Hofner 500/1 63 Reissue

I bought the fretless version of this bass about a year ago. It is an extremely beautiful bass: violin body, sunburst, with a tiger-striped back.

The sound is great, warm, rich: just the sound H??fner is famous for. Unfortunately, my bass had an unacceptably dead note on the E-string.

The action was set much too low, to such extent that the bass was almost unplayable. It was quite easy to adjust the bridge, though, but still a rather sloppy finishing.

I will never find out ...

H??fner failed to produce a replacement instrument when mine turned out flawed. The reason was probably that the 500/1 fretless was taken out of production (wonder why...). The only good thing about their support was that they gave me my money back eventually.

My overall experience with H??fner has been disappointing. All other users are enthousiastic, so I'm sure H??fner gets it right most times. However, if you ever stumble upon a used freless 500/1: be sure to check it thorougly!

See all the other reviews

Great!

Perfect!

Hmmm? We'll see...

Don't know...

This is more than a bass...it is a way of life. The term organic comes to mind. It feels like a classical instrument...it inspires touch, tone, life, love, energy, soul, playfullness, sensitivity, and vitality...

Is that enough for now?

Reissue Made in Germany, year 2003. A precise Paul McCartney's bass replica, Pyramid flat wound strings, short scale.
Bought via Ebay for US$1,400 in mint condition, original case included (green felt inner lining).
Case is not for touring and there are no markers in the fretboard edge, so if you are used to regular scale basses, it will take a time to get used with this one.

I play Beatles, so this is THE BASS for that rich deep wood sound you get in Eight days a week, Penny Lane and so many other songs from The Beatles.
I have had replicas of this bass like Egmond or viola bass by Epiphone, but there is a huge difference with the original one.
I play it through an Ampeg SVT3-PRO, a DBX 160-A compressor and an Ampeg HLF410 enclosure and I can get a perfect Beatle sound.

I just had to adjust the truss rod tension for relief and the bridge height, that's all. Pickups were factory adjusted and they sound OK.
The bass has a strong and noisless signal, controls work fine, BUT it is a light and delicate instrument, that require a gentle use. It is not built like a tank.

Hardware and electronics look durable and well done, also work fine.
Although it keeps tunned for a long time, it is delicate compared with a Fender P Bass. I dont think it can whitstand touring everyday, I'd take a backup.
Factory finishing is beautiful but thin and not as hard as polyurethane. I always keep it in his case to avoid sunlight damage, in a weather controlled room.

Just asked the manufacturer about factory settings, to adjust neck relief and strings height, two years ago .... I am still waiting the answer

I have played Beatles and Rock and Roll for 7 years. I also have a Musicman Sterling bass.
To play Beatles this is THE REAL THING. If stollen I'd cry for a long time but for sure I'd buy another one.
The main value is the sound, the shape and the feather-weight.
I wish they put markers in the fretboard edge, beside those one in the front and also a bullet case ....... an instrument of this price MUST be in a more reliable and decent case.

All the features and specs can be found on the website below.

http://www.hofner.com/index.php/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.zupf_flypage/product_id,55/category_id,10/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,43/lang,en/

This is why I want to give you my most humble opinion. I purchased this bass just because. To my surprise it sounded rich and full. I expected a good sound but not a great one. I did change the flatwounds to D'Addario medium scale rounds. I use an Alessandro Basset Hound and a Schroeder 21012 cab. I play everything from Alice Cooper to ZZ Top to Blues and even a Judas Priest tune or two on this Hofner. I generally go directly into the amp but occasionally use an Electro Harmonix Mini Q Tron and Bass Balls for a tune or two.

The fit and finish are flawless. I had to adjust the neck and bridge to get the action that I wanted. It was a tad bit high from the factory.

You can't beat on this thing like a Fender or a Warwick. This is a players bass. If you treat this instrument with respect I think it will last. I have taken this out as my only bass and will continue to do so.

Never had need to contact anyone.

I've been playing since I saw some English guy playing one of these on the Ed Sullivan show. If this were lost or stolen I'd sell a kidney to get it replaced. I love the Rtm/Solo switch. This is a unique instrument in and of itself. My other short scale basses sound weak and whimpy. This Hofner sounds like a bass. I never intended for this to become my #1 bass but it has earned the spot. The ease of playability is unmatched. I can play things on this bass that were impossible to do on my other instruments. It's almost like playing a four string guitar. If you have the finacial ability to buy it, do it!

