Höfner Debuts “Cavern” Versions of Contemporary and Ignition Violin Basses
Höfner has introduced new “Cavern” versions of their Contemporary and Ignition Series Violin basses at the 2013 Musikmesse in Frankfurt last week. The pickups on the new models are positioned closely together and towards the neck in the Cavern style, similar to Paul McCartney’s original 1961 bass.
Each of the entry level basses will be built with the same specifications as their predecessors, though the Contemporary version upgrades its pickups to the Cavern style while the Ignition version will have the same pickups but moved closer together. Both models feature a body with a spruce top with flame maple back and sides as well as a neck of maple and beech. The Höfner Contemporary HCT-500/1-CV steps things up with a hand carved spruce center block and German made “Cavern” pickups.
The Höfner Violin Bass “Cavern” Contemporary and Ignition Series basses will be available with MSRPs of €695 (approx. $915 USD) and €305 (approx. $401 USD), respectively.
Höfner Contemporary Violin Bass “Cavern” Specs:
| Body Top: | Spruce |
| Body Back: | Flame Maple |
| Body Sides: | Flame Maple |
| Finish: | Sunburst or Black |
| Center Block: | Spruce |
| Neck Wood: | Maple/Beech/Maple |
| Fingerboard Wood: | Rosewood |
| Scale: | 30″/76cm |
| Nut Width: | 42mm |
| Number Of Frets: | 22 |
| Pickups: | 2 Höfner “Cavern” Style |
Höfner Ignition Violin Bass “Cavern” Specs:
| Body Top: | Spruce |
| Body Back: | Flame Maple |
| Body Sides: | Flame Maple |
| Finish: | Sunburst or Black |
| Neck Wood: | Maple/Beech/Maple |
| Fingerboard Wood: | Rosewood |
| Scale: | 30″/76cm |
| Nut Width: | 42mm |
| Number Of Frets: | 22 |
| Pickups: | 2 Höfner Ignition Staple Nickel, in “Cavern” Position |
For more information:
Höfner.
As a huge fan of Short Scale Basses……awesome…
Now I can finally afford to play “Come Together” the right way :D
McCartney used his Rickenbacker in Come Together
Not on the video version. George was also using his Les Paul and John played his Casino.
You can still play the bass solo in I’ll Cry Instead :)
it’s actually a fender jazz, one of the few songs he used a fender.
About time Hofner. I was about to make my own using two Turser basses.
but will it be available in the hard to get left handed model..
According to the Hofner site, they should both be available in lefty versions, though only in Sunburst and Black finishes.
gotta start saving for the Contemporary LH
lefty?
I want one of these so badly. Beautiful.
When are they being released?
I emailed Hofner about this. They’re being released this July, and retail for the same price as the other ones