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Lot 102 THE HÖFNER 500/1
The Höfner 500/1 electric bass guitar is instantly recognizable to all students of popular music and rock and roll. Sometimes called a violin bass because of its hollow-body construction and shape, it more often carries the moniker of a Beatle Bass. Designed by Walter Höfner this German-made bass made its debut at the Frankfurt Music Fair in 1956. In 1961 its unique shape caught the sharp eye of a young Paul McCartney. Being a lefthanded player McCartney immediately realized that the symmetrical viol shaped body would not appear upside down when played left handed as a standard cutaway guitar body would. With the global fame of The Beatles, the Höfner 500/1 and subsequent model variations would become forever linked to those avatars of the British Invasion.
The Höfner 500/1 electric bass guitar is instantly recognizable to all students of popular music and rock and roll. Sometimes called a violin bass because of its hollow-body construction and shape, it more often carries the moniker of a Beatle Bass. Designed by Walter Höfner this German-made bass made its debut at the Frankfurt Music Fair in 1956. In 1961 its unique shape caught the sharp eye of a young Paul McCartney. Being a lefthanded player McCartney immediately realized that the symmetrical viol shaped body would not appear upside down when played left handed as a standard cutaway guitar body would. With the global fame of The Beatles, the Höfner 500/1 and subsequent model variations would become forever linked to those avatars of the British Invasion.
HÖFNER, BUBENREUTH, 1963-65
A HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR, 500/1
Closed20 June 2019
Price Realised
USD 60,000
More Information
Specialist note
David Gilmour acquired this Höfner bass from The Bass Place, Birmingham, England, in January 1990 and kept it for studio use. Bassist Guy Pratt can be seen using the guitar in footage released from the Barn Jams recording sessions at Gilmour’s West Sussex home in January 2007. Having enjoyed working with friends and fellow musicians Richard Wright, Guy Pratt and Steve DiStanislao so much during his 2006 On An Island Tour, Gilmour invited the group for a week of jamming together in one of the barns at his countryside home. Beautifully lit with strings of fairy lights and filled with plenty of heaters to combat the freezing weather, the barn was set up with recording and filming equipment to capture the sessions live. A few of the jams were included on the live concert DVD Live in Gdańsk, released in September 2008.