Norman Harris Has Bob Dylan's Guitar?! McCartney's 1964 Hofner Bass, 1955 Stratocaster and MORE!

[@station2station544]

5:45 You wouldn't sell it to HIM because HE played it? Classy move.

[@profile2047]

Wow I just mentally skipped over that little gem. Jeeze.

[@gewglesux]

Sounds like a "business" move to me

[@alanshewitt]

Lol, rather than selling the guitar to Dylan, who wanted to buy it, Norm goes, nah, I can get waaay more for it from some schmuck because you *played* it.

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

well said NORM showing his true colors and why he HAS A RIP OFF NAME !

[@Hillcapper1]

Yep, that’s the way the free market works. Norm owns the guitar he gets to do whatever he wants and sell the guitar for as much as someone is willing to pay for it.

[@scottbookman]

He's going to give it to Orianthi or at least let Richie bang on it.

[@mohamedtlass3842]

I hope someone rips off norm one of these days, karma!

[@williamsisk6707]

I scrolled the comments hoping to find something calling out this bullshit, though really there should be a whole lot more. Instead of selling the guitar, he decides to cash in on Dylan’s name. Can’t make a buck without a little exploitation. What a scumbag.

[@gregfeo8639]

Höfner 101 basic information here , hope it helps out Norman!! Staples with wide Large surrounds* and medium tailpiece* date this piece between 1965-1966. NOT a 1964... they ('64's) have binding on neck, a longer tailpiece, and smaller surrounds>> like a 62/63 (Paul's had no raised logo) with (thinner) Control Panels. Sidebar : Unfortunately someone ADDED 6 extra screws into the WIDE control panel?? (Ugh) bizzarre in the world of Höfners. Best, easiest way to date on these is to pull the CP, two (flathead) screws and look for (2) sets of numbers in each ceramic plate holding the pot. Both pot dates #s should match. It c ould be two , or usually three digits. Weeks/Year. As an example: 234 is 23rd week of 1964. End of May. The last digit (in this ex "4") is always the year. Another example 74. "Seventh" week of 1964...or end of February . Betting pots here end with number "5" or "6" As example .m 445 is 44th week of 65 176 is 17th week of 66 Late 66's staple pups were out, and Blades or Sharkfin pups came into the picture. Even an "original" case is an opportunity to tip you off , that's another story. Peace

[@adamturnbull7826]

I’d love to see the stuff Norm hasn’t shown anyone, his personal stash must be absolutely priceless

[@melvyntee]

He did a book seek it out

[@rikkousa]

@@melvyntee great reco. I wonder what he has accumulated since the book was published.?

[@Trikisixx]

Getting him to show that would require techniques from Inception

[@FRUGALZZZ1]

More videos like this one, Norm! In-depth, close-up and informative.

[@sweetdrahthaar7951]

Norm has evolved into a treasure of information. That’s far beyond a wealth of information👍🏻

[@stringsdlx]

The number 2 on the headstock does NOT mean its a finish flaw...I came to work at Gibson in Kalamazoo in 1974 you can check my seniority date on the save the stack page that has the union seniority list.by the time I had got the job I was already buying and selling guitars around town, when I came to work at Gibson June of 74 , I came with million questions...the first question was about the 2. The answer I got from Ward Arbanas was this....it was to let the DEALER know that particular instrument got another DISCOUNT. That's why you can't find anything wrong them. By about 77 or so the number of bad finished guitars had the word SECOND stamped in the back of the headstock a real reject had the letters BGN which meant it was a bargain.....Tim Shaw is an old Kalamazoo friend he will back my story although he didn't start at the Kalamazoo plant till around 77...

[@mattydread8148]

Thanks for the info Jeff. Always nice to see this kind of knowledge.

[@pdkett1]

Thanks for the info Jeff.

