Roderich Paesold - Hofner Basses

Roderich Paesold was a bowmaker who had grown up in his father's string and bow business in Eger, Germany. In 1950 he re-established a bowmaking business in Bubenreuth, training a fleet of recognized bowmakers. I am now stocking a selection of both French and German style Paesold bass bows. In 1968 the business expanded into manufacture of violin family instruments and is now located in Hagenau. I am particularly impressed with their responsive, all-solid light weight string basses. All models feature all-solid wood construction, 2 piece tops, carved swelled backs, and spirit varnish for even response. Oil varnish is available on some of the higher models and custom orders. Paesold and Hofner basses are made in the same Hofner factory. The models are usually identical in features, so I'll start including the equivalent model designation for each distributing company. These Paesold and Hofner instruments are consistently my favorite German-made basses

The dimensions for the standard 3/4 size are: Upper Bout 19-1/4", Lower Bout 25-1/2", Body Length 43", Rib Depth 7-7/8", String length 41". Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 6 3/4"

The dimensions for the 4/4 size are : 42-1/4" string length, 45" top length, 21-1/4" upper bout width, 15-1/8" C cavity width, 27" lower bout width, 8-7/8" side depth at tail, 8-7/8" side depth at upper bout, 7-1/2" side depth at neck.

Coming Soon: New Paesold 596 4/4 (really a 7/8 size)

For more complete description or questions, please email steve_swan@earthlink.net or call (650) 515-1014.
ca. 1960s Hammig (Hofner) 3/4 gamba carved back	Distributed on the west coast of California under the "Johann Heinrich Hammig" name by Sahlein Music Distributors, this 3/4 Hofner has gotten a new neck installed by Michael Olivola. With a contemporary overstand, neck angle, medium size neck profile, and now longer 41 3/4" string length, this fine bass is a good jazz bass and a spectacular arco instrument. German maple back, sides, German Spruce top with bold grain lines and "hazelfichte" (bearclaw) figuring, Replacement Maple neck, Gold Rubner single unit tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, New Gotz Ebony tailpiece, Despiau bridge with adjusters as part of a comprehensive setup by Mike Olivola, Gotz enpin, Lightly applied orange varnish finish. DIMENSIONS are: Top length 42", Upper bout width 19 1/4", Middle bout width 14 3/4", Lower bout width 25 3/4", Depth at tail 8 1/4", Depth at upper bout bend 8 1/4", Depth at neck 7 1/4", String length 41 3/4". Except for 2 small crack repairs in the sides, this bass is astonishingly clean for a school bass. The penetrating voice is balanced and even in the lower registers and extremely colorful and complex in the upper registers. An especially expressive solo instrument. With cover.	$6500
New Paesold 595V 4/4	This great sounding carved back 7/8 model has a very complex voice and a dark, elegant looking finish. Mild flame figured Maple sides, Plain figure Maple back, Even medium-fine grain Spruce top, Engraved Rubner halfplate tuners combine black anodized and gold plated areas, Ebony nut, fingerboard, Hill style tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle, Gotz Aluminum shaft endpin, Dark reddish brown spirit varnish, Maple bridge with adjusters added as part of a comprehensive setup by Mike Olivola. Dimensions as listed above. Strung with Obligato strings, the lively and complex voice is supported by a solid fundamental. With cover.	$8500
New Paesold 596V 4/4	This carved back 7/8 model has a rich voice and very easy response. Mild flame figured Maple back and sides, Medium grain Spruce top, Engraved Rubner halfplate tuners with combined black anodized and gold plated surfaces, Ebony nut, fingerboard, Hill style tailpiece and tailpiece saddle, Gotz 10 mm steel endpin, Maple bridge fitted with adjusters as part of a comprehensive setup by Mike Olivola, Antiqued medium brown spirit varnish finish. Dimensions as listed above. Strung with Spirocore mittel strings, rich, deep voice easily sings in the higher registers. A very responsive bass. With cover.	$8250
New Hofner 518 4/4 (J-121156)	The same features as the Paesold 592, this model features the responsive build and authoritative voice that these 7/8 size instruments are known for. Plain figure German Maple back, sides, and neck, Stiff European spruce top with bold grain lines hazel (bearclaw) figure , Nickel halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Ebony Gotz Hill style tailpiece, Old stock Maple Bridge with adjusters added as part of a complete setup by Mike Olivola, Gotz endpin, Light orange varnish. Dimensions as listed above. The bold, clear voice of this instrument really comes alive with a bow. Also a good pizz bass. With cover.	$7500

