The Cavern Bass has now been recovered and handed in! Easy to identify it because the original 61 Cavern Bass was a rare model and was even rarer left handed and was made as a special order on request at the time by McCartney. Wass identified it as well from the unusual tuning heads and its particular finish and its discolored pickup.
On the twist and shout ,is that why the guitar was so special because of it unique sound .I don't know much about music but do remember the guitar sounds on that song was different
you prolly dont give a damn but does anyone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb lost the login password. I love any assistance you can give me
@Tate Marvin I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
Great vid! I have read the general outline about Paul's 1st Hofner, but this fills the blanks. Missed you in Seattle, but looking forward to the next Fab Four gig in the PNW.👍👍
Ardy, I am the author of the book, ‘You gave me the answer’ (credited Ruth Indesit/Truth Inside), available from Amazon. Please tell me that The Fab Four will tour the UK when things return to normal 🤞🏼
I just put it together. You're the guy who does that amazing replication of Wings music I've seen on TH-cam. It's astounding. And thank you for sharing all this history
Nice - some additions. The Hofners were available in the UK through Selmer and the best choice one could get - because US instruments were forbidden to be important. Stuart always played with the Beatles- the photos were no rehearsal bash photos - but surely staged during the evening. Likely the time between ordering and getting the bass was quite short and Paul only thought of buying a bass when STuart said to leave the band. As the Beatles were gone in Juli and Paul played the bass during the Tony Sheridan sessions one could assume he had the bass in May.
My second bass was a Hofner club bass. Had the single cutaway, so it looked a little bit like a hollow Les Paul. Bought it in 1966 I believe. My first bass was a Kingston bass that I bought from Sun TV which also sold cheap Japanese musical instruments in 1965. Many years later(1974) I pulled the Hofner out of the closet. Hadn't played it in years since high school. Opened it up and saw the neck had separated from the body. Took it to a local music store (Whitey Lunzar) in Columbus, OH. They repaired it and I traded it in on a Gibson J45 Deluxe acoustic guitar which I had for decades. Nice little short scale and light weight bass.
Paul seems to forget a lot of details from back then and fills in the blanks himself. This tends to make me question much of the things he tells magazine writers and interviews. I also understand it was a LONG time ago... most ppl cannot remember what they ate for dinner yesterday let alone what they did 50+ years ago.
I bought one in 1967 in Edinburgh for £65.A used one in new condition.Worth mentioning it was called the violin bass back then for obvious reasons.Because of its hollow body it was lightweight and semi-acoustic which made practice easier.
3:36 Something nobody says is that Stu Sutcliffe used to play the bass, and by then he was a decent bass player (well, sort of); Paul, instead of buying a new electric guitar (his guitar was literally falling apart in pieces) he bought that bass. it doesn't make any sense. 4:00 Paul used to play John's Hofner guitars (upsidedown).
Paul also liked it because it was so lightweight. His next bass the Rickenbacker, was like picking up a chair, I heard him say once. I wonder how the Chinese ones stack up against the German made ones.
I have a 61 reissue Cavern bass, one of only a few hundred made for a Liverpool music store. One thing I must mention is that mine doesn't have side of the neck fret markers, was this the case on original 1961 basses? I can see why Paul might have preferred playing a later model as it makes it quite tricky to play without them.
Actually Paul’s 2nd Hofner Bass doesn’t have side markers either. You can tell which Hofners do indeed have the side fret markers just from pictures or even at long distance. Way you can tell is, if the bass/ guitar has white neck binding, it will have fret markers. I actually use Pearl nail polish for some of my Hofner basses to see. You’re absolutely right that it’s sometimes VERY difficult to be on the right fret, especially while on stage with lights and other distractions.
@@ardavansarraf2973 I like your idea, I was considering getting dot markers fitted but nail polish would be easy to remove to put it back to original condition.
So, do you think Hofner will make an domed back 61’? And if so, I’d like to buy it now please lol. I’ve wanted the 61 for the thick neck and pickup spacing and it would be perfect for this guy if it also had the domed back.
Hofner had many variations in features especially transitional years. Like the domed back on his ‘61 when most are flat. Paul’s current ‘63 has ‘62 features like the strip tuning machines. Some Hofner 500/1 basses have 2-piece backs or 2-piece tops. Some 2-piece necks. And other 3-piece. They most likely used what they had on hand. They needed to keep up with demand, and consistency went out the window.
I hope that bass is returned. How is it possible someone stole that piece of history. Unreal. Frampton got back a lost guitar from mid 70s plane crash a few years ago. So you never know
@@ardavansarraf2973 You are a genius - you are magic on stage - Your vocal range and artistry is unreal - we are lucky to have you performing the hits - when Ardy hits the high notes in Jet and sings it raw- its like its 1976 Wings Over America - the real deal Holyfield right here my man!
