Vintage Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass - Germany c.1970s

A classic German-built Höfner Violin Bass from the 1970s, this is a warm, lightweight, and sonically unmistakable short-scale instrument with true Beatles-era DNA. This model delivers that signature “thumpy” tone that made the 500/1 a studio favourite for decades, and it’s loaded with vintage vibe inside and out.

This example features a hollow maple body with a carved spruce top, a short 30" scale maple neck with a bound rosewood fretboard, and a pair of period-correct blade and bar pickups. The wiring harness is mounted to a vintage-style control board with standard rotary volume/tone dials and rhythm/solo switching. The classic trapeze tailpiece, floating bridge, and pearloid pickguard all look to be original to the period and remain in solid condition.

Cosmetically, this bass shows plenty of honest wear and patina, but it remains structurally excellent. The silver Höfner headstock decal and pearl dot inlays are intact, and the rear of the headstock carries a “Made in Germany” decal — placing this example firmly in the post-’69 West German production era.

These instruments are prized not only for their Beatles connection but for their practical tone: rich, percussive lows; fast note decay; and a woody acoustic-like midrange that sits beautifully in a mix. This one plays well, is lightweight and comfortable on a strap, and is ideal for vintage lovers, recording musicians, or anyone chasing that unmistakable 1960s British bass tone.

Professionally set up and ready to play.

Features:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.5mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.75mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 22.49mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 24.32mm

Nut Width: 40.8mm

Width at 12th Fret: 46.32mm

Weight: 2.18kg / 4.8lb

Model: Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass

Year: 1970s

Origin: West Germany

Serial Number: N/A

Body: Spruce top / Maple back and sides

Neck: Maple, 3-piece construction

Fretboard: Rosewood, bound, pearl dot inlays

Scale Length: 30"

Pickups: Blade-style

Controls: Rotary volume and tone, rhythm/solo switch

Bridge: Floating rosewood bridge

Tailpiece: Trapeze

Tuners: Enclosed strip tuners

Pickguard: Original pearloid with Höfner decal

Headstock: Black with silver Höfner decal

Neck Joint: Set neck