2021 Hofner Fab Gear Revolution Beatle Bass 500/1-61-REV Sunburst

NEW- Paul McCartney acquired his first Hofner 500/1 Violin bass in 1961 while the Beatles were playing in Hamburg Germany. Known now as the Hofner ‘Cavern’ model with the two forward neck pickups, Paul played his first Hofner for endless Beatle shows and recordings until he received his second Hofner 500/1 bass with the two pickups spread apart in 1963. In the early summer of 1964 Paul decided to have his road worn ‘Cavern’ bass refinished and refurbished as the pickup rings were broken. Paul said at the time, “It has seen so much work that some of it is held with sellotape!" Paul used his ‘refinished’ Horner Beatle Bass as a backup for The Beatles 1964 and 1965 tours, in the studio during the Get Back / Let It Be filming and recording sessions and most notably for the ‘Revolution’ video filmed in 1968.

For years as a Hofner dealer, customers have asked me, “I want to get a Hofner ‘Cavern’ Beatles bass like Paul McCartney’s first but the way it looked when he had it redone and used in the Beatles’ ‘Revolution’ video.” When I researched and wrote the Beatles Gear book in the 1990’s, I detailed the whole story of Paul’s first Hofner and how he had it redone (excerpts from the book below). It was with all this knowledge, detailed information and now as a Hofner Premium Dealer that I teamed up with the good people at the Hofner Custom Shop to come up with The Hofner Fab Gear Revolution 500/1-61-REV Limited Edition Model built by the Hofner Custom Shop exclusively for Andy Babiuk’s Fab Gear.

Every detail was scrutinized to be as accurate as possible, including the custom made pickup surround and the special “Revolution Bust” finish with the correct 3 color sunburst and sunbursting on the sides and back of the neck to be most similar to Paul McCartney’s famous Hofner Revolution Beatle bass. Each Hofner Fab Gear Revolution 500/1 is hand numbered and comes with a Hofner deluxe tweed hardshell case, certificate of authenticity, Hofner warranty / paperwork and an autographed copy of my book “Beatles Gear: All The Fab Four’s Instruments From Stage to Studio – The Ultimate Edition”!

IN STOCK AND READY TO SHIP!

Includes free shipping and free expert guitar setup!

SPECS

Instrument: Fab Gear Revolution Beatle Bass
Model: H500/1-61-REV
Body

Shape Violin Bass
Wood Top Spruce
Soundhole None
Wood Back Flame Maple
Wood SidesFlame Maple
Binding Top Black / White / Black
Binding Back Black / White / Black
Binding Sides White
Centerblock None
Neck

Wood: Flame Maple / Beech / Flame Maple
Construction: Three Piece
Headstock Shape: Hofner Violin Bass.
Logo and Artwork: Vertical
Neck Joint: Violin Bass Set Neck
Joint At: 16th Fret
Thickness Neck + FB At 1st Fret: 24mm
Thickness Neck + FB At 12th Fret: 28mm
Heel Cap: White Pearl
Fingerboard

Wood: Rosewood
Scale: 30"/76cm
Nut Width: 42mm
Width At 12th Fret: 48mm
Inlays: Pearl Dots
Binding: None
Side Dots: None
Number Of Frets: 22
Bridge

Material: Ebony
Type: Hofner Fretted
Hardware

Tuners: Single Nickel "Rugby Ball"
Tuner Buttons: Plastic
Tailpiece: Hofner Trapeze Nickel
Nut Material: Plastic
Pickguard: White Pearl
Pickup Neck: Hofner Diamond Nickel
Pickup Middle: Hofner Diamond Nickel
Potentiometer Knobs: Gold top
Electrics: Hofner Pearl Panel
Strings: Hofner Flat Wound
Approximate Weight Kg: 2,1
Setup

Action Bass String at 12th Fret: 3mm
Action Treble String at 12th Fret: 2mm