No, the bridges are floating and can be adjusted for intonation purposes when needed. Yes I’m sure the string tension are keeping the strings on there, but even when tuned in 440, it’s possible to slightly move bridge even with tension
That’s a Hofner question, I really don’t know. The sound has much more bass when the pick ups are closer to the neck for sure. I’m sure they wanted to try and balance it out
I prefer the Cavern style pickup placement of having the pickups in center and neck position (rather than the bridge pickup). On my Cavern I would leave both the pickups turned on, and at full volume for 95%+ of my playing. Set it and forget It. It just sounded best to me like that as it would provide the fullest and most satisfying tone.
Wow, nice story. By the way, what kind of strings do you have? they look like double bass strings, or maybe it's just the video i dunno, it just caught my attention. :) Nice video!
I’m not sure which kind of strings Nock has on that 56 bass. But I use La Bella “Beatle Bass” strings. They make them for Hofner AND long scale flat wounds for Rickenbacker too.
@@ardavansarraf2973 Thank you, I thought for a moment you were using those nanofiber rustless strings. And i didn't know there were beatle bass strings, which is cool!
Oddly enough most of my guitars at home are right handed. So I’m able to play my Beatle guitars too along with my lefty basses and PLAY BEATLE. I wish I could play 6 string guitar much better left handed, but I can really only play a few songs that way.
Hey Ardy, you should also check out E.J. from Backbeat Vintage here on TH-cam! He is another great expert on Hofners and works extensively on both vintage & reissue basses on his channel!
I was playing the beatles lesson song all my self on my own drum but my drum is color black my drum name is spl I got it from Christmas and I heard the beatles song I know how they played on The album is sgt pepper lonely heart club band and Kansas city what goes on I know I play really good drummer ever and ardy sarraf thanks you for all played the fab four all livestream and I see the fab four drummer added me to in the Instagram but ardy saruuf I will be a drummer and I remember you and gavin pring and Ron Neil and the fab four drummer I just meat met you all and yeah I been nice guy to play drummer all day and thank you all have a great day ardy sarraf
He bought it because it was easier to play (Like John Lennons short scale Rickenbacker Capri) symetrical (So it could be a lefthander),,, and above all it was cheap!
![5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PAUL McCARTNEY'S BEATLE BASSES + Hofner Tone Demo [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TqEg30rNmts/mqdefault.jpg)
![5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PAUL McCARTNEY'S BEATLE BASSES + Hofner Tone Demo [4K]](/img/tr.png)
The Cavern Bass has now been recovered and handed in! Easy to identify it because the original 61 Cavern Bass was a rare model and was even rarer left handed and was made as a special order on request at the time by McCartney. Wass identified it as well from the unusual tuning heads and its particular finish and its discolored pickup.
My brain cells just grew back from this. Very interesting and informative! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
fantastic piece of Beatle History... thx a bunch
Incredible
Thanks Ardy and Nick. TFF
I’ve loved this bass since a wee lad. One of these days I need to get one of my own
There are many prices options to get one and have fun playing, I hope you can too
On the twist and shout ,is that why the guitar was so special because of it unique sound .I don't know much about music but do remember the guitar sounds on that song was different
I hope whoever stole that bass will bring it back
@Jacoby Ephraim nobody cares dude
Nope ant gonna happen ..... at lest not till after paul, and i suspect his immediate family, has shuffled off this mortal coil
you prolly dont give a damn but does anyone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..?
I was dumb lost the login password. I love any assistance you can give me
@Kellen Jaxtyn Instablaster ;)
@Tate Marvin I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
VERY COOL THX ARDY
Great vid! I have read the general outline about Paul's 1st Hofner, but this fills the blanks. Missed you in Seattle, but looking forward to the next Fab Four gig in the PNW.👍👍
Ardy, I am the author of the book, ‘You gave me the answer’ (credited Ruth Indesit/Truth Inside), available from Amazon. Please tell me that The Fab Four will tour the UK when things return to normal 🤞🏼
Great! So interesting. Thank you
Thanks for watching, you’re welcome
I just put it together. You're the guy who does that amazing replication of Wings music I've seen on TH-cam. It's astounding. And thank you for sharing all this history
Nice - some additions. The Hofners were available in the UK through Selmer and the best choice one could get - because US instruments were forbidden to be important. Stuart always played with the Beatles- the photos were no rehearsal bash photos - but surely staged during the evening. Likely the time between ordering and getting the bass was quite short and Paul only thought of buying a bass when STuart said to leave the band. As the Beatles were gone in Juli and Paul played the bass during the Tony Sheridan sessions one could assume he had the bass in May.
My second bass was a Hofner club bass. Had the single cutaway, so it looked a little bit like a hollow Les Paul. Bought it in 1966 I believe. My first bass was a Kingston bass that I bought from Sun TV which also sold cheap Japanese musical instruments in 1965.
