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1960 LH Burst or McCartney 1963 Hofner "Beatle Bass"?

Winkyplayer

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Saw McCartney the other night. He mostly played his 1963 Hofner, but played the 1960 LH Burst at the end. Hypothetical question. He offers you one or the other. Which do you choose? Which goes for more at auction?
 

jb_abides

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I choose the Burst, but the Beatle bass goes for more at auction.

FB-IMG-1651626784110.jpg
 

S. Weiger

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Great question. I'd choose the LH burst. Because I love Gibsons, and don't think the Hofner bass would bring more money than the burst. I might be completely wrong o.c.
 

Otto 57

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The question is, is it the exact same Hofner bass he's been using all these years? The bass is more iconic to the general public, but I think I'd take the lefty burst. We know the burst will sell for at least a certain amount...the Hofner is a question mark.
 

Winkyplayer

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The question is, is it the exact same Hofner bass he's been using all these years? The bass is more iconic to the general public, but I think I'd take the lefty burst. We know the burst will sell for at least a certain amount...the Hofner is a question mark.
It is a 1963 that he acquired (some say Hofner gave it to him) in around 1963. It was to replace a similar 1961 Hofner (pickups were differently arranged - there's no mistaking the two - I think the 1961 might also have been right-handed?). The 1961 had been damaged. Then the 1961 was stolen some years later. But yeah, the 1963 is same guitar he's used for the last 59 years. Hard-core guitar guys will love the Burst, but memorabilia collectors will prize the "Beatle Bass" above all else.

(Me? I'd take the Hofner for a collectible that I'd never play. The Burst is cool, for sure, but I'd rather take a righty Burst (even without provenance) so I could actually play it.)
 

gmann

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Great question. I'd choose the LH burst. Because I love Gibsons, and don't think the Hofner bass would bring more money than the burst. I might be completely wrong o.c.
You are IMO.
 

gmann

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The Hofner bass would bring way more money. LP’s being what they are and lefties being rare that bass is one of the most iconic/recognizable instruments in the world. That particular bass and the hits recorded on it have are major contributors to rock and roll as we know It. But hey, I’ve been wrong before.
 

S. Weiger

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The Hofner bass would bring way more money. LP’s being what they are and lefties being rare that bass is one of the most iconic/recognizable instruments in the world. That particular bass and the hits recorded on it have are major contributors to rock and roll as we know It. But hey, I’ve been wrong before.
As I initially stated re. the LH Burst: "I might be completely wrong o.c. " ;)

Wonder what will happen to those guitars when their owner eventually joins Lennon..
Will they come up for auction when the time comes? (hopefully a long time from now)
Or will they be kept in private by the heirs?
 

Winkyplayer

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As I initially stated re. the LH Burst: "I might be completely wrong o.c. " ;)

Wonder what will happen to those guitars when their owner eventually joins Lennon..
Will they come up for auction when the time comes? (hopefully a long time from now)
Or will they be kept in private by the heirs?
My guess is that "Beatle Bass" will end up in a museum. A proper museum like Science & Technology in Kensington, not a Hard Rock Cafe or Hall of Fame. It's a piece of cultural history.
 

Winkyplayer

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The Hofner bass would bring way more money. LP’s being what they are and lefties being rare that bass is one of the most iconic/recognizable instruments in the world. That particular bass and the hits recorded on it have are major contributors to rock and roll as we know It. But hey, I’ve been wrong before.
I agree. If it ever went to auction, it would likely break every guitar sale-price record.
 

jb_abides

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My guess is that "Beatle Bass" will end up in a museum. A proper museum like Science & Technology in Kensington, not a Hard Rock Cafe or Hall of Fame. It's a piece of cultural history.

My 'bet' is once Paul (and Ringo) pass, Paul's trust at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts expands to encompass permanent exhibits and museum to Paul and The Beatles, and will display gear, memorabilia, etc. It will loan artifacts for traveling shows to raise money, and also allow access to music scholars from across the globe, and selective members of the student body. Just a hunch.
 

VamboRool

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Audiences are known to applaud when the Hofner comes out on stage, the LP only gets the guitar geeks excited.
 

jrgtr42

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Audiences are known to applaud when the Hofner comes out on stage, the LP only gets the guitar geeks excited.
The only other times I;ve seen that happen are Jimmy Page (w/ The Black Crowes) when he came out the camera was right on the guitar. That one and Paul's Hofner will break all records if / when they go up for sale.
And Primus, when they wheeled the boat with Les' basses across stage when getting ready.
 

Phil 52

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The only other times I;ve seen that happen are Jimmy Page (w/ The Black Crowes) when he came out the camera was right on the guitar. That one and Paul's Hofner will break all records if / when they go up for sale.
Though I know that ZZ Top was not so popular as Zep was, but
regarding the guitar geeks I'd ad "Pearly Gates".
 

Winkyplayer

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The only other times I;ve seen that happen are Jimmy Page (w/ The Black Crowes) when he came out the camera was right on the guitar. That one and Paul's Hofner will break all records if / when they go up for sale.
And Primus, when they wheeled the boat with Les' basses across stage when getting ready.
Page's guitars aren't distinctive enough for me (I'm not a huge JP fan, though) to know which one you're talking about.
 
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