Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass 1965 Sunburst
Reverb Estimated Used Price Range
- $1,670 — $3,425
The Hofner 500/1 is closely associated with Paul McCartney and the Beatles. Paul's use of this bass in the early '60s propelled Hofner sales and turned the 500/1 into an absolutely iconic instrument. When German-made Hofner instruments were distributed in the United Kingdom, they were given model names to go along with their model numbers, and the 500/1 was dubbed the Violin Bass. It is also commonly referred to as the Beatles Bass. This design has been imitated by a number of other makers since including Vox and Greco.
Years of Production: 1956 - present
Unique to this Era: Control panal gets wider in 1965.
Body Style: Semi-hollowbody
Wood Composition: Maple body, Spruce top, Rosewood fingerboard
Design Elements: Bound body, glued-in neck, two pickups, dot inlays, three tone switches and two control knobs
Notable Players: Paul McCartney, Chris Wood