[@larrypower8659]

Tim Shaw was tasked by Gibson with replicating the famous “PAF” pickups, which he did. I have an ‘82 Les Paul with Shaw humbuckers and would never let it go. It’s not a well thought of year (Norlin era), but the guitar is awesome. I’ve had five LPs, and the only one any better (or as good) is the original ‘54 I bought in 1964 for $125.00. Yes, you read that correctly. Other than that one, my ‘82 is better than my ‘69, ‘71, or ‘73 by far. Shaw buckers can bring almost $1,000 for a set so people know how good they are. He moved to Fender ‘cuz they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse and Gib- son wouldn’t match it. Their loss.

[@joeltaylor4821]

Thanks for the info from the absolute source, someone who has worked there.

[@robnamowicz8073]

Jeff, I had a Kessel Custom from the same era as the Kessel regular Norm is showing. It had all gold hardware and was a fabulous guitar. It was stamped 2 on the back of the headstock. A bit of purfling had come loose around the lower bout and I took it back to Kzoo for repair. When I went back to pick it up, I asked Rem Wahl (spelling?) why it was stamped 2. He looked at me like I was a big dummy, (still am) and said, "Look at the finish!!" I said, "Yes, it's beautiful, but why is the guitar a 2?" He picked a magnifying glass of his desk and said, "Look closer, all those little spots are from the paint gun being clogged." I couldn't see it without the mag glass, but sure enough, there were little spots tiny tiny spots of red in the sunburst. Later sold the guitar to a jazzer from Detroit at Dutch Girl Donut, Seven and Woodward. I loved the Parsons street plant, took the tour many times between 65 and 74 or so. Sure is great you got to work there!

[@joebaby555]

Dylans latest album, “Rough and Rowdy Ways “ is a masterpiece. Just incredible 🔥

[@tvviewer4500]

The songs were really really good live too!

[@Santi66]

The pickups surrounds, tailpiece and control panel dates the bass on 1965 or late, no 1964. Cheers.

[@65dougk]

Not to get too deep in the weeds but McCartney's is a '63. That one has larger pickup surrounds.

[@g.s.3074]

It’s a ‘65 at best and the switches are replacements.

[@joermnyc]

I believe he had an older one, with the pickups closer together, but something happened to it, so he got the ‘63 as a replacement.

[@johnfkennedyjr6018]

The Hofner police came right out, I was waiting for it..😂

[@billr9125]

Those are all just gorgeous pieces of art that get the heart beating. Thanks for sharing!

[@yourdrummer2034]

Gear is soo cool. I love the sound of case latches popping open!

[@AndrewSaundersArt]

The Hofner looks like a 65/66 to me. Paul’s was a 63!

[@profile2047]

I heartily agree.

[@Dogheadj]

@@profile2047 If I'm not mistaken, Paul had two Hofners. One of them was stolen, and the other he still plays to this day. I notice in the old Beatles film clips, his Hofner had a pick guard. The guitar he plays today does not.

[@profile2047]

@@Dogheadj I agree with you. He had a 61 (the stolen one) and a 63. Although the 63 is pretty much a 62 parts wise. The technically 63 had the pick guard on it but he removed it by the time of the let it be sessions it seems. He has been given others more recently though. Sorry. I should not know all of this really. I just happened to do an obsessive deep dive into all of his things over the last year.

[@RobertFairweatherMusic]

Thanks for sharing these awesome guitars. Norm, u rock! When the million dollars arrive, I am going to Gruhn's to pick up a 50k vintage Martin. Then, I am going to roll into Norm's and get me 50's Strat...good times.

[@zankyalbo2208]

That BK is a standard model not a custom .. the Custom has Bow-tie position markers, gold hardware, and an a pearl eighth note as a headstock marker. How do I know ? I'm looking across the room at mine.

[@camwinston5248]

Hard too argue with...thanks for sharing good sir.

[@garthkolbeck8674]

Norm's Rare Guitars is like a pawn shop, it's not a charity. In buying and selling the rules are buy as low as possible, hold on for the highest return. This is what they call business. It's not about feelings, it's about maximum return at the right time.

[@vayabroder729]

I would remove that pickguard from the L-5 to prevent the off gassing to damage the plating and finish on the guitar. Store it separately and install a new good quality repro.

[@kenbash2951]

Great looking Barney Kessel guitar. Hole was probably for an additional strap button.

