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Bass of the Week: Hofner 500/1 Vintage 1963 Violin Bass

by Kevin Johnson | Thursday, July 19th, 2012

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In 1955, Walter Hofner came up with the idea to make a short scale bass guitar with a violin-shaped hollow body. The idea came to life the next year at the Frankfurt trade show and made its rounds, eventually landing in the hands of Beatles member Paul McCartney, who had to switch from guitar to bass following the departure of Stu Sutcliffe. In 1963, Hofner sent McCartney an updated bass, which he used during a performance an the Ed Sullivan Show, and an icon was born.

Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass

Hofner decided to reissue an exact version of the bass in 2004 with the 500/1 Vintage ’63 Violin Bass. The bass features a select German spruce top with back and sides of flamed maple, while the 3-piece neck is constructed of maple and beech. The rosewood fingerboard sports 22 frets with mother-of-pearl dot inlays.

A pair of Hofner’s “Staple” humbuckers are controlled via dual volume controls as well as on/off switches and a rhythm/solo switch. Hardware includes the company’s 72/20B ebony bridge, 62/30 trapeze brass tailpiece, and a floating pearl celluloid pickguard.

The process of building a Beatles bass is quite remarkable, as documented by this awesome video Hofner uploaded to YouTube:

The Hofner 500/1 Vintage ’63 Violin Bass is now discontinued, but is replaced with the Vintage ’64. For more details, check out the Hofner website.

Hofner 500/1 Vintage ’63 Violin Bass closeup Photo Gallery:

Click on a photo for a larger view:

Hofner 500/1 Vintage ’63 Violin Bass Specs:

Select German spruce top, back, and sides of flamed maple
Maple-beech-maple neck
Rosewood fretboard with 22 frets
Mother-of-pearl dots
Scale: 30˝ (76cm)
Neck width at nut: 1-5/8˝ (42mm)
Machine heads: Hofner 61/73B (4 individual)
Hofner 72/20B ebony bridge with movable metal saddles for perfect intonation and string spacing
Hofner 62/30 trapeze brass tailpiece
Hofner 65/36-P floating pearl celluloid pickguard
2 Hofner 511B “Staple” humbucking pickups
Hofner A2-B control panel with 2 volume controls, 2 on/off switches, and rhythm/solo switch for volume boost
Nickel-plated hardware

More: bass of the week, Höfner, old school

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Comments:

Dave Ryan says:

January 16, 2013 at 10:55 pm

I had a mid 60s Hofner for a couple years until the neck bowed badly.
But it is the easiest bass guitar of all to play or learn on.

James D. Mullinax says:

January 15, 2013 at 6:39 am

You lucky dog Kirk. Wish I could afford a new Hofner. Teachers don’t make much doe but we love our Hofners no matter what version.

Kirk Hardy says:

January 14, 2013 at 11:10 pm

I just got a CT 500/1 last week. Lovely! Now I want Hofner to make a long-scale violin bass.

Ron Wise says:

January 10, 2013 at 3:55 pm

Here is My Baby that I purchased while in the service many years ago in Germany I have not seen one like it here in the states. Can anyone help me with a ID for it. Still have it and it plays like a dream…
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/393735_207695422644437_559380851_n.jpg

Kevin Johnson says:

January 10, 2013 at 4:40 pm

Hey Ron,
Nice bass! Looks a lot like this Early ’70s Hofner 500/1M:
http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/vintagehofner/basses/bas4.html

Kevin Johnson says:

January 10, 2013 at 4:40 pm

If it doesn’t have the switches between the sets of knobs, it may be a 500/1B.

Ron Wise says:

January 10, 2013 at 4:40 pm

Hi Keven Yes that’s as close as I can get to identifying it exactly. Mine has a different type of bass boost switch ( only one and it is a push button and the pick up selector switch is a different style) It is a 500 series though and I have been told it was a limited edition Super Beatle Bass that was only sold in Europe. It has no serial #s but I do have the pot #s (Vol Pot # 182/250K and Tone pot # 31056). I sent a msg to Hofner today waiting to see if I hear back from them.

Kevin Johnson says:

January 10, 2013 at 4:54 pm

Cool! Let me know what you find out. I’m intrigued.

Ron Wise says:

January 10, 2013 at 5:25 pm

@ Kevin ( @[68110761:2048:Kevin Johnson]) I will and you guys at No Treble keep up the good work…BTW those bumper stickers made great Christmas presents for a few of My bass playing friends Thank You!

JR Mucia says:

January 6, 2013 at 2:25 pm

Love my V63 500/1. I was very fortunate to come across it when I did , and it’s a lefty to boot! They seem to be very hard to find now just like the original 63 – 500/1 – lefty.

JR Mucia says:

January 6, 2013 at 2:25 pm

Love my V63 – 500/1 , I was very fortunate to come across it when I did. And it’s a lefty to boot! They seem to be very hard to come across just like the original 63 – 500/1 – lefty.

JR Mucia says:

January 6, 2013 at 2:25 pm

Love my v63 500/1 , I was very fortunate to come across it when I did. And it’s a lefty to boot! They seem very hard to come across just like the original 63- 500/1- lefty.

James D. Mullinax says:

October 30, 2012 at 3:40 pm

My 500/1 was stolen when I entered the service in 1970. I play the Icon model now. Not the same!!! I miss my baby too! Ditto

Victor Langen says:

July 23, 2012 at 9:40 am

My very first bass guitar was this baby, my Beatle bass! Wish I still had it today, traded it for a Rickenbacher.

Ken Boddie Jr says:

July 19, 2012 at 11:40 pm

Very cool nice looking bass but you can shoot arrows off the strings just sayin :)

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Bass of the Week: Hofner 500/1 Vintage 1963 Violin Bass

Hofner 500/1 Vintage ’63 Violin Bass closeup Photo Gallery: