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The page where other people's Hofners are featured.


GALLERY 1B: ARCHTOPS AND SEMI-ACOUSTICS
EUROPEAN & US MARKET MODELS




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Detlev Goldau's Hofner Model 458/S/T2 Archtop Guitar

The following picture-sets of Hofner archtop and semi-acoustic guitars have been sent to me over the years by their owners. This has allowed me to present a much greater range of models and vintages than encompassed by my own collection, and maybe this will help other visitors to the site to identify and date their own Hofner.

Click on the underlined heading for each guitar to view photographs of that particular example.



VISITORS' OWN HOFNERS:

1. "CLUB" TYPE SEMI'S:


HOFNER MODELS 125, 126, 127, & 128

Often called "Club" guitars as that was the name given by Selmer to the UK equivalent instruments. Small bodied semi's (17" x 13" x 2") with no sound-holes. Fitted with either one (Model 125 & 127) or two (Model 126 & 128) pickups. The 125 & 126 were the budget Clubs The 127 and 128 was the deluxe versions. Made between 1954 and 1970.

HOFNER "THINLINE CLUB" MODEL 

This particular version of the Club guitar model is rather a mystery. When I first saw an example, I assumed that it was either a prototype or some sort of special order. Now that I have seen several more identical examples, it is becoming obvious that this was in fact a production guitar. It differs from the conventional "Club" in that it has a 1.25" deep body instead of 2". It also has a totally different type of neck, which seems very similar to that used on the early 1960's Hofner solids and which is bolted to the body instead of using a glued joint as is usual with the Club guitars. In addition, the headstock is of the 6-a-side type. I can find no reference to this model in any of the old Hofner catalogues that are available to me.

My guess is that it was a model produced by Hofner for a large retailer (such as Sears in the US) to be sold under the retailer's brand-name. Evidence of this is provided by the fact that there is no Hofner logo anywhere on the guitar, apart from on the pickup (Type 510) casings. Another item of evidence is that all examples that have surfaced to date have been in the US.

By the way, the name "Thinline Club" is my own designation, as I have no idea as to the correct model name under which they were retailed.

 

HOFNER MODEL 4579

A very rare guitar that does seem to be an attemp at recreating the "Club" style of a small single cutaway semi-acoustic. This model had a body depth of 1.75" (42mm), which was a little thinner than the earlier Clubs. Introduced in early 1970, it only seems to have been offered for a year or so, with or without a Hofner vibrato tailpiece.

 

 

 


2. FULL DEPTH BODY ARCHTOPS:



HOFNER MODEL 449

Bottom of the range archtop made between the mid-1950's and the early 1980's. Small body with 15" lower bout dimension and binding only around the body top. Predominantly made as a fully-acoustic version, (although some electric versions do exist), and always without a cutaway. The Hofner Congress is the UK/Selmer equivalent.



HOFNER MODEL 450

Budget full-size (16" lower bout) archtop, with minimum binding/purfling to body. Manufactured between around 1953 and the 1980's, over which time Hofner produced many variations on the theme. Majority finished in brown tobacco sunburst, but also some in wine red sunburst. Some versions in the late 50's/early 60's were characterized by the celluloid rhomboid shape on the headstock. Early ones just had a plain varnished headstock without fascia. Most had no binding to the soundholes and body back, but this did eventually changed in later models, with binding appearing on the back of the body at the end of the 1960's.

HOFNER MODEL 455

Traditional archtop styling, but with laminated maple tops and (slightly) flamed maple top and sides. The 455 was finished in a brown tobacco sunburst finish, but this was changed to a red shaded fish for a time during the 1960's. Binding to back and sides of body, but earlier guitars did not have neck binding. Initially the rhomboid headstock fascia design was used, but this was changed on later guitars to the three pearloid strip design. Made both with and without cutaway. Produced between 1951 & 1970. Acoustic & Electric (one, two, or three pickup) versions available.

HOFNER MODEL 4550

A very large bodied guitar, very similar to the Hofner 456 below, but with a 17" lower bout dimension. Fully bound, all maple laminate body. A light mottled pickguard was usually fitted. Produced between 1955 and c1970.

HOFNER MODEL 456

Very similar to 455, but with more lavish body binding, binding to the neck, and more attractive maple veneers. Available from 1951 through to the early/mid 1960's.

HOFNER MODEL 457

Hofner's mid-range archtop. Similar in appearance to the 456 model, but with spruce top (solid carved spruce into the 60's). Nicely flamed maple back and sides. Available with or without cutaway, and electric (one, two, and even three pickups with or without active circuits) or acoustic. Produced from 1952 onwards, and still in the price lists in the 1990's.

