A "golden parachute" for the Hofner?
Did Shirley Temple Black continue to wear her hair in pin curls when she served as a United States Ambassador?
Did Bob Denver continue to wear his “Gilligan” cap into his 70s?
OK, he did. But did Chastity keep her vagina as she entered manhood?
My point is, it’s not like Paul McCartney is genetically incapable, like Townsman E. Pluribus Gergely’s Holy Trinity of Rock icon, Peter Noone, of shaking his dreamboat, teenybopper persona.
It’s not like the Hofner “Beatle” bass actually adds to his sound, is it? Did you ever listen to McCartney’s stunning and well-recorded bass work on any Beatles album from the time he began using the Rickenbackerand think, “Boy, this would have sounded a lot better had Paul used his Hofner!”
Do you think this song would have sounded better on the Hofner? How about this one? Is it funny that the Hofner was still the bass of choise for the promo video when the “Paperback Writer”/”Rain” single is considered to be the first recordings to fully take advantage of Paul’s Rickenbacker. (He did use the Hofner in concert right until the end of the band’s touring days, you know.)
Did the Hofner first make its return appearance in the rooftop jam in Let it Be, the film documenting the making of the album originally entitled Get Back? That was understandable and a treat for Beatles fans. Even in the 1980s, when McCartney would whip out the Hofner, the trick never got old. How lovingly are the curves and battered wood of the Hofner captured in the video for “My Brave Face?” It’s not for nothing that this model Hofner was originally described as a “violin bass.” It’s round and smooth, like a woman.
Today the Hofner strikes me as a desperate, juvenile tie back to his youthful Beatles’ persona, which to me, is only part of the story. Paul proudly flew the Rick through the highs of Wings. These days he’s abdicated the Rick mantle for Chris Squire, Lemmy, and Bruce Foxton to fight over. It was a proud bass and a key part of his adult persona, but I’m not suggesting he tie himself to that bass either, only that he give the Hofner a rest.
Maybe there’s a highly reasonable explanation: the guy is nearing 70, and Rick basses are heavy. If this is the case, the Hofner will be granted an extension; otherwise, I will recommend mandatory retirement. Is there any other case for keeping the Hofner in play?
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I think you’re overreaching here Mr. Mod. That Hofner has served him well over the years and I admire his loyalty. I would imagine that every time he straps it on, he has to smile a bit for all they’ve been through together. Plus, Rick are heavy … the guy’s like 80 years old, right?
What’s next … you want to take away Linus’s blanket?
Face it, Mod. You want him to learn to play the Chapman Stick.
In ’89, when the Hofner made its return, he did remark that is especially great for playing live, because it’s so light, enabling him to move around more.
I think it’s impressive that one of the richest rock stars in the world doesn’t feel the need to bring out a truck of expensive instruments. He could buy 100 expensive vintage instruments and 100 expensive new custom instruments a year if he wanted to. Or he could use concerts to show off his entire army of instruments. Instead, he works with what works best for him, which happens to be in this case a bass he’s had for almost 40 years.
I think if he painstakingly used the instruments from the studio versions for every live rendition, we’d be giving him crap for self-consciously trying to appeal to the nerdiest segment of his fanbase (i.e. us). Sticking to the Hofner — even if the Rick might sound “better” — to me says, “This is my favorite bass. It will remind many people of my Beatle past, but I also like to play it. If you don’t like it, tough shit.”
Sure, you guys are making good arguments in favor of keeping the Hofner in play, but to those Townspeople I sense sagely nodding their heads in silent agreement with me I say, “Don’t thank me for taking this stance in public next time we run into each other on the street!”
This is a difficult, unpopular move I’m proposing, and I commend those of you who are compelled to argue against it. If the Hofner wasn’t such a “kid-sized” bass I may not feel so uncomfortable seeing him play it. And yes, this is partly about my comfort with an aging hero.
Light is one factor, “short scale” may be the bigger one. The Hoffner is closer to a guitar in length of neck. Paul plays a style of bass where he mutes the strings with his palm and plays the notes with a pick. The short scale bass helps with this, they are much easier to play. Sting has this same style (with no pick) and it looks like he has to wrestle his bass sometimes to do this.
At least Paul gave up the 5 string Wal bass from the late 80’s (Rough Ride, Figure Of Eight)
Overall, I’m ok with the Hof for what he is doing now.
PS – I bought one and could not play it at all, looked stupid with it, went back to a Jazz Bass and Epiphone Jack Cassady holow-body bass – both full 34″ scale. Looked and felt like a toy (and an expensive one at that)
Hey Mr. Mod, how is Paul’s Hofner different from Neil Young’s Old Black? Or do you think Old Black should be retired too?
