Hofner bass style body

[Name]

I think the violin bass body shape would be a pretty neat addition.

 

[AirCap]

Solid, semi-hollow, or hollowbody?

 

[Name]

I'd take any really, but probably hollow or semi-hollow.

 

[mayfly]

I'd recommend solid - the neck dive on those things is atrocious.

But - since it's such an Iconic thing, I imagine that whoever owns the trademark on the shape might want someone to pony up some cash.  That's gotta be taken into consideration when looking at the viability of it.

 

[BigSteve22]

I'd recommend solid - the neck dive on those things is atrocious.

But - since it's such an Iconic thing, I imagine that whoever owns the trademark on the shape might want someone to pony up some cash.  That's gotta be taken into consideration when looking at the viability of it.

Trademark on the shape? Would it really be possible for Hofner to trademark the violin shape? I'm thinking that would be in the public domain by now, there's violins, and basses, out there that are hundreds of years old, and they all got the same shape. Good thing today's laws weren't on the books back then, or Stradivari might have sued Amati......  ???

 

[mayfly]

well ok fine.  ccasion14:

 

[BigSteve22]

well ok fine.  ccasion14:

Hey Brother, you may very well be 100% right on this! I just can't wrap my head round some of the trademark and copyright laws....  :icon_scratch:

 

[amigarobbo]

I'd recommend solid - the neck dive on those things is atrocious.

But - since it's such an Iconic thing, I imagine that whoever owns the trademark on the shape might want someone to pony up some cash.  That's gotta be taken into consideration when looking at the viability of it.

Trademark on the shape? Would it really be possible for Hofner to trademark the violin shape? I'm thinking that would be in the public domain by now, there's violins, and basses, out there that are hundreds of years old, and they all got the same shape. Good thing today's laws weren't on the books back then, or Stradivari might have sued Amati......  ???

Not least because the 1956 Hofner 500/1 is a rip off of probably inspired by the 1953 Gibson EB-1:

[youtube]2u46ywBNSkg[/youtube]

And what it sounds like:
[youtube]_VM1KLDwMPY[/youtube]

I wonder what it's like with the tone rolled off...

 

[mayfly]

I wonder what it's like with the tone rolled off...

:laughing11:

 

[Sovereign_13]

Heck, I'd be interested a guitar version.  I played the violin for a long time, and it'd be nice to acknowledge that with a guitar.

Maple semi-hollow body with a spruce top and F-holes...I wonder how a guitar made from violin woods would sound.  Probably like whatever pickups you put in it.  Or insanely bright.

Ooh, slap a Fishman Triple Play on there and you can play the violin while playing guitar on your violin-shaped guitar! :laughing7:

 

[rgand]

That Gibson EB is certainly a cool instrument. Painted F-holes and all. Thanks for the links.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

A couple of decades ago I knew a guy who built a body face/side to go over a Steinberger bass to make it look looked a headless Hofner with EMG jazz pickups, looked absolutely killer with its flame maple cherry sunburst finish.