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GERMAN-MADE HOFNER CLASSICAL GUITARS - FACT FILE

l493.jpg

1950's Hofner Model 493


There is virtually no information anywhere, books or the Internet, where information can be obtained on vintage Hofner nylon-strung classical guitars. In a way, that is rather strange because Hofner probably produced more classical guitars through the ages than any other guitar type. There are still large numbers of Hofner classicals in existance around the world, and I have received many queries for owners with regard to which model of Hofner classical they own and when was it made. Sometimes I have been able to help, but..............many other times I have struggled !

The idea of this Fact File is to attempt to list out in tabular form as many German-made Hofner classical guitar models as I am aware of, together with whatever information that I have been able to glean from old catalogues. You will see that there are plenty of gaps in the table below. Please bear with me! the idea is that, over time, I hope to expand both the quantity and quality of information as I learn more about these much underated instruments. Any help that visitors to this website can provide will be much appreciated !!

Examples of some Hofner classical guitars can be seen in the website's Gallery pages, particulaly at:
Gallery 4A: Selmer UK Distributed Flattops

Gallery 4B: European & US Distributed Flattops



HOFNER GERMAN - MADE CLASSICAL GUITARS FROM c1950 TO THE PRESENT DAY:



BUDGET/STUDENT CLASSICALS
MODEL PERIOD BODY DETAILS NECK/FINGERBOARD HEADSTOCK FEATURES
Click on links to see typical examples Approx production period Lower  Bout Width Top Material Back/Sides Material Soundhole
Decoration		 Binding Neck Tinber Construction Fingerboard Material Type/
Ornamentation		 Tuners
509 1970's 13.5" Spruce Maple None None Non-slotted Rear-mounted Brunette finish. Steel Strings. Pickguard.
510 1970's 13.5" Spruce Maple None None Non-slotted Hofner decal Rear-mounted
511 1960's/70's/80's 14" Spruce Maple Paper rossette Black binding to top Rosewood with fret marker dots Non-slotted Rear-mounted Brunette finish Nylon strings. Pickguard
512 1950's/60's,/70's 13.5" Laminated Spruce Laminated Maple Black binding Black binding to top
 Rosewood with fret marker dots Slotted Classic side-mounted
5120 1970's/80's 14" Solid Spruce Laminated Maple Paper rossette Black binding to top Rosewood with fret marker dots Slotted Classical, side-mounted
5121 As 5120 model but with brunette highly-finished top.
513 1950's/60's,/70's 14" Solid Spruce Laminated Maple Simple handcarved pattern None Rosewood Slotted Classical side-mounted "Old-brown varnished dull finish"
513G 14.5" Otherwise similar to 513 model.
516 1950's "Plywood" "Plywood" Black-white binding Black-white binding to top "Brown semi-dull" finish
517 1960's Spruce Laminated maple Inlaid binding  Herringbone inlays to top only.
518 1960's Spruce Laminated mahogany Inlaid binding Inlaid binding to top only
520 1950's "Small Viennese model" Laminated spruce Laminated maple Black-white binding Black-white binding to top & back Trapeze tailpiece. Pearloid scratchplate
522 1950's/60's,/70's 14" Laminated Maple Laminated
Maple		 White binding White binding to top Rosewood with fret marker dots Slotted Classical side-mounted Trapeze tailpiece. Steel strings
Pickguard
522a Same as 522 model but nylon strings and glued-on bridge/tailpiece Glued on bridge/tailpiece
Nylon strings
523 1960's Spruce Laminated maple Pearloid binding Pearloid binding to top and back. Celluloid Pickguard fitted.
5170 1970's 14" Spruce Laminated flame maple Streak purfling and binding Streak purfling and binding to top Rosewood Slotted Classical side-mounted
5180 1970's 14" Spruce Laminated mahogany Streak purfling and binding Streak purfling and binding to top Rosewood Slotted Classical side-mounted
4830 1970's/80's 14" Spruce Laminated flame maple Wooden mosaic Black binding to top Rosewood Slotted Classical side-mounted
4831 1970's/80's 14" Spruce Laminated rosewood Wooden mosaic Black binding to top Rosewood Slotted Classical side-mounted 2" neck width
HS 506 1970's/80's/90's Spruce Gabun plywood Rear mounted Steel strings
20.75" Scale
HS 507 1970's/80's/90's Spruce Gabun plywood Wooden mosiac Rear mounted Steel strings
23" Scale
HS 508 1980's
HS 509 1990's
HS 511 1990's
HS 512 1990's
HS 513 1990's/2000's Solid spruce Laminated mahogany Short 24.5" scale.
