I knew you’d do a great job covering this, Michael. The Hofner is the icon of course (and inspired Paul to develop the style he did), but as you mentioned he really dug in on the Ricky (with recording assistance from the great Geoff Emerick) to achieve even greater bass sounds on record. And of course most of the great Wings work was done on the Ric (along with the Kay, Fender Jazz, and Yamaha). I love both basses for different reasons. I enjoy the “dead,” woody tone of the Hofner, but also the sustain of the Ric. Each is iconic and served a major function in Paul’s overall story. So glad he got the original Hofner back in his lifetime and I’m loving the stories of all these recovered instruments like Frampton’s Les Paul and Fogerty’s Rickenbacker. Again, great job here Michael. Have a nice weekend.
I’m so sorry for the late response Bruce. This one really took awhile to edit, so I was up till early morning, and a just waking back up! Once again, you jit several aspects of the whole Hofner vs Rickenbacker debate brother! Nice analysis! 🤔🎧❤️🏆
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine Thank you my friend. Great job getting this one out so quickly. I really do wonder if we’ll ever see Paul bust out the Ric again onstage. 🤔
I so wish the masses would understand what you articulately said. Paul and John were equals in everyway and Geroge eventually caught up to them. And Ringo was integral. Definition of rare: A Rolling Stone ranking list where there is no substantial gap between Lennon and McCartney. If only people would think musically about it and forget all the anti-establishment garbage. This discovery is special in so many ways. Well done Michael.
What made the group so good was the lead writers were so close in ability, genius really. With George and Ringo, you really had a supergroup. Very well said Michael. They were both equals with George catching up in the last 1/3rd of their career with the Beatles.
My experience with the Hofner violin bass is that its thuddy tone and short sustain brings it closer to the sound of an upright bass. IMO, it blends better tonally with acoustic string instruments than most solid body basses, at least in that application.
I was 15 when The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, so I feel I grew up with them. As I watch the many Beatles-oriented UA-cam channels and receive Facebook posts from Beatles-oriented groups, it just amazes me how the stars aligned not only talent-wise, but, just as importantly, visually, too. Paul's Hofner, Paul being left-handed, George's Gretsch, John's Rickenbacker, Ringo's Ludwig kit with the drop-T Beatles logo, and, of course, the hair, all, in retrospect seem the product of a genius at marketing, but it was all serendipity. Amazing.
Yes, I saw them on June 20, 1965 at the Palais des Sports in Paris. I was going to high school there at the time while my father, in the Army, was stationed at SHAPE headquarters. They played, in order, Twist and Shout, She's a Woman, Can't Buy Me Love, I'm a Loser, I Wanna Be Your Man, Hard Day's Night, Baby's In Black, Rock 'n Roll Music, Everybody's Tryin' To Be My Baby, I Feel Fine, Ticket To Ride, and Long Tall Sally. They Yardbirdw opened for them,
Paul (and the other Beatles) did not care that much about their gears. Not as much as we do now. Paul said that his father taught him to be moderate when it came to spending money. And he also said that he cared about the songs more than the gears. Getting a very good sound engineer is another thing that he cared about. Paul and John were mostly singer/songwriters. Artists. Poets. Musicians. Not gear enthusiasts.
I'm calling bullshit on that - While Epiphone supplied them with whatever they wanted , every guitar player has a few that mean something - I've got 18 and I love all of em
@@davidrice3337 I'm not so sure.... I'm only a year younger than J ,P, G, & R, and took up guitar in1957, about a year after they did. At the time there was very little gear knowledge and what was available on a 14 year old's budget was not at all comparable to today's budget-level gear. and that was in the USA. The gear situation in the UK was much more dire. You couldn't get American instruments, and the European budget stuff was terrible. I don't wonder that The Lads and their contemporaries had to make do with gear we wouldn't touch and didn't do much collecting, even when the good stuff became available(though very expensive over there) and they had the pounds sterling to buy what they wanted. BTW Paul is now quite the collector of historically significant pieces. He owns Bill Black's standup bass from his Elvis days.
The Rickenbacker company owner Mr. Hall gave Paul his 4001S. Not stereo like a 4001, but great tone. He modified it a couple of times over the years and Rickenbacker upgraded it. The Hofner is iconic, but the Ricky is what makes "Come Together" so great.
That bass is a short scale bass , about 30 inch string length. That, along with a neck much like a guitar he was already used to playing, must of felt comfortable to him, and so he used that.
For me I Saw Her Standing There and All My Loving bass lines are what start to put Paul on the greatest bass player list. Plenty more tunes and the Rick was cool also. I hold they we’re both great basses but different and the music represents that.
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine just as a side note I like your analysis on albums, bands etc. I don’t always agree but you establish your points so it’s not an argument but a retort of difference! Good job!
I'm with you I like the Rickenbacker better. It's got more punch. There's a scene in the get back movie where George says to Paul why don't you use your Rickenbacker and he says he likes the violin one because it's lighter. Great video man. See ya
The Rickenbacker was not yet available at the time Paul bought the Hoffner. The Hoffner had a upright bass sound that Elvis was using, but Paul's was electrified for higher tones.
I’ve owned both and would go for the Hofner, hands down. The Ricky behaved like a large piece of furniture whereas the H. Just felt “right”. The neck is a bit too deep but at least I didn’t have to hoist it up with a crane. When you’re Chris Squire, no problem but, when you’re a tad taller than Prince…
Once again, Michael, I tend to agree with you for the same reasons. I LOVE that deep tone of the Rickenbacker, which was used to such good effect of the 'Wings Over America' tour and album. But you're correct, the Hofner is ICONIC. I SAW McCartney some years back in Sheffield, UK. We were three rows back from the stage. The show opened with the Cirque du Soleil. After they finished, the silk screen came down and eventually, lit from behind the stage, the silhouette of McCartney holding up the Hofner by its neck. The arena erupted! It must be the most celebrated, ICONIC instrument of all time.
The Hofner, often referred to as The Beatle Bass, is the iconic LOOKING bass, made famous by Paul. I give the Hofner 5 stars for it's cool appearance and the fact that it was used on so many great Beatles songs and in concerets. However I never met a Bass player that chose the Hofner as their #1. Most tried the Hofner because of the history of Paul playing it, but preferred the tone of other basses. So I would give the Rickenbacker 5 stars on tone. Not part of the question, but my first choice for top Bass is the Fender Precision Bass.
An excellent assessment here Royce! Somebody is up late tonight! Do I detect a fellow vampire?🧛👌😉❤ Don’t forget to vote on my latest Poll folks! Which is YOUR favorite bass guitar?
I agree, and I actually have a Hofner myself. It really depends on the kind of sound you’re trying to achieve. The problem with the Hofner in my opinion is the more condensed string spacing along with the short scale. It forces you to play it in a different way than with a more traditional long-scale instrument like a Precision or Jazz. Also the Hofner sounds more “woody” and “thuddy” and has very little sustain compared to anything else, and in that way more resembles an upright bass.
Having both a Höfner and a 64’ Rickenbacker I do tend to gravitate toward the Höfner most honestly I do get how it depends on what sound you’re going for but for most bass lines I always gravitate to the Höfner and it’s round wooden sound 😅
Ditto. Excellent comment. Once I had a chance to try a Hofner and It was a deception. It was pretty hard to tune It and I am not a music Genius. My fav is a Fender Jazz Bass
I believe McCartney simply uses the Hofner bass for two reasons on stage. 1) his age has made it harder for him to use the Rickenbacker as it's quite heavy, and 2) the Hofner is an icon of the Beatles. For me, sound wise, the Rickenbacker is far superior. I couldn't imagine the Wings albums not having that as the main bass guitar. Just listen to the songs "Mrs. Vanderbilt" or "Silly Love Songs". The bass is a killer on those. And then the "Wings Over America" tour would not have been the same had he not played the Rickenbacker on it. Just my two cents. PS: My brother-in-law had both basses. He kept the Hofner but sold the Rickenbacker. He now regrets having done that. I remember it was blue and was amazing. I absolutely love good bass guitars. The Fender Jazz and Precision are also fantastic.
