It’s hard to picture Paul McCartney without his Hofner bass — a true icon of the Beatles’ look and sound. A key presence from Love Me Do to Now and Then, spanning decades of music history.
The 500/1 Violin Bass – also known as the “Beatle Bass” – is a hollow-body instrument introduced by German maker Höfner in the mid-1950s. Compact, lightweight and well-balanced, it rose to fame during the turbulent years of Beatlemania.
It all started in 1961, when Paul McCartney bought his first model from Steinway & Sons in Hamburg, while performing in the clubs of the Reeperbahn. A left-handed bass made to order, now known as the “Cavern” model, it was used at the Cavern Club, on the first two Beatles LPs and in many early tours.
In 1963, Paul switched to a new version – the so-called “Mersey” model – featuring more widely spaced pickups. He used it exclusively until 1965, when he began alternating it in the studio with the Rickenbacker 4001s. Still, the Violin Bass remained his signature instrument: it’s in his hands during the historic Rooftop Concert of 1969 – the Beatles’ final live performance – complete with the famous “Bassman” sticker. This bass continued to accompany Paul over the years, right up to the Beatles’ most recent release Now and Then in 2023. A piece of musical history that keeps telling the Beatles’ story through Paul McCartney’s hands.
Meanwhile, Paul’s first Hofner from 1961 – which he had kept using as a backup instrument until the Let It Be sessions – was stolen in 1972 and vanished without a trace. Until 2023, when thanks to the Lost Bass project, supported by Höfner itself, it resurfaced in an attic in Hastings, England. The bass was discovered by Rauidhri Guest, a 21-year-old film student, unaware of the historic value of what he had in the house:
Following the launch of last year's Lost Bass project, Paul's 1961 Hofner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen in 1972, has been returned. The guitar has been authenticated by Höfner and Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved. (paulmccartney.com - 15 February 2024)
The one in our photo is a Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass Vintage 62 “Mersey” made in Germany, identical to McCartney's main bass. You can spot it in our videos for Now and Then, We Can Work It Out and Rain. We also feature a Hofner 500/1 Contemporary Series in our videos for Help! and Don't Let Me Down, and modified in “Rooftop” style for Get Back.
