5 *MORE* THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PAUL McCARTNEY'S BEATLE BASSES + Hofner Tone Demo [4K]

[@KRW628]

August 12, 1966. I was at THAT show..

[@PaulFormentos]

One month later Paul would be gone

[@improbablytheguy]

​@@PaulFormentosto bed, before waking up the next day and still living to this day!

[@MichaelOwen-y4g]

The reason there are no fret marks is because Hofner began as violin maker company and violins don’t have fret markers!

[@rdoc]

As for the Rickenbacker being used in most of the recordings the reason is simple. The Rick had the right tone Paul was looking for in recordings and the Hofner was used in live performances because the tone did not matter as much plus, it was so much lighter. Paul more then likely sat while recording so the weight of the Rick was not an issue. I watched Beatles perform in the US on Ed Sullivan when I was a boy and was hooked from that moment on. The memory is so clear just like the first moon landing. Great program Nick. I really love to hear you play.

[@BaccarWozat]

Paul now has another 1962 Hofner. It was gifted to him recently by music producer Andrew Watt, and when asked about why he bothered (since he already has one), he told Paul to flip a switch installed on it. Out came "the loudest, most wicked fuzz bass you ever heard in your life". He was so excited about it that he used the bass on his Rolling Stones guest spot. You can hear it during the solo on "Bite My Head Off".

[@labajadaman]

I had an original ‘64 or ‘65 years ago. No dots drove me nuts. I took it to friend and professional pin striper Ed Roth who put some dots on for me. It made it much easier to play. Recently I learned it was not uncommon back in the day for players to use nail polish to make the dots. Regrettably I sold the bass in 1999. I never got over selling it, so a few years ago I bought a German made vintage 1964 reissue. It is awesome and true to the originals EXCEPT Hofner now puts the dots on them!

[@fbello18]

For sure my favorite Beatles bass line is Something

[@WannaBeatle-Paul_McMichael]

The real reason why the control panel was flipped around is so it's easier for Paul to use the volume knob that corresponds with the pickup. Initially the one on a tighty would be bass, then treble. But, on his the one on the first spot was treble and the one on the right was bass. So, he had it switched many years later. I think you might have misunderstood Greg, though. He probably meant that one of the teacup knobs was recently replaced with a new one. The one that is less shiny is the newer one. And as for the reason for having the strap button on the bottom on the newer reissues (and post-1964) models is that so an average person doesn't have to use the Hofner strap and is able to use any strap they want. I believe the reissues come with a second button that you can install at the neck heel. I believe side dots were included on basses shortly after Paul's '63 was made, too. Hofner also added neck binding, too at a later date. Plus, the Hofner was originally a student model and they probably did anything to cut down costs, too.

[@IamMagPie]

Great videos (both part 1 & 2). 01:36 - I have three 500/1 basses, and on my 1964 vintage reissue there is white binding with fret landmarks on the side of the neck. For that very reason it is the Höfner that gets the most use, and it is so far the only 500/1 I bring on stage. Need those dots...

[@britnickmusic]

I really love this "Things you didn't know" series, great job Nick! Funny thing about the reverse headstock is that you can easily spot when someones reverses a picture/video pretending to be a lefty 😅

[@markferguson7214]

I turned my control panel over so my volume knob for neck pickup is closer to the front of the bass. Hofner uses the same electronics for left and right basses. Usually on a left handed bass the volume knob for the neck pickup is at the rear of the bass. Flipping the control panel over puts the volume knob in the same position as right handed basses.

[@bryanhenderson8807]

I also understand that Paul wanted a heavier sound on his bass, as was heard on Motown records. The tape engineer rewired the speakers to give it that deeper sound. Thanks for 2 great videos on the McCartney bass. BTW, for a time, later on he played a Wahl bass.

[@ringodingo]

Aw yeah. Nick is back, Baby ! Time to listen to one of your original songs again. ( "I believe in love" cool beans! )

[@MrLucky1967]

The early Hofner HCT 500/1 basses that came out without neck binding, didn't have fret markers. The control panel on Paul's bass has a screw in each corner so its quite possible that, whoever did the work when they put the control panel back on the bass put it the other way round. without thinking.

