Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG, a legendary German musical instrument manufacturer that popularized the violin-shaped bass, has officially filed for bankruptcy.
The news triggered an emotional response from The Beatles' bassist, Paul McCartney, who for decades was synonymous with the instrument.
Through his official Instagram account, Paul McCartney expressed deep sadness over the fate of the company that had accompanied him since the 1960s.
McCartney recalled the moment when he first bought a Höfner bass that later became an integral part of his visual and musical identity.
"It's sad to see Höfner stop operating. They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties," McCartney wrote, quoting the description of the upload, Friday, December 19.
"I have loved it ever since. It's a wonderful instrument to play: light, and encourages me to play quite freely," McCartney continued. "It also offers a pleasant variety of tones that I enjoy. So, my sympathies to everyone at Höfner, and thanks for all your help over the years."
Founded by Karl Höfner in Schönbach (now Luby, Czech Republic) in 1887, the company started its journey by producing wire instruments.
After World War II, the company's operations moved to West Germany. Their heyday came in the 1950s with the launch of the semi-hollow electric bass Höfner 500/1, which was later widely known as the "Beatle Bass" after being used by McCartney.
Throughout its history, Höfner has gone through several restructuring phases. The company was once part of the Boosey & Hawkes Group in 1994, before it was eventually sold to Music Group in 2003, and finally fell into the hands of Klaus Schöller in 2004.
Now, the future of the brand that has been around for more than a century is once again at a low point.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