 

HOFNER MODEL 458

A "Black Beauty". Conventional Hofner archtop with a laminated maple (or sometimes sapele!) body top, back, and sides, but with a high gloss black lacquer finish which is very attractive. Produced from the mid-1950's to the mid-1960's.

HOFNER MODEL 459 (FIRST SERIES)

Very similar to the Model 457, but with "sickle" shaped soundholes and usually (but not always!) a twin trapeze tailpiece, similar to the one used on old Epiphones. Solid spruce top and either birdseye or flame maple sides and back. Most were produced between about 1954 and 1960, although apparently a few were made in the early to mid 1960s.



HOFNER MODEL 459 (SECOND SERIES)

The model number was resurrected for use with a totally different guitar to the 1950's Model 459. This was a violin shaped guitar with six strings, based on the 500/1 bass guitar. Bolt-on neck. Bar type fret markers and vine-style mother of pearl headstock inlays. Two pickups fitted, with or without active electronics. A deluxe version called the 459VTZ-Super was made in very small numbers. The 459(ii) models were produced during the second half of the sixties.

HOFNER MODEL 460

This model appears to have been produced only between 1951 and 1954, and hence there are not many examples about. It seems to have been the deluxe version of the Model 456. Finished in glossy black lacquer, and with the "up-market" Lyre tailpiece. The headstock has a "rocket" inscribed in the usual pearloid and tortoiseshell headstock fascia. The black-finish, but lower spec Model 458 took over from the 460 in 1954.

HOFNER MODEL 461

The one with two "Seal" soundholes and a third oval one adjacent to the neck. Usually finished in beautiful black lacquer, but not always...see below! Good quality guitars, made between 1951 and 1964.

HOFNER MODEL 462

The two soundholes are usually described as "cats-eye" type. Spruce body top (carved solid spruce on earlier guitars) and flame maple back and sides. General fitted with "two-prong" trapeze tailpiece. Made between 1951 and 1970. Acoustic and electric models available.

HOFNER MODEL 463

The one with the mahogany back and sides. Solid carved spruce top, plus very ornate binding/purfling around the body sides. Produced over a very long period from 1952 into the 1980/90's.

HOFNER MODEL 464

The soundholes get cooler! Two "sickle" shaped soundholes plus a single ornamented rhomboid hole adjacent to the neck. Usually deep red lacquer sunburst finish. My guess is that Hofner originally intended this model to be an acoustic only, due to the rhomboid sound hole causing problems with the fitting of a neck pickup. However, 464's do exist which have been factory fitted with a single pickup located mid way between the neck and bridge. Made between 1954 to 1968.

HOFNER MODEL 465

Offered with either rosewood or birds-eye maple back and sides, with a carved spruce top. Very classy herring-bone body purfling, and fretboard (usually ebony) plus headstock inlays. In the catalogue between 1951 and 1970, although most seem to have been made in the 1950's.


HOFNER MODEL 468

Cousin to the Committee model. Top quality flame (but occasional birds-eye) maple back and sides, and heavy mother-of-pearl inlays to neck and headstock. Made between 1954 and 1968 in both acoustic and electric versions. It appears to have been replaced by the Model 471 which appeared in 1969.

The main differences between the UK distributed Committee and the European/US market 468 are: the Committee invariably had a birds-eye maple back and sides; the 468 never had the large "frondose" headstock; the inlays on the 468 are the "lilies of the valley" for the headstock, and "bow-tie" on the fingerboard. The Committee has "rose" and "rose & leaf" inlays.

HOFNER MODEL 470

Top-of-the-range archtop with large body (Committee size - 21" x 17"/17.5" x 3"). Almost in the same league as the Golden Hofner, which had an 18" body..........but not quite! Fitted with a smaller headstock inlaid with "lilies of the valley" rather than the Golden's frondose headstock and more delicate "rose" style inlay. Also "bow tie" fret position markers instead of the Golden/Committee's "rose and leaf". Nothing like as rare as the Golden, possibly because it was produced over a much longer period - late 1950's into the early 1990's, but a very classy and beautiful guitar nonetheless. 

  

HOFNER MODEL 471

Introduced in 1969, this model seems to have been the replacement for the Hofner 468 which was phased-out at about that time. Certainly it was of a similar, if not higher, quality with a large body (17" lower bout, 3.5" deep) which was available in acoustic or electric formats. One difference to the 468 & 470 models was that the 471 had a Florentine body cutaway. Other distinctive features were the slender elongated F-holes, the large mother of pearl block fret markers set in the ebony fingerboard, and the double fleur-de-lys headstock inlay. It was in the catalogue up to around 1977, and a thinline version with similar features, designated the 4710, was also produced over the same period.    