Previous offerings

2001 593 3/4 (60519)	German Spruce top with tight grain at center and medium width grain at edges, German Maple back, sides, and neck, Original equipped non-standard 592 style chrome halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard and tailpiece, Bridge without adjusters, Antiqued dark orange varnish. This bass went through six years of high school orchestra programs with two sisters. There are the usual expected assortment of dings and scrapes. The voice has really developed with regular play since it was new. With Spirocore strings it has an appealing rich tonal flavor when played pizz and an incisive, clear presence under a bow. A very nice sounding example. With cover.
New Hofner 518 model (same as Paesold 592) 4/4 size (J-121150)	Another great example of my best selling German doublebass model, a lightly built 7/8 size all-solid gamba shape carved back with light build and light spirit varnish. Plain figure German Maple neck, back, and sides, German Spruce top with hazel figure and very bold winter grain lines for exgtra stiffness, Chrome plated halfplate Rubner tuners, Ebony fingerboard, nut, and tailpiece saddle, Wittner composite tailpiece, Upgrade Gotz enpin. Dimensions same as for Paesold 4/4 listed at top of page. Full setup by Jeff Sahs includes aluminum bridge adjusters. With its extra stiff top, this bass has a tremendous voice in all ranges when played arco with Pirastro or Thomastic arco oriented strings. It also has a clear, ringing voice when played pizz with Spirocore mittel guage strings. A superb orhcestral instrument. With cover.
New Violin Corner Paesold 595 4/4 (nsn)	A violin corner version of the popular 595 4/4 model. High quality German Maple sides and carved back (back has a little flame figure), Very even grain German Spruce top, Plain figure German Maple neck with comfortable profile, Rubner gold and black engraved halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard, tailpiece saddle, and Gotz tailpiece, Gotz Maple bridge with adjusters added by Jeff Sahs as part of his complete setup, Gotz endpin, Red-brown vintage style varnish. This bass has a commanding presence and is the loudest Paesold bass thast I've had in a number of years. Thundering response to Superflexible strings for arco or jazz playing. A very special Paesold! With cover.
Used 593 3/4 carved back "red"	German Maple, German Spruce, Gold Rubner tuners with ebony pins, Gotz endpin, Wittner tailpiece, Antiqued red varnish, Bridge adjusters added. Clear, even voice with Superflexible strings. Very clean and well cared for. An easy playing bass. With free cover.
New Hofner model 5/8 (same as Paesold 592) 4/4 (J-112551)	An especially versatile example of my favorite German 7/8 size doublebass model. German Maple back, sides, and neck, Stiff German Spruce top with bold grain lines, Chrome Rubner halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, tailpiece saddle, and fingerboard, Wittner composite tailpiece, Upgrade Gotz endpin, Bridge adjusters added as part of Jeff Sahs' great setup, Orange spirit varnish. The "4/4" dimensions are listed at the top of the page. This bass is a great combination pizz and arco instrument. I currently have it strung with Spirocore mittel strings for a huge jazz pizz voice or section-anchoring arco play. With cover.
New Paesold 592 4/4 (H-121750)	Perfectly quartered plain figure German Maple back and sides show the beautiful ray flecking pattern of quartersawn Maple, German spruce top with bold winter grain lines that indicate stiffness and strength, German Maple neck with a bit of flame figure on the treble side and a comfortable profile, Nickel halfpplate German tuners, Ebony nut, fingerboard and taipliece saddle, Wittner tailpiece, Gotz endpin, Maple bridge with adjusters added by Jeff Sahs as part of his complete setup, Classic vintage style orange brown varnish. This bass has a bold, clear voice that is responding quite well to Obligato strings. A fine bass for Jazz or arco playing. With cover.
