OWNERS' REGISTER OF HOFNER 500/1 "VIOLIN" BASS GUITARS

 

1. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EUROPEAN/US MARKET - BLACK BAR PICKUPS (1955 to c1960)

Hand

Approx Date

Owner

Location

Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H 1956 David Heslop South Australia   225
R/H 1957 John Simmons Virginia, USA   021
R/H 1957 Phil Davies New South Wales, Australia 203 247
R/H 1957 Dave Heslop South Australia 216 226
R/H 1957/58 Dave Heslop South Australia 005 043
R/H 1958 Denny Innes Ohio, USA    011
R/H  1959 Dave Heslop  South Australia   080 
R/H 1959 Giovanni Italy 151
R/H 1959 Colin Engel Cape Town, South Africa   175
R/H 1959 Henning Schreiber Denmark   177
R/H 1959 Matt Fisher Sussex, England   285
R/H   1960 Case van der Linden  California, USA 2116 (Van Wouw)   005
R/H 1960 Stu Melander Stockholm, Sweden 13001 331
           
           

 

2. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EUROPEAN/US MARKET - "TOASTER" PICKUPS (c1960 to c1961)

Hand

Approx Date

Owner

Location

Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H  1960  Dave Heslop   South Australia   084 
R/H 1960 Barry Frost Surrey, England   333
           

 

3. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EUROPEAN/US MARKET - "CAVERN" PICKUPS (c1961 to c1962)

Hand

Approx Date

Owner

Location

Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H 1961 Randy Carbuhn Utah, USA - 028
R/H   1961 Great Guitars Australia Queensland, Australia   103 
L/H  1961 Greg Feo  California, USA  3351 (Van Wouw) 019 
R/H 1961 Roadrunner The Netherlands 3894 (Van Wouw) 321
R/H 1961 Wim Brouwers The Netherlands 3959 (Van Wouw) 248
R/H 1961 Jan B. Larsen Denmark 281
R/H   1961  Atsushi Yoshida  Japan 4072 (Van Wouw)  013 
R/H 1961 Jerrold Longdon Tennessee, USA   191
R/H 1961 Dave Heslop South Australia 259
R/H 1962 (61 features) CCC UK 341
R/H 1963 (61to63 features) Greg Feo California, USA 249
R/H 1963 (61to63 features) Mike Phillips Vienna, Austria 314

 

4. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EUROPEAN/US MARKET - TYPE 510B "DIAMOND LOGO" PICKUPS (c1962 to c1963)

Hand

Approx Date

Owner

Location

Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H 1962 Jaap Nieveen The Netherlands 5486 (Van Wouw) 224
R/H 1962 Andrew Andrade Colorado, USA   020
R/H  1962   Craig Gemmell  New Zealand   124 
R/H   1962  Malcolm Weaver  Nottinghamshire, England   153 
R/H 1962/3 Tony Capizzi New York, USA   336

 

5. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EUROPEAN/US MARKET - TYPE 511B "STAPLE" PICKUPS (c1963 to c1967, & late 1990's.)

Hand

Approx Date

Owner

Location

Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H 1963 CG Italy 500 1 62 324
R/H 1963 Josh Bradshaw Chicago, USA   286
R/H 1963/64 Rene Monsma Belgium 5253 (Van Wouw) 034
 R/H 1964  Paul Smith Nottinghamshire, England   061 
R/H 1964 Kasper Jensen Denmark   261
R/H 1964 Richard Sleeman Monmouthshire, Wales 141
R/H 1964 Neal Gibson-Barton Berkshire, England   199
R/H 1964 Igor Simas Minas Gerais, Brazil   221
R/H 1964 J. D. Lund Denmark   260
R/H 1964 Lisa Barter South Australia 076
R/H 1964 Stu Melander Stockholm, Sweden 8 64 073
R/H 1964 John Snell California, USA 112
R/H 1964 J. Nieveen The Netherlands 147
R/H 1964 Peter Stakeberg Katrineholm, Sweden   269
  1965 Dieter Fraatz Germany   275
R/H 1965 Pellegrini Luca Milan, Italy 119
R/H 1965 Diane Lester Ontario, Canada 142
R/H 1965 Stuart Nock Nottinghamshire, England 137
R/H 1965 Hans Wagner Aarhus, Denmark   305
R/H 1965 Chris Scruggs Tennessee, USA   320
R/H 1965 Thomas P. Lopez Arizona, USA

25457

 322
R/H 1965 John Snell California, USA 113
L/H 1965 Jackie Kosmak Victoria, Australia   244
R/H c1965 Stefan Hoock Amsterdam, The Netherlands   017
R/H 1965 Federico Crippa Milan, Italy   234
R/H 1965 Dan Nestor Minnesota, USA   303
R/H 1965/66 Paul Smith Nottinghamshire, England 075
R/H 1965/66 Karpi Czech Republic 099
R/H 1965/66 Matthieu Rudant France 120
R/H 1966 Gary Boyd Texas, USA

