❌SOLD❌ Hofner 500/1 ’62 Reissue Violin Bass Burst, 2012

Here we have a Hofner 500/1 ’62 Reissue Violin Bass sometimes named the ‘Mersey bass’.   It’s very close in design to the 1963 version used by Paul McCartney on more than a few successful recordings and appearances. This bass was built at the Hofner plant in Baiersdorf / Hagenau Germany during 2012 and is in good condition, all original except for a missing pickguard.

For the Hofner 500/1 ’62 Reissue, the top is Spruce, with Laminate Maple for the sides and back. The one piece neck is Maple, with an unbound Indian Rosewood fingerboard. The scale length is 30 inches measured from a zero fret . The bridge is Ebony with slots cut to fit saddles made of short sections of fret wire. The pickups and electronics are pure Hofner, with ‘staple’ style pickups and ‘teacup’ control knobs. The control plate is pearloid plastic, as the missing pickguard would be. Strings are flat-wounds.

This example is in very good, clean and original condition, and its light weight and 30 inch (762mm) scale length make it very easy to play, with plenty of archtop style ‘thump’. The Hofner 500/1 ’62 Reissue is a distinctive instrument, both visually and tonally.

The original black hard shell case is included.

Here’s the builder on the Hofner 500/1 ’62 Reissue Violin Bass:

“The 500/1 Violin Bass was first shown to the public at the Frankfurt Muiskmesse in 1956. It has been in continuous production ever since. Designed by Walter Höfner as an alternative to the upright double bass it fulfilled this aim and much more. It leapt to worldwide fame when Paul McCartney was seen playing one with The Beatles in the early 1960s. Today the 500/1 is offered in a number of models from the budget Ignition version through to the handmade German built re-issues and specials. Its short scale (30in) and ultra lightweight has found favour with many professionals over the years.

The sound of a Violin Bass is unlike any other bass. When used with flatwound strings it produces a distinctive deep and penetrating thud not unlike an upright double bass. This sound can be used to emulate those pop sounds of the 1960s or slightly overdriven in a modern rock band to provide a deep driving bass. It is also commonly used today in studios for recording bass lines for dance music. It has also seen increasing use in reggae bands where a deep driving bass is always wanted. Despite being one of the smallest basses available it easily produces massive bass lines and is remarkably versatile.”