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Hofner 500/1 beatle bass
hollow body electric bass guitar
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This 1967 Vox advertisment shows George Harrison and Paul McCartney - with his Hofner violin bass
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The guitar and bass catalog of the same year shows Paul Mcartney, with the quotation, "Hofner is just great".
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The Hofner 500/1, also known as the Hofner violin bass, or Beatle bass, was first produced in 1956. Hofner had made violins and guitars for many years in Germany, but it wasn't until Gibson produced its EB bass in 1953 that the idea of a violin-shaped bass guitar was realized. Hofners version, the 500/1 came out in 1956, and thanks to the endorsement of Paul McCartney of the Beatles, Hofner became the manufacturer syonomous with violin basses, despite Gibsons earlier effort, and great instruments form Vox, Eko and others
The following description comes from the 1967 Hofner guitar catalogue
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A crowning achievement! A lightweight acoustic instrument shaped like a violin and tuned G, D. A, E like the last four strings of a guitar but an octave lower. The small acoustic body is perfectly proportioned and has arched spruce top and maple back in shaded brown, highly polished. The narrow neck is carefully made with comfortably fast 30" scale and fitted with rosewood fingerboard, celluloid bound.
The 2 microphone pickups are built on the double pole, double coil principle for greatest effectiveness. The control plate has 2 volume controls and 3 slides for quick blending and selection. Handle the 500/1 once and you'll understand why it has become the first choice of so many performers
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Hofner 500/1 Vintage 62 Electric Bass Guitar
In 1956, Walter Hofner had an idea for an amplified semi-acoustic bass. When it was brought to life, his idea revolutionized popular music. Many players revere Hofner's Violin Bass as a legend because of its historical significance and its warm, woody, double-bass-like amplified tone. The Hofner Violin Bass is a unique instrument with a smooth, sweet sound and a playing ease that simply eludes most ordinary basses. Based on Paul McCartney's 1962 Violin Bass, it replicates details of the original including the "strip" machine heads, the slot-head screws on the hardware, and the 2-piece neck. These are authentic touches that connect this instrument to an earlier time. In the Vintage '62 Hofner has created a replica of Paul's bass historically accurate enough to satisfy even the most demanding Beatles fan. 
Hofner 5000/1 Deluxe 4-String Electric Bass Guitar Natural
also available Left Handed
Although it shares the violin body shape and body woods, and pickups, the Deluxe is a distinct departure from the Vintage models with a one-piece European maple neck, ebony fretboard, gold-plated hardware, and diamond-shaped mother-of-pearl headstock inlays. A dark, full-body binding that contrasts with the lighter woods of the body is another of the details that sets the Deluxe apart. Responsive and light in weight, it is truly a pleasure to play. 
Hofner 500/2 Club Bass Guitar Sunburst
In 1956, Walter Hofner had an idea for an amplified semi-acoustic bass. When it was brought to life, his idea resulted in a bass with a warm, woody, double-bass-like amplified tone. Many players revere Hofner basses for their historical significance as well as for their smooth, sweet sound and playing ease that eludes most ordinary basses.Because the original bass guitar had become so scarce and expensive, popular demand compelled Hofner to re-create the Club Bass 500/2. The new Hofner 500/2 Club Bass shares the feel, tone, and many features of the Vintage '63 but with a more traditional guitar body profile and a single cutaway 
Hofner H500/2 Club Bass LTD Dark Violin
In 1956, Walter Hofner had an idea for an amplified semi-acoustic bass. When it was brought to life, his idea resulted in a bass with a warm, woody, double-bass-like amplified tone. Players love it for its playing ease and its tone one of the smoothest, sweetest sounds in all of bassland. Because the original became so scarce and expensive, popular demand compelled Hofner to re-create the Club Bass 500/2. Now this LTD version of the 500/2 offers the same instrument with changes that make it even closer to the original. The pickups have been repositioned to the original spacing for truer vintage tone and a hand-applied dark violin varnish gives it a more vintage vibe. 
Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar
Also available Left Handed
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fretless
Musicians love the Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar. In 1956, Walter Hofner had an idea for an amplified semi-acoustic bass. When it was brought to life, it proved to be a unique instrument with a smooth, sweet sound and a playing ease that eludes most ordinary basses. Many players revere Hofner's Violin Bass as a legend because of its historical significance and its warm, woody, double-bass-like amplified tone. Named for the year the most familiar version of the Violin Bass was popularized by Paul McCartney, the Vintage '63 captures its characteristic tone -- deep, warm and reminiscent of a full-sized string bass. Built to be as durable as its legacy, the compact-sized, easy-to-play, light-in-weight Vintage '63 is equally at home onstage or in the studio. |
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