The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: ilan on January 19, 2026, 06:58:11 AM

Title: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: ilan on January 19, 2026, 06:58:11 AM
Just ordered this bass, almost similar to my first bass - a 1967 that my Dad got me in 1975 and I sold a year later. Paid $1,210 including shipping from Japan.

Now the wait.

hof.jpg
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: morrow on January 20, 2026, 08:54:41 AM
Great deal!
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: ilan on February 20, 2026, 02:41:26 PM
hof.jpeg

It's here. Near mint. Plays beautifully. Yes I took the pickguard off.
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: Pilgrim on February 20, 2026, 04:04:55 PM
Very nice.  I hope it sounds extremely... er ... Hofner-esque.
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: ilan on February 21, 2026, 03:46:19 AM
The seller installed a fresh set LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass set, they are too new and too stainless steel-y for my liking so I'll let them settle in and age a bit. If they don't mellow out I may switch to chrome nickel Pyramids.
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: Pilgrim on February 21, 2026, 04:32:54 PM
Quote from: ilan on February 21, 2026, 03:46:19 AMThe seller installed a fresh set LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass set, they are too new and too stainless steel-y for my liking so I'll let them settle in and age a bit. If they don't mellow out I may switch to chrome nickel Pyramids.

I suspect they will mellow with a little playing. I really like them,; I use the light gauge set.
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: ilan on February 22, 2026, 02:52:14 AM
Somehow with me it takes forever to deaden new strings. My hands don't sweat. Once I loaned a bass to a friend for a month to kill the strings for me.
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: Pilgrim on February 22, 2026, 01:57:09 PM
I have a few different basses and don't play each one a lot, so it takes a couple of months for me to hear a difference.
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: BTL on February 22, 2026, 05:21:35 PM
That looks so cool, congrats!
Title: Re: 1980 German Hofner 500/1
Post by: patman on February 23, 2026, 05:10:30 AM
Work with the Labella's a bit. They mellow to a very musically well defined high end...balanced with low end umph...