classic arrives will do photos of it along with the
Thin President......mmmmm....This is worse then buying Teles, you gotta have
jussssst one more.....


very best to you all
jim in gold bar

Me and my Hofner in Germany -1962.
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n380/kizzie_015/scan0001-3.jpg No! I do not have it anymore.

G'day guys
Just stumbled on this thread and thought I would say hellohttp://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j183/gwa_2006/Avatars%20etc/aussie-emoticon1.gif
I run a website just for Hofner Verithins, I see we have some fans here, so pop on over and have a look, and maybe leave a mesage in the guestbook
http://www.verithingeoff.com/

I have a double necked bass. Regular at the top, baritone guitar at the bottom. It's really neck heavy, but sounds real good. Not sure about the year. I don't have pictures but the bass player in this video has one exactly like mine.

I have a Hofner Very Thin Classic 2005 (made in Germany) very nice tone use it for jazz ,finger style,light blues.

Bought it used in Hong Kong 1964. Mint condition at the time, paid US$90 for it.

I forgot the link, sorry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PjnOdHq-T8

Here's mine. I think it's a 177.

It's in pretty bad shape though, and some of the plastic saddles are worn down. If someone knows where to get replacement saddles, let me know!

Just stumbled on this, I have a 500/4 from (I think) the 70s. THe first one I've seen, and the only real Hofner I've played. They must not have sent many of them over here.http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp360/dannew2008/h2/5-20-10074.jpg
When I got it, someone had tried to install active Bartolini pickups in it, and screwed it all up. Now it has Gretsch bass pickups and CTS/Switchcraft electronics in it.

I just got this Contemporary Series Club. I believe they're made in China. The build quality is excellent and the pickups can go from near-Tele twang to serious grind. My only beef is with the TOM bridge. It's the version with a retaining wire that rattles incessantly. It comes with a spruce top, maples back and sides and a center block to help with sustain. It's a really cool little guitar.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o67/echorrigan/Hofner_CT_Club.jpg

My only beef is with the TOM bridge. It's the version with a retaining wire that rattles incessantly.

How about a tiny square of electricians tape or blu - tack ?

I have one of these:
http://www.magnumsound.com/shop/415/1_415.jpg
...which is a great axe, despite having horrific neck dive.

It has the German "Diamond" mini-humbuckers, which sound great.

Occured to me I hadn't posted a pic of my own 4577. So here is one, in typical sofa noodling pose.

http://i55.tinypic.com/2v93xvb.jpg

And here are some lovely pics (http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/gallery2/gallery11/ga161.html) of one in much better nick than mine.

here's mine, this is the coolest little bass!

http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz4/beatles1909/100_0363.jpg

I just got this Contemporary Series Club. I believe they're made in China. The build quality is excellent and the pickups can go from near-Tele twang to serious grind. My only beef is with the TOM bridge. It's the version with a retaining wire that rattles incessantly. It comes with a spruce top, maples back and sides and a center block to help with sustain. It's a really cool little guitar.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o67/echorrigan/Hofner_CT_Club.jpg


Me too - same one. I'm super happy with it as well, a good bit more versatile than I had thought it would be. I looked all over trying to find one in a store but no one had one in stock so I ordered totally sight-un-seen. The neck feels great to me.

Where do you hear the rattle in the bridge? Mine is rock solid.

I have a hofner razorwood.......very nice guitar

Well, how did I miss this!?

Proud hofner verythin standard owner here...nicest guitar I've ever owned. There I am, in my avatar, enjoying it.

My biggest complaint with the Hofner CT Club is the tuners. I couldn't get this thing to stay in tune. I upgraded to the Wilkinson Easy-Lock tuners, which are cool and just have a second set of holes to run the strings through. They have the off-set screw and fit right on.

I just picked up a well kept, used 2010 CT 500/1 Bass last week. Can't stop playing it. I has a 68 German Hofner Beatle Bass from the mid 70's to the mid 80's but hadn't played on one since then. It's actually a very versatile bass. Am playing with it in the studio today to see how it will sound on some tracks that were recorded with a Fender Jazz.

Hi Friends,

I am new to the forum. I am a Hofner lover and own a 1967 Galaxie (176) still in Mint condition even after 1700 public concert use (as the day I bought it) and also have recently bought a VeryThin (Contemporary Series). Oh, I just the love the VT, as much as the Galaxie, which happens to be my favourite one. I have used an Ibanez 370DX as well as a Fender Strat. But I love the Galaxie most !

Me and my Hofner in Germany -1962.
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n380/kizzie_015/scan0001-3.jpg No! I do not have it anymore.

Wow,....you were rockin' a Hofner in 1962 Germany ala the Beatles! :grin:

(...don't tell me you lived in Hamburg too?!)