The biggest reason Paul like the Rick was the precision and ease of playing up high on the thin neck. Those riffs on Rain were slowed down - he played them a step up! That's where the Rick excelled. They generally weren't more"bassy" than a Hofner as witnessed by Chris Squire's grindy trebly Rick sound in Yes - but Paul and Geoff's mic'ing a woofer with a woofer well......woof !!! 🎸
Yes, Rickenbackers aren't that bassy and full sounding, unless you compress them a lot or you use the technique that they used to record them. I usually prefer basses with a bassier sound than the average bass that everybody seems to like (P-Basses, Jazz basses, Rickenbackers and active basses) and less nasal mid content, like the old Gibson models with the "mudbucker" pickup, the 70's Guilds with the "sludgbucker" pickups, the 70's Fender Telecasters with the Wide Range humbucker or the Ampeg AUB-1 basses.
The hofner would make any bass player work harder on their musical skills so by the time he first got a rickenbacker it would have really freed up his creativity
Well, about 14 years ago (I almost died writing that), I recorded an album with a few classic rock studio musicians (one of which was on Double Fantasy) and I had the bass player play a Hofner on a bunch of tracks to get a "Beatles bass sound" into the recordings. He had a vintage one that was exactly like Paul's. That thing was SUCH a pain in the ass. 😂 It hardly cut through the mix and needed SO much tuning. It cost me a ton of time trying to EQ it and in the end, it was the Rickenbacker sound I was really after.
Thanks Michael, You did a great job covering this story on the recovery of Paul’s original Horner. It’s up to Paul of course, as it would be really nice to hear him give his grateful response to having had it returned! I have a very cheap Chinese “knockoff” of the violin bass’s cousin, “The Club Bass,” (Sweewater) of which I’m sure you are familiar. Even though it’s about a pound heavier, the “Les Paul Shape…” (a la Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes) it’s a whole lot more comfortable playing it when seated! Thanks again. Ted Schempp, Nashville
You're right about John and Paul. They were like the Ying and Yang. Both canceled the worst aspects of their songwriting and strengthened their best ideas. George was an apt student and was an equal to the Nurk Twins by the end.
If I had the money I would like to own Glen Buxton's white Gibson SG Custom that he used to record much of Love it To Death, Killer, and Schools Out. Alice Cooper drummer Neil Smith is supposed to own that guitar. The second guitar would be "Fast" Eddie Clark of Motorhead Fender Stratocaster he used to record much of much of Motorhead, Bomber, Overkill, and Ace of Spades.
I had a 1964 German Hofner reissue for a year. If you're not playing early Beatles, there's no need for it. I've had a 1974 maple Ric 4001 since 1990 and will keep and play it for life.
The Hofner tone was an important part of the early Beatles sound. I own a Hofner (Chines made Hofner Ignition bass) and I love it. If someone gave me a Rickenbacker I would sell it and try to find a Peavey T40 bass. The T40 is an extremely versatile bass and is capable of emulating many of the top basses including the Rickenbacker. I also own a P Bass clone, a Davison (Walmart brand) that I purchased at a pawn shop for $50.00 and have converted it to a fretless bass. I started playing bass in 1968. I should add, that I write and play mostly acoustic music and the Hofner fits in beautifully with that style of music.
Thanx Brendan! I’m a bass player as well, A good book that covers how they did that with the Rickenbacker is Here, There, and Everywhere by their recording engineer Geoff Emerick! A fabulous read brother! 👌❤️🏆 Thank you for your Super Thanks! Your support is greatly appreciated!❤
Love putting the Hofner in a soft case strapped on to my back and going to a gig with a house PA! I've played the Rick and it is amazing but the price tag.
Thank you for the video. The Hofner has such iconic shape which suited the Beatles well, but the Rickenbacker has got that sound you cannot forget even with flat wound strings. I enjoy both but the Ricky wins foy me.
I’m glad they were able to locate it and return to its owner. I hope Höfner can release a limited edition hofner revolution bass with the correct arch back, i would love to get it.
Hi Mike. I’m happy Paul got his bass back first and foremost. Secondly, I guess the day wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t leave a comment on a bass video, right? I almost didn’t cuz I’m really not too familiar with either bass. Every Ric bass I’ve had my hands on I’ve blown out the door. As for Hofner, I’ve never even held one. I believe I can differentiate between the tonal qualities of each instrument though when listening to Beatles recordings. A couple that stick out for me is All You Need Is Love and Lucy. Here now is some seemingly simple playing and note choices…but go ahead and plug in and try em. You’ll soon be scratching your head as you’re rewinding the tape for the hundredth time to figure out what’s going on. I’m hearing the Ric on those two songs, and the Hofner on earlier material. He could play any bass and it’d sound like Paul M. playing really.
I am a lefty as well. I got a Higher 5 years ago, it's not good for tuning(I switched from a right handed bass). Would love a Richy, but, happy tuning for now.
Way back when I was just a little shaver ( I couldn't have been any older than 8 or 9 at the time ) I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show for the first time I saw Paul playing his violin Hofner bass which was a treat for me because I never knew such a thing even existed. 😊😊
I think the Rickenbacker was revealed to the general public in the Hello Goodbye video. Before then I think most people believed they were still hearing the Hoffner which is what he played in the Paperback Writer and Rain videos so yes the Hoffner was considered a key part of the image. The Epiphone Casinos were a surprise at the same time and so was the SG to those of us who cared about such things. Thanks for sharing the good news.
Since he started using the Hofner for his live shows some 20 years ago he has always been able to obtain the sounds that corresponded to any particular Beatle song he chose for his set list. The reason for this is simple: modern amplification plus modern EQ equipment, and of course great sound men in his crew allow him to reproduce any of his sounds over the years.
I like all of the basses The Beatles used, The two hofners, the rick, the jazz, the VI, even that funky burns nu sonic bass. They all have their place. But I wouldn't say the Rick has "better" tone than the hofner, just different tones. Anyone that's listened to a Hofner plugged in to a modern amp or DI knows it has *plenty* of low end, Tame impala made great use of them for a while. It's practically an upright. The lack of a clear bottom end on the early records was due to bass amplification and recording limitations i.e recording to vinyl. If I recall correctly, the Let It Be album was all D.I. bass, and the hofner with tapewounds has plenty of thump, Paul also didn't purchase the Rick, it was given to him, but he did go to prefer it as his main studio bass because of it's better intonation, and how much more in tune up it played up the neck.
I'm not a bass player, but i think the Rickenbacker had a "fuller" tone. I guess i could ascribe that to the pickups, possibly. In the "Free As A Bird" sessions, I think he used the Hofner, though. I think he prefers the Hofner now because of the iconic look, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot more comfortable for a guy in his 80's to play!
I've learned that Paul also used the Fender bass a lot in the late years of The Beatles. And the Fender bass is even more distinct thsn the Rickenbacker. It means that when we think Paul is playing Rickenbacker, he's really plays a Fender.
I own a inexpensive copy of a violin bass. Because of the modern CNC woodcutting, and other advanced manufacturing, it's a nice instrument, and comparing it to a Hofner, it's close in sound. I have other P-style, and J-style economy basses, so I can compare these with the violin bass. As you say, correctly (from my expererience) the violin bass kind of poops out a bit on the very low notes. This is particularly noticable on the low G (fattest string, 3 rd fret), it's a bit reduced in umph, compared to the higher notes. (I suspect that short scale basses do this in general, as another economy 95% scale, solid body bass, that I have, does the same thing.) This being said, this is part of the ambiance of a violin bass. You kind of expect that, like you'd expect more viseral ride in a VW Bug. It's part of the expereince. Where the violin bass shines though, is in the plunky, slightly nasally, tone. It gets a bit of a woody sound, that the solid body basses don't get. It's kind of a unique sound, but it's beautiful in it's own way. A person looking for deep bass, might not like this as a choice. For a person who is more interested in "character of sound", this might be a good choice. Also, the size (I have a 30" scale version) of the bass, and the light weight character of the bass, make it very comfortable to use. This is not to mention it's beautiful visual appeal. These basses are available from a variety of sellers, some of them being very affordable. I'd encourage people to get one of these, so as to have another color in their bass tonal palette. If you're curious, I'll demonstrate how short scale basses lose umph on the low notes, by showing you one of my tunes that I recorded with a solid body, P-style, short scale bass. Here is a link. ua-cam.com/video/FlMYYEuOgoQ/v-deo.html
Although I was a guitar player (still am Now and Then) I played in 2 groups, one bassist had a Hofner, the other a Rickenbacker bass, so I know both. The R is superior tonally, no doubt, but the H is far easier to play, lighter and shorter scale. 6 hours on stage with the R is hell ( as is with a Les Paul)
Ya know, you can love all of Paul’s basses. I lean more toward appreciating the sentimental value of the original Hofner bass. But that’s just me. The Rick carries some sentimental value, and has superior technical and tone qualities, but it could never eclipse the original Hofner bass. For the benefit of rock fans I'd love to see Paul loan the Hofner to the R&R Hall of Fame to allow 1000s of fans to see it in person and stand in awe before it. The Smithsonian in Washington, DC would be my other choice for displaying the bass. Good video. Thanks.
