Best Höfner 4-String Basses 2025

Premium Höfner 4-string basses - legendary tone and craftsmanship

Last updated: October 22, 2025 • Next update: October 29, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000

SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced

GENRES & STYLES: For Unique Designs For Specialty Applications For Experimental Music For Custom Features For Alternative Styles For Distinctive Sound

BRANDS: Sadowsky Ibanez Harley Benton Warwick Music Man Sterling by Music Man Yamaha Sandberg Marcus Miller Höfner Epiphone Jackson Spector Rickenbacker Lakland Cort Danelectro Fodera

Höfner HCT-500/1-BK Violin Bass CT - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (29 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Höfner HCT-500/1-BK Violin Bass CT

by Höfner

Unique Designs Distinctive Sound Alternative Styles

Key Feature:

• Wide variety of pickup configurations

✓ PROS

• Classic bass foundation
• Standard four-string configuration

✗ CONS

• Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
• Standard tuning limitations

Höfner HCT-500/1-BK Violin Bass CTElectric BassStyle: Beatles bass with sustain blockBody: MapleTop: SpruceNeck: Maple...

⭐ 4.5/5 (29 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 562772

$769

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Sunburst - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (51 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

9/10

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Sunburst

by Höfner

Alternative Styles Unique Designs Custom Features

Key Feature:

• Classic bass foundation

✓ PROS

• Classic bass foundation
• Versatile tonal range

✗ CONS

• May need alternate tunings for some styles
• Less range than extended scale basses

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE SunburstElectric BassConstruction: Semi-acoustic with cutawayBody: Flamed mapleTop:...

⭐ 4.5/5 (51 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 519566

$417

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Black

by Höfner

Distinctive Sound Custom Features Specialty Applications

Key Feature:

• Standard four-string configuration

✓ PROS

• Wide variety of pickup configurations
• Classic bass foundation

✗ CONS

• Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
• No high C string for extended range

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE BlackElectric BassStyle: Semi-Hollow with cutawayTop: SpruceBody: MapleNeck:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 608561

$417

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Verythin Bass-HCT-500/7 SB - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (37 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Höfner Verythin Bass-HCT-500/7 SB

by Höfner

Unique Designs Alternative Styles Custom Features

Key Feature:

• Classic bass foundation

✓ PROS

• Perfect for most musical styles
• Standard four-string configuration

✗ CONS

• No high C string for extended range
• May need alternate tunings for some styles

Höfner Verythin Bass-HCT-500/7 SBHollowbody Electric BassFlamed maple bodyWith sustain blockMaple topMaple/Birch/Maple...

⭐ 5.0/5 (37 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 245922

$824

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE S w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE S w/Bag

by Höfner

Distinctive Sound Custom Features Specialty Applications

Key Feature:

• Standard four-string configuration

✓ PROS

• Classic bass foundation
• Versatile tonal range

✗ CONS

• May need alternate tunings for some styles
• No high C string for extended range

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE S w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Sunburst*Electric...

⭐ 4.9/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 611736

$472

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner HCT-500/1-SB Violin Bass CT - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (24 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Höfner HCT-500/1-SB Violin Bass CT

by Höfner

Specialty Applications Distinctive Sound Unique Designs

Key Feature:

• Perfect for most musical styles

✓ PROS

• Versatile tonal range
• Perfect for most musical styles

✗ CONS

• Standard tuning limitations
• Limited low-end extension vs 5-string

Höfner HCT-500/1-SB Violin Bass CTElectric BassDesign: Beatles bass with sustain blockBody: MapleTop: SpruceNeck:...

⭐ 5.0/5 (24 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 192286

$791

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Club Bass Vintage Relic Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Höfner Club Bass Vintage Relic Black

by Höfner

Distinctive Sound Unique Designs Custom Features

Key Feature:

• Wide variety of pickup configurations

✓ PROS

• Versatile tonal range
• Wide variety of pickup configurations

✗ CONS

• Less range than extended scale basses
• May need alternate tunings for some styles

Höfner Club Bass Vintage Relic BlackElectric BassTop: SpruceBody: flamed maple2 Piece maple neckFingerboard:...

⭐ 4.5/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 585169

$3,959

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Verythin Bass HCT-500/8-DC - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.4/5 (2 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

6/10

Höfner Verythin Bass HCT-500/8-DC

by Höfner

Distinctive Sound Specialty Applications Experimental Music

Key Feature:

• Perfect for most musical styles

✓ PROS

• Classic bass foundation
• Versatile tonal range

✗ CONS

• Standard tuning limitations
• No high C string for extended range

Höfner Verythin Bass HCT-500/8-DCElectric BassConstruction: Half resonance with sustain blockMaple bodyMaple...

⭐ 4.4/5 (2 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 388584

$758

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Vintage 500/1 62 Mersey - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

Höfner Vintage 500/1 62 Mersey

by Höfner

Alternative Styles Custom Features Experimental Music

Key Feature:

• Perfect for most musical styles

✓ PROS

• Versatile tonal range
• Wide variety of pickup configurations

✗ CONS

• May need alternate tunings for some styles
• Standard tuning limitations

Höfner Vintage 500/1 62 MerseyElectric Bass<i>The</i> Beatles bassTop: Selected german spruceBody made of...

⭐ 4.9/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 145035

$3,299

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner HCT 500/1 CV Violin Bass CT SB - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#10

⭐ 4.5/5 (15 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

7/10

Höfner HCT 500/1 CV Violin Bass CT SB

by Höfner

Specialty Applications Custom Features Alternative Styles

Key Feature:

• Classic bass foundation

✓ PROS

• Wide variety of pickup configurations
• Perfect for most musical styles

✗ CONS

• Standard tuning limitations
• May need alternate tunings for some styles

Höfner HCT 500/1 CV Violin Bass CT SBElectric BassStyle: Semi-Hollowbody Cavern Contemporary Beatles Bass with sustain...

⭐ 4.5/5 (15 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 317721

$769

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE BK w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#11

⭐ 4.4/5 (41 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE BK w/Bag

by Höfner

Specialty Applications Alternative Styles Distinctive Sound

Key Feature:

• Wide variety of pickup configurations

✓ PROS

• Wide variety of pickup configurations
• Versatile tonal range

✗ CONS

• No high C string for extended range
• Standard tuning limitations

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE BK w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Black*Electric...

⭐ 4.4/5 (41 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 611738

$472

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner H500/2-CV Club - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#12

⭐ 4.8/5 (53 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

6/10

Höfner H500/2-CV Club

by Höfner

Experimental Music Unique Designs Distinctive Sound

Key Feature:

• Standard four-string configuration

✓ PROS

• Versatile tonal range
• Perfect for most musical styles

✗ CONS

• Standard tuning limitations
• May need alternate tunings for some styles

Höfner H500/2-CV Club/VintageElectric BassFeelingsoundand many features of the Vintage 63 bassesTop: SpruceBack and...

⭐ 4.8/5 (53 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 212163

$4,124

Buy at Thomann View Details

Höfner Shorty Bass BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#13

⭐ 4.9/5 (13 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Höfner Shorty Bass BK

by Höfner

Custom Features Experimental Music Alternative Styles

Key Feature:

• Perfect for most musical styles

✓ PROS

• Classic bass foundation
• Wide variety of pickup configurations

✗ CONS

• Limited low-end extension vs 5-string
• No high C string for extended range

Höfner Shorty Bass BKElectric BassA classic from the '80sBasswood bodyMaple neckJatoba fretboard24 FretsNut...

⭐ 4.9/5 (13 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 275311

$208

Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best 4-String Basses

Budget Planning

• Under $200: Entry-level
• $200-$500: Intermediate
• $500-$1000: Advanced
• $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

• Sound clarity & tone
• Build materials & finish
• Hardware durability
• Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

• Your musical style
• Skill level match
• Intended use case
• Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.

Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.

Higher-priced 4-string basses typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.

Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.

Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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Best Höfner 4-String Basses 2025

Höfner HCT-500/1-BK Violin Bass CT

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Sunburst

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE Black

Höfner Verythin Bass-HCT-500/7 SB

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE S w/Bag

Höfner HCT-500/1-SB Violin Bass CT

Höfner Club Bass Vintage Relic Black

Höfner Verythin Bass HCT-500/8-DC

Höfner Vintage 500/1 62 Mersey

Höfner HCT 500/1 CV Violin Bass CT SB

Höfner Club Bass Ignition SE BK w/Bag

Höfner H500/2-CV Club

Höfner Shorty Bass BK

How to Choose the Best 4-String Basses

Budget Planning

Quality Check

Key Features

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when buying 4-string basses?

How much should I spend on 4-string basses?

Are expensive 4-string basses worth the investment?

What are the best brands for 4-string basses?

Should I buy 4-string basses online or in-store?

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