Ever since the early Beatles days, Paul McCartney's signature instrument has been the Höfner 500/1 violin bass guitar. In 1961, an 18-year-old McCartney bought the instrument in Hamburg for £30. That was McCartney's primary instrument for the Beatles' entire run. His bass was stolen in 1972, and it was returned to him more than 50 years later after someone found it in an attic. Now, the German manufacturer Höfner is going out of business, and McCartney has given the company a fond sendoff.
Guitar.com reports that the German instrument manufacturer Höfner has filed for bankruptcy and a "provisional insolvency administration" has been appointed. Karl Höfner founded the company in 1887, and it's been through a number of different owner since it was first sold to the Boosey & Hawkes group in 1994. On Instagram, McCartney writes:
It is very sad to see Höfner go out of business. They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties. I have loved it ever since. It’s a wonderful instrument to play: lightweight, and it encourages me to play quite freely. It also offers pleasing variations in tone that I enjoy. So, commiserations to everyone at Höfner, and thank you for all your help over the years.
A few months ago, Variety reported that Paul McCartney's lost and returned Höfner bass will soon be the subject of a new documentary film from director Arthur Cary.
