Review: Hofner's Icon Series Vintage Violin Bass

The Hofner 500/1 violin bass is best known for being in the hands of Paul McCartney during virtually every Beatles performance and recording between 1962 and late 1966. He still uses the original today! Originally an affordable piece of gear, new Hofner 500/1 guitar basses list for $2700, a hefty price tag for your average bass guitar player.

Hofner has seen the demand for an affordable violin bass and has partnered with a Chinese manufacturer to bring out the Icon Series Vintage Bass. The Original 500/1 Hofner basses are hand-carved in Germany while the Icon Series is factory made in China. However, don't think Hofner has dropped the ball in quality control! Hofner inspectors held up an entire boatload of these new basses for weeks because they didn't meet Hofner's strict quality standards.

That is all well and good, you say, but how does the sound stack up between the two bass guitars?

Well, some of the electronic components do vary slightly from the German counterparts. However, the bass does deliver the exact sound that anyone who seeks a Hofner violin bass is looking for - a warm, full, round, "woody" tone that is vaguely reminiscent of an upright bass while still retaining the punchy character of an electric bass. Anyone who is looking for the bass guitar sound that Paul McCartney made famous with The Beatles will not be disappointed in this bass.

The cosmetic differences are also slight. They really come down to the Icon Series having a slightly less "aged" appearing pick guard as well as having black volume knobs rather than the white "teacup" knobs on the original Hofner 500/1. The sunburst also has a slightly less "aged" appearance than the original German-made Hofner. Anyone who has the desire to make the Icon Series appear to be an original German-made Hofner can easily do some cosmetic modifications and no one is likely to know the difference.

What it really comes down to is that for a list price of only $499 ($350 street price) you can hold in your hands a genuine violin bass that says "Hofner" on the headstock and is for all practical purposes, the real deal. The fantastic and affordable price of the Hofner Icon Series Vintage Bass, coupled with Hofner's real dedication to bringing quality instruments to the public at an affordable price, make this bass guitar one that is well worth your money.