Sorry, but I know virtually nothing about Hofner guitar amplifiers. I am hoping that by adding this Fact File to the website, others who do know something about them or have pictures of them will make contact, allowing me to develop this page into a useful source of information. What I have learnt so far is:
The GV Series were manufactured between 1961-63 by a Munich based company called Eben, for Hofner. The Eben company produced units also for the German Hi-Fi brand Dual, and these days they manufacture circuit boards for other companies.
During the same period, 1961-63, Hofner appear to have also sourced a bass amp head and speaker cabinet from another company - Uniton AG in Switzerland. The amp head, designated the BV60 by Hofner, has a strong family resemblance to the famous Swissecho tape echo units made by the same company. The Swissecho units also appear in the Hofner catalogues of the period, but still retaining the "Swissecho" logo rather than "Hofner".
It has now been ascertained that the Schaller Company (who's factory is only about 30km from the old Hofner Bubenreuth factory) made the KV Series of amplifiers for Hofner from 1964 onwards. The evidence is that the Hofner KV-10 is virtually identical to the Schaller Piccolo guitar amp. Also, there was a Schaller KV-50 produced which was basically the same as the Hofner KV-50.
A very useful source of information on German manufactured guitar amplifiers, speakers, and effects units can be found at the superb website run by Hans Ohms in Germany. - THE ORCHESTER-ELECTRONIC WEBSITE
Hofner GV-6 Combo Amplifier
A 6watt amp with two inputs, simple
volume, bass and treble controls. Size:17.25" x 11.5" x 8.5". In the
Hofner 1963 catalogue.
Hofner GV-18 Combo Amplifier
An 18 watt combo with 5 inputs (2
microphone, 2 guitar, and 1 tape-phono-radio-echo !!) and
Tremolo. Equipped with a single 12" loudspeaker. Size 23.5" x 15.75" x
8.75". In the Hofner 1963 catalogue.
Hofner GV-36
Combo Amplifier
A 36 watt combo fitted with a 12" and a
10" speaker. Otherwise similar specification to the GV-18. Size 29.5" x
19" x 9.5". In the Hofner 1963 catalogue.
Hofner KV-10 Combo Amplifier
A small solid state amplifier featuring
tremolo and 10 watts output. Fitted with 10" speaker. Dimensions: 400mm
x 500mm x 200mm.
Hofner KV-18
Combo Amplifier
Solid State 18w amplifier, fitted with a single 10"
speaker. Dimensions: 610mm x 500mm x 220mm.
Hofner KV-25 Combo Amplifier
Solid state 25 watt amplifier, equipped
with tremolo. Fitted with 12" loudspeaker. Dimensions: 610mm x 500mm x
220mm.
Hofner KV-40 Combo Amplifier
Solid State 40w amplifier. Fitted with single 12" speaker. Dimensions:
610 x 800 x 320mm.
Hofner KV-50
Combo Amplifier
A three channel amplifier, fitted with
two 12" speakers. Tremolo, reverb, and analogue delay effects are built
in. Dimensions: 705mm x 535mm x 270mm.
This model was an early hybrid design with a solid state preamp and a tube power amp ( 2x EL34 providing 50 watts). Two Goodman 12" speakers apparently were fitted. The power amp section was located at the bottom of the cabinet and connected with an octal plug to the preamp section in the upper cabinet. (Just like the old Selmer-Truvoice amps.) The delay unit contained a magnetic disc, similar to the old Baby Binson echo units, and three delay heads.
Hofner
G30 Speaker Cabinet (Lautsprecherbox)
30 Watts output through three 8" x 7"
loudspeakers.
Hofner
G40 Speaker Cabninet (Lautsprecherbox)
40 Watts output through six 10" x 6"
loudspeakers.
Hofner
G60 Speaker Cabinet (Lautsprecherbox)
60 Watts output through six 11" x 7"
loudspeakers.
Hofner G100 Speaker Cabinet Konzertbox)
100 watt cabinet loaded with a
Goodman's Audiom 91 18" Speaker.
Hofner B2
Speaker Cabinet (Baßox)
Bass Reflex design, fitted with two 12"
Speakers.
Hofner K100 Speaker Cabinet (Kompaktbox)
100 watt cabinet fitted with four 12"
Goodmans Speakers.