As can be seen from the
picture, the Hofner Hawaiian was
finished in brown sunburst and was fitted with a single Fuma pickup. The two
Selmer labelled lap steels in the 1958 catalogue were each fitted with a
"Selmer 6-in-1 pickup unit, Patent No 2660/45". Although Hofner did
make guitars such as the Triumph model for sale under the Selmer label, my guess
is that this was not the case with the Novelectric and Proelectric, as
they also would have been fitted with Fuma pickups. In any case, the Proelectric
is such a similar instrument to the Hofner Hawaiian model, and it would have
been illogical for Hofner to have made both guitars. The same instrument appeared on the European market at the
same time, as the Model No 111.
The second Hofner lap-steel arrived in 1963 - called the Hofner Hawaiian Artist by the Selmer, but known as the Hofner Model 115 by everyone else. This was a very "modern" looking instrument - a slender trapezoid shape and white pearloid finish.
It was initially fitted with the same
Fuma "Star" pickup as the Model 111, but this was changed to a
standard Hofner Type 510 unit by late 1963. This guitar was more expensive than
the Model 111, which Selmer had started calling the "Hawaiian
Standard". The price for a Standard in 1963/64 was 21gns, whereas 28gns was
charged for the Artist.
A change from the Fuma pickup to the Type 510 on the Hawaiian Standard seems to have occurred at the same time as the name change. Click HERE to see a scan of the 1963/64 Selmer Catalogue, which by this time only showed the two Hofner Hawaiian guitars. The Selmer Novelectric and Proelectric had been discontinued.
Manufacture of the Standard/Model 111 and Artist/Model 115 seems to have continued at least until the mid 1980's, although the supply of these instruments to Selmer would have dried up, together with the rest of the Hofner models, in the early 1970's. The Hofner Hawaiians were still there in the Selmer 1972 catalogue, but perhaps that was old stock in the UK being sold off. The only changes made to the two models was to up-rate the pickups. broadly in line with the rest of the Hofner range. Hence, examples of both guitars can be found with the "Super" and Twin Exposed Pole versions of the Type 511, as well as the Type 510, Type 513, and the early Fuma units previously mentioned.
Click HERE to see the Hofner Electric Hawaiian Guitars in the September 1965 Selmer Catalogue.
Examples of various versions of the two models can be found below:
- Mid 1960's HOFNER HAWAIIAN STANDARD fitted with Type 511 "Staple" Pickup
- 1963 HOFNER HAWAIIAN ARTIST fitted with Type 511 "Super" Pickup
- Mid 1960's HOFNER HAWAIIAN ARTIST fitted with Type 511 "Staple" Pickup
- Late 1960's HOFNER HAWAIIAN ARTIST fitted with Type 513 "Bar" Pickup
A rather unusual version of the Hawaiian Standard has been
discovered that does not seem to be in any of the catalogues. It has the same
body shape as the Hawaiian Standard Model, but the top edge of the body is
bound. Any information on
this would be much appreciated.
- HOFNER HAWAIIAN GUITAR fitted with Type 510 "Diamond Logo" Pickup.
- HOFNER HAWAIIAN GUITAR similar to the one above, but fitted with a Fuma Pickup