NBD

[Buster53]

It’s here! NBD!

My rare (1 of 100) Greco/Hofner bass (VB165 or 500/100) has arrived from Japan and it is near mint condition! I’m over the moon to own one of these unique guitars. Needs a set of flats but otherwise what a lucky find!

For those not familiar in the late 1980s (87-89) Greco of Japan contracted with Hofner to build a Beatle bass. Built in Germany by Hofner they were branded as Greco on the headstock. It’s a Greco VB165 or a Hofner 500/100. Only 100 were made. I stumbled onto this one on eBay less than an hour after a friend was telling me about his. Had never known of them until then and within a few hours of that conversation I owned one of these rare beauties!

 

[JIO]

pretty cool - never knew Hofner did this (like Squier to Fender)

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

Nice bass, and it was news to me, too.

 

[Buster53]

Not so much like Squier to Fender. This is a fully German built Hofner merely branded on the headstock as a Greco. Greco did make “replica” instruments on their own - even being sued by Gibson for their look alike Les Pauls. The VB165 is the only time, to my knowledge, that Hofner built guitars for another company. They are are Hofner in every way, not a lower priced entry level variant like the Squier to Fender.