Höfner HCT-500/1-SB Violin Bass CT

The contemporary Violin Bass from Hofner is an inexpensive way to own a top quality Hofner. The bass has been made and finished immaculately and has German made pickups and hardware. The flame finish can only be described as beautiful.
The bass has German made Hofner pickups and hardware. The shortscale neck takes a bit of getting used to if you're used to longscale basses, but plays very well and is comfortable.
The bass sounds excellent in a live setting and has a deep bassy thud which sits well in the mix.
Soundwise, its not too far off the German Hofners but is slightly less woody, maybe a bit more modern sounding.
Thomann once again had the bass priced at the cheapest I could find on the net.

I've had this bass for about a half a year now and I have to say it is completely wonderful. The item arrived in good condition all the way to Latvia, despite there being some difficulties during the shipping process. The factory strings were great, but I immediately switched the strings to Pyramid Golds for that vintage sound and feel. It nails the original sound, but it's still really versatile if you're looking to play more modern tunes.
It plays absolutely great, my mother has recently started to play bass and I give her the bass from time to time since she says its so easy to play compared to her other bass.
I am a huge Beatles fan myself so I had been looking at Hofner basses for quite a while and then when the time came, I went ahead and bought this lovely contemporary version of the original. Paired with a mop top, it definitely makes you look like you play in a Beatles cover band.
I'd recommend this bass to anyone.

I recently purchased this bass from Thomann as I am a huge Beatles fan , and wanted to own a genuine Hofner vilion bass just like Paul's , but with out breaking the bank ! .Thomann had the best online price I could find on this excellent little bass , and the customer service was excellent with the item arriving safe and sound here to Australia.The contemporary series bass by Hofner is actually a very close reproduction of a classic V64 500/1 violin bass , but at a very affordable price . The biggest difference with this model is that the bass has a centre block in the body , creating a more modern tone , while still getting that classic trademark Beatle bass vibe and sound ! This bass although manufactured in the East , is still of a very high build quality . It comes factory fitted with round wound strings which sounds great ... however , I changed these out for La Bella flatwounds to help achieve a closer vintage tone . I also purchased the Thomann beat case which fits this model nicely . I highly recommend this bass ... you won't regret it .

I always wanted a Paul McCartney-style bass, and I chose this specific model because it was more affordable. After upgrading the electronics to German-made components, the instrument truly came alive. Even with the stock strings, it sounded absolutely amazing. It performs beautifully in live settings because it is so easy to handle, and the tone in studio recordings is top-notch.

PROS: As a guitarist, the short-scale neck makes it incredibly comfortable for me to play. I specifically picked this model because of the sustain block, and it was definitely the right choice. It provides a much fuller sound with excellent sustain. Another huge plus is how lightweight it is, especially when compared to Fender Jazz, Precision basses and the Rickenbacker 4003S FG i own.

CONS: On the negative side, the neck is quite thick, although I personally didn't have a problem with it. Another issue that came up during live performances was noise interference. This happened when I placed the tablet—which I used to control the digital mixer—right in front of me. The issue was resolved once I connected the tablet directly to the mixer using a cable, meaning the pickups catch a lot of interference from Wi-Fi signalsThe only real downside is its fragility.
During a live gig, it fell from its stand and the neck detached, causing some cracks. My luthier glued it back together and honestly made it better than before. It seems Höfner didn't use enough glue at the joint, so I highly recommend being extra careful with stands, as the neck can break easily.

Additionally, I recently replaced the original strings with a set of Pyramids, but I found them much stiffer and harder to play, so I will be switching back to the previous ones.

Overall, despite these minor setbacks, this is by far the best bass I have ever played.

My suggestion to Höfner: They should release more German-made Violin and Club models featuring a center block for a more modern sound. It would also be great to see them in different finishes, like Cherry Sunburst, or even better, to offer a custom shop option for ordering bespoke Höfner basses and guitars.

I used to play bass around the Liverpool clubs at the time of the Beatles in the mid 60's. I played the Hofner violin bass and as my teen years came to an end I sold my original when love and life got in the way of my musical exploits. I recently decided to re-live my youth and buy either an original used one or a new replica. I opted for the replica and am not disappointed. The finish and feel is superb and the detail is indistinguishable from the original. A few minor details stand it apart, such as the control panel and of course it is a solid body not acoustic, making the guitar a little heavier. These items are a small price to pay when you consider the saving cost over the authentic German model or an original used one. The feel and sound as I remember compares well, for me it is a touch of nostalgia but I'm sure this guitar could be used in a real musical environment in a professional capacity. One very pleased customer here. Final point, Thomann have been excellent, offering very competitive prices and return guarantees etc. the website and service are slick. Thank you.