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 477

Very similar to the Selmer distributed President, but with elongated F-holes. Produced in both fully acoustic or electric-acoustic versions and all with a Florentine cutaway. Generally red/yellow sunburst, but also in natural finish as can be seen below. The bodies were very deep compared to other archtops. Hofner's mid-range archtop for the 1970's. Made between 1969 and 1994.

HOFNER MODEL 478

A large bodied guitar (17¼" lower bout), only made for a short period around 1977, in both fully acoustic and electric versions and aimed presumably at the Jazz market. The electric version was fitted with a single floating pickup mounted on the end of the fingerboard.


HOFNER A2L MODEL

This lovely archtop was presumably intended to take over as Hofner's top-of-the-range archtop from the 470 model, who's retail price was very similar. However, the 470 continued in the catalogue after the A2L had been introduced in 1978......and was still there well into the 1990's, nearly ten years after production of the A2L ceased in 1985/86!

The A2L was a little different to the 470 however, in that it was fitted with a single "floating pickup" mounted on the end of the fingerboard, as opposed to the pickups of the 470 being fitted directly onto the body top. Also, the A2L didn't have the gold plated hardware of the 470, although the beautiful flame maple, mother of pearl, and rich purflings were still there. It was intended to be more of a guitar for the purist jazz player. A thinline version called the A2HL (see below in the Semi's & Thinline Section) was also produced during the same period.



HOFNER ATTILA ZOLLER MODELS

Designed by the late Attila Zoller, possibly to take over the role of the A2L, this small range of guitars was very much Hofner's pinnacle of archtop construction, overshadowing even the 470 model. (In fact the price of the AZ "Award" version was 50% higher than that of the 470!) The Standard model (later changed to the AZ Special) was pretty luxurious, with solid spruce top, flamed maple back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, and large ornate mother of pearl block fret-markers. The Award model was blonde finished, had gold-plated metalwork, ebony fingerboard, and was of strictly limited production. The "AZ" was produced between 1982 and 1991.
At some stage in-between, the AZ models were revised, with the AZ Standard being replaced by the slightly less ostentatious AZ Special. At this same time, the Attila Zoller logo disappeared off the Award's tailpiece and headstock and minor detail changes seem to have been made to the fret marker block inlays.

A high quality thin-line semi-acoustic called the AZ Fusion was also produced between 1989 and 1991.

HOFNER JAZZICA

One of the great designs which resulted from the employment of Klaus Schöller in the Hofner factory from 1986 onwards. (Herr Schöller is now Chief Executive of the Hofner Company.) This guitar was a revolution in archtop design when it first appeared in 1990. A highly tapered body width provided ease of playing the guitar, the joining of the neck to the body at the 16th fret aided access to the fingerboard, and the "slash" type soundholes and stunning finishes on offer certainly caught the eye! A carved solid spruce top was used and this, together with the mounting of the Shadow Attila Zoller pickup off the body top by attaching it to the end of the fingerboard (floating pickup), provided the correct acoustic properties for a Jazz guitar.
A year or so later, a Jazzica Special model was introduced which, being a blonde finish, was provided with binding around the rear body edge. (The original Jazzica had no binding on the body back, presumably as this would not have fitted in aesthetically with the dark gloss finishes choosen for it and the overall style of the guitar.)
The final and longest lasting version, called the Jazzica Custom model, was a development of the Jazzica Special, with rear body binding, floating Hofner pickup, ornate headstock design, and blonde, occasionally brown sunburst, and violin varnish finishes on offer. The Jazzica disappeared from the Hofner Catalogue at the end of 2008.



3: THINLINE ARCHTOPS & SEMI'S:

THE HOFNER MODEL 4500


Bottom of the range Hofner Thinline Archtop, produced between 1965 and 1984. Based on the 450 archtop, but always with cutaway to body. Brown sunburst finish usually, but there are red sunburst examples. Fitted with either one or two pickups.

HOFNER MODEL 4560


Thinline (2" body depth) version of the Hofner 456. Maple top and moderately flamed maple back and sides. One or two pickups. A vibrato tailpiece was fitted to many of the 4560s made.

HOFNER MODEL 4570


The thinline (2" body sides) version of the Hofner 457, produced from 1960 into the early 90's. Mid-quality guitars, with spruce tops and nicely flamed back and sides. There was a similar guitar called the 4572, with 1.25" body sides, which is generally finished in red.