Michael, unless it is a re-issue or replacement, I spotted Paul's 'stolen' bass in the background of the 'Find My Way' and 'Now & Then' videos, it's around 3 minutes into the 'Find My Way' video leaning up against an amp, in the N&T video, it's right there in his guitar rack...
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine no Michael, I mean specifically the refinished cavern 'Revolution' bass, there's an exact copy or the real thing in the Find My Way video, around the time t he screen turns into all those little boxes, it's there
Paul is now an old man, so it's realistic that he doesn't want to carry on with a heavy instrument as the Rickenbacker, also the Hofner was repaired to be more efficient at tuning stability, and with tones, well, the Rickenbacker could give some fantastic tones, but i prefer the less clacky tone of the Hofner, that was the bass that he used to record "I Want You (She's so Heavy)" and "Something".
Paul left it in the restroom of Howard Johnson’s on the turnpike on the first US tour. He was too excited to get one of their famous ice creams and forgot about the bass.
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine I believe he was being flippant. The bass was stolen. He never left it in a Howard Johnson’s restroom 😂 Especially because he was excited to get a scoop of their famous ice cream. I’m sure he didn’t even know Howard Johnson was popular for such a thing. And I’m pretty sure they never stopped in a Howard Johnson’s. They couldn’t go outside of the Plaza hotel, without being mobbed. How the heck are they gonna walk into a Howard Johnson? But it’s a cool funny tale I guess.
Paul was playing the violin bass on his 1990 tour touting how happy he was to drag it out again and he even showed the old Beatles set list from 1966 still taped to it. That was 33years ago. So how could the bass have gone missing for “50 years.?”
From what I’ve read paul still used a Hofner quite a bit into the mid sixties. I’m thinking taxman is a Hofner (?) I think the best sound he ever got in the Beatles was the jazz bass especially on while my guitar gently weeps. But it seems he didn’t favor that bass much. Great video as usual!
OK just something i saw here that adds to the sound discussion. ... If what I read is correct Paul played with a PICK yes? and that playing with that technique let Paul get a lot more out of it than other playing using other techniques
It's the instrument that took him from obscurity to world-wide fame. Part of Paul's great bass playing comes from his songwriting. Most of the Beatles tunes went in and out of various keys. Even if Paul just root-5th his way through his bass lines will be interesting. The Beatles were not the first to write songs in several keys, but they did popularize it.
Glad Macca got his bass back - some people are sentimental about things. I would be happy simply to know my stolen property was returned. I wouldn't have used a Hofner. I tried one in '70, and thought it was a dead old thing - had little response. It did have a nice "woody" acoustic/vintage tone though. The Ric had a more modern thing going for it, so if I had to make a choice I would go with that one.
Paul’s first Hofner was refinished and repaired in 1964…hence the pickup surround and the glossy finish…he moved to his RickenBACKer in 1965 for studio recording and it was used as a backup for the 1966 tours
I saw Paul in 1976 during the "Wings Over America" tour ( they sounded GREAT!). He was playing his Ric and since it was Wings, there was a minimum of Fab Four stuff. Now, of course, he's appearing as an ex-Beatle single artist and does mostly their content. Image-wise he's much more likely to use the Hof, but it seems to me the Ric gets used for Wings and solo material, or whenever Macca feels like playing it. I think it's true the Ric is much more tonally substantial than a Hof, but with the advances in live sound over the past five decades, I'm certain that the Hofner's tonal deficiencies "get fixed in the mix".
I saw "Wings Over America" in Denver; June 1976. The band was very good and they had a great four-piece horn section. Paul's vocals were unbelievably good.
Cool. As I recall, McNichols Sports Arena was brand new and the acoustics were vastly better than the old venue. Many good memories of Denver; Ebbets Field downtown was a great venue for smaller acts. I attended Arapahoe Community College in Littleton.
Dear Michael, I think you’re wrong here: it is not the tone of his bass that brought Paul McCartney onto the list of the best bass player in rock ‘n’ roll - it is WHAT he played on the bass!
This is one of those situations where you probably say "No questions asked". Just get it back to it's rightful owner. Sir Paul McCartney. Thanks Michael.
I do love the Iconic Hofner and what it was played on. As a musician, I have played both of those. As a fan of Chris Squire and Geddy Lee, well you know the Rick wins.
John Fogerty foolishly gave away one of his guitars early on and instantly regretted it. Many years later, his wife Julie tracked it down and brought it for a whole lot o money and gave it to a very grateful John
You can get those Hofner basses for about 600 or less and they have good ratings. A Rickenbacker would be my dream bass but at several grand I gotta pass. My Squire P and Jazz bases will do until my bass playing justifies a Ric. More performances done with the Ric than the Hofner were filmed, especially Wings stuff so that's the bass I associate with Paul.
Could easily clear £10m at auction. I wonder how much Brian May's Red Special would fetch? Enjoyed the vid. Cheers. PS re basses, as a guitarist, and occasional bass player, it would only ever be a P bass or a Rickenbacker: Lemmy, Squire, Macca etc.
I'd take the Rickenbacker. Being a Peter Hook kind of guy I'd have easier access to the high end of the neck. That original Hofner had a weird pickup configuration that throws me off visually. Plus there could be an issue if you like to use your pick or fingers near the bridge.
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine Didn't John Anderson sort of complain about Squire playing with his thumb as well as his fingers on the fretboard of his bass? And in the Unknown Pleasures era of Joy Division Peter Hook used a Hondo ll Rickenbacker copy as his bass before he graduated to a Yamaha.
This was the holy grail of lost instruments. Similar to Paul as Frampton getting his Black Beauty les paul back, or John Fogerty getting his red Rickenbacker 325 back after decades.
Paul bought the Hofner cheap, VERY lightweight, played left or right handed but tone limited. He was not originally a bass player, and the Mersey beat bass was a plod, see the first albums. The Beatles heard Beach Boys playing more dominant bass, and so did he, then he developed.. Finally with his ingenuity and the tones of the Rickenbacker, Paul came into his own.
