The manufacturer of Paul McCartney’s beloved “Beatles bass” files for bankruptcy

German instrument manufacturer Höfner is filing for bankruptcy, says a music publication focusing on bass instruments No Treble.

Höfner’s most famous instrument model is the 500/1 electric bass that imitates the appearance of string instruments, which the manufacturer refers to as Violin Bass.

The band The Beatles made the instrument particularly famous Paul McCartneywho has played with one throughout his career. The bass model is also often referred to as the “Beatles bass”.

Paul McCartney saddened by Höfner’s bankruptcy news in his Instagram post on Thursday, December 18.

“It’s sad that Höfner is going down. They’ve been making instruments for over a hundred years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the 1960s. I’ve loved it ever since,” McCartney writes.

“It’s wonderful to play: it’s light and it encourages me to play freely. I also like the pleasant playing possibilities it offers. So my condolences to the Höfner people, and thanks for all your help over the years,” he continues.

Höfner posted on Instagram on Wednesday, December 17 statementaccording to which the company’s operations will not cease immediately:

“Our company has had a difficult time – especially since the US announced tariffs – and we filed for bankruptcy on Thursday, December 11,” the statement said.

However, the company clarifies that it is not immediately stopping production, distribution or information, as in Germany it takes three months before the actual bankruptcy proceedings begin.

“This time will allow us to heal and reorganize the company. In the meantime, we will continue to build and sell instruments, and provide product support, service and warranty services to the best of our ability.”

Höfner’s founded in 1887 in Austria-Hungary, a musical instrument builder Karl Höfner. At first it manufactured stringed instruments, but in the 1930s it also started building guitars. After World War II, the company moved to West Germany.

As the popularity of rock’n’roll grew, the company increasingly added guitars and basses to its model range in the mid-1950s.

Höfner started building violin basses in 1955, and Paul McCartney bought his first Höfner when the Beatles were working in Hamburg in 1961. A couple of years later, he acquired another violin bass.

Also the Beatles guitarists John Lennon and George Harrison played for a while on Höfner guitars. McCartney’s first violin bass was stolen from a van in London in 1972, and it was only found in 2024.

Höfner has been in financial difficulties before. The Second World War interrupted the operation thoroughly, and it was difficult to rebuild it in the new country.

In 1994, the British Boosey & Hawkes bought Höfner, but sold it in 2003 to The Music Group investment company.

It, in turn, sold Höfner the following year to the current owners, a married couple Klaus Schöllerille and Ulrike Schrimpffille, who had been in Höfner’s management positions during the Boosey & Hawkes era.