 


HOFNER MODEL 4571

A small number of guitars with this model number seem to have been produced in the late 1960's. It was a twin cutaway semi, with a 2" deep body...........really a twin cutaway Hofner 4570, (or a 2" deep bodies Hofner 4574). Later examples seem to have been fitted with the Hofner Type 511(iii) single coil pickups.

 

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 4572(i)


This is another variation on the Verithin/Model 4574. It is basically a single cutaway Verithin, i.e. it has the 1.25" body depth, usually the beautiful rich red finish, but only one Venetian cutaway. Generally fitted with a very stylish tailpiece of "modernistic" design. Produced between 1961 and 1965. Early models have pearloid body and neck binding rather than plain white as with the Verithin. There was actually a Model 4572 produced in the 1970's and 80's with two "Micky Mouse" cutaways, but that was a totally different guitar - see below.

HOFNER MODEL 4572(ii)


The second Hofner model to carry the 4572 number, produced between about 1969 to 1988. This guitar emulated the Gibson 330 in configuration, electrics, and in body size - the body depth of the 4572 was 2". However a bolt-on neck was used. Finished in sunburst as standard, early versions of the 4572 had two new style Type 511(iii) single coil pickups and the usual two volumes/two tones/three way pickup selector switch. Later versions seem to have reverted back to 513 pickups. It is easily recognised because of its two pronounced "Micky Mouse" body cutaways.

HOFNER MODEL 4573


 A semi that could initially have been produced for the Netherlands market, but certainly was in the German Hofner catalogue in 1969. Body outline shape the same as the 4574/Verithin, but with a deeper 40mm or 50mm body (compared to the Verithin's 30mm body depth). Produced between 1967 & about 1970, hence a comparatively rare guitar.

 

HOFNER MODEL 4574


 This guitar is often called the "Verithin" in error, as strictly speaking, that name was only applied to the 4574's Selmer distributed twin-brother. (The only difference between the two models was the model/serial # label inside the body of the Selmer guitars!) Thin body depth of 1.25" (30mm) and twin Venetian (rounded) cutaways. Initially a "russett-red" finish was offered, which was quickly replaced by cherry red and brown sunburst finishes. Generally two pickups, but very occasionally three. Many 4574's had Hofner's own vibrato tailpiece factory fitted. A stereo version was available. Produced between 1961 and 1976. A Florentine (pointed) cutaway similar guitar called the 4576 was produced between 1967 and 1970.



HOFNER MODEL 4575


 A 4574 with three pickups and more complex passive electronics, including a solo/rhythm switch with adjustable level difference. Some 4575's were also produced with active electronics (including fuzz or treble boost circuits) in the 1970's, and the vast majority seem to have had the Hofner factory fitted vibrato tailpiece. Those 4575's fitted with active electronics have a slightly deeper 1½" body. The 4575 was produced from the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's.


HOFNER MODEL 4576


 This model was identical to the Model 4574, with the 3cm deep "Verithin" body, but had Florentine cutaways instead of Venetian as on the 4574. Produced for only three years or so between 1967 and c1970, it seems to have been fitted with every different combination of electrics!

To read a comparison between the two guitars immediately above, written by Olaf Poeter, CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 4577

The thin-bodied version of the Hofner 477 archtop, with 2" deep body and a single Florentine cutaway. Produced from 1967 onwards into the early 1990's.

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 4578


Twin Florentine cutaways, and a thinline 2" thick body. Triple dot fretboard markers and "vine" headstock inlays. Full joint construction between body and neck. This guitar is very similar to the Hofner Ambassador. Two pickups and often active electronics, including fuzz and treble boost. The 4578 was made between 1967 and 1982.

HOFNER MODEL 4579 (See also "Club" Section above.)

 A very rare guitar that does seem to be an attempt at recreating the "Club" style of a small single cutaway semi-acoustic. This model had a body depth of 1.75" (42mm), which was a little thinner than the earlier Clubs. Introduced in early 1970, it only seems to have been offered for a year or so, with or without a Hofner vibrato tailpiece.

 

HOFNER MODEL 4580

This model seems to have been a development from the 4572(ii) model, with the 2" deep body, twin "Mickey Mouse" body cutaways, and a bolt on neck. However, it was usually fitted with the Type 515 "Studio" pickups and had a dark brown finished laminated spruce top with walnut finish maple back and sides. It was produced from 1971 to 1982.