25690

 230
R/H 1966 Matt Round London, England 095
R/H 1966 Erik Hillenga The Netherlands

8573 (Van Wouw)

 258
R/H 1966 David Nielsen Denmark 157
R/H 1966 Ducros Pascal Haute Savoie, France

30121

 184
R/H 1966 Brian Baker Victoria, Australia   297
R/H 1966 Ed Holsapple Illinois, USA 30406 133
R/H 1966 Peter Frankenstein Stuttgart, Germany   340
R/H 1966 Matt Chowning Tennessee, USA 35907 134
R/H 1966 Fran Festa Pennsylvania, USA   007
L/H 1966 Yoshikazu Tanaka Osaka, Japan   238
R/H 1966 Terry A. Carbetta Ohio, USA   302
R/H 1966 Tim Britton Iowa, USA   218
L/H 1966 Leonard Clemente Utah, USA 102
L/H 1966 Joe Baiardi Texas USA   015
R/H 1966 George Miller British Columbia, Canada   194
R/H 1966 Francesco Fai Rome, Italy   018
R/H 1966 Michael Hüby Niederösterreich, Austria   026
R/H  1966   Monte Tourville  Washington State, USA    052
R/H 1966 Matthias Tolle Germany   332
R/H 1966/67 Carlos V. Guzman USA

35933

 301
L/H 1966/67 Yoshikazu Tanaka Osaka, Japan

36008

 239
R/H 1966/67 Chema Rios A Coruña, Spain 105
R/H 1966/67 Steve Brandt Oregon, USA 110
R/H 1967 Samuel Kneubuehler Lucerne, Switzerland   330
 R/H 1967 Vito Romano Italy     069
R/H 1967 Terry Bridge British Columbia, Canada   220
           
R/H 1996 Paul Straub California, USA (Standard II Limited Issue) 401010 343
R/H 1996/97 Orangeman California, USA (Standard II Limited Issue)   195
R/H 1997 Pavel Nepivoda Czech Republic (Standard II Limited Issue) 401078 337

 

 

6. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EUROPEAN/US MARKET - TYPE 512B & 513B "BLADE" PICKUPS (c1967 to the 1990's)


Hand

Approx Date

Owner

Location

Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H 1967 Sherod Crowell Nova Scotia, Canada 077
L/H 1967 Brad Bailey Florida, USA 143
R/H 1967 Antonio Ongarello Padova, Italy 148
R/H 1967 John Snell California, USA 114
R/H 1967 Steve Brandt Washington/Oregon, USA 115
R/H 1967 Carl Jennings Ontario, Canada   200
R/H 1967 James Alfaro New York, USA   205
R/H 1967 David Wirth California, USA   206
R/H 1967 David Michiels Louisiana, USA 41146 128
R/H 1967 Bernd Kroll Dortmund, Germany 123
R/H 1967 David Gordon California, USA

140

 295
R/H 1967 Carlos Gonzalez Arizmendi Mexico   168
R/H 1967 Tommy 100 South Africa   193
R/H 1967 Tom Neves     211
R/H 1967 Daune Vallejos California, USA   274
R/H 1967 Josemaria Marrero Madrid, Spain   280
R/H 1967 Eric Rosie Pennsylvania, USA   250
R/H 1967 Larry Wilkes Ontario, Canada 101
R/H 1967 Stuart Cooke UK   (500/1B Version) 094B
R/H 1967 Tony Vincent Portugal   (500/1B Version) 268B
 R/H 1967   Graham Taylor UK    051 
R/H 1967 Jörgen Bergström Sweden   290
R/H 1967 Mike Geisler Florida, USA   192
R/H 1967 Gordon Broadley Somerset, UK 056
R/H 1967 Ben Fogletto Jr. New Jersey, USA   014
R/H 1967 Graham Forsaith Sydney, Australia   222
R/H 1967 Larry Hines USA 088
R/H 1967 Gordon Broadley Somerset, England 064
R/H 1967 Ben Fogletto Jr New Jersey, USA 129
R/H 1967 Robert Forsyth Ontario, Canada 068
L/H 1967 Vincent Sanseverino Italy 130
R/H 1967 Duane Vallejos California, USA   282
R/H 1967/68 Colin Healy Tipperary, Ireland   306
R/H 1967-69 John Allen Florida, USA   023
R/H 1967-69 Phillip Arena Western Australia (500/1B Version) 048B
R/H 1967-70 Phil Coudrai New Jersey, USA (Fretless Bass?) 085
R/H 1968-70 Omar El Kammar Cairo, Egypt (500/1M Version)   294M
R/H 1968 John Ross Arkansas, USA