Many years later(1974) I pulled the Hofner out of the closet. Hadn't played it in years since high school. Opened it up and saw the neck had separated from the body. Took it to a local music store (Whitey Lunzar) in Columbus, OH. They repaired it and I traded it in on a Gibson J45 Deluxe acoustic guitar which I had for decades. Nice little short scale and light weight bass.
Art, the old Sun TV building is now a Mexican grocery store! The famous sign out front is still there.
@@leftygeezer
I will have to check it out since i like Mexican food!
Any info on what the nut on McCartney's Hofner made out of. I can't find any information about it online. Great video thanks for posting.
Paul couldn’t have picked a better bass than the hofner,light weight,sounds great and looks cool.
Paul seems to forget a lot of details from back then and fills in the blanks himself. This tends to make me question much of the things he tells magazine writers and interviews. I also understand it was a LONG time ago... most ppl cannot remember what they ate for dinner yesterday let alone what they did 50+ years ago.
I bought one in 1967 in Edinburgh for £65.A used one in new condition.Worth mentioning it was called the violin bass back then for obvious reasons.Because of its hollow body it was lightweight and semi-acoustic which made practice easier.
I hope you still have it😎👍
I wish.I sold it to a friend to finance the purchase of a motorcycle
I wish.I sold it to a friend to finance the purchase of a motorcycle
I believe that's the sticker on my 67 500/1 I believe but I have to check .
Be great if Nick could give more background info/review of the 60th anniversary Violin Bass designed by Klaus Voormann :) cheers
Yeah, I’d love to hear that too. You listening Nick?? 😎👍
3:36 Something nobody says is that Stu Sutcliffe used to play the bass, and by then he was a decent bass player (well, sort of); Paul, instead of buying a new electric guitar (his guitar was literally falling apart in pieces) he bought that bass. it doesn't make any sense.
4:00 Paul used to play John's Hofner guitars (upsidedown).
mccartney stories never seem to add up from the 70's and on, masterfully speaking? billy pepper shears? wink.. wink.. anyhow... great video as always!
Nice work
Thanks very much, my buddy Nick really knows his stuff and is an open book on Hofner related issues. He’s my go to guy who I’m doubt
Fascinating, thanks. I wonder if Hofner have the paperwork that records Paul's purchase/order?
I’m not sure, I’d have to ask Nick Wass, he’d know either way
Paul also liked it because it was so lightweight. His next bass the Rickenbacker, was like picking up a chair, I heard him say once. I wonder how the Chinese ones stack up against the German made ones.
In his own words Paul had seen the bass player of the Tony Sheridan band Colin Milander using a 500/1 which he liked so he went out searching.
What impedance are the Diamond pickups?
didn't know Michael Caine knew so much about the bass
Wooooow!!🤩
Very Interesting video.
New Subscriber here.
I have a 61 reissue Cavern bass, one of only a few hundred made for a Liverpool music store. One thing I must mention is that mine doesn't have side of the neck fret markers, was this the case on original 1961 basses? I can see why Paul might have preferred playing a later model as it makes it quite tricky to play without them.
I have a 1967 and it also has no side fret dots? Do they have them now? When did they start if they did?
Actually Paul’s 2nd Hofner Bass doesn’t have side markers either. You can tell which Hofners do indeed have the side fret markers just from pictures or even at long distance. Way you can tell is, if the bass/ guitar has white neck binding, it will have fret markers. I actually use Pearl nail polish for some of my Hofner basses to see. You’re absolutely right that it’s sometimes VERY difficult to be on the right fret, especially while on stage with lights and other distractions.
@@joemasse4568 I’m not sure if ALL post 64 Hofner basses had feet markers or not. Nick would know I’ll have to ask him
@@ardavansarraf2973 mine has white binding on the neck, but no fret dots?
@@ardavansarraf2973 I like your idea, I was considering getting dot markers fitted but nail polish would be easy to remove to put it back to original condition.
So, do you think Hofner will make an domed back 61’? And if so, I’d like to buy it now please lol.
I’ve wanted the 61 for the thick neck and pickup spacing and it would be perfect for this guy if it also had the domed back.
I think they will actually, I’m sure it would sell well
Hofner had many variations in features especially transitional years. Like the domed back on his ‘61 when most are flat. Paul’s current ‘63 has ‘62 features like the strip tuning machines. Some Hofner 500/1 basses have 2-piece backs or 2-piece tops. Some 2-piece necks. And other 3-piece. They most likely used what they had on hand. They needed to keep up with demand, and consistency went out the window.