Current (2005) re-issue, pukka German-made bass rather than from their new Chinese factory. Came with the proper hard-case but no McCartney strap ... which is just as well since you have to drill holes to fit the required tailpiece, and the original early-60's strap has nothing going for it except that it's original!
Viewed from 2006, features are severely limited. Viewed from 1963, this bass has everything you actually need.

I grew up listening to The Beatles. To me, the sound of a bass IS Macca. This Hofner is the only musical instrument I can safely say I'll never sell.
In the unlikely event that you've never heard a Hofner Violin in action, think of it as chocolate fudge for the ears. Slightly melted chocolate fudge.
And stick with flats!
To get the best effect, play a 500/1 through an old British valve amp. I don't have a Vox but I have a couple of old Selmers and a mint WEM Dominator (all proper bass amps) and the guitar sounds perfect through all of them.

Not quite perfect from the factory, I'm afraid. The 'A' string in particular sounded a bit dead and "thuddy". Boiled the strings, which helped, but may need to re-visit sometime.

Seems so light and fragile that I still pick it up carefully but - as other reviewers have pointed out - you can gig this bass for years without trouble if you just look after it.
The finish is undeniably easy to damage so to keep it good cosmetically will be more of a challenge. Mine never leaves my house.

Haven't needed them yet, but I hear lots of good things.

Been playing off & on for 35 years - but never to any very high standard! I also run a Tanglewood TW15A electro-acoustic travel bass, a Johnson Fretless bass, a Jedson Les Paul Custom copy (mid-70's), and a Hofner Verithin 4600 Semi-Acoustic (late-60's).
The Hofner 500/1 is the real deal, the only one of the above that would absolutely have to be replaced. Don't waste your time with copies, save up properly and buy the real thing ... you won't regret it.

The 500/1 63 is maybe the most wonderful version of the legendary Hofner violin bass.
Short scale, hollow body, 2 pickups, the classic Hofner electronics, set neck, a nice "old school" sunburst finish and (of course) flat wound strings.
A 60s style case + some adjusting tools were included.

If you're looking for a warm, deep, VERY old style but absolutely breath-taking sound, if you prefer a rather small, light instrument with great playability and (of course) if you're especially looking for that distinctive, early Paul McCartney's sound (and look), this bass is the right one for you.
You won't be able to reproduce that tone with any other bass, period.
The only thing I personally dislike: no dots on the side of the neck, which can be quite confusing, especially when you play standing.

The factory setup was just great.
Mine doesn't even have the (actually quite typical) tuning problems in the upper positions of the neck.
No complaints.

The Hofner violin bass is a very light and fragile-looking instrument, so I wouldn't play it as hard as I do with a Fender or a Music Man on stage.
But Paul McCartney played hundreds of sessions and toured the world for years with this kind of instruments...and he still does.
Don't ill-treat this bass and it will last you a lifetime.

Excellent!
Hofner is a very serious and reliable company.
Once I had some trouble with a new set of strings (their original Hofner short scale flats), the E string was "dead".
They sent me a new one immediatly, no extra charge.

The Hofner 500/1 is a real one-of-a-kind.
If you're fed up with Fenders, Ricks, Music Man or any other vintage or hi-tech bass, and you're maybe searching for a unique, old school sound, this one could definitively make you happy.

1963 reissue Hofner 500/1

I play in a Beatles Tribute band and use the bass everynight, sounds better than my original 1964 hofner. I use it thru a vox and it sounds amazing, rich full thumpy Hofner sound I have come to love. In the studio it is even Better!! Not one dislike at all!!

The bass came with a bit of a high action, but that was easily sorted out, the pickups were adjusted just right for a lower action, there the finish is perfect, I prefer this new laquer over nitro as it will last a whole lot longer without checking.

I use the bass every night on stage and it hasnt let me down, I would think after owning over 5 hofner 500/1 basses,this will not be my last, by far one of the most unique basses on the planet!! I can depend on it to perform without a hitch night after night

I bought the Bass at Music Ground in leeds, and they were great. They import more hofners than anyone in the UK and are very reliable for service if I ever have any problems , But I doubt I will.

I have been playing for 20 yrs, Other gear I own are a 1990 Gibson gospel, a 1964 hofner 500/1, 1980 hofner 500/1, an ES335, a vox ac 15, a tanglewood 500/1 copy(not so good), and a spector Ns2.
I love the playability of the bass I cant really compare it to any other kind of bass, as hofners are really in a class all by themselves.

Year made-Don't know, serial no. indicates 1956-1995, that narrows it down! 30" scale. Beautiful German Spruce Solid Top nicely flamed. I had owned a Vintage 1970 500/1 & it didn't compare to this baby! Two volume controls, three slide switches for treble, bass, rythmn, solo. I purchased this Bass March 2000 & I play it whenever possible: it is my main Bass, with a Peavey Milestone IV as a backup. Two staple-top humbucking pickups (Hofner) Body is flamed anigree African Maple, neck is three-piece Maple-Beech-Maple, very slim and fast-playing..the 1962 reissue has a fatter neck. Individual open-back tuners. Violin-style body, I'd dare ya to find a lighter Bass! Trapeze style tailpiece, free-floating bridge. Came with Vintage hard shell case, cello dampit and authentic McCartney-style strap.

As I recall, I had to tweak the truss nut, which is special metric, to get things where I wanted them. I also replaced the Hofner Flatwounds with Rotosound roundwounds, although I went back to Flats recently for the true Hofner sound. Pickups right on. No flaws...this is a world-class instrument of very high quality. I have communicated with collectors who own original Vintage Hofners and say the Reissues are probably better-built and keep their tune better further up the neck.

Yes, I have already played live, particularily over the past year and experienced no problems. I don't play slap or hard rock with this bass, but it was never intended for it in the first place.Hardware's top-notch.The finish will last years if the bass is taken care of. The truss hasn't been adjusted for two years. I normally would use my Peavey Milestone IV along with the Hofner to handle different types of Bass sounds as required.

I dealt with Rob Olsen at Boosey & Hawkes and never had a problem. I really didn't need to call him much at all. When I was initially getting the set-up to my liking, I dealt with a reliable local Vintage Shop that provided me with a special truss wrench so I could do my own adjustments. Surprisingly, I think the warranty is only one year, I'll have to check.

I have been playing since 1968. I also own a new Peavey Milestone IV Bass, a H.O.B. 1977 Acoustic Guitar, a Yorkville BassMaster 200T 2x10" 200Watt Combo C/W: a Yorkville BC115 1x15" 300Watt Bass Speaker Extension Cabinet, a Fender BXR25 25Watt Bass Combo Practice Amp, and a Rolls Mini-Mix System. If the Hofner were stolen or lost, being that it's insured, I would probably get another-there's nothing else like them. It is INCOMPARABLE.

Reissue 1963 500/1 made in Germany. Spruce top, flamed African-maple back and sides, three piece neck w/individual perloid tuners.
Neck and bridge staple pickup's with small surround's, three tone slide switches. Perloid pickguard and controll panel. Adjustable black ebony bridge, chrome tailpiece. Fantistic Brown/Tan Sunburst mirror finish. Short scale bass with 22 fret's. The "Sir Paul" violin shape bass !!! Built in 2001, came with Hofner hardshell case with green felt lining with dark gray/black vinyl exterior.

I play all McCartney's walking bass lines in all the Beatles songs, along with all their LP's, or with my fellow guitarist. The Hofner of course matches the same exact sound when played along with the LP's, as only a Hofner can do, espically when played along with all the Beatles old classic's. When McCartney started playing Fender, Rickenbacker, the origional sound of the Hofner was lost, but with some adjustments on the slide switchs you can get close with the Hofner---but not exact !!!
This bass sounds and plays just as good regardless if you're on stage or in the studio.
Got to be truthfull, i like everything about this bass. Mine stays in tune, the slim neck makes it easy for fast bass lines, going up the neck it is still in tune (unlike a lot of it's earlier ancestors). I have my action adjusted at medium/low. I have never had any annoying static or other problems while playing.
The amp i'm using for all my basses is a vintage 1970 Fender Bassman 135 piggy-back. Have played through a Vox AC100 w/T60 Cabinet, the Fender still does the same trick, still matches the Beatles sound----this is just a Hofner for you----can't be duplicated in the sound by NO COPY'S !!!! But future plans is to also get the same Vox amp, just a GOT TO HAVE THING !!!!

Other than just slightly lowering the bridge, all other factory setting were fine, actuall the bridge setting from the factory was fine and had no problem playing, as i personally like just a bit lower action.
On the bass i received, there were no flaws in any of the wood or finish. All chrome hardware was in mint condition, there were no loose parts, no noise or static in either one of the volume controlls as well as the three slide switches.
The upper pickup is set at just a slight angle---BUT you really need to look close to see it---dosn't bother me !!!
All the perloid parts was in mint condition, with the exception of the perloid controll panel and the slide switch covers having just a slight bit of ink spots (i figure from assembly ?), also both T-Cup controll knobs had just a slight bit of glue along part of their top section's from where top gold inserts were placed, again, had to look close to see them.

This bass WILL withstand live playing---I believe McCartney has already proved that theory !!!
All the hardware that comes on these basses, in my opinion will last a lifetime, the chrome plating looks great, tuning keys very solid with no play in tuning post gears, bridge made of very hard material.
The finish, as i have said, is very slick with a mirror finish. Dosn't seem to be thin or easily worn off from lots of playing---then again the finish will only last you depending on how well you take care of it. Every time i play mine it gets a good wipe down with a polishing cloth and put back in it's case. Also gets a good spray polishing every now and then---the wood finish, all chrome hardware, perloid accessories, etc.
The strap button was very tight, didn't mount the front one as i use the McCartney strap---dog leash clip on one end, under neck wrap around tie on. With these type straps you'll need to be carefull with the dog leash clip that that hooks to the top-lower section of the tailpiece, no problem while standing---will not touch the finish---only while seated that i lay the dog leash clip off the back edge of the tailpiece---dosn't touch any of the finish.
You can depend on using a Hofner as you're only bass without having a back-up bass, the only thing you must remember, that a Hofner bass is a super light weight bass and is a delicate bass, not made for HARD ROCK punishing abuse !!!
So far i,ve never had to have a neck set, know some others that have also had no such problems. All the reissues that are made today are a better built bass than the early issues. Better construction, better advanced electronics, etc.

Called and talked to Rob at Boozy and Hawks for a replacement perloid complete controll panel, as a replacement was sent to me by the origional place of purchase---unfortunately a 5000/1 controll panel was sent. I had shipped the 5000/1 panel directly to Boozy and Hawks VIA:Priority Mail, was sent Dec.3rd, Rob has yet to receive the controll panel, but upon trust---he sent the correct panel, can't get any better customer support than that !!!

I've been playing 30+ years. Grew up on the Beatles, in the high school bands i used to do Harrison's parts, they were fun---BUT i soon figured out that McCartney's walking bass lines lasted through the complete songs---always busy playing the different notes without much time for a break---non stop fun playing !!!
My other gear that i have besides the 63 500/1 and the 70's Fender Bassman 135 piggy-back amp is another vintage 1968 Fender Bandmaster piggy-back amp. Other basses are Hofner copy's, two 2000 Rogue's (one of them had a complete look make-over using all reissue 63 Hofner parts, tailpiece, bridge (i had to shave almost 1/4" off heigth), complete prewired perloid controll panel with T-cup knobs, perloid pickguard (had to trim a little for pick-ups), white strap buttons, individual perloid tuning keys, truss rod cover, neck nut, repainted head black, pinstriped painted simulated head binding and used the large Hofner gold decal logo, put on a 60's style Beatle bass strap, a set of LaBella Deep Talkin Hofner short scale stainless steel flatwound strings.), the other Rogue got just Hofner pearl tuning keys, set of T-cup knobs, repainted the slide switches white, put the same set of Labella strings and the strap), 1997 Epiphone Viola, 1960's Univox Lectra, 1960's green Greco w/F holes in origional case, 1970's Crestwood w/case.
As i also still play the ole six string electrics along with the Beatles music i also have in the guitar arsonal a 1997 Epiphone Dot 335 in sunburst, 1999 Epiphone Less Paul in sunburst, 2000 Crestline 335 in maroon, 1965 Rocket harmony 3 pick-up 335 arch-top style in red, 2001 Johnson acoustic in blueburst. Also use on the Bandmaster on one of the channels a processor with 80 different effects---make's it easy to get the Harrison special sounds in songs like, "And You're Bird Can Sing", "I Feel Fine", "Nowhere Man", etc.
If anything was to happen to my 500/1---i'd get a replacement as fast as possible !!! Am getting ready to add another Hofner, reissue 1961 Cavern---another "GOT TO HAVE" !!!!!!!!!

vintage knobs, pickguard, good finish some funny spots. Over all it has a awesome look.

AWESOME! very unique! the intonation suck though, its good up to the 9th fret

no problems, the bridge needed some adjustment to correct the intonation alittle thats about it.

well it seems little light. It held up for Paul McCartney pretty good.

Well I think that if it broke it would be broken forever.

Well the unique sound makes up for the problems.