64034

 231
R/H 1968 Michael Jankowski Arizona, USA 078
R/H 1968 Fran Festa Pennsylvania, USA 64236 274
R/H 1968? Claes Akerlund Sweden  (500/1M Version )   030M
R/H 1968 Frank McDermott Ohio, USA 70280 140
R/H 1968 Jesper O Denmark (500/1M Version)   263M
R/H 1968 Michael Kechagias Greece 063
R/H 1968 Sebastian Maharg Bravo Madrid, Spain 7825 132
R/H 1968 Dieter Serowy Germany   165
R/H 1968 Hank Gibson California, USA (500/1M Version)   160M
R/H 1968 Dan Gerstenlauer Virginia, USA 163 344
R/H 1969 Silvano Coral The Netherlands 3320 284
R/H 1970 Fran Festa Pennsylvania, USA 623 008
R/H 1969/71 Martin Jelen Slovenia   036
R/H 1970 Andy Adams Lincolnshire, England 096
R/H 1970 Helen Feyh New York, USA   196
R/H 1970 Jens Hofman Denmark 107
R/H 1970 Will's Guitars The Netherlands 8900 (Van Wouw) 066
R/H 1970 Daniel Kearns Dublin, Ireland   277
R/H 1970 Keith Ontario, Canada   273
R/H 1970 Ben Ho Hong Kong, China 081
R/H 1970 Glenn Kerestes Manitoba, Canada   038
R/H 1970 Guitar Hound Texas, USA   252
R/H 1970/71 Kevin O'Brien Ontario, Canada   287
R/H 1970/71 Giorgio Cretara Cagliari, Italy 146
R/H c1970 Katou Hidekazu Japan   256
R/H 1971 Robert Wolfrum Germany (500/1M Version)   317
R/H c1971 Mike Masuda California, USA   032
R/H c1973 Bill Wagner Pennsylvania, USA   278
R/H 1973 Jan Cornelissen The Netherlands (500/1B Version)   039B
R/H 1973 Andrew Ulle Ohio, USA   166
R/H 1973 Roy J. Soesbee II N. Carolina, USA 092
R/H 1973 Blaine Fergerstrom Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

2694

 251
R/H 1973 Jacques Evers Holland

?786 (Van Wouw?)

 182
L/H 1973/74 Pete Shields Australia 050
L/H 1973/74 Yoshikazu Tanaka Osaka, Japan   240
R/H Early/Mid 1970's Jerry Smith Oklahoma, USA

13135

 047
R/H c1974 Ed Woods Brisbane, Australia 11329 087
R/H Mid 1970's Terry Hughes England 300
L/H Mid 1970's Michael Hipsley Florida, USA 13278 203
R/H Mid 1970's Tim Britton Iowa, USA 11168 183
R/H Mid 1970's Danny Handley Lancashire, England 223
R/H Mid 1970's Joel Pellegrini Nice, France 292
R/H c1975 Joseph M. Stephens, Sr. Delaware, USA 171
L/H 1977 Lenie Colacino New Jersey, USA   016
R/H c1977/78 Samuel Curcio New Jersey, USA 11341 180
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Michael Gallant California, USA 11367 009
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Audoux Guy France 090
R/H Mid/Late1970's Brian Morton Ontario, Canada 121
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Kevin Banks Ontario, Canada

11377

 338
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Tomas Cupas-Mčdica Panama City, Republic of Panama   217
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Joe Deghi Oklahoma, USA (500/1M Version)   335
L/H Mid/Late 1970's John Martin Sain New Jersey, USA   213
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Danny Guspie Canada 125
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Phil Cavanaugh Maine, USA 11460 233
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Patrick McGuire Texas, USA 11492 062
R/H Mid/Late 1970's David Sikes California, USA 11572 079
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Ron Davidson North Carolina, USA

11598

 266
R/H Mid/Late 1970's Tommy Godbold North Carolina, USA 091
R/H Late 1970's Ted Orwiler Washington State, USA 11733 138
R/H Late 1970's Thomas P. Lopez Arizona, USA 11874 325
R/H c1980 Andrew Lyon East Renfrewshire, Scotland   214
R/H Early 1980's Lauro Meller Belo Horizonte, Brazil 7210 155
R/H Early 1980's Simon Kesselman England 072
L/H Early 1980's Felix Störzer Dusseldorf, Germany   245
R/H Early 1980's Robert Dreher Illinois, USA   264
L/H 1982 Geir Wikran Norway   167
R/H 1984 Mike Silay Pennsylvania, USA (64-- 84 Model)  27032 065
R/H c1985 Pascal Reiser Switzerland   044
R/H 1980's Tony England Spain   045
L/H Mid 1980's Craig Reid Toronto/Ontario, Canada 13686