I hope that bass is returned. How is it possible someone stole that piece of history. Unreal. Frampton got back a lost guitar from mid 70s plane crash a few years ago. So you never know
I sure he does get it back. Yeah that Frampton story is unreal, it survives plane crash and fire and by a fluke he gets it back. 😎👍
@@ardavansarraf2973 You are a genius - you are magic on stage - Your vocal range and artistry is unreal - we are lucky to have you performing the hits - when Ardy hits the high notes in Jet and sings it raw- its like its 1976 Wings Over America - the real deal Holyfield right here my man!
And Jimmy Page's Les Paul too. Found after so many years.. Has anyone else heard that Paul's missing Hofner might be in Ottawa, Ontario Canada?
ARE THE BRIDGES FIXED IN PLACE ON THESE OR JUST HELD INPLACE BY THE STRING TENSION ?
No, the bridges are floating and can be adjusted for intonation purposes when needed. Yes I’m sure the string tension are keeping the strings on there, but even when tuned in 440, it’s possible to slightly move bridge even with tension
This Steinway house was obviously not at Jungfernstieg. I read that he bought his bass there. What is correct?
I’m not sure, Nick Wass is the expert I go to at Hofner.
When's the next upload?
Coming up soon, just been sidetracked. Cheers
good video!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Nick is a great wealth of information
How long did it take you to learn all over again to play left hand?
Off and on for 6 months playing almost everyday, lots of practicing the same things everyday. If I can do it, ANYONE can
Fantastic video ! very informative - thank you 🙏 I believe Paul’s original bass was stolen during the let it Be sessions .
You’re absolutely right, it’s really unfortunate the thief hasn’t been caught yet. Hope Paul gets it back one day
@@iamagoofygoober6668 No it isn't. Watch again.
Why were the pickup so close to each other...and why did Hoftner change them?
That’s a Hofner question, I really don’t know. The sound has much more bass when the pick ups are closer to the neck for sure. I’m sure they wanted to try and balance it out
I prefer the Cavern style pickup placement of having the pickups in center and neck position (rather than the bridge pickup). On my Cavern I would leave both the pickups turned on, and at full volume for 95%+ of my playing. Set it and forget It. It just sounded best to me like that as it would provide the fullest and most satisfying tone.
are u the fab four?
Ardy Sarraf, the best Paul McCartney impersonator in the world!
Much appreciated
Wow, nice story. By the way, what kind of strings do you have? they look like double bass strings, or maybe it's just the video i dunno, it just caught my attention. :) Nice video!
I’m not sure which kind of strings Nock has on that 56 bass. But I use La Bella “Beatle Bass” strings. They make them for Hofner AND long scale flat wounds for Rickenbacker too.
@@ardavansarraf2973 Thank you, I thought for a moment you were using those nanofiber rustless strings. And i didn't know there were beatle bass strings, which is cool!
That's a pretty nice violin.
Hi Ardy, I know you play left handed to replicate Paul live, but do you play right handed any more recreationally? Or solely left handed?
Oddly enough most of my guitars at home are right handed. So I’m able to play my Beatle guitars too along with my lefty basses and PLAY BEATLE. I wish I could play 6 string guitar much better left handed, but I can really only play a few songs that way.
@@ardavansarraf2973 cool! Thanks for the answer!
Wow ardysarraf look like paul mcartney
well that's kind of the point :/
Hey Ardy, you should also check out E.J. from Backbeat Vintage here on TH-cam! He is another great expert on Hofners and works extensively on both vintage & reissue basses on his channel!
Funny you mentioned him, I’ve actually watched quite a few of his videos over the last few months. Good stuff, he knows his Hofners that’s for sure.
Michael Cane?
I known I played my drum to playing The Beatles drum set
Paul has it. It can be seen in his video "Find My Way" at the 3:06 mark.
That’s a reissue
Aight so wheres the FIRST paul mccartney hofner bass at?
That’s just it, no one really knows. It was stolen during the LET IT BE sessions. Shameful that someone still has it. It needs to be returned to Paul
Wait on one of Paul McCartneys videos his bass guitar was stolen *gasp
Yep and he’s never gotten it back, what a shame
And I just want to also work the fab four I good song I can do voice of Ringo starr
I was playing the beatles lesson song all my self on my own drum but my drum is color black my drum name is spl I got it from Christmas and I heard the beatles song I know how they played on The album is sgt pepper lonely heart club band and Kansas city what goes on I know I play really good drummer ever and ardy sarraf thanks you for all played the fab four all livestream and I see the fab four drummer added me to in the Instagram but ardy saruuf I will be a drummer and I remember you and gavin pring and Ron Neil and the fab four drummer I just meat met you all and yeah I been nice guy to play drummer all day and thank you all have a great day ardy sarraf
He bought it because it was easier to play (Like John Lennons short scale Rickenbacker Capri) symetrical (So it could be a lefthander),,, and above all it was cheap!
No proof from Steinways 😢