Hofner Cavern 61 Reissue

Made in Germany in 2002, the Hofner 500/1 '61 Cavern Bass recreates Paul McCartney's first Hofner bass (played in Hamburg and Liverpool). It has a violin-shaped hollow body, which is made of German spruce. Unlike the other Hofner models, the 61 actually has a flat back instead of curved. It has a Maple/Beech/Maple neck with a 22 fret rosewood fretboard. It also includes a trapeze tailpiece, floating ebony bridge, Hofner diamond humbucking pickups, and pyramid gold flatwound strings. For electronics, it has two pickup volume controls, two pickup on/off switches, and a solo/rhythm switch. Of, it also has a zero-fret. Not a lot of features, but then, that's not why you'd buy one of these.

It's a Hofner, so it sounds like every early Beatles song. It's a little bass with a big booming sound. The pickup configuration (both adjacent to the neck) on this bass actually provide an even deeper bass sound than the others. I play it again an old Fender BXR 100 and it sounds great even without much EQ tweaking. Make sure you play away from your amp, or keep the strings muted when you're not playing them as it is very microphonic and will feed back. The wood is so light that the hollow body resonates quite a bit. It's probably a better studio bass than it is for live playing, as my Rick 4003 cuts through the sound of a band much better than the Hofner.

The setup and pickup adjustments were perfect, which is astonishing for a bass that has a floating bridge. The finish is beautiful. Though there were some small glue splashes on the back where the neck meets the body. Gentle scraping with a fingernail will fix that.

Paul McCartney has been using the same Hofner 500/1 for nearly 40 years. I think that answers the question. Overall the hardware seems pretty sturdy. The raised necks on Hofners always frighten me, but that's probably because I'm used to big solid body neck-thru Rickenbackers. The "Strap Button" at the bottom of the bass was solid. It was left up to me to decide whether or not I wanted to install the neck button, which I did.

No idea... Haven't had to deal with them yet.

I've been playing seriously for about a year now, but off and on for about 4 years. I'm now in a Beatles cover band, and so this bass was pretty much a 'requirement'. I prefer my Ricks, but this bass has a lot of character, even though it's hard at first to get used to the shorter scale of the neck. Overall, it's a great purchase for Beatles collections and bass players in general because it makes you think outside of the box that most other bass players put themselves in. I got a good deal on mine, but generally they are overpriced.

Reissue 1961 Cavern made in Germany. Spruce top, flamed maple on back and sides, three piece neck, w/strip tuners.
Two diamond pickups placed together at the neck with small surround's, three tone slide switches, two volume controlls. Perloid pickguard and controll panel face. Adjustable black ebony bridge, chrome tailpiece, flat back. Super Brown/Tan Sunburst mirror finish. Vertical Hofner head logo w/small Hofner decal logo on body above pickups. Short scale bass with 22 frets. The "Sir Paul" first Hofner!!

I play all McCartneys walking bass lines in all the Beatles songs, along with all their LP's, or with my fellow Beatle guitarist. The Hofner of course matches the same exact sound when played along with the LP's, as only a Hofner can do, espically when played along with their old classic's.
This bass sounds and plays just as good regardless if you're on stage or in the studio.
I love the one i have, is just a bit different than playing a reissue 63 500/1 as it has a thicker neck, but still easy to get fast bass lines with. Mine stays in tune all the way up the neck, do have mine set with a medium-low bridge adjustment as i like it just above fret buzz.
The amp i use is a vintage 1970 Fender Bassman 135, sounds good with a Hofner played through it, has that special "Thump Thug" muddy sound that only Hofners produce !!!!!

Other than the bridge adjustment, all other factory setting's were fine, actually the bridge was fine as i just prefer a bit lower action.
The finish is great, super slick and shiny !!!!! Good colored wood tones, great flame wood !!!!!
The pickups were adjusted perfect, no noise or static while playing.
Perloid parts as well as the chrome, tuners, frets were fine.

This bass WILL withstand live playing, as i have said on the 63 500/1 reissue review ---- McCartney has already prover that theory on this bass as well !!!!
All the hardware that comes on these basses, in my opinion is just as the 500/1's and will last a lifetime. The chrome plating looks great, the strip tuners are very solid with no play in the tuning post gears, bridge made of very hard material.
The finish as i have said is very slick and shiny with a mirror effect. Dosn't seem to be thin or easily worn off from lots of playing --- then again the finish will only last you depending on how well you take care of it !!!! every time i play mine it gets a good wipe down with a polishing cloth and put back in its case. Also gets a good spray polishing every now and then --- the wood finish, all chrome hardware, perloid accessories, etc.
The strap button was on tight, but i never use as i put on the McCartney style with the dog leash clip and under the neck wrap around. With there style straps you'll need to be carefull with the dog leash clip that hooks to the top-lower section of the tailpiece, no problem while standing --- will not touch finish --- only while seated that i lay the dog leash clip off the back edge of the tailpiece --- dosn't touch any of the finish.

Haven't used it for the Cavern but did on my reissue 63 500/1 and Rob Olsen (Boosey & Hawkes)"Hofner" is one of the best to deal with!!
Most helpfull and fast service !!!!

I've been playing 30+ years. Grew up on the Beatles and the British invasion !!!!
My other gear that i have besides the reissue 61 Hofner Cavern and 70 fender Bassman 135 piggy-back amp is another vintage 1968 Fender Bandmaster piggy-back amp. Other basses is a used reissue 63 500/1, a new 2001 reissue 63 500/1, 1997 Epiphone Viola, two 2000 Rogue Hofner copys one of which i put on all reissue 63 500/1 parts on, other Hofner copys are a 60's Univox Lectra, 60's green Greco w/F holes in origional case, 70's Crestwood in case.
As i also play six string guitars along with the Beatles LP's, in the guitar arsonal a 1997 Epiphone Dot 335 in sunburst, 1999 Epiphone Less Paul in sunburst, 2000 Crestline in maroon, 1965 Rocket Harmony 3 pickup 335 arch-top style in red, and a 2001 Johnson acoustic in blueburst.
If anything happened to my Cavern just as with the 500/1's i'd get a replacement as fast as possible !!!!!