THE HOFNER COMMITTEE - FACT FILE

 

 

The Committee reigned supreme as the "regular" top-quality archtop in the Selmer catalogue. There was, of course the Golden Hofner, but only about 100 of those (including thinlines) were ever built between 1959 and 1962. The Committee however was introduced around about 1954 and was in continuous production until about 1969. Electric Committees were still appearing in the Selmer catalogues in 1972.  

There are several examples of this model in the Archtops and Collections sections of the Visitors' Gallery. In this Fact File, I have therefore attempted only to describe the features of the Committee at the various stages in its evolution. The headstock changes are perhaps the most positive method of illustrating the various stages, and hence these are illustrated below. I have not identified the changes to the pickups on the electric versions. These follow the general pattern of Hofner electrics changes.

Please note that the evolution described below should only be taken as a guide, and not as 100% gospel. Hofner being Hofner, there was a degree of overlap between the various stages, and not every Committee falls exactly into the pattern.  

 

Register your own Hofner Committee HERE 

1954 - 1956:

  • Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides. 

  • Lower Bout width: 17.5"

  • Plain white binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.

  • Usually a plain clear perspex scratchplate, but the very earliest (less than 20?) were fitted with a bound tortoiseshell scratchplate. 

  • Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.

  • Plain white binding to neck.

  • Six fret markers on fingerboard.

  • No truss rod.

  • Large "frondose" headstock without HOFNER name, but with large "Fishtail" inlay at top.

  • Machine heads are 3-on-a-plate classical guitar type, with plastic surrounds on barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons. 

  • Rosewood fingerboard, with ebony inlaid at fret marker locations.

  • "Lyre" style tailpiece.

  • Ebony two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.) - although some Committees of this period are fitted with the simpler single plastic saddle bridge.

  • Hofner logo stamped into body top just below, and to treble side of, bridge.

  • Only an acoustic version offered.

1956 - 1957:

  • Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.

  • Lower Bout Width: 17.5" on both acoustic and electric versions.

  • White or Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.

  • Plain clear perspex scratchplate.  

  • Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.

  • White or Marbled binding to neck.

  • Initially six, later eight, fret markers on fingerboard.

  • No truss rod.

  • Large "frondose" headstock without HOFNER name, but with large "Fishtail" inlay at top.

  • Machine heads are single, open units, with solid brass barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons.

  • Rosewood fingerboard, with ebony inlaid at fret marker locations.

  • "Lyre" style tailpiece.

  • Ebony two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.)

  • Hofner logo stamped into body top just below, and to treble side of, bridge.

  • Acoustic and full-bodied electric versions offered.

  • Oval shaped control consul on electric versions.


1958 - 1959:

 

  • Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.

  • Lower Bout Width: 17.5" on both acoustic and electric versions.

  • Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.

  • Plain clear perspex scratchplate.  

  • Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.

  • Marbled binding to neck.

  • Eight fret markers on fingerboard.

  • No truss rod.

  • Large "frondose" headstock with HOFNER name. Fishtail on earlier guitars replaced at top of headstock with "Micky Mouse ears".

  • Machine heads are single units, with solid brass barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons.

  • All ebony fingerboard.

  • "Lyre" style tailpiece.

  • Ebony two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.)

  • Hofner logo decal on bass side of body top bout.

  • Acoustic and full-bodied electric versions offered.

  • Initially Oval and then Rectangular shaped control consuls on electric versions.

 

1960 - 63:

  • Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.

  • Lower Bout Width: 17.5" on both acoustic and electric versions.

  • Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.

  • Plain clear perspex scratchplate.  

  • Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.

  • Marbled binding to neck.

  • Eight fret markers on fingerboard.

  • Truss rod fitted to neck.

  • Large "frondose" headstock with HOFNER name. "Micky Mouse ears at top of headstock.

  • Machine heads are single units, with solid brass barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons.

  • All ebony fingerboard.

  • "Lyre" style tailpiece.

  • Ebony two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.)

  • Hofner logo decal on bass side of body top bout.

  • Full-bodied and Thinline electric versions offered, as well as Acoustic.

  • Rectangular shaped control consul on electric versions.

 

1963 - 1964:

 

  • Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides. Possibly some laminated tops appearing on electric versions.

  • Lower Bout Width: 18" on  electric versions. Acoustic remains at 17.5".

  • Heavy Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.

  • Eight fret markers on fingerboard.

  • Clear perspex scratchplate, gold embossed around the edges, with Hofner script logo in gold.  

  • Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.

  • Heavy Marbled binding to neck.

  • Truss rod fitted to neck.

  • Conventional size headstock with HOFNER name. "Micky Mouse ears at top of headstock.

  • Machine heads are single enclosed Van Ghent units. Plane oval plastic buttons.

  • All ebony fingerboard.

  • "Escutcheon" style tailpiece.

  • Ebony two piece bridge, with individual fret wire string saddles. "Micromatic" bridge fitted to electric versions.

  • Full-bodied and Thinline electric versions offered, as well as Acoustic.

  • Four rotary controls plus three way pickup selector fitted to electrics.

 

 

1964 - c1969:

  • Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.  Laminated tops more often than not on electric versions.

  • Lower Bout Width: 18" on  electric versions. Acoustic initially remains at 17.5", but later increases to 18".

  • Heavy Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.

  • Clear perspex scratchplate, gold embossed around the edges, with Hofner script logo in gold.   

  • Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.

  • Heavy Marbled binding to neck.

  • Eight fret markers on fingerboard.

  • Truss rod fitted to neck.

  • Conventional size headstock with HOFNER name, but without "Micky Mouse ears at top of headstock.

  • Machine heads are single Van Ghent enclosed units. Plane oval plastic buttons. Last models were fitted with new enclosed units with metal buttons.

  • All ebony fingerboard.

  • "Escutcheon" style tailpiece.

  • Ebony two piece bridge, with individual fret wire string saddles. "Micromatic" bridge fitted to electric versions.

  • Full-bodied and Thinline electric versions offered, as well as Acoustic.

  • Four rotary controls plus large three way pickup selector fitted to electrics up to about 1966/67. Then three rotary controls plus smaller three way pickup selector switch.

 

 

For more detailed information on Hofner Committee details related to Serial Numbers, click HERE (Standard Body) or HERE (Thinline Body)

 

 

Register your own Hofner Committee HERE

View the Hofner Committee Register HERE

 



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