Höfner is again making a large bodied fully hollow bass - 500/18

[ilan]

https://www.facebook.com/pg/HofnerGuitars/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10155001648561145

Hand made in Germany and looks awesome. I hope they string them with flats.

If it's anything like the 60's original large body Höfners, the 500/3, 500/5, Senator, President, or Committee, then this is excellent news.

[Chris P.]

yes, it has flats!

[Alanko]

This is interesting to see! One of Roger Waters' first basses was a big, hollow Hofner:



I imagine that if these are made in Germany then the build quality will be exemplary, with a price tag to match!

[Granny Gremlin]

OK, when you said 'large bodied' I assumed depth. Still cool, very, very cool, but yeah.

[Dave W]

Very nice. Any idea about the price?

[ilan]

duplicate deleted

[ilan]

And now this. Limited edition (6 only) 500/5 "Reeperbahn".

[Granny Gremlin]

Well hello.

[Dave W]

Beauty. I take it these are German made and will be very expensive.

[Chris P.]

5000 euros for the last one yes...

[ilan]

Wow. That's boutique pricing.

[Chris P.]

Double the price of a normal 500/1. But understandable if only six are made, and knowing how much research they had to do.

[uwe]

I'm bemused that you guys actually find this stuff attractive. In the 70ies and in Germany, they were the epitome of uncool, nobody wanted to be seen with them. A Cimar Jazz Bass copy had a better image. Höfner, Hoyer, Klira and Framus were regarded as pawnshop junk. 

[ilan]

I'm bemused that you guys actually find this stuff attractive. In the 70ies and in Germany, they were the epitome of uncool, nobody wanted to be seen with them. A Cimar Jazz Bass copy had a better image. Höfner, Hoyer, Klira and Framus were regarded as pawnshop junk. 

First of all, Cimar J's are great basses, far better than what their market price would lead you to assume.

Now about the Höfners. I had image issues with the 500/1 - didn't want to look like a fan - and it's not a good bass imho. But the 60s large-body Höfners are different. They are the best hollow body basses I know. They have fantastic acoustic qualities. Really. If you had played one note on my 1960 500/3 you'd be smitten.

As for Hoyer, Klira and Framus, most of them were junk, in my experience. For years I wanted a red Hoyer London bass because it's so cute, until I actually played one and the GAS has evaporated.

[Chris P.]

Yeah, I know a guy who traded a '60s Höfner for an '80s fretless Bass Collection bass:) Stupid. And more such stories. Nobody wanted Ricks either in the eighties. having said that I love to play those small Höfners:) I did some special Höfner interviews and some other work and I have quite some Höfners now:)