c1992/93 HOFNER 500/1 BASS GUITAR

SERIAL No: 400322

COURTESY OF STÉPHANE EDY BRITTANY, FRANCE:

This bass, which was probably originally sold new in Paris, appears to be a "Standard" 500/1 of the period, apart from the pickups. I am fairly sure that these are the type supplied from Japan for use on the Japanese-market models. It would seem to me that either Hofner made a mistake in fitting these pickups rather than the "Blade" Type 513 units which equipped all non-Japanese market basses at the time, or they temporarily ran out of Blades and decided to keep production flowing by using some of the Japanese stock. The German-made Type 511 "Staple" pickups came back into production in 1994.  

Note the holes drilled into the body top, used for fixing the pickguard. 

Note the large holes cut in the body top which are necessary height-adjustment screws on both the Type 513 "Blade" and Japanese "Staple" pickups.

Underside of the Japanese-made pickup.