While the Beatles' 1964 Ed Sullivan appearances famously transformed pop culture, they also served as a massive turning point for Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and Hofner, the three instrument manufacturers whose guitars the band showcased on national television. The Gretsch Country Gentleman, Rickenbacker 325, and Hofner 500/1 didn't just become popular; they became the industry standard practically overnight. This created a frenzy that led to countless replicas hitting the market, especially versions of the famous semi-hollow body Hofner 500/1 violin bass played by Paul McCartney.
In a retail price list dated September 21, 1965, the Thomas Organ Company, the exclusive distributor of Vox in North America, introduced the V232 Violin Bass as an alternative to the popular Hofner 500/1.
The V232 Vox Violin Bass was produced for Vox by Eko in Recanati Italy. It's 1¾" (44mm) thick laminated maple solid body had a poly sunburst finish. The front of the headstock had a solid black finish and a silk screened Vox logo, the rear included a "Made in Italy by Vox" decal.
The Vox V232 differed significantly from the Hofner in its build. While the Hofner was a bound, semi-hollow instrument with a set neck, the Italian Vox had an unbound solid body and a bolt-on neck. While a German Hofner H500/1 bass typically weighs about 4.6 lbs, the Vox V232 Violin Bass weighed about 7.5 lbs.
The Vox V232 violin bass was equipped with two ferrite single-coil pickups with white plastic covers, exposed pole pieces and chrome-plated mounting rings. Its control layout consisted of a three-position rotary pickup selector switch plus a volume and tone control. A removable black plastic panel on the back of the bass provided access to the control wiring. Additionally, a fully adjustable hard tail bridge was concealed by a chrome "ashtray" cover embossed with a "V" logo.
The Vox V232 featured a 22 fret laminated C profile maple neck with the signature Vox paddle headstock and a ebony fingerboard. The neck was equipped with open gear tuning machines and a zero fret to enhance sustain. The nut was 1⅝" (41mm) wide. Truss rod adjustments are made via an access point at the base of the fretboard.
The V232 served as a short-lived response to the Hofner craze. Despite sharing a similar silhouette, the two instruments were fundamentally different. Vox phased out the V232 in 1966 in favor of the semi-acoustic V250 Violin Bass, again produced in Italy through their partnership with Eko.
The V232 Vox Violin Bass retailed for $219.90 in 1965, including a hard shell case. Adjusted for sixty years of inflation, the bass would retail for about $2299.00 today.
