Hofner Violin "Beatle" Bass - 2011 Edition Hardcover – July 1, 2011

2EZ

If you are Beatles fan, and particularly a McCartney fan, then this book is required reading. Like other books of its kind, like the Rickenbacker 12 string, some of the history is dry reading but unavoidable, really. It brings to light interesting points about its construction, design characteristics, etc. that a true fan of the instrument would enjoy. It is also helpful in understanding the other models available in this series and what factors to consider when making a purchase. I originally started with a knock-off bass and had to do extensive research to determine which copy of the closest to the original. It paid off, but this book would have saved me a great amount of time. Recommended.

the book is very informative on the history of the hofner company and specifically the "beatle bass" a thumbs up for this one

OK

Interesting read and really the only one of it's kind on the subject.Nice presentation hard cover.I suspect there are some factual errors but only one or two.Main complaint would be sloppy editing - some page number and image references are wrong.

I was very disappointed in this book. After waiting 26 years for more info on Paul's bass, this edition is pretty thin. The author has many good pictures of vintage instruments, but he could have included so much more. There is no info on current players, construction details, care and maintenance, or tips and techniques. The author is obviously a Paul fan, which is ok, but their are other dimensions to this story. If you are looking for a "owner's manual" for your Hofner, this isn't it. If you want pictures of your bass, you will be happy. Go on and buy it!

There is so much one could say about this guitar. Joe Dunn makes little effort.Photos obviously cropped from old catalogs (you can see the fold where it was once crumpled up), or distorted because the page it was on was not photographed flat, out-of-focus photos snapped in back yards, abstract paintings by a friend of his of the 500/1 serve to pad out an already very slender volume.The only reason I kept it was for the photo of Paul's first 61 model in it's refurbished state (new pickup mounts and resprayed). Joe's photo shows Paul playing this instrument, which complements Andy Babiuk's "Beatles Gear" photo showing Paul (from the same Thank Your Lucky Stars broadcast; tuning it. With both these photos together we get to see the entire guitar in its new livery. Andy, however, gives us much more information. Andy also shows it again, "backstage", as a backup guitar to the 62 model whilst the Beatles are playing in the USA.Several photos of early models merely serve to illustrate the complex history of the instrument which this book could have addressed had it tried. And what about the instrument itself? How about a mention about the very odd wiring of the control panel, the unique (fragile) pickup mounting technique, things like that? H'm.Nothing here you couldn't find on the internet in better quality.