I'd choose the Hofner, #1. It's easier to Play being a skinny shortscale neck, almost guitar like specs. #2 It's Hollow so can be played acousticly. #3. It's smaller, thus less unweildy #4. It's way lighter in Weight than a Rickenbacker. ..I can see why Paul chose it; aside from it's functionality, that little Hollowbody Archtop is a work of Art, baby! ..the little Bass that Could! Rock on Paul!🎉🔥👍😂
My response will end up being a short novel, but I appreciate this video and the question posed: Hofner or Rickenbacker? I'm making a blanket assumption that the reader is familiar with both manufacturers. I own fifteen (15!) Hofner basses, all violin body basses. Various years, various colors, various pickup types including a "Bass Boost" model. I love the look. Love the feel. Love the short scale. Love that they are super light-weight instruments and it's like you're playing next to nothing. That said, Hofner basses initially were made with whatever parts/pieces/electronics they had lying around. The early models were not consistent with each other. Equivalent to a degree? Yes. Exact? Nope. McCartney's initial Hofner bass (not the one he played that Sutcliffe owned) is now (somewhat incorrectly) labled the "Cavern Bass" This is the one in question that was stolen and now has been found. If you listen to the early recordings, I disagree with the notion that the Hofner lacks good bass tone, especially in the bass department. You can certainly hear the low notes, but that "punch" is what I believe most say is missing. Hofner basses are notorious in the fact that their low notes - when using amplifiers from the early 60's - were not rumbling. Sure, you can hear them, but those low notes didn't rattle your teeth. Proper bass amplifiers weren't even much of a thing initially, thus what we hear on the studio recordings required real engineering to make the bass noticeable. Listen to early MoTown records. Bass on those records? Most excellent - but back "in the day," bass wasn't something a small radio could reproduce, even record players couldn't reproduce deep bass tones. Thus, what we hear are thumpy almost tinny sounding notes, but not shake-your-body bass. Thus it's an unfair comparison to say that the Hofner lacked good bass response.....which it did way back then. Now, hooked up to proper equipment in 2024, I can take a Hofner bass made in 1961 and I promise you will feel the bass down to your toes. But, the Hofner has always best been in the mid-range. It's punchy *there* and it really shines through. Listen to "I Saw Her Standing There" (which Paul stole the bassline from another bassist - shame on you, Pauly!) You can just *feel* the bouncy bassline when he starts on the "E" note on the 3rd string. Every song on the first couple of albums - the bass is prominent as he does *most* of his work one octave (at least) above the lowest, which of course means he showed us his guitar skills applied to bass. Instead of playing the notes on the lowest registers, he was playing an octave higher. Thus, it's a bass playing more like a guitar. Take all of this, and you have a tone that most of us love (not all, that's okay). Take a Hofner in 2024 with modern equipment, and again, you will be able to blast the hair off of a naked chihuahua. I run my Hofner bass through a T-60 (well, T-100) bass replica that McCartney used (Vox) with a 600 watt head which is all being pushed through either my compression pedal or a Bass pod (dialed into that 60's sound) Now.....let's move on to the Ricky! I own a 4001 and a 4003. They are HEAVY! HEAVY! But, oh, boy, do they have a PUNCH! If you use the Rick-O-Sound (pull out the knob), you have a tone that is practically unbeatable. My opinion is that the Rick and Hofner share *similar* but not identical tones. But, consider what Paul was doing when he was given the Ricky. The way The Beatles recorded the sound - as discussed in the video - of the bass was tremendously different than how the Hofner bass was recorded. Eventually all of the bass was DI (Direct Inject) into the boards versus using amps (well, not always, but it did happen) and that, too, changed the tone/sound quality. .......and I could keep going on and on, but to summarize: They are two different instruments, used at two VERY different times in The Beatles careers, using different recording techniques, and Paul's style matured a LOT once he was using his Ricky. Too many factors to go into regarding "Which sounds better?" based on just The Beatles recordings. However, if you take The Beatles out of this and ask, "Which instrument do you prefer to play if you have to choose one over the other?" it comes down to a matter of preference of tone. If I plug my Hofner into my amp with no effects and my Rickenbacker the same, the tones are surely different. The Rick has MUCH more power to it naturally on the low bass end which the Hofner has a beautiful mid-range "thump" that is difficult to dislike. I will always love and prefer the Hofner over the Rick for multiple reasons, but I have recorded with both and played live with both. It's hard (for me) to not love the aesthetic and the feeling of the Hofner bass when I see it and hear it plugged into the Vox T-60 replica (with swivel tilt!). Now, all of this is purely my opinion, and I won't disparage differing viewpoints. Some people HATE Hofner basses worth a passion. To each her/his own. Play the instrument that feels and sounds right for you. I saw and heard a man in Memphis play beautiful blues through a cheap Peavy amp and an Epiphone bass. He made that bass *sing*. And he made that bass be a part of himself. That said, I'm glad I have the option to grab either my Hofner or a Rickenbacker. Hofner won my heart decades ago, and thus my choice is emotional versus logical. And that, I am a-okay with!
Hofners have three very strong pluses going for it. 1. It is extreamly light and eady in its handeling 2. For the guitar player the string spacing and neck is increadably easy to play and navagate. And finaly it really hass that quirky look thats almost boroque in its aestetic. Which i have to be honest . Im a complete suker for. But on the phonics? Yeah i guess it can leave a lot to be desired. And the rici has the upper hand in that i guess
Besides the Hofner being light weight having a shorter scale length makes it very desirable to play because you’re able to play things that you might be able to on a full size bass. I agree that sometimes the sonic quality is lacking and you can hear it being out of tune often, especially on higher neck positions. But still I think most people can get a warm fuzzy feel from the earthy woody tone on the Hofner. I saw the first appearance on Ed Sullivan and I noticed right away how interesting the violin shaped bass was. It’s not a bad tone, it just lacks the purity of a better bass, it’s got character.
Never seen a single photo of Paul playing a right handed Hofner Violin Bass, flipped upside down. Both of those Hofner basses, simetrical as they may be, ..are Left, Handed. Sir!🤷
It's not fair to compare, as the early Hofner period didn't have the technological wizardry of the later, say, Blue Jay Way rock era. Cheers from England.
I knew you’d do a great job covering this, Michael. The Hofner is the icon of course (and inspired Paul to develop the style he did), but as you mentioned he really dug in on the Ricky (with recording assistance from the great Geoff Emerick) to achieve even greater bass sounds on record. And of course most of the great Wings work was done on the Ric (along with the Kay, Fender Jazz, and Yamaha).
I love both basses for different reasons. I enjoy the “dead,” woody tone of the Hofner, but also the sustain of the Ric. Each is iconic and served a major function in Paul’s overall story. So glad he got the original Hofner back in his lifetime and I’m loving the stories of all these recovered instruments like Frampton’s Les Paul and Fogerty’s Rickenbacker.
Again, great job here Michael. Have a nice weekend.
I’m so sorry for the late response Bruce. This one really took awhile to edit, so I was up till early morning, and a just waking back up!
Once again, you jit several aspects of the whole Hofner vs Rickenbacker debate brother! Nice analysis! 🤔🎧❤️🏆
Now we need to find Johns Ric and Georges Gentleman, but i have a theory on who took those
@@paulweston285 which of Johns missing?
@@frankwalton7323 A Rickenbacker
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine Thank you my friend. Great job getting this one out so quickly. I really do wonder if we’ll ever see Paul bust out the Ric again onstage. 🤔
Paul's Hofner bass is the most iconic bass in rock history just as EVH's frankenstrat is the most iconic electric guitar
A vote for the Hofner registered SquareWheel! Got it! ❤❤❤👌
Mainly because of the STRAT part there would be no frankie, AND that Gibson PAF.
I so wish the masses would understand what you articulately said. Paul and John were equals in everyway and Geroge eventually caught up to them. And Ringo was integral. Definition of rare: A Rolling Stone ranking list where there is no substantial gap between Lennon and McCartney. If only people would think musically about it and forget all the anti-establishment garbage. This discovery is special in so many ways. Well done Michael.
Well said TrippleJazz! Perfectly said, in fact! 😉🤔🎧😉🏆❤️
Truly, the Whole was more than the sum of the Parts.
Arguing about who's better reminds me of the old "battle of the bands". Ooh, the bragging rights at the drive-in.
What made the group so good was the lead writers were so close in ability, genius really. With George and Ringo, you really had a supergroup. Very well said Michael. They were both equals with George catching up in the last 1/3rd of their career with the Beatles.
My experience with the Hofner violin bass is that its thuddy tone and short sustain brings it closer to the sound of an upright bass. IMO, it blends better tonally with acoustic string instruments than most solid body basses, at least in that application.
Paul was in his early 20's when he got the Ric. He's 81 now. He still plays long shows. I have a Hofner. They're light as a feather. Think about it.
Me too, although I have an inexpensive copy. It's a groovy bass (my favorite.)
Great point J! ❤❤❤
I was 15 when The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, so I feel I grew up with them. As I watch the many Beatles-oriented UA-cam channels and receive Facebook posts from Beatles-oriented groups, it just amazes me how the stars aligned not only talent-wise, but, just as importantly, visually, too. Paul's Hofner, Paul being left-handed, George's Gretsch, John's Rickenbacker, Ringo's Ludwig kit with the drop-T Beatles logo, and, of course, the hair, all, in retrospect seem the product of a genius at marketing, but it was all serendipity. Amazing.
I was 9 so it all seemed like magic to me! I got my first guitar that Christmas Jones! ❤❤❤
Yes, I saw them on June 20, 1965 at the Palais des Sports in Paris. I was going to high school there at the time while my father, in the Army, was stationed at SHAPE headquarters. They played, in order, Twist and Shout, She's a Woman, Can't Buy Me Love, I'm a Loser, I Wanna Be Your Man, Hard Day's Night, Baby's In Black, Rock 'n Roll Music, Everybody's Tryin' To Be My Baby, I Feel Fine, Ticket To Ride, and Long Tall Sally. They Yardbirdw opened for them,
Paul (and the other Beatles) did not care that much about their gears. Not as much as we do now. Paul said that his father taught him to be moderate when it came to spending money. And he also said that he cared about the songs more than the gears. Getting a very good sound engineer is another thing that he cared about. Paul and John were mostly singer/songwriters. Artists. Poets. Musicians. Not gear enthusiasts.