[@ricardog.s2505]

I don't remember where I did read this, but I remember reading that one of the reasons McCartneys bass lines improved when he got the Rick was because compared to the Hofner the Rick had a lot more clarity and cut through a mix way better so after a couple of years playing bass he could play bass lines and actually "be heard" better (basically "lead bass lines") his playstyle of course improved but when you play different instruments even with the same playstyle your playing will be different (specially Paul which at the time he only had played one lefty bass model until the Rick), something similar happend when the Beatles recorded the White Album and Paul used a Jazz Bass

[@Papallazarou]

With regard to the headstock not being mirrored on the left handed Höfner, This is also to do with trademark. As can be seen in 06:11 Rickenbacker lefties are the same

[@bobbelloff4588]

Rickenbacker lefties now have mirrored proper lefty headstocks since 1989 or so.

[@Solomonjamesdavecastro]

It's not really but it is only for the Rickenbacker 4003s (Some models) and the Rickenbacker 4001c64 because Rickenbacker is a big company now as in in the US.

[@paulweston285]

In relation to Pauls original Hofner bass guitar that went " missing " in 1969. In 1969 American band The Aerovons ( Beatles fanatics ) were recording at Abbey road and somehow got access to The Beatles gear storage room where they took photos one guy holding Johns 360 Rickenbacker other pics of The Beatles drum head, Ringos drums, guitar case stacks, Amps, even an open guitar case containing Georges Les Paul. These pictures are in the Andy Babiuk book " Beatles Gear " pages 248 & 249 and are easily googled. It begs the question of how on earth were these guys even allowed access to The Beatles gear . Might even be an interesting exercise to research pictures of The Aerovons ( Bassist ? ) after their visit to Abbey Road. I can see a Hofner stock head in one of their pics and a Fender precision stock head in another ( earlier ? ). Mmmmmm. Also interestingly Johns 360 12 string Rickenbacker and Georges Gretch Tennessean also went missing

[@mr_bassman6685]

They'd surely have been found out long ago if that was the case.

[@paulweston285]

@@mr_bassman6685 Paul's bass was found and it wasn't them but the others are still missing.

[@alanhyt79]

Paul knew their songs inside and out, backwards and forwards. When they were doing shows in Germany in the early years, they played 8 hours a day, and even more hours on Saturdays. His muscle memory was well developed. Like a pro cellist, his hands know where to go automatically.

[@nickday3541]

Very cool rendition of the Who's " my generation".. As you say, the Ricky is a much heavier sounding guitar as well as the weight so it would be better used in the studio.. I love my hof lefty but it does feel in some ways like a toy it's so light. No idea how Paul's didn't get busted up as it's so fragile. He loved his Ricky but you can even hear Paul I think talking to Mal complaining about the nut as it was a right handed one on his lefty making his finger slide the bass string off the fret. I believe the Ricky also has a right handed neck which is different.

[@andrewweeks448]

will you do one on the the 'ol Rick? please?

[@waves7250]

I got a German Hofner because I wanted the Kevin Parker rubber 60s tone 😎

[@osmaromolina753]

Great videos!

[@user-ig7nq7pc7k]

Good job!

[@martinrw42]

I thought that the control panel was reversed at the same time as the scratch plate was removed. I reckon both got damaged in a fan scuffle. Mal Evans had to reattach the panel. If you look closely it's upside down but attached by 4 screws instead of the previous 2 screw fixing. Maybe because the screw holes got damaged in that incident.

[@justarius3816]

Okay just a bit curious, what VOX amp did you use?

[@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998]

You should make a video about George Harrison’s Gretsch guitars

[@NickMartellaro]

It's next. I'm going to do the Tenny first, then the Country Gentleman(s). I'm actually borrowing a real '64 Gent for that one, made 1 year away from George's 😉

[@ABCFORKIDSCOMEDIAN1998]

You should also use the Gent in your future covers

[@johnwoods6539]

The reason why the base lines sent out the most with the Rickenbacker was the beginning of the Beatles when Paul started using the bass and playing the bass. His base lines were extremely simple and we’re not all that impressive…. But then he got turned on to a great bass player, who I won’t mention in this particular comment, and because of that bass player album he started creating more interesting based lines, and that coincide with when he got his Rickenbacker…

[@joshuaross4644]

Now onto the 2nd 360/12, John’s Sonic Blue Strat & the gretsch’s

[@ckblackwoodmusic]

A fine sequel but how did y'manage to get your hands on one?! 😂

[@bobwhit1544]

Was the zero fret universal on this model? I could swear I've seen one without somehwere. Or maybe it was a dream?

[@DugNastyMusic]

Usually the icon/ignition doesn't have a zero fret. If you've seen a a German without it is still possible it could have been removed

[@johnbasos]

dig it

[@scottbubb2946]

What, you can't tell us exactly, down to the minute, when Paul took off his pick guard? I thought you were a Beatles fan. 🤣

[@NickMartellaro]

I'm truly ashamed. Looks like I need to do more detective work!

[@alexarteaga-caseyjunior5098]

@@NickMartellaroyes you should!

[@dave23024]

I can't blame him for removing it. I intentionally got a Les Paul without the pickguard because they just scream, "Training wheels."

[@JohnDaly-x4i]

B-E-H-S tone!

[@PontiacS.]

Wasn't Abbey Road(something) recorded on a Fender Jazz Bass?

[@Myauntiespassiveaggressive]

In my opinion, the best Hofner bassline McCartney produced had to be "I Want You (She So Heavy)"

[@rushymoto]

Did he ever replace it ? May be it was to distinguish footage and images between one gig and another one, for some contractual reason or other.

[@somehighlights2851]

I don't care how many years he worked with him, but i bet all my money that each time Paul throws his bass at him, he goes to the back and changes his underwear.

[@emilytvmusic]

okay sure everyone of paul’s famous riffs were on the rick but he was still trying to imitate the hofner tone on it, it’s just rick’s are better at staying in tune, sustain is better, and the action is easier to play more complex riffs on but the tone of the beatles is generally speaking still the hofner

[@Michael_Chico]

Is it possible to put the pickgaurd back on after removing it?

[@NickMartellaro]

No. Once you remove the pickguard, it is physically impossible to put back on. Only a superior being from a higher plane could accomplish such a feat. In fact, something in the celluloid construction causes the guard to immediately vanish before your very eyes upon detachment. Even today, scientists have yet to explain the mysteries of the Höfner pickguard. Nah, you just screw it back on.

[@lideresunidosmexico_]

yep... really easy

[@ringodingo]

"Super easy. Barely an inconvenience."

[@somehighlights2851]

And on the "Hofner v Rickenbacker", yes, but also no. Most of The Beatles albums were recorded with the Hofner. Doesn't matter that his "best lines" or his "most liked lines" are on the R.

[@mr_bassman6685]

I'd say it's around 50/50 if we're going by the core album catalogue (excluding the White Album, I'm convinced the Jazz Bass is actually on more of the album than I'd originally thought)

[@Phillip-y6d]

.....oh and I saw her standing there" for another. Are you sure the list didn't say " outside their top 10 beatle basslines ever ?

[@billnorman7894]

Wrong, mate, Something was played on a Hofner bass a lot of people mistakes it for a Jazz or a Rickenbacker.

[@mr_bassman6685]

I used to think so too, but the isolated bass tracks with the Hofner in 1969 (Get Back, Don't Let Me Down, I Want You...), the tone is quite different from Something. Paul didn't use palm or foam muting on the (2nd) Hofner, but the bass on Something sounds like the strings are muted despite the heavy compression - and Paul was definitely using the Ric's foam mute assembly by this point.

[@profile2047]

You saying those chosen songs were all on the Rickenbacker isn’t true. I know this may be pedantic to some, but some are a jazz bass, and a couple are very contested. Especially Abbey Road and the White Album.

[@kcuhc84]

With regard to the switches: If I was his guitar tech, I would just wire the neck pickup directly through it's volume pot seeing as the switches are knackered and Paul doesn't ever change the switch positions anyway. The switch positions would be meaningless after that.

[@NickMartellaro]

You're probably right, but it could also be that some guitarists just want "everything to work." Doesn't matter if the thing is beat to hell and you never use that pickup - as long as it *all* works. Maybe after ~60 years, Paul still wants to keep his options open. 😉

[@johnm2012]

One thing puzzles me. If he never switched the switches, how did he wear them out?

[@minstrelofMir]

the pick gards after the 60"S are toxic and mess with metal parts in a case ,,mine has a pot code of 393 sep 63 ;-)

[@Phillip-y6d]

Not having All my loving and Nowhere Man as a top Beatle bassline isn't very smart...that was more of a Dumb list by smartbassguitar

[@KinslayerOfDoom]

Now play death metal on this!

[@Shane55able]

"Merz zee" ? You mean Mersey. It's after the river Mersey that divides Liverpool from the Wirral peninsula.

[@johnm2012]

On the previous video he pronounced it with a soft s, like "mercy" so someone must've corrected him in the comments.

[@handwriting8804]

I think dear prudence was recorded on the jazz bass he got in 68

[@profile2047]

You’d be right according to most people.

[@mr_bassman6685]

Regardless, it certainly wasn't the Hofner, that's for sure...