1990 Greco VB-650 - Violin Bass - Fab Four! - Sir Paul McCartney Beatles - Made In Japan - Demo Video - Pro Set Up w Perfect Frets/Action/Intonation

1990 Greco VB-650 Violin Bass
SN#: C 021892

Nut: 1.56

Thickness of the Neck at the First Fret is .82

Thickness of the Neck at the Twelfth Fret is .89

Comes in Original Hard Case

$$$ It has just been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. It has low action with no buzzing. The frets are in perfect condition and polished to shine like a mirror, it is truly stage or studio ready/worthy. (Including new Strings,  perfect Intonation, truss rod adjustment and low action) Read Our Feedback and Rest Assured, The Dude Abides!

Anyone who is a fan of the Fab Four is probably reveling in nostalgia at the moment... Here we have a Greco guitar inspired by the famous Hofner Violin bass. These unique and sweet playing basses were HUGE in Japan after the Beatles hit and it seemed like everyone started making copies or heavily influenced versions of them. This rare and highly sought after bass is in incredible condition and sounds just as good as she looks.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Made in Japan serial
• Violin Sunburst
• This is the upper grade VB-650 model
• Higher end hardware and a set neck construction
• Modelled from the Hofner Violin Bass
• Made famous by Paul McCartney - The Beatles
• Spruce body top, Flamed Maple body back
• Maple neck with Rosewood fingerboard
• Very comfortable and thin, super-fast, 1.56" nut neck width
• 30 ½” short scale length
• Modern, fast, and sleek 10" radius fret board
• The tone is incredible, very versatile and usable in many settings
• From smooth & clear, to deep & thunderous
• Some of the best range you will hear in a bass
• Excellent overall condition

The Violin Bass Claim to Fame:

As a young man, Paul McCartney was not one to go into debt to purchase instruments (unlike George and John who had no trouble going into debt to obtain their guitars). Even though each Beatle was actually making, comparatively speaking, pretty decent money once they started gigging in Hamburg, Paul got "saddled" with the bass (post Stuart Sutcliffe) and went looking for a decent sounding and playing instrument that was affordable. He ended up liking the Hofner. They spent significant time in Germany and Hofner guitars were more readily available than the USA made Fenders or Ricks. The Hofner was symmetrical and looked "less daft" when strung/played left handed. Remember, this is WAY before modern computerized machinery existed and left handed instruments were costly to gear up and build, much less find in good supply in the UK and Europe, which was still slowly pulling out of the post WWII doldrums. Paul says that Fenders, back then, cost around 100 pounds, where as he could get a Hofner for about a third of the cost. Many UK musicians lusted after genuine Fender instruments, but until Fender Sales began making inroads into the UK market, they were very expensive to purchase and rarely seen in any real quantities in music stores. You are correct, the Hofner is a "little wonky" sounding, but they have a very cool sound, unique to themselves and the tone of the Hofner bass will always be imbedded into the sound of the Fab Four. Paul's bass sound and style, I would argue, was formed while using this bass. He never took the instrument serious until he was saddled with the role and he developed his style while using this instrument. To this day, Paul rarely, if ever uses a Fender. He has said in interviews, he never really quite got along with them. Even his use of the Rickenbacker, Yamaha and Wal basses during the 70's, 80's; all long scale basses, Paul talks about the extra weight and scale length to be a little bothersome. Paul just seems to be the kind of guy that was/is O.K. with finding something unique that he likes and he sticks with it. These days I think he still plays it for two reasons...(1) It is now SO iconic. Just the SIGHT of it, says "PAUL MCCARTNEY!" (2) Due to its light weight, it probably makes the 2 1/2 hour gigs in his mid-70's easier to manage. I'm in my late 40's and playing heavy guitars, while singing at the same time, is becoming increasingly more difficult for me. It is also worth noting, Paul's bass rig has cracked the code on the low output pickups on the Hofner. It is very easy these days, with some gentle gain boosts and EQ'ing, to make the Hofner sound very full and rich, without sacrificing the "woody" midrange tone that makes it so iconic.
(- Taken from Steve Hoffman Music Forums)

This guitar has been professionally set up and dialed in for optimal tone and playability. Unless otherwise noted in the listing, It features low action with no buzzing or dead spots, perfect intonation, a brand-new set of American-made strings, and a straight neck with a fully functional truss rod. If needed the frets have been leveled, dressed, crowned, and polished to a mirror shine. The fingerboard has been thoroughly cleaned (unfinished rosewood and ebony boards are treated with Fret Doctor, a premium all-natural oil). All electronics function flawlessly. The guitar has been deep-cleaned and detailed and arrives stage- or studio-ready. 

About The Guitar Dude 

Three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer worldwide. Specializing in premium Gibson, classic Fender guitars from all eras and the best Japanese made treasures. Known for the highest-quality consignment sales and custom layaway plans (available on select guitars and extendable beyond 45 days to fit your budget—contact us for details).  

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Our Guarantee  

We stand behind every guitar we sell. “Good enough” is never good enough. Every instrument is inspected, set up, and tested by multiple people immediately before shipping. We deliver the highest standard of quality and have built a reputation as a three-time NAMM Top 100 Dealer since 2009. The Dude Abides.  

Neck & Setup - (unless otherwise noted)

- Neck is perfectly straight with no truss-rod issues. 

- Intonation is spot-on.  

- Professionally set up with low action and new American-made strings.  

- All frets are dressed, leveled, crowned (if needed), and all frets on all guitars are polished to shine like new with no divots.  

Return Policy, Restocking Fees & No Tire-Kicking Policy 

We follow Reverb’s 7-day return policy. However:  

- You must notify us in writing within 3 days of delivery (per tracking) of your intent to return.  

- Original shipping and return shipping costs are not refunded unless the guitar is damaged in transit or is significantly not as described.  

- A 15% restocking fee applies to all returns for any reason other than damage in transit or significantly not as described.  

We record demo videos of every guitar before shipping to document exact condition and performance. Additional photos, measurements, or in-hand descriptions are available upon request prior to purchase.  

Minor adjustments and tweaks to a set up (for example to correct a slight buzz or truss-rod tweak) are normal after shipping due to carrier mishandling the package, climate & atmospheric changes, especially when moving from South Florida to colder or less humid environments. These slight issues do not constitute “significantly not as described.” Guitars must be returned in the exact same condition as received/advertised or additional repair/restocking fees will apply.  

We are a small business, not a big-chain retailer. We invest significant time and effort into every guitar. This is a NO TIRE-KICKING shop. There is no post purchase haggling or partial refunds. If minor cosmetic marks, tiny imperfections, or the possibility of a post-shipping setup tweak makes you uncomfortable, please do not buy. Plenty of large retailers offer free trials and can absorb shipping costs—we do not.  

Payment, Shipping & International Duties  

- All items can be shipped internationally. Buyer is fully responsible for all import duties, taxes, and customs fees.  

- We accept PayPal, PayPal Credit, Affirm, and other major payment methods.  

- Most U.S. shipments are sent via UPS or FedEx with full insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. All packages are professionally packed for maximum protection.  

International Shipping Note 

International shipping prices shown are for most countries. Certain countries have higher costs. We try and avoid USPS and mostly ship UPS. Express services (UPS, DHL, FedEx) are always available. Contact us for a personalized quote.  

Thank you for considering The Guitar Dude. We look forward to earning your business and delivering a guitar that exceeds your expectations. Contact us anytime for questions, consignment inquiries, layaway details, or a personalized shipping quote.