mandoloony
Tele-Holic
This came last week, and I've spent the time since then messing around and getting it optimally set up. It's essentially identical to a regular 500/2 Club where it counts - basic construction and pickups - but there are some subtle differences. Hofner's stated aim was to be environmentally friendly by eliminating plastic wherever possible; while I think the only plastic left is the wire insulation, I'm not prepared to believe that eliminating a few ounces of petroleum products on a low-production instrument will save the world. Nonetheless, the finished product plays and sounds amazing and I'm very happy with it.
Differences from a standard Club include: a natural-colored waxy finish which feels like it isn't even there; walnut trim, skunk stripe and fretboard; and 3-knob control layout instead of the usual panel. It features the usual "diamond" pickups, floating bridge, zero fret and everything else you expect on a German-made Hofner. It came with a road case that weighs three times as much as the bass itself.
There are some drawbacks, but in my mind they're only minor quibbles. The neck volume control is so close to the pickguard that you need to crane your fingers around to turn it. The tone knob is almost a third volume control - I think this could be fixed by adjusting the pot and cap values, but without the panel it's more of a pain to get at the wiring. I'm skeptical of how this finish will wear but so far no issues.
The stock strings were among the best flats I've ever played, and not so sticky that they tore up my fingertips like most flats. Still, they gave way to a set of GHS Brite Flats (which are really semi-round) for some low-mid growl. The tension went up a bit but the attack and sustain are roughliy the same, so it's kind of like a modern tone mixed with vintage thump. Perhaps best of all, it weighs in at 4.51 lbs - not to mention, it looks fantastic:
Differences from a standard Club include: a natural-colored waxy finish which feels like it isn't even there; walnut trim, skunk stripe and fretboard; and 3-knob control layout instead of the usual panel. It features the usual "diamond" pickups, floating bridge, zero fret and everything else you expect on a German-made Hofner. It came with a road case that weighs three times as much as the bass itself.
There are some drawbacks, but in my mind they're only minor quibbles. The neck volume control is so close to the pickguard that you need to crane your fingers around to turn it. The tone knob is almost a third volume control - I think this could be fixed by adjusting the pot and cap values, but without the panel it's more of a pain to get at the wiring. I'm skeptical of how this finish will wear but so far no issues.
The stock strings were among the best flats I've ever played, and not so sticky that they tore up my fingertips like most flats. Still, they gave way to a set of GHS Brite Flats (which are really semi-round) for some low-mid growl. The tension went up a bit but the attack and sustain are roughliy the same, so it's kind of like a modern tone mixed with vintage thump. Perhaps best of all, it weighs in at 4.51 lbs - not to mention, it looks fantastic:
