In April 1961, The Beatles started a four-month residency at the Top Ten Club in the Reeperbahn, Hamburg’s red light district. The line-up was Paul McCartney on piano and guitar, Stuart Sutcliffe on bass, John Lennon and George Harrison on guitar and Pete Best on drums. Soon after, Sutcliffe made the fateful announcement that he was leaving the band (to study at the Hamburg University of Fine Art). The problem, Paul would later explain, was that "none of us wanted to be the bass player". Bass players were quiet and stood in the back. "We wanted to be up front singing, looking good, to pull the birds." Already having 2 1/2 guitar players and no bass, the band unanimously "elected" Paul for the job. Trouble was, Paul had no bass guitar. He tried "converting" his (Rosetti) 6-string guitar but finally broke down and went to the prominent nearby Hamburg store, Steinway Musikhaus. There he was taken in by a violin shaped Hofner (then the leading guitar maker in Germany). Paul would recall that, as “I was left-handed, it looked less daft because it was symmetrical". With little money at the time, he was also drawn to the guitar's reasonable price (about a THIRD that of a Fender) AND the store's 10-payment finance plan. The Hofner 500/1 would become Paul's signature instrument achieving its own "celebrity" status and becoming, forever, a symbol of the most influential band in rock history.

"Made in West Germany", this genuine mid-60’s 500/1 Hofner remains in remarkably good condition. It retains its original shiny sunburst nitro cellulose laquer finish (with virtually no 'checking') to its spruce top and maple body and neck. The bass also wears its original pickups and short trapeze tailpiece. Non-period components include the nut, bridge and (Hofner) strip tuners. As the pots are undated, it is assumed that they too are non-original.

Flaws include several nicks (mostly on the back of the body and neck), a surface split in the arched back panel along the upper bout seam and about 1 1/2" into the body, marks in the back of the headstock from previous, non-factory tuners, remnants of hand-painted markers along the painted upper edge of the neck, a split in the binding at the heel from what appears to be a previous neck repair and reset (See photos for all).

The neck is straight, action is good and the frets and original rosewood fretboard are in very good, unblemished condition. Most of all, the bass plays and sounds terrific. These are remarkably light and comfortable to play and it's original "staple" style pickups deliver the balanced, one-of-a-kind Hofner tones. Comes with a contemporary Hofner hardshell case in excellent condition.

Dating this instrument requires a little research given that Hofner did not start adding actual serial numbers to their instruments until 1975. Specifically, some of the distinguishing features of this bass that identify it as a '65/'66 model include: Hofner's "staple" style pickups AND the larger pickup bezels (both employed in 1965 & 1966), raised plastic Hofner headstock logo (phased in in late '64), the larger, cream pearl control panel and concave teacup cream knobs with concave brass inlays (both employed starting in '65).

These iconic and pleasurable instruments are relatively scarce and essential (if not a centerpiece) to any good collection. An opportunity to own, play and enjoy an instantly recognizable piece of history.