Thanks once again guys!
I know many musicians are associated with one particular instrument, or at least one brand of instrument, but I doubt any musician is so closely identified with an instrument than Sir Paul and the Hofner bass. This is a man who has had a music career spanning more than half a century, and the violin bass was only used for a relatively short period of that (until it was resurrected for touring from the 90s onwards), yet it is still the first instrument that comes to mind when you think of him, and he is the first (and probably only) musician that comes to mind when you think of the Hofner violin bass. I think Hofner should make him honorary chairman or something - where would they be without him?!