Look what I acquired...

I can offer no insight about the age, but it looks like a great little bass, and the condition is exceptional!

 

Selmer Catalogue No. 530 Blonde & 531 Brunette. Same headstock (plastic Treble Clef facia) and body as Senator, but with cutaway and with 2.5" body depth. (Very last examples - 2" depth) Rectangular Hofner control consul. (Very last examples had separate rotary volume & tone controls) 21 Frets. Sold by Selmer between about 1960 and 1963, when it was replaced by the Senator Bass.


1960 HOFNER ELECTRIC BASS (500/3)
Blonde and fully original. Check out the single "toaster" pickup and the Selmer inscribed Treble Clef headstock fascia. Now owned by Mike Kennedy of Pennsylvania, USA.


1960 HOFNER ELECTRIC BASS (500/3)
A brunette in lovely original condition. This particular guitar is to be auctioned as part of BBC TV's "Flog-It" programme. Photographs supplied by Geoff Phillips of Durham, England.


c1961 HOFNER ELECTRIC BASS (500/3)
Another fully original blonde example, courtesy of Music Ground, Leeds, England.


1962/63 HOFNER ELECTRIC BASS (500/3)
Really a transition guitar between the 500/3 and the Senator Bass. This one has the two rotary controls and the 2" deep body, but still retains the 21 fret fingerboard and treble clef headstock. It must have been produced just before Selmer decided to change the model name. Owned by Rolf Startin of Dorset, England.



The headstock and pickup look different, but this is the only model with that body shape.

 

Woops, check out this

 

Oh, man, what a treasure! I recently got into the whole Hofner/short-scale/hollowbody thing, so that bass looks simply delicious.

I hope you get to enjoy it!

I don't know how much those are worth but they seem pretty rare and '60s Hofner have picked up a lot of value (in the $4000 range).

 

Congrats. That's a very cool bass. I've always kept my eye out for one, but never come across one for sale, and I don't think they've done a reissue. I think it's a better body shape than either the Beatle Bass or the Clubman, which are all over the place.

 

WOW that is Awesome ! Be Gentle with it , send it to a good Tech who has expirence with Hofners to check it out. Congrats you are one luck guy.

 

For what Ihave read, older Hofners are prone to develop a crack at the neck heel and consequently you have to "reset" the neck, as they call it. A pretty common repair in all older hollowbody basses.

Check the strings and make sure they are not high tension. If so, replace them with low tension flat strings.

I'm not an expert, but i have done a lot of reading about Hofner lately.

 

What a cool story; I'm really happy for you.
Having an instrument that connects you to your family history is priceless.
While you play it, imagine that your great grandad can hear you.
Call me crazy but I think instruments can work this way.

I hope that someday, when I'm long gone, my instruments will be enjoyed by my family in the same manner.
...and I'll be listening!

Congratulations,

Chad

 

Congratulations. Wonderful story and a very special bass.

 

Give it a Set up and restring prevent it from developing any problems, that instrument is an investment even if you did get it for free.

 

That is a stellar piece of history you've got there. Congrats!

 

That's awesome! The same thing happened to me once, except it was a trombone.
I recommend TI Jazz Flats--they sound good, last long and have low tension.

 

They might be to heavy for a hofner, pyramid golds are awesome and the Hofner strings are good as well.