I'm calling bullshit on that - While Epiphone supplied them with whatever they wanted , every guitar player has a few that mean something - I've got 18 and I love all of em
@@davidrice3337 I'm not so sure.... I'm only a year younger than J ,P, G, & R, and took up guitar in1957, about a year after they did. At the time there was very little gear knowledge and what was available on a 14 year old's budget was not at all comparable to today's budget-level gear. and that was in the USA. The gear situation in the UK was much more dire. You couldn't get American instruments, and the European budget stuff was terrible. I don't wonder that The Lads and their contemporaries had to make do with gear we wouldn't touch and didn't do much collecting, even when the good stuff became available(though very expensive over there) and they had the pounds sterling to buy what they wanted. BTW Paul is now quite the collector of historically significant pieces. He owns Bill Black's standup bass from his Elvis days.
The Rickenbacker company owner Mr. Hall gave Paul his 4001S. Not stereo like a 4001, but great tone. He modified it a couple of times over the years and Rickenbacker upgraded it. The Hofner is iconic, but the Ricky is what makes "Come Together" so great.
That bass is a short scale bass , about 30 inch string length. That, along with a neck much like a guitar he was already used to playing, must of felt comfortable to him, and so he used that.
For me I Saw Her Standing There and All My Loving bass lines are what start to put Paul on the greatest bass player list. Plenty more tunes and the Rick was cool also. I hold they we’re both great basses but different and the music represents that.
Very good point here Rob. I’m not saying he wasn’t incredible before the Ricky. I just feel he got even better after, that’s all brother! 😉👌❤
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine yeah I agree, I mean Come Together, She’s So Heavy we’re so Rick! Conversely Something could’ve been either.
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine just as a side note I like your analysis on albums, bands etc. I don’t always agree but you establish your points so it’s not an argument but a retort of difference! Good job!
I'm with you I like the Rickenbacker better. It's got more punch. There's a scene in the get back movie where George says to Paul why don't you use your Rickenbacker and he says he likes the violin one because it's lighter. Great video man. See ya
Excellent point DayTripper! I shoulda used that in the video! ❤😉👌🏆⁉️
The Rickenbacker was not yet available at the time Paul bought the Hoffner. The Hoffner had a upright bass sound that Elvis was using, but Paul's was electrified for higher tones.
I’ve owned both and would go for the Hofner, hands down. The Ricky behaved like a large piece of furniture whereas the H. Just felt “right”. The neck is a bit too deep but at least I didn’t have to hoist it up with a crane. When you’re Chris Squire, no problem but, when you’re a tad taller than Prince…
Great point Gerard, and for smaller framed bassists, a valid point for sure! ❤❤❤
Once again, Michael, I tend to agree with you for the same reasons. I LOVE that deep tone of the Rickenbacker, which was used to such good effect of the 'Wings Over America' tour and album. But you're correct, the Hofner is ICONIC. I SAW McCartney some years back in Sheffield, UK. We were three rows back from the stage. The show opened with the Cirque du Soleil. After they finished, the silk screen came down and eventually, lit from behind the stage, the silhouette of McCartney holding up the Hofner by its neck. The arena erupted! It must be the most celebrated, ICONIC instrument of all time.
And that’s the power of an Icon Robert!
Of course I’m talking about Paul AND his Hofner! ❤❤❤❤
Me like the White Album Sunburst Jazz....but nothing beats the completely Paul bass tone he doops up in "I Will".
I played a short scale Fender for a few years. I loved it cause it helped increase my playing speed.
Such a great story. Just like Randy Bachman getting his stolen guitar back after 46 years, but the holy grail of lost and found instruments.
Thanks Larry, and you’re right! ❤❤❤
The Hofner, often referred to as The Beatle Bass, is the iconic LOOKING bass, made famous by Paul. I give the Hofner 5 stars for it's cool appearance and the fact that it was used on so many great Beatles songs and in concerets. However I never met a Bass player that chose the Hofner as their #1. Most tried the Hofner because of the history of Paul playing it, but preferred the tone of other basses. So I would give the Rickenbacker 5 stars on tone. Not part of the question, but my first choice for top Bass is the Fender Precision Bass.
An excellent assessment here Royce!
Somebody is up late tonight! Do I detect a fellow vampire?🧛👌😉❤
Don’t forget to vote on my latest Poll folks! Which is YOUR favorite bass guitar?
I agree, and I actually have a Hofner myself. It really depends on the kind of sound you’re trying to achieve. The problem with the Hofner in my opinion is the more condensed string spacing along with the short scale. It forces you to play it in a different way than with a more traditional long-scale instrument like a Precision or Jazz. Also the Hofner sounds more “woody” and “thuddy” and has very little sustain compared to anything else, and in that way more resembles an upright bass.
Having both a Höfner and a 64’ Rickenbacker I do tend to gravitate toward the Höfner most honestly I do get how it depends on what sound you’re going for but for most bass lines I always gravitate to the Höfner and it’s round wooden sound 😅
Paul finally got a Precision in the 70's.
Ditto. Excellent comment. Once I had a chance to try a Hofner and It was a deception. It was pretty hard to tune It and I am not a music Genius.
My fav is a Fender Jazz Bass
Wings Over American tour, beats it all!!
Can’t beat that Rickenbacker tone!
Absolutely-freakin’-lutely JojoMon! 😉👌❤
As long as it's Paul McCartney playing I don't care what bass he's playing.
There y’ go Red! ❤❤❤
I believe McCartney simply uses the Hofner bass for two reasons on stage. 1) his age has made it harder for him to use the Rickenbacker as it's quite heavy, and 2) the Hofner is an icon of the Beatles.
For me, sound wise, the Rickenbacker is far superior. I couldn't imagine the Wings albums not having that as the main bass guitar. Just listen to the songs "Mrs. Vanderbilt" or "Silly Love Songs". The bass is a killer on those. And then the "Wings Over America" tour would not have been the same had he not played the Rickenbacker on it. Just my two cents.
PS: My brother-in-law had both basses. He kept the Hofner but sold the Rickenbacker. He now regrets having done that. I remember it was blue and was amazing. I absolutely love good bass guitars. The Fender Jazz and Precision are also fantastic.
Some really great content here Nordicroo!
Ya nailed the basic Hofner vs Rickenbacker very well! Thanx!❤❤❤
When I hear Chris Squire or Geddy Lee play bass its that thunderous full sound of the Rick, Thats the sound I love and prefer to hear from Paul.
🌠Good Video mr Beatles..its the perfect bass 4 Paul & should be with Paul..Paul IS NOT ..Dead
Amen to that Gregory! Well said! ❤❤❤
amen froma tribe member@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine
Great news!!!!
In the studio, Paul played a Fender bass a lot too.
The biggest reason Paul like the Rick was the precision and ease of playing up high on the thin neck. Those riffs on Rain were slowed down - he played them a step up! That's where the Rick excelled. They generally weren't more"bassy" than a Hofner as witnessed by Chris Squire's grindy trebly Rick sound in Yes - but Paul and Geoff's mic'ing a woofer with a woofer well......woof !!! 🎸
Yes, Rickenbackers aren't that bassy and full sounding, unless you compress them a lot or you use the technique that they used to record them. I usually prefer basses with a bassier sound than the average bass that everybody seems to like (P-Basses, Jazz basses, Rickenbackers and active basses) and less nasal mid content, like the old Gibson models with the "mudbucker" pickup, the 70's Guilds with the "sludgbucker" pickups, the 70's Fender Telecasters with the Wide Range humbucker or the Ampeg AUB-1 basses.
The hofner would make any bass player work harder on their musical skills so by the time he first got a rickenbacker it would have really freed up his creativity
I agree with yuor assessment AbyssinianCat! ❤❤❤
Well, about 14 years ago (I almost died writing that), I recorded an album with a few classic rock studio musicians (one of which was on Double Fantasy) and I had the bass player play a Hofner on a bunch of tracks to get a "Beatles bass sound" into the recordings. He had a vintage one that was exactly like Paul's.
That thing was SUCH a pain in the ass. 😂 It hardly cut through the mix and needed SO much tuning. It cost me a ton of time trying to EQ it and in the end, it was the Rickenbacker sound I was really after.
The Hofner is a lot lighter than the Rick for an 80 year old to lug across a stage :) cool instrument, still sounds great!
Jazz bass 🥳
That's true Sam, good point!❤❤❤
Good topic. I think sound is important. I am a piano player so I am clueless about guitars.
