You have many choices for bass part as long as Hofner 500/1 is concerned. However, there is no Cavern bass replica existed, for replicas are usually Paul's second 500/1.
There are several brands that produces replicas of 500/1. Some of them are quite different from real 500/1 with funny shaped tailpiece, black vol/tone knobs, huge pegs, etc,. However, considering the price of approx. $200.00 to 300.00, it is still acceptable if your band want to look like the Fab 4 with limited budget. Japanese fan club offers a better one for approx. $400.00. Its head stock, tailpiece, wood grain, etc. looks much better than the former one. There used to be a replica named Tomson VB-600 in late 1970s, which has white pick guard, switch board, plastic thumb rest, black knob and white triangle shaped tension rod cover. It looked like the mixture of former cheap replica and the Greco hereunder. It was priced about $300.00, and was mainly sold by mail-order system. Around the same time, there also was Fresher brand replica. It was similar to Tomson's with pearl tension rod cover, pick guard switch board. The head stock was waved in the wrong way. Price was approx. $400.00.
Greco VB-80
This one represents the replicas of
500/1. It is very well fabricated. The only noticeable part is its huge metal
pegs whereas the real 500/1 has unreasonably small plastic pegs. There are,
however, subtle differences such as shorter tailpiece, body shape, etc. The
biggest difference is that it is much heavier than the real one though it weighs
lighter than the popular basses such as Jazz bass, Precisiion bass, etc. Price
is about $800.00.
Reproduction models and vintage guitars
are both available. There are roughly 2 types of
reproduction. One is called Cavern bass which has closely installed front and
rear pickups. Another one has two pickups little apart from each other. The
former one is a bit more expensive (approx. $3,000.00) than the latter one
(approx. $2,000.00).
The current model (not the replica of Paul's 500/1, but current standard
model) has wrong pickups, vol/tone knobs from Paul's, but it is more reasonably
priced.
Vintage guitars are relatively easy to spot. However you should be aware
of their various specifications if you are looking for a particular model Paul
used, though it is said that it is quite impossible to obtain the exact same
model as Paul's. Price is ranging from about $3,000.00 to $10,000,000.00.
Naturally, it is more expensive if it is closer to Paul's.
Replica strap is available at the musical instruments store in Tokyo and
Osaka specialized in Beatles gear.
As a Beatle, Paul mainly used Hofner 500/1. So, you may not be needed to buy Rickenbacker to perform on the stage. However it is not a bad idea to own one of those to recreate the sound of mid to late era of the Beatles.
Paul's 4001S has following feature
Most of Japanese guitar manufacturer was introducing replicas. One from Aria Pro2 brand was numbered RB-700N, and was released with natural color only. It was priced 70,000 yen. Greco released a replica numbered PMB800 around 1980, which was priced 80,000 yen. Fernandes was selling RB-75PM which was also natural color only and was sold for 75,000 yen. This one was the replica of Paul's Rickenbacker of Wings period with its cut-a-way's protruding part shaved off. Both Aria's and Greco's had a pickup cover, but it was not split in the center while Paul's was. Also, while Paul's had a toaster top pickup as a rear pick up Greco used a pickup with no chrome cover on the top. Except Fernandes, volume and tone knobs were silver top while Paul's had black knobs. Replicas had square shaped base for their tail pickups while Paul's had trapezoid one.
Fire glo and maple glo color reproduction are available. The current model has a front pickup cover which has split in the center narrower than Paul's. There is a guitar shop in Tokyo where you can go ask them to make yours just like Paul's.
You may probably be able to find ones from around $2,000.00
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