A blast from the past!

Musicians love the Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar. In 1956 Walter Hofner had an idea for an amplified semi-acoustic bass. When it was brought to life, it proved to be a unique instrument with a smooth, sweet sound and a playing ease that eludes most ordinary basses. Many players revere Hofner's Violin Bass as a legend because of its historical significance and its warm, woody, double-bass-like amplified tone.

Named for the year the most familiar version of the Violin Bass was popularized by by a certain young bass player from Liverpool, the Vintage '63 captures its characteristic tone - deep, warm and reminiscent of a full-sized string bass. Built to be as durable as its legacy, the compact-sized, easy-to-play, light-in-weight Vintage '63 is equally at home onstage or in the studio.

Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar Features:

• 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
• Antique-brown sunburst finish

Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar Includes:

• bullet hardshell case

Don't accept imitations: order the real Hofner Violin Bass today.

Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar

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Average of 21 User Ratings

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hmm

Posted by Fenderboy220 from Colorado on Mar 23, 2009

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Alternative

I had a friend I use to jam with a couple years back who was a Beatles fan and had this bass. I was the bassis for this "jam band" and I had my eye on his Hofner (I was bord playing my Vantage bass) so I started using it. There were some problems with the neck, and my friend had a screw shoved above the nut to keep the action playable and I believe the body was worped. I have no other recollection of this bass. So if one were to buy this product, keep it well maintained.

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Great bass for recording Country and Rock

Posted by Joel from Laredo, Texas on Feb 19, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Musician and Elementary Music Teacher

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock and Country

I love The Beatles and their sound. However, This bass sounds great for any style of music. I have used it to record our Country band, Mick Cruz and Diamondback.I've also used it to record my own music. I has a great deep sound as well as a quick attack sound. It's sweet and in your face round sound. I record strait through a LA 610 Pre-Amp into Pro-tools.

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Fretless version: great sound, but flawed

Posted by Michiel from Netherlands on Sep 21, 2008

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: 23 years

Reviewer's Play Style: Blues

I briefly owned the fretless version of this beautifully-looking violin bass. While the tone was superb, exactly what I was looking for, I had to return the instrument because of a dead note on the E-string (dead being an understatement). As the model has been taken out of production, another instrument couldn't be supplied, which made the overall experience with Höfner rather disappointing. If you ever stumble upon a second hand Höfner 500/1 Vintage '63 fretless: be sure to check it thoroughly!

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Fantastic Bass

Posted by Hofner156 from Atlanta on Aug 9, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock

I just recently purchased the Hofner 500/1 and am so happy with it. I also own a Rickenbacker 4003 and it is nearly just as good. It's hollow body gives it a sound similiar to a double bass and the flatwound strings make it easy to play. I tried the Hofner Icon Bass but had problems with it and it just doesn't even compare to this. Definitely worth the money.

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More than the Beatles...

Posted by Bryan from Palm Beach on Jul 25, 2008

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Session Musician/Composer

Reviewer's Play Style: All, mostly soundtrack

Well, I say I've played it, my family has a 1958 Hofner floating around, and this is my overall impression of this model.

This bass has a very short scale, 30" as compared to the 34" standard on a Fender bass. You'll find that it plays fairly easy, but the strings feel loose. The frets are, obviously, spaced closer than on a Fender style bass, which takes some getting used to.

The tone is very dull. This may be a hinderance, but it also allows one to play higher up and still get a deep sound. Playing a middle C (as written) provides about as much depth as the G a fourth lower on other basses. This can be used to your advantage.

Like the Tobias basses, this bass can be made to do a fairly good "fretted fretless" impression. It has a sound somewhat similar to an upright bass with more sustain. If you like to play songs orignally for fretless basses, but don't like or have a fretless, this can be a nice alternative. You may need to use some EQ to get the exact sound.

If you're looking for the sound of Paul McCartney (Beatles) or Kelly Groucutt (ELO), this bass is for you.

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Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar

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$2,097.00

MSRP: $2,997.00 Savings: $900.00(30%)

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Availability: Available: 11-27-2009.

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Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar

Read 20 Reviews