I like Paul's left-hand. I am left-handed too.
Something about left handlers Catherine! My wife is left handed too, and my best friend growing up was too! I seem to gravitate towards them! ❤❤❤
Thanks Michael, You did a great job covering this story on the recovery of Paul’s original Horner. It’s up to Paul of course, as it would be really nice to hear him give his grateful response to having had it returned! I have a very cheap Chinese “knockoff” of the violin bass’s cousin, “The Club Bass,” (Sweewater) of which I’m sure you are familiar. Even though it’s about a pound heavier, the “Les Paul Shape…” (a la Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes) it’s a whole lot more comfortable playing it when seated! Thanks again. Ted Schempp, Nashville
Completely agree with you … the first one very iconic , and created a lot of gems … but listen for example to Hey Bulldog … MY GOD 😅😅😅❤️❤️❤️
Well said Nanoci! One my favorite Beatle songs btw! 😉👌❤
Saw Wings in '76, the bass tones from the Rickenbacher are obvious and special, esp. in songs like LETTING GO.
You're right about John and Paul. They were like the Ying and Yang. Both canceled the worst aspects of their songwriting and strengthened their best ideas. George was an apt student and was an equal to the Nurk Twins by the end.
If I had the money I would like to own Glen Buxton's white Gibson SG Custom that he used to record much of Love it To Death, Killer, and Schools Out. Alice Cooper drummer Neil Smith is supposed to own that guitar. The second guitar would be "Fast" Eddie Clark of Motorhead Fender Stratocaster he used to record much of much of Motorhead, Bomber, Overkill, and Ace of Spades.
My very first bass was the SG Christopher, and I LOVED it brother! Great choice! ❤❤❤
I had a 1964 German Hofner reissue for a year. If you're not playing early Beatles, there's no need for it. I've had a 1974 maple Ric 4001 since 1990 and will keep and play it for life.
The Hofner tone was an important part of the early Beatles sound. I own a Hofner (Chines made Hofner Ignition bass) and I love it. If someone gave me a Rickenbacker I would sell it and try to find a Peavey T40 bass. The T40 is an extremely versatile bass and is capable of emulating many of the top basses including the Rickenbacker. I also own a P Bass clone, a Davison (Walmart brand) that I purchased at a pawn shop for $50.00 and have converted it to a fretless bass. I started playing bass in 1968. I should add, that I write and play mostly acoustic music and the Hofner fits in beautifully with that style of music.
Thank you for another great video Mr Noland. 😊
So nice of you to say so Artax! Thanx so much!❤️😉👌🏆🤙
Bass player here . Had no idea that was a Rick on those recordings. Thanks for the education
Thanx Brendan! I’m a bass player as well,
A good book that covers how they did that with the Rickenbacker is Here, There, and Everywhere by their recording engineer Geoff Emerick! A fabulous read brother! 👌❤️🏆
Thank you for your Super Thanks! Your support is greatly appreciated!❤
The white Rickenbacker for me.. Love the sound and looks of it. Lemmy played one too, and Randy Meisner also played one around 1976/77.
Love putting the Hofner in a soft case strapped on to my back and going to a gig with a house PA! I've played the Rick and it is amazing but the price tag.
Oh now that’s a Packin’ bass Tom! Awesome! ❤❤❤
Mind blowing that this sat hidden somewhere! Cheers Michael
Thank you for the video. The Hofner has such iconic shape which suited the Beatles well, but the Rickenbacker has got that sound you cannot forget even with flat wound strings. I enjoy both but the Ricky wins foy me.
Totally agree Edward! I would Love to mess with both models to see what I could accomplish for sound! ❤❤❤
I’m glad they were able to locate it and return to its owner. I hope Höfner can release a limited edition hofner revolution bass with the correct arch back, i would love to get it.
Hi Mike. I’m happy Paul got his bass back first and foremost. Secondly, I guess the day wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t leave a comment on a bass video, right? I almost didn’t cuz I’m really not too familiar with either bass. Every Ric bass I’ve had my hands on I’ve blown out the door. As for Hofner, I’ve never even held one. I believe I can differentiate between the tonal qualities of each instrument though when listening to Beatles recordings. A couple that stick out for me is All You Need Is Love and Lucy. Here now is some seemingly simple playing and note choices…but go ahead and plug in and try em. You’ll soon be scratching your head as you’re rewinding the tape for the hundredth time to figure out what’s going on. I’m hearing the Ric on those two songs, and the Hofner on earlier material. He could play any bass and it’d sound like Paul M. playing really.
Nice assessment LuvBasses! I knew you’d come through! ❤👌😉🏆
I am a lefty as well. I got a Higher 5 years ago, it's not good for tuning(I switched from a right handed bass). Would love a Richy, but, happy tuning for now.
There y’ go Mike! ❤❤❤
I have a Chinese Hofner and it sounds and plays great!
Way back when I was just a little shaver ( I couldn't have been any older than 8 or 9 at the time ) I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show for the first time I saw Paul playing his violin Hofner bass which was a treat for me because I never knew such a thing even existed. 😊😊
I think the Rickenbacker was revealed to the general public in the Hello Goodbye video. Before then I think most people believed they were still hearing the Hoffner which is what he played in the Paperback Writer and Rain videos so yes the Hoffner was considered a key part of the image. The Epiphone Casinos were a surprise at the same time and so was the SG to those of us who cared about such things. Thanks for sharing the good news.
All You Need Is Love was before Hello Goodbye wasn't it?
@@bryemycaz yeah you're right. I am from USA I don't think it played here.
Since he started using the Hofner for his live shows some 20 years ago he has always been able to obtain the sounds that corresponded to any particular Beatle song he chose for his set list. The reason for this is simple: modern amplification plus modern EQ equipment, and of course great sound men in his crew allow him to reproduce any of his sounds over the years.
I like all of the basses The Beatles used, The two hofners, the rick, the jazz, the VI, even that funky burns nu sonic bass. They all have their place.
But I wouldn't say the Rick has "better" tone than the hofner, just different tones.
Anyone that's listened to a Hofner plugged in to a modern amp or DI knows it has *plenty* of low end, Tame impala made great use of them for a while. It's practically an upright.
The lack of a clear bottom end on the early records was due to bass amplification and recording limitations i.e recording to vinyl. If I recall correctly, the Let It Be album was all D.I. bass, and the hofner with tapewounds has plenty of thump,
Paul also didn't purchase the Rick, it was given to him, but he did go to prefer it as his main studio bass because of it's better intonation, and how much more in tune up it played up the neck.
Well, its one grail, now we need to focus our efforts on finding James Jamerson's bass.
And Brian Jones's electric dulcimer stolen at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Mass in 1966
Like others have said in the comments! I couldn’t wait to see Your video above all others coming out!
You're the best Chris! Thanx to everybody for their support! ❤❤❤
Man! Best video on the subject no one has this much info about the basses! Thanks Micheal! Just never understood why he didn’t prefer a Fender though!
Glad you enjoyed it Chris! He owns several Fenders, as did George. He actually has a whole line-up of basses! ❤❤❤
So glad its back. I hope it ends up in a Beatles museum like the one in Liverpool
Being what its worth it would have to be very secure, personally i think it will end up in the London museum where security is water tight.
I'm not a bass player, but i think the Rickenbacker had a "fuller" tone. I guess i could ascribe that to the pickups, possibly. In the "Free As A Bird" sessions, I think he used the Hofner, though. I think he prefers the Hofner now because of the iconic look, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot more comfortable for a guy in his 80's to play!
I've learned that Paul also used the Fender bass a lot in the late years of The Beatles. And the Fender bass is even more distinct thsn the Rickenbacker. It means that when we think Paul is playing Rickenbacker, he's really plays a Fender.
