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"What Exactly Is A 'Cavern' Bass?" by Geddy Lee

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Subject: "What Exactly Is A 'Cavern' Bass?" by Geddy Lee
From: norbertkosky69@gmail.com (Norbert K)
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by: Norbert K - Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:03 UTC

In early 1961 a young, unknown musician named Paul McCartney bought a left-handed Hofner bass, called simply a 500/1, from a Steinway shop in Hamburg, Germany. It was hardly the most sought-after bass in the world, but it was affordable and had one unique quality.

"I couldn't afford a Fender," Paul has said in Andy Babiuk's book Beatles Gear. "I found this Hofner violin bass, and it seemed to me like, because I was left-handed, it looked less daft because it was symmetrical. So I got into that. That became my first bass."

Pete Best, who was with Paul at the time, further explained that "He didn't just buy it off the peg. He got it custom-made."

These days, a 500/1 just like Paul's is among the rarest of collectibles you could hope to find. Very few of them were made, because during that period, Hofner's specs were changing at such a rapid pace that after a few short months, this version no longer existed. Beatles lovers have nicknamed it the "Cavern" because, of course, the Cavern was the Liverpool club where the Beatles cut their teeth. Much easier to find are other versions of the 500/1 similar to Paul's but not the same -- as of 1963 riding the wave of Beatlemania, Hofner's UK importer Selmer started selling 500/1s that it called the "Violin Bass" (and fans call the "Beatle Bass") -- but if you're going for the holy grail, below are the necessary specs. Caveat Emptor! Fakes abound.

[Snip of necessary specs.]

-- from Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass

Avert misunderstanding by calm, poise, and balance.

arts / rec.music.beatles / "What Exactly Is A 'Cavern' Bass?" by Geddy Lee

Subject	Author
"What Exactly Is A 'Cavern' Bass?" by Geddy Lee	Norbert K