Paul McCartney says he is “very sad” to see the maker of his iconic violin bass go out of business.

The Beatles legend was responding to the news that Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG, the German manufacturer of musical instruments, has filed for bankruptcy.

Höfner entered insolvency proceedings in the Fürth District Court in Bavaria, Germany, last week.

“It is very sad to see Höfner go out of business. They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties. I have loved it ever since,” McCartney said in a statement. “It’s a wonderful instrument to play: lightweight, and it encourages me to play quite freely. It also offers pleasing variations in tone that I enjoy. So, commiserations to everyone at Höfner, and thank you for all your help over the years.”

Much of Höfner’s popularity is attributed to McCartney’s use of the Höfner 500/1 electric bass guitar throughout his career. This violin-shaped model is commonly referred to as the “Beatle bass.”

Source: RTT Music News