Playing Höfner 1960s 500/5 President bass in this post.

The 1959 Höfner President 500/5 was Roger's first (pre-Floyd era) bass he played around 1964-65.

Today, Höfner manufactures the vintage version of the 500/5 President bass, inspired by the Höfner models of the 1950s and 60s (as played e.g. by Stuart Sutcliffe in the early days of The Beatles). With a fully hollow 16,5" wide body and fitted with close spaced original Höfner 'Black Bar' pick-ups, and with the Höfner control panel to ensure a sixties style sound.

I purchased this all original collectors item from the 60's in London several years ago. It's almost the same model used by Stuart Sutcliff in the early Beatles (different pick-ups). You can see it in The Beatles Anthology Book on page 42. According to the book, Paul McCartney used Stuart's bass until he bought the now more famous violin shaped Hofner bass. This bass is all original except for the pickguard -even the strings are original! It sounds very much like the violin shaped Hofner and plays great.

In this page of "Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Glove", Syd talks about his switch to a Hofner 500/5 Bass.

Nikolai holding his Hofner president bass.

He's playing Höfner 500/5 President in this photo (2019).

In this photo, he's playing Höfner 500/5 President Bass.

Stuart Sutcliffe's main, if not his only bass guitar. Bought using money earned from someone buying one of his paintings for £65, from Frank Hessey's Music Shop in Liverpool. Auctioned at Sotheby's on the 28th of August 1986 and sold for £9500.

In the YouTube video titled "i finally feel funky (ポケトだけ) - vulfmon & glitter party" by Vulf, at the 0:14 mark, Jack Stratton can be seen using a vintage Höfner 500/5 President bass.

Looking at the shape of the pickups it's likely a 1965 model, maybe a bit later. For comparison I got this, an early 1960 Hofner bass with a slim body, that also goes under the name 500/5 and this late 1960es (1966ish) slim Hofner bass that also goes under that name. Be careful not to confuse it with the Hofner HTC 500/5 President bass which is very different.

Jack Stratton used this bass to record "i finally feel funky (ポケトだけ)" in 2025.

"Hugh McDonald of Bon Jovi in the studio in Nashville today with his Hofner 500/5 bass!"

June posted this picture on Instagram in late 2016. A Höfner President Bass can be spotted in her bedroom.

In this pic you can spot Ivo's old pedalboard; you can also spot his main bass: a Hofner President 500/5