INTO THE PRESENT - THE CURRENT HOFNER ARCHTOP RANGE

Two of the Hofner Chancellor Prototypes on show at the January 2004 NAMM Show in Los Angeles

In March 2003, a subsidiary company called The Music Group took over the running of Hofner from Boosey & Hawkes, their UK company being Besson Musical Instruments Ltd. In 2005 however, a management buy-out, headed by Klaus Scholler, made the Hofner Company independent again.

Hofner's current range of guitars includes nylon-strung classical, bass guitars, archtops, and the recently re-introduced range of "Sienna" flattops. In addition, Hofner have just introduced solid guitars back into their range.

Click HERE to view the new Hofner Colorama Solids

A new archtops range was launched at the beginning of the year 2000, and these extremely attractive guitars have a distinct feel of the past about them. Four model styles were initially available:

• The New President
• The Vice President
• The Jazzica Custom
• The Verythin Standard, Classic, and Vintage

Production of the Vice President was discontinued in 2004, being replaced by the Thin-line President.

Production of the Verythin Vintage was discontinued in 2005, being replaced by the Verythin "JS" Model. 

A limited edition "Jimmy Bruno" Model electric archtop was made for a short period in 2004.

In addition to the German-made guitars listed above, Hofner are now introducing a range of semi-acoustic guitars made at their facility in China. These are called the "Contemporary Series" (CT). Models currently being produced are:

• The Verythin CT
• The Club CT 

Brief descriptions of each of the German-made guitars, together with photographs, are provided below. Details of the Contemporary Series will be added in tghe near future. However, fine Hofner Guitar and Accessory Catalogues are available, which should be of great interest to all Hofner enthusiasts.

CONTACT ADDRESSES:

So, let's have a look at the guitars!

THE HOFNER CHANCELLOR

The Chancellor is now Hofner's "top-of the range" archtop. It is a very significant guitar for the Company as it is the first all-solid timbered archtop produced by Hofner to date.

• 17" Body constructed using carved all-solid timbers for the spruce body top, and flame maple back and sides - no laminates! 

• 3" Body Depth.

• Available in Natural or Antique Violin finishes.

• Single "Floating" pickup, and volume/tone controls attached to the pickguard.

• 25 1/2" scale neck with ebony fingerboard.  Mother-of-pearl block inlays and vine leaf inlaid headstock.

• Ebony tailpiece and pickguard.

To view more detailed pictures of the blonde finish Hofner Chancellor click HERE.

THE HOFNER NEW PRESIDENT

THE HOFNER PRESIDENT THINLINE - SINGLE AND TWIN PICKUP MODELS.

Brought out in 2004, this is the replacement for the earlier Vice President. Again, a solid carved spruce top, flamed maple back and sides, but with a 2.5" deep body, and a sustain block. The single or twin pickups are mounted directly onto the top, as are the controls, and the hardware is nickel plated. The fingerboard is made of rosewood. 
Available in Natural or Violin Varnish finishes. (Guitar illustrated is finished in superseded Antique Brown Sunburst.) 

THE HOFNER JAZZICA CUSTOM

Finish options are Natural Blonde and Antique Brown Sunburst.

Note: The Jazzica, as with the rest of the Hofner archtop range, is now produced with the "vine" style headstock inlay.

THE HOFNER VERYTHIN CLASSIC

Note: The Verythin Classic is now produced with the "vine" style headstock inlay, similar to the 1960's Verithin. Click HERE to see an image of the 2002 Classic.

There is now a Feature Page on my own 2003 Hofner Verythin Classic, elsewhere on this website.  

THE HOFNER VERYTHIN STANDARD

The same basic construction as used for the Verythin Classic, but with a stop-tailpiece instead of the Classic's "Harp" style tailpiece, F-holes instead of "slash" soundholes, no coil tap facility, and nickel plated hardware. Oh.......and a lower price tag!

Now fitted with "standard size" humbucker pickups for 2005!!

THE HOFNER VERYTHIN JS MODEL

The John Stowell Signature model, fitted with a single humbucker. Ebony fittings and gold plating abound, and the guitar can be supplied in either a Natural Finish or in the Violin Varnish as shown in the above photo.

THE HOFNER VERYTHIN VINTAGE - NOW DISCONTINUED

A Verythin with the traditional Hofner rectangular control panel ( - two volume controls, two individual pickup selector switches, and a series/parallel switch for the neck pickup), plus the beautiful antique violin varnish finish.

Many thanks to Graham Stockley and Rob Olsen of Hofner for permission to use the above photographs on my website. But don't forget, the pictures in the catalogue are much better. Get your copy now!

VISIT THE OFFICIAL HOFNER WEBSITE TO DOWNLOAD THE LATEST HOFNER GUITAR CATALOGUE

http://www.hofner.com

CONTACTS:

Visit THE CURRENT HOFNER BASS GUITAR RANGE

Visit THE CURRENT HOFNER CLASSICAL GUITAR RANGE

Visit THE HOFNER SIENNA ACOUSTIC GUITAR RANGE

Visit THE HOFNER SOLID GUITARS PAGE

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