Absolutely fantastic have a good weekend ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
I own a inexpensive copy of a violin bass. Because of the modern CNC woodcutting, and other advanced manufacturing, it's a nice instrument, and comparing it to a Hofner, it's close in sound. I have other P-style, and J-style economy basses, so I can compare these with the violin bass. As you say, correctly (from my expererience) the violin bass kind of poops out a bit on the very low notes. This is particularly noticable on the low G (fattest string, 3 rd fret), it's a bit reduced in umph, compared to the higher notes. (I suspect that short scale basses do this in general, as another economy 95% scale, solid body bass, that I have, does the same thing.) This being said, this is part of the ambiance of a violin bass. You kind of expect that, like you'd expect more viseral ride in a VW Bug. It's part of the expereince. Where the violin bass shines though, is in the plunky, slightly nasally, tone. It gets a bit of a woody sound, that the solid body basses don't get. It's kind of a unique sound, but it's beautiful in it's own way. A person looking for deep bass, might not like this as a choice. For a person who is more interested in "character of sound", this might be a good choice. Also, the size (I have a 30" scale version) of the bass, and the light weight character of the bass, make it very comfortable to use. This is not to mention it's beautiful visual appeal. These basses are available from a variety of sellers, some of them being very affordable. I'd encourage people to get one of these, so as to have another color in their bass tonal palette. If you're curious, I'll demonstrate how short scale basses lose umph on the low notes, by showing you one of my tunes that I recorded with a solid body, P-style, short scale bass. Here is a link. ua-cam.com/video/FlMYYEuOgoQ/v-deo.html
Although I was a guitar player (still am Now and Then) I played in 2 groups, one bassist had a Hofner, the other a Rickenbacker bass, so I know both. The R is superior tonally, no doubt, but the H is far easier to play, lighter and shorter scale. 6 hours on stage with the R is hell ( as is with a Les Paul)
Ya know, you can love all of Paul’s basses. I lean more toward appreciating the sentimental value of the original Hofner bass. But that’s just me. The Rick carries some sentimental value, and has superior technical and tone qualities, but it could never eclipse the original Hofner bass. For the benefit of rock fans I'd love to see Paul loan the Hofner to the R&R Hall of Fame to allow 1000s of fans to see it in person and stand in awe before it. The Smithsonian in Washington, DC would be my other choice for displaying the bass. Good video. Thanks.
Ah, Hem...The British Museum would like a word... 😉
Michael, unless it is a re-issue or replacement, I spotted Paul's 'stolen' bass in the background of the 'Find My Way' and 'Now & Then' videos, it's around 3 minutes into the 'Find My Way' video leaning up against an amp, in the N&T video, it's right there in his guitar rack...
He did get at least 1 replacement for it in 1963, which he used on their A Hard Day’s Night album Lee! ❤❤❤
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine no Michael, I mean specifically the refinished cavern 'Revolution' bass, there's an exact copy or the real thing in the Find My Way video, around the time t he screen turns into all those little boxes, it's there
Paul is now an old man, so it's realistic that he doesn't want to carry on with a heavy instrument as the Rickenbacker, also the Hofner was repaired to be more efficient at tuning stability, and with tones, well, the Rickenbacker could give some fantastic tones, but i prefer the less clacky tone of the Hofner, that was the bass that he used to record "I Want You (She's so Heavy)" and "Something".
Dont Let Me Down sounds pretty amazing too (Hofner). I love them both.
Paul left it in the restroom of Howard Johnson’s on the turnpike on the first US tour. He was too excited to get one of their famous ice creams and forgot about the bass.
I hadn’t heard this story Tod! Thanx for the additional info brother! 😉👌🏆❤
If this is true, he got it back. It was nicked from a truck in ‘72
Good news - happy for Paul. Nice job of covering this story, Michael 🔥👍🏻😎
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine I believe he was being flippant. The bass was stolen. He never left it in a Howard Johnson’s restroom 😂
Especially because he was excited to get a scoop of their famous ice cream. I’m sure he didn’t even know Howard Johnson was popular for such a thing. And I’m pretty sure they never stopped in a Howard Johnson’s. They couldn’t go outside of the Plaza hotel, without being mobbed. How the heck are they gonna walk into a Howard Johnson? But it’s a cool funny tale I guess.
Didn't he use it on the let it be rooftop concert? If so he still had it in 1969.
Love the sound of his Rickenbacker bass on Hey Bulldog. Has a nice punchy sound to it !
Paul was playing the violin bass on his 1990 tour touting how happy he was to drag it out again and he even showed the old Beatles set list from 1966 still taped to it. That was 33years ago. So how could the bass have gone missing for “50 years.?”
😂 the warping of time and bending of light? Either that or because Paul was dead? Lol
I've been following this story for years, this is awesome!!
Jack ~'()'~ Canada
All You Need is Bass.☮️
Holier words I’ve not read regarding music Adam! ❤❤❤
From what I’ve read paul still used a Hofner quite a bit into the mid sixties. I’m thinking taxman is a Hofner (?) I think the best sound he ever got in the Beatles was the jazz bass especially on while my guitar gently weeps. But it seems he didn’t favor that bass much. Great video as usual!
That thing belongs in a museum
His kids might do just that one day.
Wrong, it belongs to Paul, and hat should be up to him if he wants to display it in a museum
@@rayreilly5071 And when hes gone ?
OK just something i saw here that adds to the sound discussion. ... If what I read is correct Paul played with a PICK yes? and that playing with that technique let Paul get a lot more out of it than other playing using other techniques
It's the instrument that took him from obscurity to world-wide fame. Part of Paul's great bass playing comes from his songwriting. Most of the Beatles tunes went in and out of various keys. Even if Paul just root-5th his way through his bass lines will be interesting. The Beatles were not the first to write songs in several keys, but they did popularize it.
Glad Macca got his bass back - some people are sentimental about things. I would be happy simply to know my stolen property was returned.
I wouldn't have used a Hofner. I tried one in '70, and thought it was a dead old thing - had little response. It did have a nice "woody" acoustic/vintage tone though. The Ric had a more modern thing going for it, so if I had to make a choice I would go with that one.
Paul’s first Hofner was refinished and repaired in 1964…hence the pickup surround and the glossy finish…he moved to his RickenBACKer in 1965 for studio recording and it was used as a backup for the 1966 tours
I saw Paul in 1976 during the "Wings Over America" tour ( they sounded GREAT!). He was playing his Ric and since it was Wings, there was a minimum of Fab Four stuff. Now, of course, he's appearing as an ex-Beatle single artist and does mostly their content. Image-wise he's much more likely to use the Hof, but it seems to me the Ric gets used for Wings and solo material, or whenever Macca feels like playing it. I think it's true the Ric is much more tonally substantial than a Hof, but with the advances in live sound over the past five decades, I'm certain that the Hofner's tonal deficiencies "get fixed in the mix".
I saw "Wings Over America" in Denver; June 1976. The band was very good and they had a great four-piece horn section. Paul's vocals were unbelievably good.
@@robertvavra414 That's the show I saw!
Cool. As I recall, McNichols Sports Arena was brand new and the acoustics were vastly better than the old venue. Many good memories of Denver; Ebbets Field downtown was a great venue for smaller acts. I attended Arapahoe Community College in Littleton.
Is it the Hofner or Rickenbaker on the “ I feel fine “ feedback ?
I believe it was McCartne’s Hofner on that cut Larry! What say The Tribe? ❤❤❤
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine Lennon's J-160E leaning against an amp, did it initially by accident, then they had to recreate that while recording...
Dear Michael, I think you’re wrong here: it is not the tone of his bass that brought Paul McCartney onto the list of the best bass player in rock ‘n’ roll - it is WHAT he played on the bass!
I agree, but with the Ricky, he had a wider palette and I think it inspired him Axel! But good point! ❤❤❤
This is one of those situations where you probably say "No questions asked". Just get it back to it's rightful owner. Sir Paul McCartney. Thanks Michael.
I do love the Iconic Hofner and what it was played on. As a musician, I have played both of those. As a fan of Chris Squire and Geddy Lee, well you know the Rick wins.
The Bass shown at 0.29 looks different in color to the bass at 2.30 the black between the picks ups etc
Yeah, Ive noticed that too! I think he musta had work done to it Paul? Hmm… ❤❤❤🤔
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine Yes your right i since found out he had it re painted
John Fogerty foolishly gave away one of his guitars early on and instantly regretted it. Many years later, his wife Julie tracked it down and brought it for a whole lot o money and gave it to a very grateful John
Yeah, John has got a lot of stuff back in recent times Rich! Spot on! ❤❤❤
Well, I think the Hoffner is a nostalgia trip, nothing like the Rickenbacker sound
Hofner set up right…plays nicely and sounds great.. The rick definitely has its own unique sound…
You can get those Hofner basses for about 600 or less and they have good ratings. A Rickenbacker would be my dream bass but at several grand I gotta pass. My Squire P and Jazz bases will do until my bass playing justifies a Ric. More performances done with the Ric than the Hofner were filmed, especially Wings stuff so that's the bass I associate with Paul.
