Hofner 500/1 Sunburst Hollow Body c.1972 Vintage Left Handed Electric Bass

This is a Hofner 500/1 left handed electric bass in Sunburst finish. Although there is no serial number present on the instrument, the specification, hardware and headstock logo all point towards the instrument’s manufacture around 1972. This includes the 513 ‘Blade’ pickups with embossed Hofner logo, short trapeze tailpiece, single closed clip tuning machines, Lacquered Gold headstock logo and control panel configuration all being available from around 1968-‘75. It would appear that the pots have been replaced at some point, with the codes on the replacement pots unfortunately containing no dating information.

The Hofner 500/1 was invented by Walter Hofner in 1955, and first shown at the Frankfurt Music fair in 1956. In around July of 1961, Stuart Sutcliffe lent his Hofner bass to Paul McCartney until Paul was able to afford his own. At the time, Hofner did not make a production left handed model, and so the custom order that McCartney made in ‘61 was likely the very first left handed version of the instrument ever made. Paul eventually acquired another 500/1 in around 1963, which featured the wider pickup separation that was introduced by Hofner in 1962 to achieve a more distinct sound from each pickup. Both of these basses featured heavily in the Beatles work, with the ‘61 model making its final Beatles appearance in the 1969 Apple Corporation rooftop concert. The Hofner 500/1 has become synonymous with McCartney through his continued use of the instrument throughout his career, with the instrument maintaining an incredible level of popularity due to its association with McCartney & the Beatles.

The 500/1 bass undeniably plays exceptionally well. It’s hollow-body construction keeps the weight low, enhancing comfort for the player. The violin shape of the body lends itself very well to upper fret access. whilst the pronounced waist of the instrument means that it is comfortable to play in a seated position. The 30” scale is shorter than the typical 34” found on many Fender type basses, offering a reduced string tension for a slinky and smooth feel to the strings. The profile to the rear of the neck might be described as a rounded ‘C’ shape, which whilst certainly on the thicker side avoids feeling unwieldy. The 12” radius of the fingerboard is practical for a wide range of playing styles and techniques, whilst the Rosewood surface is comfortable under the fingers. The dual pickup setup along with the hollow-body construction delivers a deep, smooth tone, with plenty of dynamic range and control. The control panel is comprehensive, allowing you to blend the pickups into any combination and ensuring that the sound is versatile enough for almost any musical situation. An incredibly well-preserved vintage bass with an unparalleled pedigree.