The halfway-house guitar between the President and Congress. Thinline model available from 1959 to 1965
1953/1954-FEATURES
Headstock
Plain style; dark tortoiseshell finish.
Two dividing strips set to angle consisting of W/B/W inlays ;three vertical dots decreasing in size in MOP
No binding
Machineheads
Strip open backed; nickel plated engraved (Hofner CAT. No. 61/30 or 61/31).
Plain white or cream knobs.
Brass posts.
No bushes.
Steel tuners.
Brass cogs (15 teeth)
Nut
Three ply; B/W/B
Neck
Three piece.
Maple/8mm beech/maple.
Single piece maple heel.
Rosewood finger board with triple dot inlays (5 number).
No binding.
All inlays in MOP.
Scale-length
650mm.
Truss-rod
None.
Frets
Nickel plated standard frets.
Top
Laminated plain maple two piece.
Hofner logo impressed into top below treble side of bridge.
Body
Laminated lightly flamed maple.
Lightly flamed maple rims.
Four layer binding w/b/w/b.
Dimensions 520 x 410 x 80mm.
F-holes
Single layer W
Pickguard
Tortoiseshell ; light coloured.
Bridge
Black dyed maple; height adjustable; slanted plastic insert.
Tailpiece
Compensator type; nickel plated.
1955/1956-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1953/1954 but having the following variations:
Headstock
Plain style but having a more rounded top than 1953/1954 models.
Black background.
Large central dot with four projecting diamonds in N.S.E.W. pattern; small dot below with single diamond set below dot; all in MOP.
No binding.
Neck
Three piece; maple/7 mm beech/ maple.
Top
No Hofner logo below bridge but may have Hofner gold decal on upper bass bout.
Pickguard
Tortoiseshell; dark coloured or may be white pearloid.
1957-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1953/1954 but having the following variations:
Headstock
Plain style similar to 1955/1956.
Black background.
Large star and two diamonds below in vertical pattern, interspersed with small dots, all in MOP.
No binding.
Machineheads
Individual open backed.
Brass with ornate backplates (Type 1 in General Notes).
Plain white or cream knobs.
Brass posts.
No bushes.
Steel tuners.
Brass Cogs (14 teeth)
Top
May have Hofner gold decal on upper base bout.
F-holes
Single layer binding. W.
Pickguard
Tortoiseshell; dark with white edging.
1958-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1957 but having the following variations:
Headstock
Plain styles similar to 1955/1956.
Black background with vertical HOFNER logo in shaped enclosure. Arrowhead feature below. All in single gold line.
No binding.
Neck
Some guitars for this year may have the beech strip terminating in a rounded scarfed joint above volute in headstock.
1959-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1958 but having the following variation:
Headstock
Plain style.
Accentuated curved sides.
Splayed top corners.
Otherwise as 1958
Some guitars manufactured during this year have pointed headstock with HOFNER logo and three dots decreasing in size and set vertically.
The new wider-style headstock detailed for 1960, can also be found on late 1959 guitars.
Top
Laminated plain maple single piece.
1960-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1959 but having the following variations:
Headstock
The headstock style used in 1959 was continued until early 1960, as guitars can be found having truss rods incorporated.
New wider style headstock appeared on Senators in the first quarter of 1960 and featured truss rods now used on all Hofner guitars.
New wider style headstock:
Black background
Hofner logo,
Treble and Bass clefs 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-FEATURES
No further changes made this year.
1962/1963-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1960 but having the following variations.
Headstock
Wide style headstock
Raised Hofner logo set at angle in silver plastic.
New style "Dagger" MOP inlay.
Machineheads
Individual open backed with plain backplates(type 2 in general notes)
Neck
Three piece as described generally but now two piece necks being introduced.
Pickguard
Tortoiseshell.
Dark coloured with gold perimeter stripe.
1964/1971-FEATURES
All as detailed for 1962/1963 but having the following variations:
Headstock
Wider style.
Black background.
Raised Hofner logo set at angle in silver plastic.
Pickguard
Tortoiseshell.
Dark coloured with gold perimeter stripe and Hofner logo also in gold.
N.B. 1965 saw the introduction of a new Senator with Venetian cutaway available as acoustic or electric in standard or thinline version.
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© Ramsay McKinnon 2006.