[@aussiecoastie72]

Fantastic guitars !! I love the hofner bass ! Interesting to see the hard tail Strat … I didn’t realise they manufactured those , Very cool .

[@dananthony6258]

I’d pay the fire Cheif to walk through my store once a week just to make me feel better if I owned this place. Norm is definitely one of the coolest people on the planet. I’ll be looking for something special if my crypto goes high enough.

[@alanshewitt]

Golly, what could that hole be? It’s right where someone might have wanted a strap button, but it’s a mystery!

[@GerryRed7]

perhaps a left handed person ?

[@Charles-xw1wt]

Nice hofner! From my knowledge, I think that’s either a ‘65 or maybe a ‘66. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

[@julkitan3017]

The Hofner bass looks rather 65'/66 and the panel control is full of screws and unoriginal black switches which means it was modified and not complete original. Beautiful bass though but not really Beatles specs either (shorter tailpiece, white neck binding, thick pickup rings, larger control panel, plastic raised logo.. etc...), McCartney still plays his 63' and used to own another early 61' that was stolen in 1969. Also, 1st models of those basses were produced around 56 so this is not the earliest stuff. Pre 64 Hofner violin basses are extremely valuable cause they are rare (they were rather unpopular and a hard sell, so really small production rate). Post 64 matches the year of Beatlemania and Hofner basses were much more mass produced.

[@kingtriplebbb5347]

Wow. Brings back memories🇺🇸❤👍

[@wayfaerer320]

Hard tail strats are cool, but they sound different than a strat with a tremolo. So, even if you don't ever use the tremolo on a Strat, you're getting a different tone out of that instrument than a hard tail strat without one. I personally don't like the way hard tail strats sound - it's not that they sound bad, but it's not that quintessential strat tone everyone knows and loves.

[@christianlacheze3323]

I have had both over the last 40 years, and I share JB’s view. To me, a hardtail gives you the quintessential strat tone with added punch and clarity due to the absence of the tremolo metal machinery in the guitar’s body, in addition to better tuning stability. Just my opinion.

[@danh8101]

@@christianlacheze3323 I have a hardtail Squier Strat with Wilkinson pups and I much prefer it to the standard models. I don't use the trem bar when playing 99% of the time so just having a Strat sound without the added complexity of a trem system is best for me, personally.

[@ringoramjet]

When I was in Germany in 72. ,hofners we're all over for about a hundred bucks. My buddy was a jazz/flemenco pro. And said" Know why it's a hundred bucks? That's all it's worth,Get a fender bass and I'll show you how to play it. He was ordering a Gibson Byrdland I believe through the PX

[@jasonmiller3167]

God, I love hardtail Strats.

[@danielstoddart]

I do, too. I wish Fender would make an American-made hardtail Strat with Klusons and 6105 frets. Or really just any American-made hardtail. The only way you can get a new hardtail at the moment is to go for the Robert Cray Signature Strat, which is a great instrument but is MIM. Otherwise, you have to look for a vintage one and pay big bucks for the few that are still out there, like this 1955 example that apparently is priced at an eye-watering $45K.

[@house-o-twang]

Amazing as always. Cheers

[@peterb1543]

Imagine the total value of all the stuff in that room.

[@localguy8]

If I wasn’t old I’d probably bought some old guitars 🎸 but my wife would have given them away later.!!

[@thebournefutility8302]

Could anyone please explain to me what Norm means when at 0:51 he says “the truss rod is still all the way down at the bottom”? I know what a truss rod is, but what does “at the bottom” mean and why is that good? Thanks.

[@danielstoddart]

He simply means that the truss rod still works. What tends to happen on vintage guitars and basses with a truss rod is that eventually the threads will get stripped from over-adjustment and when you look at the adjustment side of the rod he pointed at, it will be recessed slightly instead of flush with the hole. What you want to look for is a flush truss rod. Even better if you can turn it a quarter turn and back just to prove that it will still work. If it just turns freely but there's no adjustment in the bow of the neck, that means it's stripped.

[@thebournefutility8302]

@@danielstoddart thanks!

