No, it was just owned and used by The Almighty McCartney. Also referred to as God to some of us here.
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Paul McCartney Dings His Hofner
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Life is that way. You play what you want, whether for tone, feel, nostalgia, history, bandmates/audience expectations, all the above. Even after Mr. John Hall's statement, "4002? We didn't make too many of them. They're rare as hen's teeth,) added a zero to the digits value of my bass, (yes, 4002, not "1" or "3") I continued to play it as my main gig bass, alternating with my fanned fret P-style bass during recuperation after injuries, until I needed a 5-string. It still comes out for concerts here and there with my old band when we have a reunion and other smaller gigs here and there.
Cave Puppy
"Humph Bo, he's wond!" - John Lennon
Oh, I see. McCartney dings his Hofner and its big deal newsworthy. I ding my Hofner and everyone yells, "Put your pants back on!" and "Sir! You can't do that in a Denny's!". It's the ol' double standard.
One ding is a ding. Sixty years' worth of dings is collectible famous patina. My 4002 has a ding or two. Sir Macca's Hofner is priceless.
Paul's Hofner would go for way more than $500,000. The last time I remember it was insured for over a million. That was a long time ago. In today's world I bet it would be a way heavier price.
Because you risk dinging it if you play it at home too, so way not take it to the gig and enjoy playing it while you still can?
it most certainly is the "real one"
there were two basses early on, the pickups were different. one had a middle and neck, the other a bridge and neck.
the middle/neck (there are model numbers but i don't know them) was stolen pretty early on, and has never been found.
the other was used on tons of beatles stuff (though not as many recordings as folks think - he used the rick a lot), and that is indeed the bass he still uses today. same one from the rooftop, same one from live on ed sullivan, and so on.
there's a great book with detailed photos called "beatle gear" that goes over all of this - and quite a bit more. a fun read if your into this stuff. it's mostsly awesome pictures of original beatle gear.
also this...
i imagine if this bass was to one day be auctioned, it would be the most expensive musical instrument purchase... ever?
really depends on which uber-weathly collector is into it.
not that i ever expect it to be auctioned anyway.
I thought he got that one back?
Is that the one with the set list still on it?
Nope, I guess I was confused, as always
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Since you're doling out umlauts at the moment could you please spare one for my trusty Hoyer? I can never find the damn things when I need them.
I guess the youtube interview with Keith Smith, McCartney's guitar /bass technician, can't be posted often enough to dispel the incorrect information about his Hofner basses. So, here it is again. It starts in Hebrew but quickly goes to English with Keith Smith.
And here's an excellent article written by Nick Wass on the history of McCartney's Hofner basses from Guitar Player magazine Jan 2022.. Nick is one of the few people who has actually worked on McCartney's 1963 Hofner.
The history of Paul McCartney and his iconic Hofner 500/1 bass guitar
The history of Paul McCartney and his iconic Hofner 500/1 bass guitar
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