181
R/H Mid 1980's Mike Phillips Vienna, Austria  (Part-Japanese Specification) 259082

189
L/H c1987 Chris Brown Bedfordshire, England 216787 163
R/H c1987 Kato Hidekazu Japan 216807 257
R/H c1987 Timo Pasanen Finland 216907 227
R/H c1988 Fabio Scardigli Italy  (Japanese-made "Staple" pickups fitted) 260713 033
R/H c1988 Bizollon France 260753 207
R/H c1988 Harry Elzendoorn Zele, Belgium 136
R/H c1988 Roberto Brambilla Italy

260991

 176
R/H c1989 Xavier P France 055
R/H c1989 Thomas P. Lopez Arizona, USA 326
R/H 1990 John Kirkland Fife, Scotland  (Part-Japanese Specification) 261702 309
R/H 1992 Sergio Nunes Porto, Portugal  261421 031
L/H 1991 Brian Price Tennessee, USA 024
R/H 1992 Juergen Haus Germany 261565 215
R/H 1993 David Calderon Vancouver, B.C., Canada 261653 022
R/H 1993 John Espinosa Sydney, Australia 261665 135
R/H 1993 Wolfram Jaschke Germany 401807 308
R/H 1993 Stéphane Edy Brittany, France   (Japanese-made "Staple" pickups fitted) 400322 254
R/H 1993 Santiago Casares Spain 400348 106
R/H 1993 Kato Hidekazu Japan 400355 255
R/H 1994 Trevor Roberts Toronto, Canada 400416 299
R/H 1994 Richard Davidson County Down, Northern Ireland, UK 400457 098
R/H 1994 Michael Brown Pennsylvania, USA 400469 093
R/H 1994 Laszlo Torok Las Palmas, Spain 400475 202
R/H 1995 Richard Lampron Ontario, Canada 400618 265
R/H  1995  Kenny O'Reilly  Indiana, USA 400706   089
R/H 1996 Luud Gorissen The Netherlands 272

 

 

7. HOFNER 500/1BASS - JAPANESE MARKET

Hand

Approx Date

Version

 Owner

Location

 Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H c1985 Vintage '58 Kato Hidekazu Japan 259115
R/H c1986 Vintage '58 Paul Jenkins Gloucestershire, England

259326
R/H 1996 40th Anniversary Type II Kato Hidekazu Japan

400923

R/H 1999 Beatles Bass Limited Edition Kato Hidekazu Japan

402579

 

 

8. HOFNER 500/1BASS - ASSEMBLED FROM HOFNER FACTORY KITS

Hand

Approx Date

Finish

 Pickup Type

Owner

 Location

File #
R/H c1984 Natural Body & Neck Type 513 "Blade" Mike Upchurch North Carolina, USA  
R/H Late 1980's Ebony Stain Body/Natural Neck Type 511 "Staple" Mike August Virginia, USA 208

 


9. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EARLY RE-ISSUES (GERMAN MADE)

Hand

Approx Date

Version

 Owner

Location

 Body Date Serial # 

File #
R/H 1994 Music Ground Cavern Ron Cascisa 2
R/H 1994 Music Ground Cavern Kevin Trine Michigan, USA 12/10/93 6 054
R/H  1994 Music Ground Cavern Fran Festa Pennsylvania, USA 36  
L/H 1994/95 Music Ground Cavern Jeff Schofield Bedfordshire, England   100 188
L/H 1995 Music Ground Cavern Yoshikazu Tanaka Osaka, Japan   354 237
R/H 1995 MG 20/40 Anniv. Bob Fonseca USA   45 270
L/H 1995 MG 20/40 Anniv. Yoshikazu Tanaka Osaka, Japan   149 241
R/H 1996 '63 Re-Issue Thomas F Stockholm, Sweden   611254 242
R/H 2001  Music Ground Cavern John Espinosa Sydney, Australia 06/04/2001 374  
 R/H 2002   '62 Re-Issue Martin Jelen  Slovenia C04081   216
 R/H 2006  '62 Re-Issue (1-piece back) Kari Ahokas  Finland G03291   304
           


10. HOFNER 500/1BASS - EUROPEAN/US MARKET - INSUFFICIENT DETAIL TO ALLOW ACCURATE DATING

Hand

Approx Date

Owner

Location

Serial # (If Any)

File #
R/H 1964-70? Robert G. Kramer Michigan, USA   006
           
           
           
           
           

 


 

Register your own Hofner 500/1 Violin Bass HERE  

 

 

Return to VINTAGE HOFNER REGISTRATION PAGE

Return to THE VINTAGE HOFNER MAIN INDEX PAGE