[@williamhurrelbrink3324]

You can still call the call in Oates phone number for free haul and Oates tunes (norms shirt) also. Very very cool guitars norm!!

[@alainbergmans6999]

Norm, what’s your thoughts on the Guild X-700 ?

[@rj2128]

Looks like the switches on the Hofner have been changed?

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Is that the one that he had in that vintage ad that you can find online Bob Dylan playing a fender bass?

[@oceanshb]

Thank you Norman

[@TonyBurke100]

I love the expression "Honest wear" as opposed to "relic" that I hate. I guess it's something that comes with age.

[@mikegoldberg553]

the reason to have the tremolo even if you don't use it is because they sound slightly different than the hardtail strats. difference = is it sounds li8ke a built in little reverb unit from the springs check it out. hit a chord and stop it real fast no amp needed you can hear some reverberation going on compare it to a hard tail or a telecaster to immediately see just what i am talking about.. another reason I think Clapton prefers his strats to have the tremolo just block it so it stays in tune belter. but it has reverb to it. pretty cool information . especially if your like Clapton you don't really use reverb on the amp..

[@jakethompson4309]

You know it's going to be good when they go to the back stash 😂

[@marksc1929]

..gosh , guitars are *#*# beautiful ....so addicting .

[@kingtriplebbb5347]

I just Love guitars 🎸💛❤💘

[@_-_Michael_-_]

Am I missing something or that Hofner is not ‘64 but normal 1966 transition version?

[@steveandrews5307]

I have a 64 Hofner violin bass, the pickup surround is different to the one shown. mine is much narrower.

[@timothyvandyke9840]

Hey Norman...I've been watching your videos for least 20 yrs . And Norm You have sold some killer instruments.... But Norman have you have thought of opening a Nashville Tenn. Store.for us east coast players.. West coast players. Need to share there equipment....How bout it Norman .....Alot of to notch.players in Nashville Tenn...

[@nycshelbygt500]

Norm says "No" to Bob Dylan....a good story for the next book and it would make a great T-Shirt. #NormGuitarLegend I am sure you can find a similar 1950s Gibson ES-225 Sunburst Cutaway for Ole' Bob Dylan.

[@mitTL149]

on consignment from a "good buddy" that means Joe lol.

[@Bobbydawriter]

Great episode, Norm!

[@gregrichardson4302]

guitar nerds incoming..

[@luish777]

He didn't want to sell to Bob Dylan true business man right there got to respect that,im sure it takes a bit of balls to say no to some these guys.

[@gustavoheberle6265]

Loved the P Bass !!!

[@slee6261]

I wonder if the E, A side of the pickup on that first 58 precision should be rotated around. The raised pole pieces should go under the A string, not the E.

[@realreally5927]

If i ever win the lottery I'm going to Norms....lol I'm not kidding!!

[@niallchurch2679]

Well,it's not actually McCartney's bass,as claimed !!

[@paulsimmons5726]

What's the blonde L-5 C running for? Darn cool guitar!

[@pneumatic00]

When I first moved to LA in 1982, I saw a pointy-cut blond '65 L5 CES in the window at Voltage Guitars for $900. I knew it was a crazy steal, in great shape. I could have bought it but it would have consumed every nickel I had...but I also could have put half on a credit card. By the next day i was thinking "You are a complete idiot moron if you don't buy that guitar, just figure out a way and do it". And it was gone!

[@paulsimmons5726]

@@pneumatic00 I moved to Hollywood in '82 also, to attend MIT (actually BIT). The was a shop named Freedom Guitars on Sunset, they had a Rickenbacker 4000. It was a Sunburst, dot-neck, single PU, with the really old body and headstock shapes. It was $850 and I waffled over it for a couple of months, wish I'd have bought that one. I gotta wonder which collection it's in today, sigh... 😒 Was Voltage the shop that Howie and Paulie ran? I always liked Howie, a cool guy. Wish I knew where he might be today, he always had some cool stuff.

