Paul McCartney's Rock Band Höfner bass gets pictured, lacks genuineness

Sigh. It's like making a Jag-Stang for righties -- it just ain't right, kids. Hot on the heels of seeing the other special edition Rock Band axes designed for the forthcoming Beatles title comes this, Sir Paul McCartney's Rock Band Höfner bass replica. At a glance, most everything looks to be legitimate, but considering that it's clearly tailored for those who lean right, it'll never be authentic in our minds. Yeah, that's our southpaw pride we're wearing on our sleeves -- what of it?

[iamnotafish @ May 12th 2009 11:27AM]

I still prefer the GH3 guitar to the RB guitar. It just doesn't register notes as well I find.

[Hackettman @ May 12th 2009 11:31AM]

Likewise.....

[dtwhite @ May 12th 2009 11:38AM]

I don't have that same feeling. I think people who are really used to GH guitars don't know when the notes are supposed to register without the metronome click.

[Prokanda @ May 12th 2009 11:59AM]

playing GH right now... taking turns with a friend... and I agree. I finally played RB 2 days ago with a friend and I'm making him come over to play GH and see how much more accurate it is.

[Ravnos @ May 12th 2009 1:01PM]

I feel the same way. I've played way more Rock Band, so it's not that I'm more used to the GH controller. The strum bar just feels spongy. I prefer the way RB plays, but GH has the better peripherals. Good thing they're mostly cross-compatible, no need to settle.

[C4-M↨ke @ May 12th 2009 11:27AM]

Lacks about everything yeah, dont people play country music with that?! not guitar hero or rock band

[Hackettman @ May 12th 2009 11:32AM]

Banjo you mean?

[Brazell @ May 12th 2009 11:45AM]

You do realize that at least 90% of country music in the last 100 years is performed on a guitar? And, also, that thar pictured musical instrument is one of the most famous basses of all time?

[sacapuntas @ May 12th 2009 11:56AM]

LOL I play bluegrass and that is where a Banjo is actually played. Most country music you hear now consists of the same exact instruments used in rock (plus a fiddle). Chord progressions are now becoming increasingly similar between country and rock.

Bluegrass band might be harder than you think....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC_Wu55npi0
interesting to imagine...

(down ranked for unique taste in music in 3.....2....1)

[sacapuntas @ May 12th 2009 12:02PM]

something that would fit much better for a game...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0t9DIe0BWc (just freaking watch it.)

(Yeah I double posted. What of it?)

[RedSpdr @ May 12th 2009 12:11PM]

@ sacapuntas:

Nah man you hit the nail right on the head, country is the root of southern country, no worries there

[GhettoBanjo @ May 12th 2009 12:12PM]

i play a banjo and i cant imagine an instrument being more fun to play. but back to topic, that's a sweet bass and you cant expect harmonix to make it left handed just because.

[ehisforadam @ May 12th 2009 1:05PM]

Don't forget steel and steel pedal guitars! Those are a pretty uniquely southern instrument.

[esmtll @ May 23rd 2009 9:43PM]

@C4-M↨ke
You DO realize that that is not a banjo, right? that's the classic Hofner (Viola) bass made famous by Paul McCartney. What's this about "dont people play country music with that?!" If there is any bass that should be made for a Beatles edition it would be "that thing".

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ May 12th 2009 11:28AM]

South paws are an abomination of Nature....




Just kidding but Paul McCartney sucks big wang.

[Fred @ May 12th 2009 11:50AM]

This from "SOOPERGOOMAN"? I'm sure you're an authority on sucking wang.

[NickNick @ May 12th 2009 11:56AM]

Fred, you have a cat with a pineapple brain.
so your argument is invalid.

[Adam @ May 12th 2009 11:31AM]

He started off playing a right handed guitar upside down so I am afraid it may well be authentic.

[darley @ May 12th 2009 11:37AM]

No split strum bar?

[hiko36 @ May 12th 2009 3:32PM]

Paul played with a pick so a split strum bar wouldnt be authentic.

[Andrew @ May 12th 2009 11:53AM]

Whammy bar on a bass? How's that legitimate?

[myro255 @ May 13th 2009 12:11AM]

My Warwick Streamer has a Kahler tremolo bridge, used all the time playing harmonic's. A really unique effect sir.

[Mark00018 @ May 12th 2009 11:42AM]

do people still play rockband? lol.

[Christ-ian @ May 12th 2009 11:47AM]

Yeah.


Jerk.

[Andy Anonymous @ May 12th 2009 4:16PM]

Do people still criticize other people's game playing habits? lol.

