Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar Sunburst 

Product #511772

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This product has been discontinued but may be available as a used item

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  • Hofner

    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.

    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
    • Includes bullet hardshell case

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

    Write a Review Overall Rating Customer Reviews 20 See all 20 customer reviews...

    hmm

    | Review By: Fenderboy220 | 3 years, 1 month ago

    0 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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    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.
    Do you own the product?:
    No
    Have you used the product?:
    Yes
    Musical Experience:
    Musician
    Style of music you play:
    Rock, Alternative
    Where you live:
    Colorado

    Did you find this review helpful? yes no1050648

    Great bass for recording Country and Rock

    | Review By: Joel-QqqF6 | 3 years, 3 months ago

    1 people out of 1 found this review helpful

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    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.
    Do you own the product?:
    Yes
    Have you used the product?:
    No
    Musical Experience:
    Musician and Elementary Music Teacher
    Style of music you play:
    Rock and Country
    Where you live:
    Laredo, Texas

    Did you find this review helpful? yes no974957

    Fantastic Bass

    | Review By: Hofner156-QE4OU | 3 years, 9 months ago

    1 people out of 1 found this review helpful

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    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.
    Do you own the product?:
    Yes
    Have you used the product?:
    No
    Musical Experience:
    Hobbyist
    Style of music you play:
    Rock
    Where you live:
    Atlanta

    Did you find this review helpful? yes no1078569

    More than the Beatles...

    | Review By: Neatoman | 3 years, 9 months ago

    1 people out of 1 found this review helpful

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    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.
    Do you own the product?:
    No
    Have you used the product?:
    Yes
    Musical Experience:
    Session Musician/Composer
    Style of music you play:
    All, mostly soundtrack
    Where you live:
    Palm Beach

    Did you find this review helpful? yes no1078521

    Hofner 500/1 V63

    | Review By: Anonymous User | 4 years, 11 months ago

    0 people out of 1 found this review helpful

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    Super bass. Not only for that Beatle sound, but I use for everything. Will duplicate the early Beatle sound through any amp. For an example of the sound you'll get, listen to Taxman on the Revolver CD.
    Do you own the product?:
    Yes
    Have you used the product?:
    No
    Musical Experience:
    Professional
    Style of music you play:
    Rock, folk
    Where you live:
    Los Angeles, Ca

    Did you find this review helpful? yes no1015040

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