Hofner Jubilee...

[Addison]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hofner-Limited- ... 3f27c4bc2a

I'm especially entertained by this find because of how upset fellow forum member mcarp555 was that Hofner did NOT make a lefty version of this bass.

Here's the original thread: http://www.leftybassist.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4002

Do you believe in miracles?

Well, here you go!

[fivebass52]

And only $4995.00, plus $30.00 shipping... for that price, the shipping should be included!

[Matt R.]

And only $4995.00, plus $30.00 shipping... for that price, the shipping should be included!

And a refin.

[Addison]

[mcarp555]

Glad I'm so fondly remembered.

After Hofner did the initial run of *only* 60 Jubilee basses (using the Indonesian Contemporary bodies), they decided to make another 120, this time with the more expensive German-made 500/1. Sixty for the US and sixty for the UK/Europe market. These basses are a much closer match to what Macca played (besides being German-made, they have white maple sides and back, whereas the original CT models were blue).

As to how many of these were produced left-handed, it's difficult to say. I've heard that of the 60 for the UK, only 4 were LH. No idea on the US ones. To date I've only been able to confirm one in the UK and now this one in the US. At any rate, I know a lot of people who bought one of the original CT Jubes are pretty ticked off with Hofner for releasing a further 120 upgraded units. They feel it goes against the "only 60 made" part that would make these instruments special. I can see their point.

But, to only make 4 out of 60 (or maybe 8 out of 120?), to say nothing of zero from the CT batch, is an insult to the left-hand market, and an odd, if not downright stupid thing to do, considering their biggest endorsee is left-handed. If you're bored one afternoon, mosey over to Hofner's website and see how many left-hand models they offer, excluding the 500/1. While you're there, note the new three-pickup version of the violin bass. The one that's not available left-handed.

[Sec-Def]

But, to only make 4 out of 60 (or maybe 8 out of 120?), to say nothing of zero from the CT batch, is an insult to the left-hand market,

I don't know about that. 4 out of 60 seems like a decent ratio.
lefty's are like a tenth of gen-pop and some of us do that "I want to suck on my instrument" shtick and play righty.

[mcarp555]

Remember this is not a production model. With such a small run of instruments (even if it grew from 60 to 180), they could have easily made half of them left-handed and sold them just as fast. Still doesn't excuse the fact that the original sixty CT models were *all* right-handed. That's a 0% for "gen-pop".

[Addison]

But, to only make 4 out of 60 (or maybe 8 out of 120?), to say nothing of zero from the CT batch, is an insult to the left-hand market, and an odd, if not downright stupid thing to do, considering their biggest endorsee is left-handed.

I suck at math, but if my numbers are correct that means they decided to make 6% of those basses as lefties.

Considering that 1%-3% of the guitar/bass buying market are people who actually play left-handed, I'd say that's pretty generous of them... especially since it's such a niche collector's piece to begin with.

[mcarp555]

Let me say this again: "This is not a production model. With such a small run of instruments (even if it grew from 60 to 180), they could have easily made half of them left-handed and sold them just as fast."

If we stick with just the UK, do you not think there might be more than four left-handers in the entire country who would be interested in purchasing one of these basses? Even if they made half of them (that's 30) left-handed, I strongly doubt they'd be gathering dust on some dealer's wall somewhere.

I assume you have some sort of proof to back up your assertion that only 1%-3% of the guitar/bass buying market are people who actually play left-handed. Please provide a link to the study that provided you with those figures.

[Addison]

THIRTY Jubilee basses??? Are you kidding me?

I bet it would take at least 10 years to sell 30 of those basses... AT LEAST.

And I bet you haven't even bought one yet, have you...

I don't need to post figures... make a phone call yourself and find out. That's what I did... it's pretty simple.

Approximately 10-12% of the world's population is left-handed. That fact is documented all over the place... click here: http://bit.ly/15ItG7s

From that number, approximately 10% of all left-handers actually play their instruments left-handed... MOST lefties who play, learn to play righty because there aren't any lefties to buy anywhere.

It's not only common sense, it's a FACT.

I've talked to the Fender Custom Shop, Roger Sadowsky, Dan Lakin (from Lakland), Joe Zon, Jimmy Coppolo, Keith Roscoe and Mike Lull personally and asked them... and they all have almost IDENTICAL answers.

They build about ONE lefty for every ONE-HUNDRED righties they sell. Give or take a couple.

If you call Musician's Friend, I would bet that their sales numbers reflect those numbers.

I'll take their word for it.

[Sec-Def]

If we stick with just the UK, do you not think there might be more than four left-handers in the entire country who would be interested in purchasing one of these basses?

at 5000$? no I don't think so.
there's this custom shop lefty 6 string bass on arnie's site, which is located here in israel,
I'de put good money that no lefty in israel is gonna cuff up the 4500$ he wants for it.
and it's not a niche thing like this union jack finish.


aside from that, in my group of friends (not the best test group I know) we have 5 people who play an instrument (most of us more then one) 3 of them are left handed, but I'm the only one who plays lefty. that's a third out 10-12 percent. that's 3-4 percent.

