HOFNER WESTERN ACOUSTIC GUITARS

GERMAN-MADE: 1954 to 1997

 

 

Photo courtesy of Jürgen Bachmann

This section of the website has been put together in order to assist owners identify the model and approximate manufacture date of their Hofner acoustic flattop guitar. It has been compiled by reference to all those Hofner Catalogues and Price Lists that are available to me. I would like to thank the Hofner Company in Hagenau, Germany for allowing me to consult their factory files with regard to these sources of information.

The evolution of the various models and ranges of Hofner "Western" guitars over the years since they were first introduced in 1964 is very complex; more so than the history of the other types of Hofner guitars and basses, with the notable exception of the Classical Concert guitars and Wander/Jugend guitars. In addition, differences between some of the various models seem to be only slight. These may be the reasons why there is so little information about the Hofner Western, Classical, and Wander/Jugends models to be found elsewhere. Putting these guitars into some sort of order just isn't straightforward! In an attempt to simplify matters, I have therefore split the various models into various date-based series, in order to hopefully produce a small degree of logic into the exercise. I have also used scans of models and variants taken entirely from contemporary catalogues, rather than using gallery photos of owners guitars, in an attempt to provide some consistency into the presentation of the details.

Similar pages for the Hofner Classical and Hofner Wander/Jugend guitars are currently being prepared.

I have retained the Visitors' Galleries, which also include photos of some of the Classical and Wander/Jugend Guitars to allow for further research, and they can be accessed using the following link:

 

Visitors' Gallery: Hofner Western Acoustic Guitars

 

 

1. FIRST SERIES (INTRODUCED 1954 - 1963)

 

 

2. MID/LATE 1960's SERIES

 

 

3. 1970's SERIES

 

 

4. 1980's SERIES

 

 

5. 1990's SERIES

 


 

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