New Paesold 592 4/4 (H-111252)	Nicely cut German Maple back and sides with more ray flecking on the carved back and pretty ribboning figure in the sides, Even grain German Spruce top with some slight hazel figure, Plain figure German Maple neck with slight flame figure on treble side and a comfortable profile, Nickel halfplate German tuners, Ebony nut, fignerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Wittner tailpiece, Gotz endpin, Maple bridge with adjusters added by Jeff Sahs as part of his complete setup, Classic style orange brown varnish. This bass has a rich, complex voice that really sings for jazz playing with Spirocore weich strings. A fine arco bass as well, I could restring it with more bow-friendly strings. With cover.
New Paesold 593 4/4 (J-020450)	Beautifully quartersawn German Maple sides and carved back (back has slight flame figure), German Spruce top has fine grain at center and wider grain at the edges, German Maple neck has plain figure and a very comfortable profile, Gold Rubner single unit tuners with vintage style Ebony roller, Ebony nut, fingerboard, and tailpiece saddle, Wittner tailpiece, Maple bridge has not had adjusters added, Antique style orange-brown varnish. This instrument has the easiest response and loosest bass of the four recently acquired 4/4 Paesold basses, so I use it for myself strung with German gut strings. It does sound great with Spirocore strings and I can restring it for you in about 10 minutes. With cover.
New Hofner 518 3/4	This Hofner model has the same specifications as the Paesold 592. Plain figure German Maple neck, back, and sides, Medium grain German Spruce top, German halfplate chrome tuners, Jet black ebony fingerboard with bevel, Wittner tailpiece, Gotz endpin, Beutiful dark orange varnish. This example is particularly resonant and satisfying to play. The best just keeps getting better! With deluxe Hofner cover.
New 593 3/4 carved back	German Spruce top with heavy winter grain lines, German Maple back, sides, and neck all with a hint of flame figure, German Rubner individual tuners with ebony rollers, Antiqued amber into orange color varnish, Adjhusters added to bridge, Wittner tailpiece, Gotz tubular endpin. Strung with Spirocore Orhcestra strings, this bass speaks clearly with great authority. With free Presto cover.
New Paesold 593 7/8 Carved Back (labeled 4/4)	Gamba shape. Medium to wide grain 2-piece German Maple top, Mildly flame figured German Maple carved back, Mildly flame figured German Maple sides, Moderately flame figured German Maple neck, German style scroll, Gold German quarter plate tuners with ebony rollers, Antiqued orange varnish finish. 20 lbs. With Paesold padded cover. The huge balanced voice from this large bass will please the serious jazz or orchestral player. I've waited nearly a year for this special order and it has exceeded my every expectation. Another fine example of Paesolds superior craftsmanship. With the slide of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, the price for next year's 7/8 basses will be significantly higher.
New Paesold 593 3/4 Carved Back	Gamba shape, Lightly figured German Maple, Medium grain width German Spruce top, Gold quarter plate German tuners with ebony rollers, Antiqued orange spirit varnish finish. With free TKL cover. A very responsive bass with a rich-toned voice. The 41" string length is very easy to play.
New 596V (violin corners) 4/4 model	Light flame figure in the German Maple back, sides and neck. The clear figure German Spruce top is fine grain in the center, widening at the edges. German tuners with ebony rollers. Wittner tailpiece. Slimmer neck profile than the 593 4/4 model I play. Nice woods and a clear, even voice make this example a first-rate jazz instrument. Currently strung with Spirocore. With free Kolstein cover.
Hofner H510-B-4/4 gamba shape 4/4 size carved back	Lightly figured German Maple (neck has no flame), Very tight and exceptionally even grain German Spruce top, Gold Rubner quarter plate tuners with ebony pins, Very dense and non-porous ebony fingerboard, Adjusters added to bridge, Gotz endpin, Wittner tailpiece, Very lightly applied antique orange-brown varnish, Gamba corners. Dimensions are: Body length 45", Upper bout width 21 1/4", C bout width 15 1/8", Lower bout width 27", Rib depth at tail 8 7/8", Rib depth at upper bout bend 8 7/8", Rib depth at neck 7 1/2", String length 42 1/4". This Hofner model is the same as the Paesold 596 4/4. This particular bass has a rich, large voice with lots of depth. It is a very nice jazz bass when strung with Spirocore weich, though I currently have it strung with Helicore orhcestral strings for bow work.
