bassmayhem Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 A friend asked me to get some opinions concerning the value of this bass. It is a stock 1956 Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass from the first batch produced in 1956. All original except for a missing scratch plate. Original sh*tty case. Here are some pic's. The owner bought it new... I'd be glad for some input... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) [quote name='bassmayhem' timestamp='1484168595' post='3213321'] A friend asked me to get some opinions concerning the value of this bass. It is a stock 1956 Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass from the first batch produced in 1956. All original except for a missing scratch plate. Original sh*tty case. Here are some pic's. The owner bought it new... I'd be glad for some input... [/quote] My knowledge of Hofner basses only goes back to 1962. I guess they made a huge control panel design change by 1962. Interesting they didn't put the Hofner logo on the headstock in 1956. I've seen 64s go for a little over 2 grand. I would think this bass new in 1956 sold for a little over a hundred bucks. Blue Edited January 11, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Serious piece of history! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Hmmmmm ... now that is a tricky one. First up, it's an absolutely beautiful bass and in staggeringly good condition for its age. What's the playability like? I imagine it must have had a neck re-set by now; if not, then one is probably very overdue. And how's the neck? No trussrod this early in the instrument's development. It's all original apart from the control plate, as you say, but also those appalling control knobs. He should replace them immediately with 'teacup' knobs -a very cheap job and they will transform the look of the bass. They'll add nothing the the value of the bass, but the ones they replace are knocking a lot OFF the value at the moment! Value. Ah now, there's a thing. Vintage Hofner Violin basses are worth a lot of money because (i) Paul played one, (ii) they're old and rare. If you want to talk prices >£2000 then you need to have (i). Unfortunately, you have only (ii). Your friend's bass pre-dates Paul's by five years and two models; it's just not the same. If it's a nice player, and it sounds as good as it looks, then it's certainly worth >£1000. But I suspect that no one is going to get rich selling this bass. I genuinely hope I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1484213648' post='3213519'] Hmmmmm ... now that is a tricky one. First up, it's an absolutely beautiful bass and in staggeringly good condition for its age. What's the playability like? I imagine it must have had a neck re-set by now; if not, then one is probably very overdue. And how's the neck? No trussrod this early in the instrument's development. It's all original apart from the control plate, as you say, but also those appalling control knobs. He should replace them immediately with 'teacup' knobs -a very cheap job and they will transform the look of the bass. They'll add nothing the the value of the bass, but the ones they replace are knocking a lot OFF the value at the moment! Value. Ah now, there's a thing. Vintage Hofner Violin basses are worth a lot of money because (i) Paul played one, (ii) they're old and rare. If you want to talk prices >£2000 then you need to have (i). Unfortunately, you have only (ii). Your friend's bass pre-dates Paul's by five years and two models; it's just not the same. If it's a nice player, and it sounds as good as it looks, then it's certainly worth >£1000. But I suspect that no one is going to get rich selling this bass. I genuinely hope I'm wrong. [/quote] I did a little research because I thought the control panel was wrong. However, it seems like that was the design until they moved to the rectangular panel with 2 tea pot volume controls (cream for with a gold center)and 3 switches. I guess in 56 they didn't feature the Hofner logo on the headstock. Blue Edited January 12, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I saw a '59 retailing @ €1500 online earlier today. Control plate seemed the main difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1484239359' post='3213884'] I did a little research because I thought the control panel was wrong. However, it seems like that was the design until they moved to the rectangular panel with 2 tea pot volume controls (cream for with a gold center)and 3 switches. I guess in 56 they didn't feature the Hofner logo on the headstock. Blue [/quote] The oval control plate is the original shape, but that's not an original item. The knobs were 'teacups' right from the start. The original Hofner logo was where it is on this bass, just below the bridge pickup ... hardly high-vis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1484248657' post='3214042'] The oval control plate is the original shape, but that's not an original item. The knobs were 'teacups' right from the start. The original Hofner logo was where it is on this bass, just below the bridge pickup ... hardly high-vis! [/quote] Are those real Hofner tea cups, the centers on my 500/1 German Made Limited Edition Club Bass are gold. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 ??? Are what "real Hofner tea cups"? Certainly not the awful things currently on this bass. Have a look at http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/bass/bas99.html That's what this bass should look like. That website is the motherlode for all things Hofner BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1484291292' post='3214341'] ??? Are what "real Hofner tea cups"? Certainly not the awful things currently on this bass. Have a look at http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/bass/bas99.html That's what this bass should look like. That website is the motherlode for all things Hofner BTW. [/quote] Cool pic, I had never seen a pre Macca Hofner before. It's a cool looking bass , however looks wise the next generation of this Hofner Violin Bass was a huge improvement. Agree? Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Agree, but being pedantic the nextgen had the Toaster pickups which were never as cool as the understated Staple pickups, and the close spacing of the pickups (now known as 'Cavern spacing' after Paul's '61 bass) which never made much sense to me and seemed like a retrograde step. IMHO, the pick of the bunch is Paul's current bass which is of course a '63. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmayhem Posted January 13, 2017 Author Share Posted January 13, 2017 Thanx for all input! The bass has now been sold for a good price for both seller and buyer. Somewhere around your/our estimations, that's all I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1484297940' post='3214385'] Agree, but being pedantic the nextgen had the Toaster pickups which were never as cool as the understated Staple pickups, and the close spacing of the pickups (now known as 'Cavern spacing' after Paul's '61 bass) which never made much sense to me and seemed like a retrograde step. IMHO, the pick of the bunch is Paul's current bass which is of course a '63. [/quote] I agree, My German made Hofner limited edition 500/1 Club Bass has the Cavern Club spaced PUs. The spacing doesn't make much sense to me either. Blue Edited January 13, 2017 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley67 Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Hi. I know it is an old post, but I'm on the outlook for the very first Höfner violin bass, 1956, and if it is still available and for sale I'm really interested. Best MStanley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.