{"product_id":"1960-hofner-500-5-president-vintage-hollowbody-bass-w-case-stuart-sutcliffe-spec","title":"1960 Hofner 500\/5 President Vintage Hollowbody Bass w\/ Case, Stuart Sutcliffe Spec","description":"Up for sale, a 1960 Hofner 500\/5 President bass in excellent condition and in perfect working order. Famously the instrument of original Beatles bassist Stuart Sutcliffe, the 500\/5 offers a distinctive tonal color and depth that sets it apart from Sir McCartney’s beloved 500\/1. An extremely rare iteration of the 500\/5 distributed in London by Selmer (identified by the “Hofner Foreign” serialized label), this bass is a transitional model with the adjustable truss rod first seen in ‘60 while retaining the circa 1957-60 Hofner single coil pickups which would be replaced with Hofner’s “toaster” pickups by the middle of the year.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWeighing just 5lbs 5oz, tonewoods include a spruce top, flame maple back and sides and a three-piece maple and beech neck with a slab rosewood fingerboard. This 500\/5 features a pair of Hofner Type 1 Bar single coil pickups, the very first pickup design of Walter Hofner. The Bar single coils offer a uniquely woody tone that suits the instrument’s hollow construction perfectly, broad and deep-sounding. This Hofner 500\/5 benefits from a professional setup here at Mike \u0026amp; Mike’s Guitar Bar, dialed in with fresh 45-100 flatwound strings, comfortable action and accurate intonation.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nNeck Specs:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n-Wood: Maple, beech\u003cbr\u003e\n-Shape: Round C, measuring .935” 1st fret, 1.030” 12th fret\u003cbr\u003e\n-Fretboard: Rosewood, 7 1\/4” radius, pearloid dot inlays\u003cbr\u003e\n-Frets: Medium, no wear\u003cbr\u003e\n-Scale Length: 30”\u003cbr\u003e\n-Nut: 1 ⅝”, zero fret\u003cbr\u003e\n-Tuners: Open-gear\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBody Specs:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n-Wood: Spruce, flame maple (bookmatched)\u003cbr\u003e\n-Pickups: Hofner Type 1 Bar single coil x2\u003cbr\u003e\n-Controls: Volume x2, Pickup On\/Off switch x2, Rhythm\/Solo switch\u003cbr\u003e\n-Hardware: Floating ebony bridge, trapeze tailpiece\u003cbr\u003e\n-Serialization: Three-digit serial, “Hofner Foreign” (Selmer London) model number stamped on label\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe lacquer Blonde finish has the visual warmth and subtle burst that matches very closely with Stuart Sutcliffe’s bass, highlighting the flame figuring on the back and sides. The finish shows tight checking, while the binding has considerable checking, aging and off-gassing (stabilized). There is light buckle worming on the back and a handful of pinhead-sized dings scattered on the top and back, consistent with careful use. The neck profile has been refinished in gloss black, smooth and clean with only a few shallow marks.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nA modern black tolex hardshell case is included.","brand":"Hofner","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49718250963200,"sku":"506","price":3899.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/4437\/4714\/files\/medium_fa728e23-fa87-4d66-a346-aeec5ef25438.jpg?v=1788980286","url":"https:\/\/mmguitarbar.com\/products\/1960-hofner-500-5-president-vintage-hollowbody-bass-w-case-stuart-sutcliffe-spec","provider":"Mike \u0026 Mike's Guitar Bar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}