[@pneumatic00]

@@paulsimmons5726 It was Paul Volta and Lloyd Choate who did Voltage. Voltage actually still exists but with no store---'net only. Freedom, IIRC, was a sister-store of Freedom in San Diego... though I can't swear to you which came first, I think it was SD. Yeah, the guitar ghetto on Sunset Blvd was awesome in the early 80's. Indeed, LA itself was awesome in the early 80's...best years of my life. What a great time that was!

[@paulsimmons5726]

@@pneumatic00 I know the guy named Paul that I knew wrote a book on Fender Guitars sometime in the 80's. I think the name of their shop was Hollywood Guitars. The shop was off Sunset, within a block of Valdez's Custom Guitars. The last time I was there, Guitar Center had put in a huge store sort of across the street from where the Valdez and Freedom shops were. I haven't been in Hollyweird in 20 years and I imagine it's all different nowadays. I'd bet the sketchy characters are still there, an NCIC check could tell ya, LOL! Take care, best wishes for 2022!

[@melvyntee]

The raised pole piece on that Precision should be on the A string why has the pickup been reversed , just curious

[@tezzzier]

Love that Hofner Beatle Bass!

[@williamkennonjr1147]

That is very nice norm

[@steveandrews5307]

And what's with the six screws over and below the switches on the plate. very odd I think.

[@MegaAeroforce1]

Correction, that Hofner is a 1965.

[@kevinlevesque7422]

Looks like a '65 Hofner Beatle bass to me. Raised logo, larger pickup mounts/surrounds, larger control plate, bound fingerboard... not like Paul's. A nice one though...

[@paulreese3071]

Was it just me, the switches on the control panel almost looked black? I’m sure it was just a lighting issue.

[@whatspadethinks]

Absolutely correct. This just proves that owning a vintage guitar store for 30+ years doesn't necessarily make you an expert on every stringed instrument ever made. I love Norm but he occasionally says some stuff that's just dead wrong, either through misremembering or intentionally passing off disinformation. He's a salesman/businessman first, not a historian.

[@jonnybeck6723]

Norm, I wish you would play everything you show us... Just for a sec

[@ayberkgokdemir3234]

Amazing guitars

[@BgbadWulof]

If that Hofner was Paul's why was it a right handed guitar? Paul's left handed and uses left handed guitars. But it was a very nice looking guitar don't get me wrong.

[@zachinabox2951]

It wasnt pauls it’s just the same year as pauls, pretty clickbaity title. But Paul played a right handed bass bc it was hard to find left handed basses back in the day so the reason he used the hofner viola bass was bc it was symmetrical so it wouldnt look as silly if restrung and played left handed

[@JWWEntertainment]

@@zachinabox2951 Wasnt even the same year. McCartneys were and are '61 and '63. quite dematically different spec also. Love 500/1 basses.

[@zachinabox2951]

@@JWWEntertainment he actually had a ‘61, ‘63, and a ‘64 but the ‘64 was stolen just after the let it be sessions. Video title sucks regardless.

[@zachinabox2951]

@@JWWEntertainment nvm I’m mixing the three up, there is no evidence that he played the ‘64 but he did receive it from hofner in ‘64 and it was sold in ‘65, the ‘61 was stolen after the let it be sessions

[@buckfaststradler4629]

@@zachinabox2951 Bollocks - show me a pic of him with a right handed bass

[@Mati05jp]

amazing

[@stevenedwards4470]

That "64" Hofner...has a flat back. Is that right?

[@johnmuldoon2037]

Norm didn't want to sell it to Bob because he knew if he was to sell it later, he could gouge the shit out of some poor sap.

[@AceBaseKingOfSpace]

Guys like Bob Dylan are why people buy guitars, which is why guitar dealers exist.

[@ringoramjet]

Still wish I bought one or two at that price

[@psutter5]

Think about this. How much money in guitars has Norm handled?

[@kingtriplebbb5347]

I'm like a kid in a candy store 🍬

[@benallmark9671]

That hard tail 55 sunburst strat is sweet. Anybody have any idea what that bad boy would be worth, give or take ?

[@wayfaerer320]

$45,000

[@michaelblaney4461]

Only worth what someone will pay for it , I'd rather just have a custom shop Fender . Even those are overpriced.

