The President model was top of the standard range. The Thinline model was available from 1959 to about 1965.
1953/1954 FEATURES
Headstock
Plain style type; black background with bell flower and leaf in MOP.
No HOFNER logo.
Single layer white binding.
Headstock rake less than later models.
Machineheads
Strip open backed; nickel plated engraved. (Hofner CAT NO.61/5 )
White/cream plain simulated MOP knobs.
Brass centered white plastic posts.
Brass or nickel plated oversized bushes (10mm).
Brass or nickel plated tuners.
Steel cogs.
Nut
Three ply; W/B/W.
Neck
Five piece; maple/2.5mm mahogany/7mm beech/2.5mm mahogany/maple (note the mahogany and beech strips are not continued into the heel).
Single piece maple heel.
Rosewood fingerboard with triple dot inlays (6 number).
Single layer binding W.
All inlays in MOP.
Scale-length
650mm
Truss-rod
None
Frets
Nickel plated jumbo frets, cut into neck binding.
Top
Solid spruce, close grained; two piece.
Hofner logo impressed into top below treble side of bridge.
Body
Laminated; flamed maple bookmatched back & flamed maple rims.
Five layer binding W/B/W/B/W.
Dimensions ; 520 x 410 x 80mm.
F-holes
Single layer binding. W.
Pickguard
Tortoiseshell with gold pinstripe; beveled edge.
Bridge
Black dyed maple; height adjustable; plastic insert.
Tailpiece
Nickel plated compensator type; hinged and fixed to rim with three pins.
1954/1955-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1953/1954 but with the following variations:
Machineheads
Individual open backed; nickel plated with shield shaped backplates.
Plain white or cream knobs.
Brass centred white plastic posts.
Brass or nickel plated oversized bushes (10mm).
Brass or nickel plated tuners.
Steel cogs.
Top
Gold Hofner decal on bass upper bout.
1956/1957- FEATURES
All as detailed for 1953/1954 but with the following variations:
Headstock
Revised style; accentuated curved sides.
Splayed top corners.
Black background with bell flower and leaf.
HOFNER logo all in MOP.
Single layer white binding.
Machineheads
Individual open backed.
Nickel plated with ornate backplates (Type 1 in General Notes)
Plain white or cream knobs.
Brass posts.
Brass standard bushes (7mm).
Brass or nickel plated tuners.
Steel cogs.
Neck
Five piece; but having 5.5mm beech strip (mahogany and beech strips now carried into heels).
Rosewood fingerboard with triple dot inlays (8 number).
Single layer binding W.
All inlays in MOP.
Top
Gold Hofner decal on bass upper bout.
1958/1959- FEATURES
All as detailed for 1956/1957.
Late 1959 saw the introduction of the Thinline models.
1960- FEATURES
All as detailed for 1957 but having the following variations:
Headstock
The splayed corner style continued until the early part of this year when the new wider design appeared. This new style was adopted for nearly all the archtop and semi-acoustic guitars. The splayed corner headstock appears to having been reduced in overall length on guitars with truss rods incorporated.
Bell flower and leaf and HOFNER logo all in MOP.
Single white binding.
Truss-rod
First time introduced.
Two layer bell shaped cover B/W, fixed with three screws.
1961 FEATURES
All as detailed for 1960 but having the following variations:
Machineheads
Sometime during this period the following change made:
Nickel plated posts.
Nickel plated standard solid bushes (7mm).
Nickel plated tuners.
1962/1964-FEATURES
Electric models were fitted with Micromatic bridges in place of the standard dyed maple
In 1962, the compensator type tailpiece was replaced with the harp type as used on the early Committee guitars.
1965-FEATURES
This year saw the introduction of the President and President Thinline guitars with Florentine cutaway. A very limited number of these were produced so therefore they are fairly rare guitars.
1966 /1971- FEATURES
No further changes, but late 1960s saw the emergence of a twelve string President in standard and thinline versions.
© Ramsay McKinnon 2006.