My position on this transcends ageist arguments. I never liked the Hofner Bass. I think that it looks stupid but I acknowledge that I am very close minded when it comes to what I consider to be cool looking instruments. So I don’t see why he should stop playing it now. It’s not like Rickenbacker basses are SO cool either.
I remember when I saw Mc in concert in 1990, amazing seats, around the 10th row, once I got over the initial “oh my God, that’s really Paul McFreakinCartney!” the next thought was “oh my God, that’s THE HOFNER VIOLIN BASS!” God knows I understand, and understood then, how geeky that is. But, still. Play on, Paul. Keep the bass, lose the dye job.
I’m straddling the fence on this one. I like the idea of the Hofner being trotted out occasionally — and unceremoniously; that’s important — as part of a mix where sounds are matched to songs. I have no problem with proper showbiz deployment of celebrity gear; it’s when the bass becomes a kind of performance viagra that there’s a problem. You’re right for having spotted the emergence of that trend.
Two things disturb me most about Today’s Paul playing the Hofner:
1) It’s so tied to the Beatlemania aspect of Paul’s career, which is in my opinion most unbecoming among the musical achievements a nearly 70-year-old man should be promoting. What he’s telling me is he craves the adoration of 16-year-old girls wetting their seats above all else he’s ever achieved.
2) It’s a kid-size bass that now looks like a quaint toy. It’s the bass equivalent of Toy Story’s Woody. I love my old “chopper” bike with a huge banana seat and sissy bar and dream of coming across it again one day, but do you really want to see 47-year-old me riding down the street on that thing let alone the 68-year-old version of me I hope to reach?
Good points, HVB. Please vote for my point of view.
Yeah, the 16-year-old girls, then and now, really went for that Hofner bass.
Mod, you are the leading proponent for what I consider to be one of RTH’s most important contributions to the discussion of rock: the concept of Rock Superpowers.
I would say to you, the Hofner Bass belongs to the rarified class of Legendary Rock Weapons. No one would suggest that Captain America lose his shield, Thor dump his hammer, Batman trash his utility belt or that King Arthur should have ditched Excalibur well before he went to sleep.
I say the Hofner has achieved enough legendary status that he’s free to use it until it breaks, like Wonderboy splitting in The Natural. I suppose, ideally, he would have shattered it on the ground in grief when those reporters asked him about Lennon, but alas.
GREAT counter-argument, alexmagic! You have reminded me of one of my favorite underrated superhero teams of my youth:
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/m/miteher2.jpg
Which one do you think represents Paul and his Hofner?
I voted to retire it. I understand it’s talismanic power, and I think it would be fine to bring it out to play one song, say I Saw Her Standing There or something. Using it as his regular bass in concert actually dilutes its power.
Also I noticed on the SNL broadcast that the thing is modified with a modern pickup in the neck position (maybe the bridge one too, but I couldn’t see it). Check a clip of the recent SNL performance against the photo at the top of this thread or against the clip posted in the thread last week of the 1993 performance to see the difference.
Is Paul now playing the actual original? Or some modified copy of it? Remember the story about how it still had the setlist from the last concert taped to the top when he brought it out of retirement? That’s obviously gone. I think I’ve outgrown my belief in the Hof.
Most Rickenbacker basses are heavy, though I have played on an old 4001 which was incredibly light, so I kind of wonder how much McCartney’s Rick actually weighs. As far as the Hofner is concerned, Paul realizes he’s been a cartoon icon for quite some time, so the Hofner befits his status. Though with the Band on the Run revival, would it kill him to employ the Rick and a sparkly purple shirt?
Mod, this second point of yours does not ring true. If the Hof was just some oddball instrument that he discovered halfway through his career, like, say, Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar, you wouldn’t hold it against him.
Why would I have a problem with Buckingham playing a quirky guitar he discovered midway through his career? That’s different than toting around his Woody doll for 50 years. Buckingham’s like a guy who find a lucite Dan Armstrong at the age of 30. Go for it! McCartney’s like Linus with his blanket. Put it away! For that matter, it’s time for Willie Nelson to retire that stupid-ass acoustic guitar that’s hanging together by splinters. Are his ponytails, macrome guitar strap, and weed not enough security for him? Sheeeeet!
That’s awfully insensitive of you, or are you really going to claim that you’ve never heard of the “Haircut Heard Around the World”?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20006125-10391698.html
That’s right, I forgot he finally took my advice on the pigtails. Do you support me on his need to retire that acoustic? I’ll break the news gently.