[@antoniosantorini9355]

Probably what's wrong with the finish is you tapping your ring against it scratching it

[@possum369]

You show us all these beautiful guitars but never tell us the value, I’m everyone would love to know what the are worth…

[@markireson676]

That strat at the end had a price tag of 45k! That's insane unless I was reading it wrong..

[@ios6605]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@juancarloscalderonsussoni2040]

That's definitely a 1965 Hofner Bass

[@michaelhalstead7532]

Prices?

[@bassmickeyd]

Beauty P-bass. ...

[@brandonbrandon2822]

Paul had a 61 and has a 63. That is a 66 hofner

[@davidrogers2085]

DUDE,,,, This Hofner is a right-hander. Wasn't McCartney left handed 🤔?

[@JP5466]

That Hofner bass is a '65

[@3tequila]

Did I see $45K for that Strat??

[@dukeviking]

yes - you read that tag right and/or confirmed what I saw as well on it.

[@minstrelofMir]

paul macaerney didant have a 64 it was a 63..i know as i have a late 63 with pot codes sep 63,,paul got his in oct 63 pauls or mine does not have a razed logo thats a 64 thing

[@mickeyalba]

Isn't the Barney Kessel also known as the Trini Lopez ?

[@mattrogers1946]

Different headstock and f-holes.

[@joeltaylor4821]

I really wish you would give the price of each guitar in the video!

[@joemeyer6876]

$45K 💫

[@ericheine2414]

Never mind that who is the lucky man who has Joan Baez? I'd like to make her pancakes.

[@markjohnson1020]

The dents and gonks from Normans rings are free of charge.

[@hoodedman07]

That is definitely not a 64 Hofner lol. That’s a 66 or 67 with the ugly raised logo and big plastic pickup things

[@exploringmind7648]

kinda weird to customize a guitar to dylan's specs, rent it to him, then refuse to sell it to him because by playing it he made it worth more. if it was me, I wouldn't do business with you again.

[@stevenward6453]

Jimi Hendrix played my Harley benton strat last week does it make it worth anything let bob buy the guitar instead of making money out of the mans fame it's like bribery and corruption you got not enough money norm

[@gltglt8624]

Bob Dylan's guitar , just like Kris kristofferson's guitar, Never Been In Tune

[@buckfaststradler4629]

Just like Bob's singing !!

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

Won’t sell it to Bob Dylan because Bob Dylan made it famous??? Never gonna understand sales people. Freaking Jackyls.

[@JW-iw6ww]

so lets get this straight.... Bob Dylan asked for a guitar, needs it customized for his liking.... gets the guitar he needs and plays it... after the show, he wants to buy it... you say no because he played it?.. thats pretty shitty... if i was Bob, i would never call your store again... he didnt get the guitar so someone could profit or collect it.. to Bob its a work tool.... other musicians in the circle should take note, dont get i guitar here and play it onstage, cause if you like it, you cant buy it... wow.

[@geo.cgeier3435]

Take that ring off Norm! You can hear it slapping the guitars when you are handling the m!

[@mattrogers1946]

It's a guitar, not the Mona Lisa...

[@רונילוי-ו2ז]

זו לא גיטרת הבס של מקרטני , זו גיטרה ימנית ופול שמאלי

[@DarinCates]

NOT bob dylans guitar and NOT McCartneys bass. More bullshit from Norm. LOL

[@mattrogers1946]

But you are here watching it...

[@lilakmonoke982]

A "Bob dylan played" guitar. give me a fucking break. anything to raise the price, if im not mistaken.

[@jaytaylor9232]

Clickbate title - It is not Bob Dylan's guitar nor is the Hofner Paul McCarney's.

[@jfredknobloch]

What a schleppy guy!

[@mattrogers1946]

So why are you here?

[@jfredknobloch]

@@mattrogers1946 Look, I live in Nashville Tennessee and we see guitars all over the fucking place… A lot of the shit that Norm has it’s total bullshit. A lot of it is great! I just want to keep this guys honest. That’s the whole point of the deal…

[@mattrogers1946]

@@jfredknobloch If that were true, a Chinese Telecaster would be worth as much as a 50s Blackguard...