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The pages where other people's Hofners are featured.

GALLERY 2B: SOLID BODIED GUITARS
- EUROPEAN & US MARKET



solhead.jpg
Graham Shaw's Hofner Model 177 "Exquisit" Solid


The following picture-sets of Hofner solid body 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:

HOFNER MODEL 160/161/162/164 RANGE

HOFNER MODEL 165/167 RANGE

HOFNER MODEL 166

 

HOFNER MODEL 168

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 169

HOFNER MODEL 170

HOFNER MODEL 171

HOFNER MODEL 172/173 RANGE

(See also Wolfgang Eggersdorfer's account of the 173 and Super 3 Solid Models between 1962 and 1970.)

HOFNER MODEL 174

HOFNER MODEL 175 (First Type 1963)

HOFNER MODEL 175 (Second Type: Telecaster Look-Alike 1970-79)

HOFNER MODEL 176

HOFNER MODEL 177 "EXQUISIT" (1965 - 1970)

HOFNER MODEL 178 (1966 to 1968)

 


HOFNER MODEL 179

 

HOFNER MODEL 4579 (Les Paul Look-Alike)

 

 

HOFNER MODEL 180 "SHORTY" & 181 "SHORTY SUPER"


Hofner's "travel guitar", produced between 1982 and 1986. This utilised a full 24.75" scale length, and was fitted with a Shadow single humbucking pickup. The body and neck were made of mahogany, and several appropriate finishes were available - red, blue, white, yellow, and natural mahogany. A bass version was also produced - the Model 187, and also a "Shorty Super" Model 181 that came fitted with a built-in amp and speaker for true portability!! Hofner have just re-introduced the 180 model back into their range. (Dec 2004)

HOFNER MODEL 191 DOUBLENECK


Produced between 1961 and c1964, this was a semi-solid instrument with two necks for normal 6-string and bass. The 191(i) was finished in tobacco sunburst, and initially had a set-neck joint. Later examples have a bolt-on neck. It had a single pickup for the bass and twin pickups for the normal guitar. There was a later (1964 - 70) version of the 191 which had a fully solid body and strat-type cutaways. This had two pickups for the bass and three pickups for the normal 6-string guitar.

The simpler version of the 191(i), named the 190, was produced around 1961. Apparently it had a red finish and less body binding than the 191(i).

 

HOFNER FLEDERMAUSGITARRE (THE "BAT" GUITAR)

Whilst not being a "solid" guitar, but actually a hollow one, this unusual guitar qualifies for being in this section due to its totally non-acoustic nature.

A very small number (maybe only two or three) of Bat Guitars were produced by Hofner for the 1960 Frankfurt Music Fair in order to show off their abilities with guitar electronics. The main feature, other than the body shape (!), is the built-in 4 watt solid-state amplifier and loudspeaker. 

 

 

HOFNER "VENTURE" SOLID GUITAR RANGE

In early 1981, Hofner introduced the concept of producing high quality copies of established US guitars. These were called the "Venture" range. Initially, copies of the Gibson Flying-V and the Fender Stratocaster were offered, but by 1982, a third model was on offer based on the Gibson Explorer. Hofner's own names for these guitars were the Hofner "V", "S", and "E". Very few examples of these guitars appear to have been produced, as they are rarely seen these days, though the "V" and the "S" were in the price list from 1981 to 1985. They were possible discontinued to make way for the much more radical "Alpha" series.

 

 

HOFNER "S" SOLID GUITAR RANGE

 

HOFNER "ALPHA SOLID" RANGE

 

The Alpha solid guitar versions were produced as a follow-on to the "S" series solids, from 1986 to 1989. Their shape was based loosely on that of the Gibson Firebird, and the whole concept appears to have been pointed towards the "Heavy Metal" guitarist. A "Standard" model formed the basis of the range, and this was supplemented by the Alpha Custom, an Alpha Pro, and even an Alpha Anniversary which was a special model to commemorate Hofner's centenary.

A special order form was provided to dealers in order that the customer could specify his custom requirements on the Alpha model by using a tick-list.

 

 

HOFNER "REFERENCE", "T", and "S" SOLID RANGE

The Reference solid guitars appeared in 1987 at the same time as the Alphas were being produced,  but continued for much longer than the Alphas - i.e. up to around 1995. They were top quality solids and were obviously Hofner's attempt to produce "state-of-the-art" guitars, as they incorporates such features as Floyd Rose vibratos, locking nuts, scalloped fingerboards, and both passive and active circuitry, dependent on the particular model variant. Two basic body shapes were used - initially with a Telecaster style body, the guitar was simply called the "Reference". However, with the introduction of a version with a Stratocaster style body called the "Reference S", the Tele shaped version was called the "Reference T". Stunning translucent flame finishes and gold plating were used on some models. All-in-all, they represent the zenith of Hofner's solid guitar making.

The Reference guitars was offered in various "off-the-shelf" options, as well as a custom-build option whereby the customer could take his choice on specification by filling in a special Hofner order form that listed every possible option and accessory available. A similar custom-order system was also available for the Nightingale, and Alpha models. 


SOLID GUITARS MADE IN SPAIN UNDER LICENCE FROM HOFNER

(SEE THE HOFNER GUITARS MADE IN SPAIN FACT FILE ELSEWHERE ON THIS WEBSITE)

 



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