I think it’s a beautiful instrument, and Paul looks good wearing it. It’s an absolute classic, like putting on a tuxedo. And a tuxedo always looks good.
It’s also a tool. Paul is considering all the requirements of the job he’s about to undertake, and he’s reaching for the best hammer in the tool box; one that’s not too heavy, not too big, good torque. Don’t laugh at the old contractor who has his favorite hammer just because it’s too evocative of his younger contracting days. Don’t demand that he change his hammer on each two by four. Stick with what works best.
Oh yeah, Mr. Mod, you’re a tool too. Next time we’re jahm-ing, look down at the instrument each of us is wearing. Those young man axes might be due for retirement. But not when my 16 year old fans are still wetting their seats.
Paul shouldn’t be playing any bass, anywhere. Just retire man!
I find the Hofner a strange instrument not to my own Rock Liking, but I think alexmagic makes a great point about it being a Legendary Rock Weapon. As such, it should not be retired, however nor should it be overused. The Rick is to me a less quaint instrument, and Paul used it live through times when he brought the rock.
It is interesting to me how having seen instruments in the hands of certain players, it colors what I think of the instrument itself at strangely fine levels of detail. For example, to me a black or white Rick bass is for “prog rockers”, Geddy Lee, Deep Purple, Chris Squire, etc. Completely different impressions for Rickenbacker guitars vs. basses. Weird!
Though I like the Rick better than the Hofner, there is no question that it is not in the same league of talisman. The Hofner is a singular object (even if he keeps the original safely locked away in the Beatle Cave), while from outward appearances he has several different 4001s. But I recently read that he just painted and then later stripped the same original one. If it were a Legendary Rock Weapon, it would have some kind of shape-shifting disguise capability.
This is pretty silly. You may as well tell him not to perform. As long as he’s playing Beatle songs, why can’t he use the “Beatle bass”? Those things aren’t really any smaller than other 3/4 basses, just shaped differently. I hope you enjoy riding in your humvee because “cars” are like matchbox toys.
I don’t drive a Humvee, mockcarr. Please get it straight. A photo of my wheels follows:
http://www.buscatuning.com/blog/fotos/marcas/cadillac/escalade/geiger-cars-cadillac-escalade-star-force.jpg
Yeah but last week he was playing the Beatle bass on the Wings songs.
So a bass is exclusive? He’s already stopped wearing the Nehru jacket and got a different haircut a few times.
How many Beatles cover bands use a psychedelic Rickenbacker bass when they perform Penny Lane?
I think you need a new stage guitar, here’s one you should try:
http://gizmodo.com/197015/the-pikasso-42+string-guitar-even-intimidates-jimmy-page
Absolutely not. You ever seen Willie Nelson? That guitar is a freak of nature. It sounds like an acoustic when he strums it and an electric when he solos on it (you do know he’s his own lead guitarist, right?). The guitar stays in the picture.
Love the Pikasso! Though there’s room for a lot more necks.
Mod, let me know when the voting is closed. I’ll let Paul know if he can keep playing the Hof.
chick, RTH Labs needs to do a little more analyses on the voting results. Certainly it’s looking like we’ll allow Paul to keep dragging the Hof to the office.
Just caught this old thread… I watched the Hofner Bass YouTube video (check it out – a factory tour) – I was amazed how much hand work goes into those things. I thought they were toys but they are actually a hand-built instrument. I just wish they’d lose the horrible control block – that can’t be a reliable feature. BTW – I voted for Paul to keep his Hofner. At this point it doesn’t matter.
Welcome to the show, moucon!
Well I voted for him not to retire it, The bass was not bought to be showy and actually meant some of Paul’s need as a work horse remember the Original was bought in Germany and used in the bars/clubs when there was no real space to store extra equipment so size would come into play Paul also had it rewired to his needs later so in reality it meets his needs weight scale size he himself said looks was one of the reasons he picked it he also has a second given to him by the company sort of for his non paid endorsement by using there bass so really the Choice is all up To Paul
No, Paul’s Hofner is his signature instrument, he likes to play it, and he’s a genius. I’m going to learn bass guitar, and I will buy a Hofner. Musical snobbery should not supplant talent.
Welcome aboard. By all means buy a Hofner and learn how to play it. Playing music is fun, as is shooting the breeze over it.
Would a violinist retire a Strad. if he had one. Maccas bass has served him well so why retire it.Do horn players retire a trumpet or trombone. If they find a great instrument they use it for life. Why is it that guitarists should have many guitars or basses. I still have the trumpet I got in High School although I have many guitars. All I really need is one…..