The only model not offered in electric form.
The very first models had flats backs and cross-bracing, similar to flattop guitars. These models also had 12 frets to the neck in lieu of the normal 14.
1955/1956- FEATURES
Headstock
Plain style.
Black background with large star and two diamonds below in vertical pattern, interspersed with small dots all in MOP.
No binding.
Machineheads
Strip open backed.
Brass lightly engraved (Hofner CAT No. 51/30 or 61/31), but some may have individual type as described for 1957/1958.
Plain white or cream knobs.
Brass posts.
No bushes.
Steel tuners.
Brass cogs (15 teeth).
Nut
Three ply; W/B/W.
Neck
Three piece.
Maple/8.5 mm beech/maple.
Rosewood finger board with double dot inlays (3 number) single dot inlay (1 number).
No binding.
All inlays in MOP.
Scale-length
650mm.
Truss-rod
None.
Frets
Brass.
Top
Laminated plain maple single piece.
Hofner logo impressed into top, located below treble side of bridge or may have Hofner gold decal on upper bass bout.
Body
Laminated two piece plain maple.
Plain maple rims.
Two layer binding w/b.
Dimensions 490 x 385 x 80mm.
F-holes
Unbound.
Pickguard
Tortoiseshell dark coloured with gold perimeter stripe.
Bridge
Black dyed maple.
Height adjustable.
Slanted plastic insert.
Tailpiece
Trapezium shaped.
Nickel plated.
Compensator type later on.
1957/1958-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1955/1956 but having the following variations:
Headstock
Plain style.
Black background.
HOFNER logo with three vertical dots below decreasing in size, all in MOP.
No binding
Neck
Three piece.
Beech strip 20mm wide.
Machineheads
Individual open backed; brass with ornate backplates (Type 1 in General Notes).
Plain white or cream knobs.
Brass knobs.
No bushes.
Steel tuners.
Brass cogs (14 teeth).
Frets
Nickel plated standard frets.
Tailpiece
Compensator type; nickel plated.
1958/1959- FEATURES
All as detailed for 1955/1956 but having the following variations:
Headstock
Plain style.
Plastic fascia with black background.
Accentuated curved sides.
Splayed top corners HOFNER logo with three vertical dots decreasing in size.
No binding.
1959/1960-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1955/56 but having the following variations:
Headstock
New wider style.
Plastic fascia with black background.
HOFNER logo.
Treble and Base clefts with musical staff.
The words "DISTRIBUTED BY SELMER LONDON FOREIGN" all in single line gold. (N.B. words not always present).
Truss-rod
First time introduced.
Two layer bell shaped cover B/W fixed with three screws.
1961/1963-FEATURES
No changes made during this period.
Sometime during late 1963 Type 1 tuner backplates were altered to Type 2.
1964-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1959/60 but having the following variations:
Headstock
Wider style.
Plain plastic with black background.
HOFNER logo in lower case in raised silver plastic finish, set to angle.
Machineheads
Individual open backed with plain backplates (Type 2 in General Notes). This type may have been used in 1963 also.
White or cream knobs.
Brass posts.
No bushes.
Steel tuners.
Brass cogs (13 teeth).
1965/1971- FEATURES
No further changed made during this period.
Footnote: I have recently examined a 1956 Congress and was most surprised to discover that the back of the guitar incorporated cross struts, normally found on flattop and Spanish style guitars. This is the first time I have ever encountered this construction on an archtop guitar . This may have been due to the fact that this particular Congress had a relatively flat back as opposed to the standard arched back of later models.
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© Ramsay McKinnon 2006.