All Original 1965 Hofner 'European Market' 500/5 'President' Bass

1965 Hofner 500/5 European Market [President] Bass

European market 500/5 'President' bass. This amazing instrument weighs just 5.30 lbs. 16 1/2 inch wide, just over 2 1/4 inch thick, quad-bound (white over black) laminated maple body with a two-piece maple top (with two single bound 'f' holes), a two-piece flamed maple back and flamed maple sides. Two-piece maple neck with a beech center-strip, a nice, fat nut width of just over 1 11/16 inches, a short scale length of 30 inches and a wonderful thick profile. Brazilian rosewood fretboard with 'zero' + 22 original jumbo frets and pearl dot position markers. Black lacquer-faced headstock with "Hofner" and 'floral' design inlaid in pearl. Two-layer black over white plastic 'dome' shaped truss-rod cover with three screws. Individual open back tuners with rectangular bone buttons with rounded edges. Two-layer pearloid over black plastic heel-cap. Two Hofner "Staple" Nova-Sonic Type 511 Humbuckers with outputs of 7.38k and 7.49k. Four controls (two volume, two tone) with Hofner white plastic 'conical' control knobs with ribbed sides, silver inserts and securing grub screws. Ebony bridge with four individual saddles on height adjustable ebony base, Hofner trapeze tailpiece. The original frets and fretboard show very little sign of wear. The original pickguard has been removed. Uniform finish checking on the top and sides and a few small surface marks on the back, otherwise this fifty-four year old, super rare bass is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. Housed in a modern four-latch, shaped black hardshell case with black plush lining (9.50).

This is an amazing bass with its own unique 'thump' - It is light and has very easy to play low action.

Stu Sutcliffe used a ca. 1958 brunette Hofner 333 (the previous model to the 500/5) during his time with The Beatles. Paul McCartney also used that bass before acquiring his own Hofner Bass. Stu's Hofner Bass is now owned by the Hard Rock Cafe.