HS 515 1990's/2000's Solid Spruce Laminated mahogany Rosewood Slotted Classical side-mounted. gold plated. Short 24.5" scale.
HS 518 1990's/2000's Solid cedar Short 24.5" scale.
MID-RANGE CLASSICALS
MODEL PERIOD BODY DETAILS NECK/FINGERBOARD FEATURES
Click on links to see typical examples Approx production period Lower  Bout Width Top Material Back/Sides Material Soundhole
Decoration		 Binding Neck Tinber Construction Fingerboard Material Type/
Ornamentation		 Tuners
514 1960's/70's 14.25" ? Maple Simple binding/purfling Single around top Rosewood None Simple nickel plated Selmer Equivalent - Flamenco
515 1970's 14.25" Solid Spruce Maple Wooden mosaic None Simple nickel plated
482 1950's/60's Solid Spruce Flamed Maple Simple binding Single around top Rosewood with fret marker dots. "Brown semi-dull" finish to top
483 1950's/60's As 482 model but natural finish to body top. Natural finish to top
484 1960's/70's 14.25" Spruce Laminated mahogany Purfled rings (60's). Wooden mosaic(70's) None
484a 1970's 14.25" Spruce Maple Wooden Mosaic None
485 1950's/60's Spruce Curly Maple Rosette None
4820 1970's 14.25" Spruce Flamed Maple Wooden Mosaic
4840 1970's 14.25" Spruce Rosewood Rosewood
485
/ Vienna		 1950's/60's/70's 14.25" Spruce Flamed Maple Carved Traingular Design None Maple 2-piece Rosewood Selmer Equivalent - Vienna
486 1950's/60's 14.25" Spruce Flamed maple Wooden Mosaic Wood inlaid purfling to top & bottom.. Carved top. Trapeze tailpiece, pickguard fitted.
486a 1960's & 1970's 14.25" Spruce Flamed Maple Wooden Mosaic Bound top and bottom Glued-on tailpiece. No pickguard.
487 1950's/60's,/70's 14.25" Spruce Mahogany Wooden Mosaic Rosewood with fret marker dots on early guitars.
493 1960's/70's 14.25" Spruce Rosewood Wooden Mosaic 2-layer top & single  on back Mahogany 1-Piece Rosewood None Simple nickel  plated
494 1950's/60's,/70's 14.25" Spruce Birds Eye Maple Wooden Mosaic Herringbone purfling  -  top. Three layer -  back Maple/Mahogany laminations or Maple Earlier - 5 piece
Later - 2 piece
495 1970's 14.25" Spruce Flamed Maple Wooden Mosaic Not to be confused with earlier 495 flatop acoustic model.
HS 33 1980's
HS 35 1980's
HS 37 1980's
HS 39 1980's
HC 52 1980's
HC 54 1980's
HC 56 1980's
HC 58 1980's
HD 73 1980's
HD 75 1980's
HD 77 1980's
HD 79 1980's
HF 11 1990's/2000's Solid spruce Laminated mahogany Rosette Mahogany Rosewood High gloss finish
HF 12 2000 Solid spruce Laminated aningre Rosette Mahogany Rosewood
HF 15 1990's/2000's Solid spruce Laminated mahogany Rosette Mahogany Rosewood
HF 16 2000 Solid spruce Laminated bubinga
HF 17 1990's/2000's Solid spruce Laminated rosewood
HZ 23 1990's/2000's Solid cedar Laminated mahogany Rosette Mahogany Rosewood
HZ 25 1990's/2000's Solid cedar Laminated mahogany
HZ 26 2000 Solid cedar Laminated bubinga
HZ 27 1990's/2000's Solid cedar Laminated rosewood Rosette Beech binding top & back Mahogany 3-piece Rosewood
HGL 5 2000's Solid Spruce Walnut Rosette Alder Walnut
HGL  7 2000's Solid Spruce Maple Rosette Alder Walnut
PROFESSIONAL QUALITY INSTRUMENTS
MODEL PERIOD BODY DETAILS NECK/FINGERBOARD FEATURES
Click on links to see typical examples Approx production period Lower  Bout Width Top Material Back/Sides Material Soundhole
Decoration		 Binding Neck Tinber Construction Fingerboard Material Type/
Ornamentation		 Tuners
497 1950's/60's,/70's 14.75" Spruce Rosewood Wooden Mosaic Maple/Mahogany laminations Earlier - 5 piece Ebony Embossed nickel plate
498 1960's/70's 14.75" Spruce Flame Maple Wooden Mosaic Herring-bone purfling top & back. Mahogany/maple/
mahogany		 Later  - 3 piece Ebony Embosed gold plate
4980 1960's/70's 14.75" Spruce Rosewood Wooden Mosaic Top & bottom
+purfling		 Ebony Centre purfling strip Gold plated + MoP buttons
4985 1970's 14.75" Spruce Solid Rosewood Wooden Mosaic Centre purfling strip
MS I 1990's
MS II 1990's
MS III 1990's
HM 80 1990's/2000's Solid cedar Laminated rosewood
HM 81 1990's
HM 82 1980's/90's
HM 83 2000 Solid Spruce Solid Aningre Mahogany Rosewood Gold. Rosewood buttons
HM 84 1980's/90's
HM 85 2000's Solid Spruce Solid Mahogany Mahogany Rosewood Skeleton Gold. Rosewood buttons
HM 86 1980's/90's/2000's Solid spruce Laminated rosewood Body cutaway
HM 87 1990's
HM 88 1980's/90's/2000's Solid Spruce Solid Rosewood Alder Ebony Skeleton Gold. Rosewood buttons
HGL 50SE 2000's Solid Schwarzwald  Spruce Solid Walnut Alder Walnut Skeleton Gold. Walnut buttons "Black Forest" Special Edition




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