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 4581

This guitar seems to have been a development of the 4581 model above, in that it was fitted with full-size humbucking pickups that had a provision for coil-tapping. As Hofner said at the time....."This makes it possible to switch the instrument from a hard, sharp sound to a soft, melodic sound. The new guitar practically combines two instruments into one". The conventional 2 x rotary volume; 2 x rotary tone; 3-way pickup selector controls were fitted to the guitar, plus a switch for controlling the coil-tap located on the treble-side upper bout. It was introduced at the Spring 1976 Frankfurt Show, but lasted for less than a year. It didn't even make it into the 1977 price list!

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 4582

This semi-acoustic guitar was only produced over a very short period in 1977. It had the familiar Verithin-shaped body, but with a 1.5" (40mm) body depth. It's main claim to fame was the large rotary selector switch which allowed various combinations of single or twin-coil tapings on the pickups. 

 

HOFNER MODEL 4600


Very thin 1.25" body with twin Venetian cutaways. Rounded body sides (no body binding), and with a bolt-on neck. The 4600 was made for a short time between 1968 and 1970.

HOFNER MODEL 4680


The thin-line version of the Hofner 468. The 4680 had a 2" deep body as opposed to the 468's conventional 3" body depth.

HOFNER MODEL 4700


The thinline semi-acoustic version of the Hofner 470, and sharing this top-line guitar's inlay work, flame maple, and multi-piece neck (although the neck did become one-piece during the 1980's and 90's.) Produced through the 1960's into the early 1990's. Usually fitted with twin pickups and sometimes a Hofner vibrato tailpiece.

HOFNER MODEL 4710

This thinline (2" deep body) guitar was based on the 471 archtop, which seems to have been Hofner's replacement for the up-market 468/4680 models. The 468/4680 was discontinued in 1968 and the 471/4710 models appeared in 1969. Ornate Fleur de Lys headstock ornamentation in mother of pearl, together with split fret-marker blocks in the same material were used, together with ebony fingerboard and ornate body / neck binding. The Florentine cutaway (which seems to have been popular with Hofner in the late 1960's), the gold plated hardware, and the slender elongated F-holes help identify these models. The 4710 was produced up to 1977.


HOFNER "T" SERIES


 Introduced in 1978, presumably to take over from the Verithin/4574 range as Hofner's twin cutaway semi. The "T" Series had the same body outline as the Verithin but came initially with a slightly deeper 40mm all-maple body. The T2N (passive electrics and trapeze tailpiece) and the T2S (active electronics and stop tailpiece) were offered with the 40mm deep body. These were quickly displaced in 1978/79 by the T4S and T4St models, both of which used active electronics of varying degrees of complexity. 

In 1980, a final version on the theme called the T6S was introduced. This had a 30mm "Verithin" body with central sustain  block, and was equipped with active electrics. Various combinations of pickup options were offered, including the option of a bridge piezzo unit. The "T" Series was phased out around 1985 to make way for the Nightingale model.



HOFNER MODEL A2 HL

As with the "T" series above, the A2 HL was also introduced in 1978. However, this model was obviously intended to be the "luxury" semi in Hofner's range at that time. It featured superb timbers, expensive ornamentation and was initially introduced with twin cutaways and a body shape based on the earlier Verithin/4574 model, except that a 2" body depth was used. 

This initial model was only produced for about a year, being replaced in 1979 by a version with a more conventional single cutaway body shape. This had very complex electronics fitted, including an "acoustic filter" and coil tapping. Production continued to around 1984. A full depth jazz guitar version was also made during the same period, called the A2L model.

HOFNER NIGHTINGALE (Also known as N35 in US)


One of the first "new-breed" Hofners. Produced from 1986 to c2000, these are a range of three high quality semi's modelled on the Gibson 335 shape. The standard Nightingale was a stereo guitar with complex passive electrics incorporating the Hofner "Clear Contour Control" as fitted to the current Verythin Classic model. Metal parts were gold plated and block fret markers were real mother of pearl.
The Nightingale Special was an even classier instrument, with birds eye maple body in antique sunburst and an ebony fingerboard. A master volume control was fitted.
Apparently a version called the Nightingale Custom was also produced, which was fitted with Kahler locking tremolo unit and master volume control.

The Nightingale model was replaced in 2000 by an up-dated version of the 1960's Verithin/4574 model called the "Verythin Classic".

ATTILA ZOLLER FUSION

 

Introduced in 1989, shortly after the Nightingale, this guitar acted as a semi-acoustic version of Hofner's top-of-the-range AZ archtops. It had a 2" deep body with a centre sustain block and utilised two AZ pickups rather than the archtops' single unit. A more technically advanced AZ Midi Fusion was also offered,  which had Shadow 1500 MU pickups which could either be used conventionally or linked up to a Midi set-up. Both Fusion models were discontinued around 1991/92.

 

 

 






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