Walter Hofner's Own Personal Guitars - Two Model 497 and One Model 484 Classical Guitars. (Photo courtesy of the Benker Family)

The following picture-sets of Hofner concert guitars have been sent to me over the years by their owners. This has allowed me to present a much greater range of models and vintages than encompassed by my own collection on the website, and maybe this will help other visitors to the site to identify and date their own Hofner.

They should be studied in conjunction with the much more comprehensive page on this website which describes all the many concert classical models produced by Hofner:

EUROPEAN & US MARKET GUITARS

• 1978 HOFNER MODEL 515h CLASSICAL GUITAR
  The 514 and 515 models were the cheapest of Hofner's true classical "Concert" models, although superior in quality to the above "Classic" acoustic guitars. They had full width 14¼" bodies, with spruce tops and nicely flamed maple backs and sides. The 514 had simple purfled circles around the soundhole, whereas the 515 had a mosaic rosette. The "h" in the model designation signifies that this particular example has a highly polished finish, rather than the matt finish of the standard model. Owned by Ryan Jacobson in the USA.
  
  
• 1973 HOFNER MODEL 515 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  The matt finish version of the 515 model, owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1973 HOFNER MODEL 4820 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  This  2nd-generation" Hofner classical guitar seems to have developed out of the earlier Hofner 482 Jugend/Wander model. Like that model, it is characterised by the dark brown varnish used on the flame maple back and sides. However, the 4820 was given a real wooden mosaic soundhole rosette. Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• Mid 1950's HOFNER MODEL 484 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Introduced in 1954, this model has a spruce top and a laminated mahogany back and sides. Simple in ornamentation, it was nevertheless one of Hofner's mid-range concert guitars. Owned by Reuben Hamon, South Wales, UK.
  
  
• 1970's HOFNER MODEL 484 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  This was actually one of Walter Hofner's own personal guitars. It is a good example of a later 484 model, with a decal type rosette soundhole decoration. The polyurethane finish used during the 1970's and later provides a fine gloss on the mahogany back and sides of the guitar. With thanks to Gerhilde & Christian Benker for supplying this guitar.
  
  
• HOFNER MODEL 485 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  This is the European/US market of the UK Selmer distributed Vienna Classical. It has the carved rosette and flame maple back/sides of the Vienna, but it does not have the Vienna's fingerboard fret markers, nor of course the Model/Serial # label inside the body. The headstock is also a slightly different shape.  The 485 model was one of the first made by Hofner when they were re-established after WWII in the Erlangen region of Germany.  Owned by Simon Cockell in Tasmania.
  
  
• c1960 HOFNER MODEL 485 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  In comparison to the guitar above, this example does have the fingerboard fretmarkers, together with a headstock more usual on the Selmer-distributed Vienna model. It does not however have a body label, which indicates that it is a  European-marketed 485 rather than a Vienna.
  
  
• 1950's HOFNER MODEL 485 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Another example of the 485 model, owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  1950's/60's HOFNER MODEL 485 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  And one provided by Max Junger of Pyramid Strings, Bubenreuth, Germany.
  
  
• Early 1950's HOFNER MODEL 486 CLASSICAL-STYLE GUITAR
  A beautiful old flat topped guitar, made in the classical style but steel-strung with pickguard and a trapeze tailpiece. Owned by Wolfgang in Germany. The alternative Model 486a was a conventional Concert guitar, fitted with a classical guitar style bridge, nylon/gut strings, and no scratchplate. This model was one of Hofner's very first post-war guitars, introduced in 1949.
  
  
• 1950's HOFNER MODEL 486 CLASSICAL-STYLE GUITAR
  A similar guitar, but fitted with a conventional tailpiece and a simpler rosette. Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• Late 1950's/Early 1960's HOFNER MODEL 486 CLASSICAL-STYLE GUITAR
  A slightly later example of the 486 model, owned by Gunter Gabriel in Germany.The Hofner body logo is now a decal-type located on the bass top bout.
  
  
• 1960 HOFNER MODEL 486 CLASSICAL-STYLE GUITAR
  A guitar made in 1960, and very similar to the example above. Owned by Guy Audoux in France.
  
  
• Mid-1950's HOFNER MODEL 487 CLASSICAL-STYLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  An attractive mid-range guitar with spruce top and laminated mahogany back/sides. This particular guitar also has an adjustable bridge and unusual ladder-bracing under the body top. There does appear to be a design connection between the 487 and the higher-status 494 model, with the same soundhole rosette, fret-marker dots, and the adjustable bridge. Early versions of the 487 like this one were probable intended to be steel-strung.Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• Early-1950's HOFNER MODEL 487 CLASSICAL-STYLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  A slightly earlier version of the above, with a single saddle adjustable bridge and the "Hofner Meisterklasse" body logo. The original finish on this guitar is shellac. This particular guitar has "fan-bracing", as opposed to the "ladder-bracing" used on the 487 above. Owned by Wolfgang in Germany.
  
