1960s Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass Vintage Beatle Bass Sunburst w/ Staple Pickups
$4,799.99
$4,799.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1960s Hofner 500/1 Violin “Beatle Bass” in perfect working order. Indelibly linked with Paul McCartney and the Beatles, this genuine vintage 500/1 captures the round, pillowy thump and definition of the iconic Beatles sound, with a fully hollow body, flame maple back and “staple” pickups.
There's a distinctive pluck, percussive cut, and hollow thud that this bass delivers even unplugged, with a broad sonic range between the two pickups. The bridge pickup has more nasally upper-midrange cut and sweet growl, and the neck position has a warm, broad thump. Controls include individual Volume knobs for each pickup as well as a two-way Rhythm/Solo Tone switch which adds a tic-tac cut and punchy presence in the “Solo” position. Featherweight at just 4lbs 13oz, this Hofner 500/1 Violin bass has been professionally set up here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-100 flatwound strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
- Wood: Maple
- Shape: Full C, measuring .880” 1st fret, .980” 12th fret
- Fretboard: Rosewood, dot inlay
- Frets: Slender, faint wear beneath the A and D strings on frets 1-5
- Scale Length: 30”
- Nut: 1 9/16”, zero fret
- Tuners: Open-gear, pearloid buttons
- Factory Markings: “Genuine Hofner Original” decal on back of headstock
Body Specs:
- Wood: Spruce, flame maple
- Pickups: “Staple” single coil x2
- Controls: Volume x2, Rhythm/Solo, Bass On/Off, Treble On/Off
- Harness: Modern pots, switches, caps
- Hardware: Floating ebony bridge, trapeze tailpiece (nickel-plated)
- Plastics: Pearloid pickguard, control plate & teacup knobs (modern plastics)
The Sunburst gloss finish highlights the flame figuring on the back, with various dings and scuffs on the body and a small spot of finish wear on the bass-side upper bout on the back. The nickel-plated hardware shows patina, and the neck profile has various dings smoothed through play, largely concentrated behind frets 5-9.
A Hofner-branded gigbag is included.
There's a distinctive pluck, percussive cut, and hollow thud that this bass delivers even unplugged, with a broad sonic range between the two pickups. The bridge pickup has more nasally upper-midrange cut and sweet growl, and the neck position has a warm, broad thump. Controls include individual Volume knobs for each pickup as well as a two-way Rhythm/Solo Tone switch which adds a tic-tac cut and punchy presence in the “Solo” position. Featherweight at just 4lbs 13oz, this Hofner 500/1 Violin bass has been professionally set up here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-100 flatwound strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
- Wood: Maple
- Shape: Full C, measuring .880” 1st fret, .980” 12th fret
- Fretboard: Rosewood, dot inlay
- Frets: Slender, faint wear beneath the A and D strings on frets 1-5
- Scale Length: 30”
- Nut: 1 9/16”, zero fret
- Tuners: Open-gear, pearloid buttons
- Factory Markings: “Genuine Hofner Original” decal on back of headstock
Body Specs:
- Wood: Spruce, flame maple
- Pickups: “Staple” single coil x2
- Controls: Volume x2, Rhythm/Solo, Bass On/Off, Treble On/Off
- Harness: Modern pots, switches, caps
- Hardware: Floating ebony bridge, trapeze tailpiece (nickel-plated)
- Plastics: Pearloid pickguard, control plate & teacup knobs (modern plastics)
The Sunburst gloss finish highlights the flame figuring on the back, with various dings and scuffs on the body and a small spot of finish wear on the bass-side upper bout on the back. The nickel-plated hardware shows patina, and the neck profile has various dings smoothed through play, largely concentrated behind frets 5-9.
A Hofner-branded gigbag is included.