Yeah me too, and I was there originally for the Hofner SG! But the Ricky? As Crocodile Dundee might say: “Now THAT’S a Bass!” 🤠😉❤
The design of the Rickenbacker is so beautiful. Maybe favorite looking bass. Do you know what he used to record Abbey Road?
Could easily clear £10m at auction. I wonder how much Brian May's Red Special would fetch? Enjoyed the vid. Cheers.
PS re basses, as a guitarist, and occasional bass player, it would only ever be a P bass or a Rickenbacker: Lemmy, Squire, Macca etc.
I'd take the Rickenbacker. Being a Peter Hook kind of guy I'd have easier access to the high end of the neck. That original Hofner had a weird pickup configuration that throws me off visually. Plus there could be an issue if you like to use your pick or fingers near the bridge.
And my all time favorite bass player barely beating out McCartney is Chris Squire, and he was a Ricky man as well Michael! 🤔🎧🏆❤
@@MichaelNoland-TheBottomLine Didn't John Anderson sort of complain about Squire playing with his thumb as well as his fingers on the fretboard of his bass? And in the Unknown Pleasures era of Joy Division Peter Hook used a Hondo ll Rickenbacker copy as his bass before he graduated to a Yamaha.
This was the holy grail of lost instruments. Similar to Paul as Frampton getting his Black Beauty les paul back, or John Fogerty getting his red Rickenbacker 325 back after decades.
I also liked the Yamaha BB-1200 bass guitar he used.
Paul bought the Hofner cheap, VERY lightweight, played left or right handed but tone limited.
He was not originally a bass player, and the Mersey beat bass was a plod, see the first albums.
The Beatles heard Beach Boys playing more dominant bass, and so did he, then he developed..
Finally with his ingenuity and the tones of the Rickenbacker, Paul came into his own.
I'd choose the Hofner, #1. It's easier to Play being a skinny shortscale neck, almost guitar like specs. #2 It's Hollow so can be played acousticly. #3. It's smaller, thus less unweildy #4. It's way lighter in Weight than a Rickenbacker. ..I can see why Paul chose it; aside from it's functionality, that little Hollowbody Archtop is a work of Art, baby! ..the little Bass that Could! Rock on Paul!🎉🔥👍😂
My response will end up being a short novel, but I appreciate this video and the question posed: Hofner or Rickenbacker?
I'm making a blanket assumption that the reader is familiar with both manufacturers. I own fifteen (15!) Hofner basses, all violin body basses. Various years, various colors, various pickup types including a "Bass Boost" model. I love the look. Love the feel. Love the short scale. Love that they are super light-weight instruments and it's like you're playing next to nothing. That said, Hofner basses initially were made with whatever parts/pieces/electronics they had lying around. The early models were not consistent with each other. Equivalent to a degree? Yes. Exact? Nope.
McCartney's initial Hofner bass (not the one he played that Sutcliffe owned) is now (somewhat incorrectly) labled the "Cavern Bass" This is the one in question that was stolen and now has been found. If you listen to the early recordings, I disagree with the notion that the Hofner lacks good bass tone, especially in the bass department. You can certainly hear the low notes, but that "punch" is what I believe most say is missing. Hofner basses are notorious in the fact that their low notes - when using amplifiers from the early 60's - were not rumbling. Sure, you can hear them, but those low notes didn't rattle your teeth. Proper bass amplifiers weren't even much of a thing initially, thus what we hear on the studio recordings required real engineering to make the bass noticeable. Listen to early MoTown records. Bass on those records? Most excellent - but back "in the day," bass wasn't something a small radio could reproduce, even record players couldn't reproduce deep bass tones. Thus, what we hear are thumpy almost tinny sounding notes, but not shake-your-body bass. Thus it's an unfair comparison to say that the Hofner lacked good bass response.....which it did way back then. Now, hooked up to proper equipment in 2024, I can take a Hofner bass made in 1961 and I promise you will feel the bass down to your toes.
But, the Hofner has always best been in the mid-range. It's punchy *there* and it really shines through. Listen to "I Saw Her Standing There" (which Paul stole the bassline from another bassist - shame on you, Pauly!) You can just *feel* the bouncy bassline when he starts on the "E" note on the 3rd string. Every song on the first couple of albums - the bass is prominent as he does *most* of his work one octave (at least) above the lowest, which of course means he showed us his guitar skills applied to bass. Instead of playing the notes on the lowest registers, he was playing an octave higher. Thus, it's a bass playing more like a guitar.
Take all of this, and you have a tone that most of us love (not all, that's okay). Take a Hofner in 2024 with modern equipment, and again, you will be able to blast the hair off of a naked chihuahua. I run my Hofner bass through a T-60 (well, T-100) bass replica that McCartney used (Vox) with a 600 watt head which is all being pushed through either my compression pedal or a Bass pod (dialed into that 60's sound)
Now.....let's move on to the Ricky!
I own a 4001 and a 4003. They are HEAVY! HEAVY! But, oh, boy, do they have a PUNCH! If you use the Rick-O-Sound (pull out the knob), you have a tone that is practically unbeatable. My opinion is that the Rick and Hofner share *similar* but not identical tones. But, consider what Paul was doing when he was given the Ricky. The way The Beatles recorded the sound - as discussed in the video - of the bass was tremendously different than how the Hofner bass was recorded. Eventually all of the bass was DI (Direct Inject) into the boards versus using amps (well, not always, but it did happen) and that, too, changed the tone/sound quality.
.......and I could keep going on and on, but to summarize: They are two different instruments, used at two VERY different times in The Beatles careers, using different recording techniques, and Paul's style matured a LOT once he was using his Ricky. Too many factors to go into regarding "Which sounds better?" based on just The Beatles recordings. However, if you take The Beatles out of this and ask, "Which instrument do you prefer to play if you have to choose one over the other?" it comes down to a matter of preference of tone. If I plug my Hofner into my amp with no effects and my Rickenbacker the same, the tones are surely different. The Rick has MUCH more power to it naturally on the low bass end which the Hofner has a beautiful mid-range "thump" that is difficult to dislike.
I will always love and prefer the Hofner over the Rick for multiple reasons, but I have recorded with both and played live with both. It's hard (for me) to not love the aesthetic and the feeling of the Hofner bass when I see it and hear it plugged into the Vox T-60 replica (with swivel tilt!).
Now, all of this is purely my opinion, and I won't disparage differing viewpoints. Some people HATE Hofner basses worth a passion. To each her/his own. Play the instrument that feels and sounds right for you. I saw and heard a man in Memphis play beautiful blues through a cheap Peavy amp and an Epiphone bass. He made that bass *sing*. And he made that bass be a part of himself. That said, I'm glad I have the option to grab either my Hofner or a Rickenbacker. Hofner won my heart decades ago, and thus my choice is emotional versus logical.
And that, I am a-okay with!
I have a rickenbacker and hofner bass. If where to be stuck on a desert island......the rick wins hands down.
Now that’s whayt I’m talkin’ about David! ❤❤❤
Both paul and George had fender jazz basses they received at the begging of recording abby road.
Hofners have three very strong pluses going for it. 1. It is extreamly light and eady in its handeling 2. For the guitar player the string spacing and neck is increadably easy to play and navagate. And finaly it really hass that quirky look thats almost boroque in its aestetic. Which i have to be honest . Im a complete suker for.
But on the phonics? Yeah i guess it can leave a lot to be desired. And the rici has the upper hand in that i guess
The Hofner sound belongs to the early Beatles songs and I think most people don‘t recognize the Ric bass as a „Beatles guitar“ at all.
Besides the Hofner being light weight having a shorter scale length makes it very desirable to play because you’re able to play things that you might be able to on a full size bass. I agree that sometimes the sonic quality is lacking and you can hear it being out of tune often, especially on higher neck positions. But still I think most people can get a warm fuzzy feel from the earthy woody tone on the Hofner. I saw the first appearance on Ed Sullivan and I noticed right away how interesting the violin shaped bass was. It’s not a bad tone, it just lacks the purity of a better bass, it’s got character.
the Ric, because of the tone, Listen to the bass on Bull Dog, as a prime example
Never seen a single photo of Paul playing a right handed Hofner Violin Bass, flipped upside down. Both of those Hofner basses, simetrical as they may be, ..are Left, Handed. Sir!🤷
It's not fair to compare, as the early Hofner period didn't have the technological wizardry of the later, say, Blue Jay Way rock era.
Cheers from England.