[Benjamin Heckendorn @ May 12th 2009 11:46AM]

By this November Best Buy will be able to build entire STORES out of the musical game boxes:

Lego Rock Band
Rock Band Beatles
Guitar Hero Van Halen
Guitar Hero 5
Band Hero
Scratch the Ultimate DJ
DJ Hero

How long before this genre collapses under its own weight?

[601210 @ May 12th 2009 11:46AM]

You do know that Paul McCartney played a right-handed hofner, right?
That's why he liked them -- 'cause they looked the same either way around.

[Eric @ May 12th 2009 12:12PM]

Actually, he didn't. Look at the control knobs on any of his - all at the bottom (while playing). He played many of his guitars upside-down, but his basses (as a Beatle) were all left-handed.

[Robot @ May 12th 2009 11:52AM]

+12 Blogging Points for the Jag-Stang joke, and being left-handed.

-12 for not noticing the absurdity of placing a whammy bar on a Hofner bass.

[Renal @ May 12th 2009 12:06PM]

And I who thought it were suppose to be a left-handed bass...

[Gazoobee @ May 12th 2009 12:33PM]

As someone who used to own a real Hofner bass just like McCartney's ... This thing is quite a bit off.

For starters a Hofner is hollow (like a violin with clef holes), and that's pretty much the main point of the thing.

That being said, why is a story about a *toy* Hofner guitar being slightly different from a *real* Hofner guitar even like ... a story at all? WTF? You didn't expect Guitar Hero to hand out real guitars with the product did you?

[tennis_king81 @ May 12th 2009 1:11PM]

Um, did the original Höfner have a whammy/tremolo bar? That thing is kinda ridiculous.

[frank @ May 12th 2009 2:32PM]

You forgot to mention that idiiotic whammy bar that has no place on a bass..............

[Jason Collin @ May 12th 2009 3:10PM]

I'm with the south-paw pride. Playing Rock Band at a friend's house, it's a pain to have to swap the strap all the time. Wish they'd make a dedicated lefty axe.

[C4-M↨ke @ May 12th 2009 3:15PM]

Do you realize that the music that gets people depressed the most is country music, and they commit suicide after hearing this music YUP, saw it in Manswers! Do your search

[ben @ May 29th 2009 12:40PM]

Why do you keep bringing up country music? This is a bass used by Paul McCartney of The Beatles, the most popular Rock and Roll band of all time, it has nothing to do with country music... some people are so stupid it defies logic.

[terry__morgan @ May 12th 2009 3:59PM]

I am also disappointed about this being RH, and it will keep me from buying the bundle. I'm still looking forward to the game, but I don't need any more RH guitars, especially if they are based on the world's most famous (and iconic) LH bass!

[myro255 @ May 13th 2009 12:13AM]

You sir are ignorant. Ill bet anything this thing plays better left handed than any of the other GH/RB axe's.

[V Langs @ May 12th 2009 7:02PM]

I pretty much knew it'd be right handed.....I mean most of the world is right handed.

they could make a lefty hofner if they'd like

and though it doesn't look much like a real hofner, I mean what'd you expect? real wood accents? for a game peripheral it looks pretty good!

i will buy the game and i'll get a richen backer, i play drums and would love the ringo set but 250 is too rich for my blood. and i have an RB 1 drum set.

i love the beatles so much! this will finally make rockband fun again

[V Langs @ May 12th 2009 7:08PM]

p.s. does anybody know if you can have two guitars and bass and drums? like the real beatles or just a three instruments and vocals?

it'd be awesome if you could get a mic stand and play a full four piece!

[Last Child oMine @ May 15th 2009 3:01PM]

My guess is no, you can't play 2 guitars and a bass. But that's just a guess.

The $250 Special Edition actually comes with a mic stand, and if you really want one, go to your local music store. they're only like, 10-15 bucks. Rumor has it you'll be able to sing harmonies with up to 3 mics, but I dunno...

[Takahashi @ May 12th 2009 10:49PM]

As much as I understand the market, and how they need to make such changes. It just would be nice to get an actual lefty guitar on the market. I would buy a new set if this was left handed. I am so sick of flipping the guitar peripheral upside down. The whammy bar just gets in the way, and it just does not feel right.

[Last Child oMine @ May 15th 2009 3:03PM]

to clarify, they said country was the music MOST LIKELY to make you depressed or suicidal. It's not like every single person who has ever listened to a country song commits suicide. Hell, I like The Gambler, and...erm...no, that's it.

[Last Child oMine @ May 15th 2009 3:05PM]

...that was supposed to be a reply to 4-M↨ke...

[Mozzer @ Aug 6th 2009 1:04PM]

All y'all r jus playn wit toyz...why don't you spend your time learning a real instrument so you can join a real band???