Hofner 182

This was made in 1965, has no serial number but the German made pots have codes and the website http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/factfiles/bodydate/potcode.html was informative on the info about this bass. It is a short scale (around 30") and has 21 frets. It has a figured maple top and back over a strat-shaped body, only thinner, and slightly smaller. This bass has the same electronics as a Beatlebass, with 2 humbuckers, and a separate volume control for the treble and bass pickups. Also there is a Bass and Treble On/off switch but they are not pickup switches, they're potentiometers which attenuate treble when the bass switch is on, and attenuate bass when the treble switch is on, so that when both are "on", the bass is rendered silent. There is a 3rd switch called "rhythm/solo" which seems to boost the bass when the solo switch is switched but it only attenuates the overall volume when switched to rhythm, slightly. A strange outlay if you're used to Fender basses, but very handy, and musical.

The pickups are stock Hofner Humbuckers. They are passive. The body is a laminated wood, lighter in color and weight. The top and bottom thin laminates are the figured type and this is a 3 tone sunburst finish with the middle clear honey coat really showing off the figured wood. This is a rare model 182, I think, as other pictures I've seen have either plastic covering or solid paint on the body. The neck fretboard is a nice rosewood, possibly brazilian, it has some darker grains over relatively dark grains and a mother of toilet-seat dot inlays, to go with the MOT controls. The pickguard is a 2ply black over white. The headstock and back of the neck are painted black and there's a gold-painted-white script Hofner Logo on it, along with a string tree located over the two higher strings. This is a factory string tree. A similar string tree was seen on a picture of one of the 182's on the website mentioned earlier. They claimed it was probably non-factory but based on the fact that my bass has the exact same item, they have to be factory.

The tuners have pearloid plastic handles. They are stock. The whole bass is stock except for the 2 tailpiece screws which I replaced. The originals were on there but They were rusty and one of them came apart when I tried to remove them, so both were replaced from the hardware store. That was unfortunate because they were brass screws and they looked better on the nickel-plated hardware. The newer screws are small, though and have little visual detraction of the vintage vibe.

The bridge is a floating bridge and has height adjustments, and it is original. The tailpiece has the Hofner logo inscribed on it. The tailpiece string holes are skinnier than newer bass string holes. I tried to load the bass with medium slim strings but the lowest string wouldn't go all the way through the hole. So I put skinnier strings on it and the bass plays easier, and the action is lower too, but that has also to do with my placing a few cardboard shims under the neck at the body pocket.

This came with an original hardshell case.

This sounds great. I can get the Beatles tone plus more. The shorter scale means I can move around easier on the neck too.
I have it plugged into my Ampeg V-4 halfstack. I like jamband, jazz, funk, and alternative/classic rock. It easily suits any style.

It is not noisy at all. Probably because of the humbuckers. This is nice and the electronics are all loaded onto the pickguard, and there is no ground wire to the body so it can be removed completely, yet there is no noise. Full sound at any setting.

The bass had high action when I bought it but I set it up and it is nice and low now. The pickups are adjusted well. The fretwire looks like brass and the frets are thin. This bass plays easily. The body laminated wood back was lifting with a small crack in the paint along the laminate which is being fixed with some wood glue, but structurally this bass should be able to withstand gigging and use. The hardware was oxidized and some of the screws were rusty, and the bass had dings on it. Overall a nice quality bass from Germany in the 60's.

It will withstand anything you dish out on it. If it is still alive after 40 years, it will probably be around much longer!

No customer support but warranty went out long ago....

I have been playing bass on and off for 25 years. The styles have changed but I'm a drummer who plays other instruments including a 70s Fender P bass. This bass has more vibe than that one, and it is very nice-sounding, but it may be replaced with a different model if lost. T