La Dolce Vita and Paul's Hofner Bass - first sighting?
Paul McCartney's Hofner bass guitars are frequently described as "interesting" or "unusual". Certainly the violin shape was not common. As we know the symmetrical shape enabled Paul to play left handed.
What surprised me and my Californian buddy Rob was to see a Hofner violin bass, albeit played right handed, in the party scene of Fellini's La Dolce Vita. This must be the first appearance of this bass in movie/tv history.
Could Paul have seen this during the time the Beatles were in Hamburg in 1960? The movie was released in Germany in June of that year.
What is also interesting is stage craft of the band in the film. When encouraged to play rock and roll they launch into Reddy Teddy and in the Hamburg vernacular they certainly, "mach schau"
Is La Dolce Vita a little known influence on the fab four?
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A Beatles nerd writes...
Paul has said once or twice that the shape meant a lefty like him could play it, but all his Hofners were true left handed instruments, with the controls at the bottom when played that way and everything. The symmetrical shape was irrelevant.
It's probably more likely (albeit more boring) answer that the Hofner violin was a cheaper option than a Burns/Fender/etc at the time, especially when purchased in Germany.
I always preferred his later Rickenbacker tone, much more plummy!