Customer Reviews

Hofner Violin Beatle Bass

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was very disappointed in this book. After waiting 26 years for more info on Paul's bass, this edition is pretty thin. The author has many good pictures of vintage instruments, but he could have included so much more. There is no info on current players, construction details, care and maintenance, or tips and techniques. The author is obviously a Paul fan, which is ok, but their are other dimensions to this story. If you are looking for a "owner's manual" for your Hofner, this isn't it. If you want pictures of your bass, you will be happy. Go on and buy it!

This book could have provided the Hofner enthusiast with more. There is just basic information on some of the models and some pictures. It is missing so much on the bass that was made famous by McCartney. It was kind of a let down but if your happy with some basic info and a few pics then this book could be for you.

There is so much one could say about this guitar. Joe Dunn makes little effort.

Photos obviously cropped from old catalogs (you can see the fold where it was once crumpled up), or distorted because the page it was on was not photographed flat, out-of-focus photos snapped in back yards, abstract paintings by a friend of his of the 500/1 serve to pad out an already very slender volume.

The only reason I kept it was for the photo of Paul's first 61 model in it's refurbished state (new pickup mounts and resprayed). Joe's photo shows Paul playing this instrument, which complements Andy Babiuk's "Beatles Gear" photo showing Paul (from the same Thank Your Lucky Stars broadcast; tuning it. With both these photos together we get to see the entire guitar in its new livery. Andy, however, gives us much more information. Andy also shows it again, "backstage", as a backup guitar to the 62 model whilst the Beatles are playing in the USA.

Several photos of early models merely serve to illustrate the complex history of the instrument which this book could have addressed had it tried. And what about the instrument itself? How about a mention about the very odd wiring of the control panel, the unique (fragile) pickup mounting technique, things like that? H'm.

Nothing here you couldn't find on the internet in better quality.

I found this book to be very informative. I can now identify my hofner Bass 500/1 and its year of manufacture with confidence.

Interesting read and really the only one of it's kind on the subject.
Nice presentation hard cover.
I suspect there are some factual errors but only one or two.
Main complaint would be sloppy editing - some page number and image references are wrong.

Mr. Dunn's book is way short on content, but sheds some light on the mysticism that surrounds the history of dating Hofner 500/1s (Beatle Bass). It's valuable for the photos and as a resource in attempting to date these guitars.

This book is great- I've learned a lot more about Hofner bass'. I am constantly refering back to it.

Very detailed and in a hardback as well. Bonus!!
Thanks amazon!!
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