Paul McCartney Mourns Höfner as Iconic Bass Maker Files for Bankruptcy

Paul McCartney has issued a heartfelt tribute to Höfner, the German instrument manufacturer that created his iconic violin bass, after the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. The news marks a potential end to one of the most storied names in rock and roll history.

According to filings in the Fürth District Court in Bavaria, Germany, Höfner entered insolvency proceedings on December 10, 2025. A provisional administrator has been appointed to attempt to rectify the company's debts over the next three months. In a statement, the company cited the introduction of US tariffs as a significant factor in their financial difficulties.

McCartney's Tribute

Taking to Instagram, the former Beatle shared his sadness at the news. McCartney wrote that he found it “very sad to see Höfner go out of business,” noting that the company has been making instruments for over 100 years. He recalled buying his first Höfner bass in the sixties and said he has loved it ever since.

McCartney praised the instrument as “wonderful to play,” describing it as lightweight and encouraging him to play quite freely. He also noted that it offers pleasing variations in tone that he enjoys. He concluded by offering “commiserations to everyone at Höfner” and thanking them for all their help over the years.

A History Intertwined with the Beatles

The relationship between Höfner and the Beatles runs deep. Founded in 1887 by Karl Höfner in what was then the Austria-Hungarian town of Schönbach (now Luby in the Czech Republic), the company grew to become a significant supplier of stringed instruments. After World War II, Höfner relocated to West Germany and opened a new factory in Bubenreuth in 1950.

It was in this era that Höfner created its most recognizable instrument: the 500/1 bass guitar, commonly known as the “Violin Bass.” McCartney purchased his first Höfner 500/1 in Hamburg in 1961 for approximately £30 at a Steinway & Sons shop. As a left-handed player, he was able to obtain a left-handed model quickly because Höfner was based in Germany.

The bass became McCartney's signature instrument throughout the Beatles' legendary run. Classic songs including “Love Me Do,” “She Loves You,” and “Twist and Shout” were all recorded with the Höfner 500/1. The band's connection to Höfner instruments extended beyond McCartney—George Harrison's brother taught him guitar chords on a Höfner Committee, and John Lennon's first quality guitar was also a Höfner model.

The Lost Bass Returns

In a remarkable twist of fate, McCartney's original 1961 Höfner bass—which had been stolen from the back of a van in London in October 1972—was finally returned to him in 2024 after being missing for over 50 years. The recovery came thanks to the “Lost Bass Project,” a grassroots campaign launched in 2018 that eventually led investigators to locate the instrument in an attic in Suffolk, England.

The bass was authenticated by Höfner, and McCartney played the long-lost instrument on stage for the first time since its theft nearly a year ago. The instrument's remarkable history is set to be the focus of an upcoming documentary.

An Uncertain Future

While the bankruptcy filing represents a serious threat to the company's future, provisional insolvency proceedings do not necessarily mean the end for Höfner. The company continues to operate, make and sell instruments, employ staff, and purchase materials during this period. An insolvency administrator has been tasked with finding investors and attempting to rectify the company's debts.

Whether Höfner can survive this latest challenge remains to be seen, but its legacy as the creator of one of rock music's most iconic instruments is firmly secured in history. For McCartney, the Höfner Violin Bass remains his signature instrument to this day—as inseparable from his identity as Charlie Chaplin's cane and bowler hat were from his.