  
• Mid 1960's HOFNER MODEL 493 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  A mid-range classical guitar with spruce top, beautiful rosewood back and sides, and a lovely mosaic soundhole decoration, all of which gave this guitar a similar appearance to the more expensive Model 497. However, the 493 had a slightly smaller body at  at 14¼" across the lower bout. It also had a three-piece neck together with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, which on the 497 were ebony. This very attractive guitar is owned by Claus in Denmark.
  
  
• Early-1950's HOFNER MODEL 494 CLASSICAL-STYLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  The standard Model 494 can easily be recognised because of it's birds eye maple back/sides, and also because of the very pretty dog's tooth purfling around the body sides and soundhole. It also has a cantilevered 5-piece neck over the body top. The early versions like this one appear to have been steel-strung and had a height-adjustable bridge. Owned by Keild Andersson.
  
  
• 1956 HOFNER MODEL 494P CLASSICAL-STYLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  This is a good example of the 494P, which was the same as the 494, but had a rosewood back & sides instead of birdseye maple. It still retained the standard 494's herringbone body purfling and rosewood fingerboard, complete with fretmarker dots. Like the guitar above, this one is also steel-strung, and has the height-adjustable bridge. Owned by Wolfgang in Germany.
  
  
• Early/Mid-1950's HOFNER MODEL 494 CLASSICAL-STYLE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  Another example of the steel-strung 494 with its birds-eye maple body back & sides. Owned by Wolfgang in Germany.
  
  
• Mid-Late 1950's HOFNER 494 CLASSICAL-STYLE GUITAR
  This guitar is in exceptional and original condition. Owned by Karl Gormann in Germany.
  
  
• 1959/60 HOFNER MODEL 494 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  A rather battered example, but with incredible birds-eye maple veneers to the back and sides of the body, together with lovely dark brown pearloid binding. By the time this 494 was produced, it appears that Hofner had decided that a classical guitar should be nylon-strung. A more conventional bridge was therefore fitted Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1967 HOFNER MODEL 494 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Previously part of Daniel Lee's collection, this guitar features the usual stunning birds eye maple timbers and beautiful binding and purfling. Note the change in the neck and heel details to the earlier versions above. Thanks to Great Guitars, Australia for the pictures.
  
  
• 1971 HOFNER MODEL 494 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  By 1971, the body binding/purfling on the 494 had changed to a more modest style, and the fretboard dot markers had disappeared. This example is owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1978 HOFNER MODEL 494 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  In the mid-1970's, Hofner changed the detailing of the 494, but still of  course kept the spruce top and laminated birds-eye maple body back & sides. The heavy purfling around the body top was replaced with simpler line purfling, and a soundhole decoration with a rose pattern was introduced in place of the heavy-looking mosaic rosette. This example is owned by Peter Medley. 
  
  
• Early 1950's HOFNER MODEL 497 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Another of Walter Hofner's own personal guitars. This is probably the earliest 497 that I have encountered, maybe from around 1950/51. Interestingly, the fingerboard is rosewood instead of ebony which was used later for this model. The beautifully featured neck appears to be seven-piece. With thanks to Gerhilde & Christian Benker for supplying this guitar.
  
  
• 1957/58 HOFNER MODEL 497 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  A large bodied (15" body width) classical guitar with spruce top and beautifully figured rosewood back and sides. This was one of Hofner's high-quality classicals, made over a long period spanning between 1950 and 1984. Heavy purfling/binding to the body edges, inlayed soundhole, and a five piece neck made this an impressive instrument. Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1958 HOFNER MODEL 497 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  A slightly later version of the above, as evidenced by the use of a decal type body logo instead of the early indented type. Owned by Steve Russell.
  
  
• 1973 HOFNER MODEL 497 CLASSICAL GUITAR 
  From the early 1970's, the earlier beech body binding was replaced by black plastic binding on the 497 model. A larger mosaic rosette was also fitted. Another lovely old classical guitar owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1966 HOFNER MODEL 498 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Hofner's premium flattop for many years - they described it as an "instrument of master class". It had the large 15" body width, with a selected spruce top and superb (but laminated) flame maple back and sides. A three-piece neck was fitted on this 1966 version of the 498, plus ebony fingerboard, gold-plated tuners, and elaborate binding/purfling around the body. Owned by Wolfgang in Germany.
  
  
• 1970 HOFNER MODEL 498 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  A slightly later version of the 498 above, with a different body binding/purfling detail. Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1970 HOFNER MODEL 4980 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  The 4980 took over from the 498 as Hofner's top concert guitar when it was introduced in 1961. It was similar in basic specification to the 498, with best-quality spruce top and laminated rosewood back & sides, with an ebony fingerboard. This example is from 1970 at around which time the 4980 acquired the attractive strip inlays to the headstock and bridge. Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1984 HOFNER MODEL 4980 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  A later version of the 4980, which now had acquired an ornamental strip central in the rosewood back of the guitar, a more ornate soundhole rosette, and additional body purfling. This one is also owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  
  
• 1972 HOFNER MODEL 4985 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  The 4985 model knocked the 4980 off its throne as Hofner's top-of-the-range classical when it was introduced in 1970. It featured all solid woods, including the beautiful rosewood used in the body back & sides and a fine solid spruce top. A very high level of care in construction was taken, including the use of the "Spanish Foot" method of attaching the neck to the body, as illustrated in the linked photo page. Owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.  
  