4/4 593	German Spruce top with narrow grain at center and medium grain at the edges, German Maple back, sides and neck, Gold plated Rubner tuners with ebony rollers, Ebony fingerboard and Tailpiece. Bridge adjusters added. This bass has a very rich lower range and responds quite well to Spirocore weich or Obligato strings. It is also a wonderful orchestral bass when strung with Flexocore strings. This is the last of the Paesold basses avaialbe at the old price. I was lucky to pick this one up at the 2007 NAMM show. Full setup by Jeff Sahs. With free cover.
Hofner 512-BV-4/4 Violin shape 4/4 size carved back.	Flame figured German Maple (sides and exterior linings have medium intensity narrow width figure, back has lighter rolling figure, neck has light medium width figure), Tight grain German Spruce top, Rubner quarter plate tuners with ebony rollers, Very dense nonporous jet black ebony fingerboard, Adjusters added to bridge, Wittner tailpiece, lightly applied antique orange varnish. Dimensions are: Body length 45", Upper bout width 21 1/4", C bout width 15 1/8", Lower bout width 27", Rib depth at tail 8 7/8", Rib depth at upper bout bend 8 7/8", Rib depth at neck 7 1/2", String length 42 1/4". This model is really the Paesold 596V 4/4, which is incorporated into the label serial number. Compared the the Paesold 596V currently in stock, this bass speaks more prominently in the low end, but is not quite so bass-heavy as the Paesold 593 4/4 that I play on stage. I like to string this particular instrument with Kolstein Heritage for a warmer jazz sound or with Sirocore weich for a strong, clear arco voice. I picked up this bass at the recent Anahiem NAMM show for a nice discount. With a free cover this bass is priced at
New 593 4/4	Wider grain German Spruce top, German Maple back, neck and sides, Rubner goldplated tuners with ebony rollers, Slim easy-playing neck profile, ebony fingerboard, Wittner tailpiece, Bridge adjusters added by Jeff Sahs. Big, solid voice is even in all registers. The more responsive flexible top is particulary exptressive for jazz playing.Very easy to play with full setup by Jeff Sahs. With Free Cover.
New Demo 593 4/4 model	Plain figure, but quartered German Maple back and sides. Medium grain German Spruce top. German tuners with ebony rollers. Wittner tailpiece. Adjustable bridge. Strong, responsive voice that responds well and full to the plain A gut string set. This is the bass that I currently play. This bass sounds great with Spirocore strings. Some slight signs of play wear. With Kolstein cover.
New 592 3/4 carved back	German Spruce top with wide grain at center and medium width grain at edges, German Maple showing quartersawn ray flecking and a hint of flame figure in ribs, Gold German halfplate tuners, Medium brown varnish, Adjusters added to bridge, Wittner tailpiece, Endpin changed to Gotz tubular style. Strung with Helicore orhcestra strings, this bass speaks wsith a broad and sure voice. Very easy to play. With free Presto cover.
New 2006 592 3/4	Plain figure German maple neck and perfectly quartered sides and back, German Spruce top with medium to wide grain, Gold and Black engraved Rubner halfplate tuners, Lightly applied orange-brown varnish, Ebony tailpiece, Ebony fingerboard, Bridge adjusters and full setup by the amazing Jeff Sahs of Sacramento. This bass has a rich, plummy tone that is very easy coax from the responsive top. I love playing jazz on Spirocore Orchestra strings with this bass. With free cover.
Used 2004 Paesold 3/4 595V	Mildly flame figured German Maple neck, Back, and sides, German Spruce top with very even grain, Gold Rubner halfplate tuners with engraving, Ebony Gotz tailpiece, Lightly applied varnish. This bass plays quite easily and will handle a variety of duties. As a jazz bass, it features a quick response with plenty of guts and harmonic color. For arco playing, this instrument responds with a very even voice in all registers. A very versatile bass. With free cover.