[AustinLeftyBass]

But, to only make 4 out of 60 (or maybe 8 out of 120?), to say nothing of zero from the CT batch, is an insult to the left-hand market,

I don't know about that. 4 out of 60 seems like a decent ratio.
lefty's are like a tenth of gen-pop and some of us do that "I want to suck on my instrument" shtick and play righty.

Agreed. My lefty Rickenbacker 4001CS is one of only 4 or 5 lefties in a limited run of 1000, making the Hofner lefty ratio look pretty good.

[mcarp555]

Alright, fine. Be content with being screwed over by most guitar manufacturers. Judging by the number of left-handers who own LH Hofner 500/1s, they're seriously overproducing this model, if nothing else (according to "common sense"). And yet those basses get sold to someone. The fact that all of the RH German-made Jubilees have been sold for the same price doesn't seem to make any impression on anyone here? It's okay to pay a huge price for a custom boutique bass (how much for a Zon?), but not a Hofner? I came very close to plunking down £2000 a few months ago for a left-handed German-made Jubilee. But I couldn't swing the cash in time. It's rotten that they couldn't be bothered to make more for the people who want them. Isn't that what running a business is all about? Why can't we get a US-made Fender Jazz with even a maple neck without having to do it via the custom shop? Why do we have to get screwed in ways our righty brethren don't? Why do so many of you think that's okay?

I knew there was a reason I stopped hanging out here. Everyone is content to bitch and moan about what they can't get left-handed. But as soon as someone suggests doing anything about it, like complaining to the companies, then everyone has to rush back behind the barricades. After all, we're only 1-3% of the market, right? Why should we expect anything at all? We're happy with the crumbs we get. I will continue to complain, to Hofner, to Fender, to Gibson, et al. You're welcome to join me in making a racket about how we're being treated. And a few of you do. The rest of you are not worth wasting my time over, since you're happy taking it up the jacksie.

I'm expecting a Gaskell Thunderbass in a few weeks, that I'm buying mainly because I think a left-hand-only company needs our support. Yep, I'm sinking a grand into my principles. If you think that's a crazy idea then you haven't got a clue, do you? I know the T-bass got a bad review on here recently; a lot of that seemed to be confusion on the part of the reviewer (where on the Gaskell site was a thru-neck mentioned?). I think the bass I receive will be better than that, and I'll post a review of it on here, for the benefit of anyone who's not so close-minded as some people I could mention.

My apologies for this rant if any innocent bystanders are offended; I hope it won't get deleted like my previous post seems to have been. But I've had it up to here with listening to people who think they know better. People who feel we don't deserve the same variety of choice just because we use the other hand. I'm not ashamed of being left-handed. I'm ashamed of the the people who are.

[Matt R.]

Boobies

[AustinLeftyBass]

Wow, that was entertaining. Silly, but a fun read nonetheless!

[johntheleftybassist]

Lighten up Francis.

[AustinLeftyBass]

Lighten up Francis.

Sgt. Hulka, is that you?

[Sec-Def]

blah blah self righteous blah

I won't play a dime for an instrument just because I agree with
what the brand is doing. that's stupid. and I don't have the cash to throw around on "principals".
also, the idea behind running a business is all about making money.
and over producing just two of these guitars is 10000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGES.
this isn't like a custom order thing, when you order an instrument you pay a down payment and the shop knows who you are and that you want the fucking thing, you're bitching that hofner isn't taking it's chances with that very unique (euphemism for: fucking ugly who will buy that shit?!) highly expansive item with no orders to back it up.
why the fuck would they do that? because you sent them an angry email? are you serious?
you stated that you don't understand why hofner aren't making any more of these. we explained it form each of our point of view. this isn't hiding behind any thing, it's just our common sense.
you can agree or disagree and retort but keep your preaching's to yourself.
no one wants to hear how shity a person they are because they can't throw cash to buy a guitar which shipping out costs it's retail price. (gaskell are fucking Australian dude!)

[Agent00Soul]

The economic danger of overestimating the lefty bass market is discussed in this short 6 post thread:
http://www.leftybassist.com/viewtopic.p ... hilit=Bach

On the other hand, I do not understand why companies don't acommodate lefties on issues that don't require an extra outlay of cash/time on their part. For example, there is no good reason why Fender only offers their lefty basses in a single color that I know of. The paint is already there and I can't imagine how it would affect their bottom line. Maybe it's too risky to take a chance on selling a tiny market something that's not tried and true like black??

[pjmuck]

I agree to an extent. Gibson produced an extremely limited run of some of their basses earlier this year and they sold within days. Now they're back to playing stubborn again. What gives? Didn't we prove that there is a market there?

But back to the original subject. We can argue 'til we're blue in the face whether or not manufacturers have been "fair" to lefties or not, but when all is said and done paying $4995 for a one trick pony that has no business costing that much is ridiculous, Jubliee or not. If McCartney hadn't played this El Cheapo instrument way back when (because he couldn't afford a Fender, according to him), NOBODY would even be considering Hofners today, let alone paying over $2000 for one. I know there are fans of Hofners here, and believe me, I like them for what they are too, but their pricing's absolutely absurd given what they are/were. You're paying strictly for the McCartney connection.