  
• Mid 1980's HOFNER MODEL HC95 CLASSICAL GUITAR
  This model was next to the top of the quite large "HC" range of classical guitars, which were introduced by Hofner in 1983 and finally discontinued in 1989. Spruce top with curly maple back & sides and binding on top and bottom edges. A rosewood fingerboard and gold plated deluxe tuners completes the specification. Owned by Max Junger of Pyramid Strings, Bubenreuth, Germany.
  
  
• Mid/Late 1990's HOFNER HM 84 "MEISTER-BUILT" CLASSICAL GUITAR
  The HM models have been Hofner's most prestigious classical guitar range from the time of their introduction in 1985. There have been various models coming and going over that period, but this one appears to be a nice example of the HM 84 model which was manufactured between 1985 and 1998. The guitar's owner is Karl Gormanns in Germany.
  
  
• 2004 HOFNER HML-2-MC "MEISTER-BUILT" CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Just to prove that not all guitars that Hofner made were in the Hofner catalogues! This lovely guitar was part of a small number of guitars arising from a commission to produce a limited edition bearing a trade name of a large retail company. A few of these guitars was surplus to the commission requirements. and so Hofner sold them off with their own name on the body label. The body has a solid cedar top with solid mahogany back and rims. However. the pointed top of the headstock is the feature that indicates this to be not a regular Hofner guitar, as well as the strange model number written on the body label of course. Owned by Eric Alfredo in the USA. 
  
  
• Mid-1980s HOFNER MODEL CS1 ELECTRIC CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Produced between 1982 and 1985, this little guitar was Hofner's answer to the Gibson Chet Atkins CEC model. It had a cutaway body depth of 2" and a solid sustain block in a hollow body of rosewood with a spruce top. A piezzo-ceramic pickup was fitted to the bridge, and according to the catalogue, the circuit included a 9 volt preamp. Owned by Juergen Bachmann in Germany.
  
  
• Mid-1980's HOFNER MODEL CS1 ELECTRIC CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Another very nice example of the CS1, owned by Max Junger of Pyramid Strings, Bubenreuth, Germany.
  
  
• 1974 HOFNER "STUDIO 2" ELECTRIC CLASSICAL GUITAR
  A model that was made to be used with a school Music Laboratory that Hofner and Multivox/Sorkin developed in 1974/75. The whole project was called the Premier Music Lab, and it was based on the concept of a Language Laboratory, only using guitars. The students listened to their efforts through headphones. Hofner supplied the option of using three types of different instrument models with the Laboratory - a single pickup solid guitar called the "161" , a nylon-strung thinline solid with a 45mm wide neck called the "Studio No 1 Guitar", and a similar one with a 50mm wide neck called the "Studio No 2 Guitar". This particular "Studio No 2" is owned by Bob Cocozza in Florida, USA.
  
  
• 1974 HOFNER "STUDIO 1" ELECTRIC CLASSICAL GUITAR
  ..........and the "Studio 1" version with the slightly narrower neck, owned by Georg Strobel in Germany.
  

SELMER DISTRIBUTED CONCERT GUITARS

• c1954 HOFNER 'CONCERT' CLASSICAL GUITAR
  This is a high quality instrument, probably based on the European-market 497 model, with rosewood veneers to the body back and sides, and lavish body binding/edge purfling. It seems to have been one of the first guitars offered by Selmer in the early 1950's and is definitely of a much higher quality than the Vienna model which came along a year or so later. The 1952/53 Selmer catalogue states that "as each instrument receives the personal attention of Karl Hofner, only a limited number can be built and orders will be dealt with in strict rotation". The Concert was maintained in Selmer's catalogue until around 1956. Owned by Wolfgang in Germany.
  
  
• c1955/56 HOFNER 'CONCERT' CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Photos of a slightly later "Concert" to the one above. Owned by Nev Jones in Manchester.
  
  
• c1957 HOFNER VIENNA CLASSICAL GUITAR
  Mid-quality classical guitar range in Selmer's catalogue based on the Hofner 485 Model. It had a spruce top with (usually) very attractively marked maple back and sides. The soundhole decoration was formed by carving into the solid spruce top. This one is owned by James Gordon in Hampshire, England.
  
  
• 1967/68 HOFNER 'CLASSIC' CLASSICAL GUITAR - CATALOGUE SCAN
  A very high quality, and expensive, classical guitar that was in the Selmer catalogue for only a year or so in 1967/68. All solid woods, with rosewood for the body back and sides, ebony fingerboard and fine marquetry soundhole rosette. All in all a top professional concert instrument, equivalent to the 4980 model in Hofner's main catalogue.