{"product_id":"hofner-violin-bass-500-1-from-1968","title":"Höfner Violin Bass 500\/1 from 1968","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew basses are as instantly recognisable as the Höfner 500\/1. Launched in the mid-1950s as a fully hollow electric violin bass built in Bubenreuth, Germany, it became one of the most iconic instruments of the 20th century through Paul McCartney — who still plays one to this day. Where Gibson's EB-1 copied the violin shape as a solidbody, the 500\/1 is a true hollow instrument, closer in construction to an acoustic guitar than to most electric basses. By 1968, the year this example was built, Höfner had refined the model with the so-called blade pickups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sound of this bass is simply something no other instrument offers. The neck pickup delivers that famous round, deep, woody thump — play it with flatwounds and you understand why entire Beatle records were carried by this bass. The bridge pickup, on the other hand, has real bite and sharp top end, and blending the two gives everything from dubby depth to percussive definition. The fully hollow, thin-walled spruce-and-maple body is the reason: it resonates, breathes and reacts in a way no solidbody ever will. Add the 30\" short scale and you get a bass that is wonderfully compact and genuinely light — for many players the most comfortable bass ever built. It is no coincidence that this design has survived unchanged for seven decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 1968 example is completely original and in excellent condition. Very light play wear only — a very well-kept, fully original and desirable vintage bass, ready for the stage and studio or to take its place in a collection. It comes with its original Höfner case.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Höfner 500\/1 Violin Bass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1968\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Germany (Bubenreuth)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hollow, carved spruce top, flamed maple back and sides\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeck:\u003c\/strong\u003e Set neck, beech\/maple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFretboard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rosewood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScale:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30\" (short scale)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePickups:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2× Höfner blade pickups (original)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eControls:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 volume, 2 tone, rhythm\/solo selector (original)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBridge:\u003c\/strong\u003e Höfner floating wooden bridge with metal tailpiece (original)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sunburst\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent, very light play wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Completely original, no repairs, no modifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original Höfner case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"font-size: 80%; font-weight: bold; list-style: none; cursor: pointer;\"\u003eManufacturer Information ▾\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 80%;\"\u003eKarl Höfner GmbH \u0026amp; Co. KG, Egerlandstraße 38, 91083 Baiersdorf-Hagenau, Germany\u003cbr\u003ehofner@hofner.com\u003cbr\u003eSafety information: No known safety warnings. Used musical instrument.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Höfner","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":66067593625868,"sku":null,"price":2690.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/1895\/8513\/files\/JLOM0485.jpg?v=1794215721","url":"https:\/\/wurst.guitars\/products\/hofner-violin-bass-500-1-from-1968","provider":"wurst.guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}