The Committee was the guitar that everyone wanted but few could afford. A Thinline model was available from 1959 to 1965.
1954 FEATURES
Headstock
Large frondose type; black background; mermaids tail detail; rose and leaf with single diamond between; all in MOP; fan shaped detail above nut in MOP; single layer binding. Headstock angle, less than in later models.
Machineheads
Strip open backed; nickel-plated engraved (Hofner cat. No. 61/11)
White/cream floral shaped knobs.
Brass centred white plastic posts.
Brass oversized solid bushes (10mm)
Brass tuners.
Steel cogs (13 teeth).
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 flower and leaf inlays set in ebony or rosewood panels(6 number); three layer binding W/B/W. All inlays are 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
Birds eye maple back in one piece with inner layer of binding forming floral type feature to base of lower bout; birds eye maple rims; seven layer binding, W/B/W/B/W/B/W.
Dimensions ; 540 x 445 x 78mm.. Thinline body 540 x 445 x 50mm.
F-holes
Single layer binding; W.
Pickguard
Clear acrylic; gold-plated bracket.
Bridge
Ebony; height adjustable; compensated with adjustable fret wire inserts.
Tailpiece
Nickel plated harp type; hinged and fixed to rim with three pins.
1955- FEATURES
All as detailed for 1954 but having the following variations.
Headstock
Large frondose type; black background; HOFNER logo; rose and leaf with two diamonds between ,all in MOP; fan shaped detail above nut in MOP; single pearloid binding.
Some early guitars for this year may still have mermaids tail detail in lieu of HOFNER logo.
Machineheads
Individual open backed; nickel plated with ornate backplates.
Pearloid floral shaped knobs.
Brass posts.
Brass standard solid bushes ( 7mm).
Brass tuners.
Steel cogs (14 teeth)
Nut
Three ply; pearloid/B/pearloid.
Neck
Five piece; maple/2.75 mm mahogany/ 5.5mm beech/ 2.75mm mahogany/maple.(note, mahogany and beech strips now continue into heel).
Ebony fingerboard with flower and leaf inlays set in ebony or rosewood panels(8 number).
Three layer binding W/B/ pearloid. All inlays in MOP.
Frets
Nickel plated jumbo frets, stopped short of neck binding.
Top
Hofner gold logo on top, bass side of upper bout. Not always there. Can vary from guitar to guitar and may even be as for 1954.
Body
Seven layer binding; W/B/W/B/W/B/ pearloid.
F-holes
Three layer binding; W/B/W.
1956,1957 1958 FEATURES
Generally all as for 1955 but sometime in 1957 the rectangular control panel was introduced on the electric models. See Part 5.
1959 FEATURES
This was the year solid tops appear to have been replaced with three layer laminated tops. It is difficult to pin point exactly when the design change was incorporated, but probably around the latter part of this year.
It is important to point out that it is not uncommon to come across acoustic models (specified as having solid tops) with laminated tops and conversely find electric models with solid tops. Otherwise all as for 1955.
1960 FEATURES
All as detailed for 1955 but having the following variations.
Headstock
Fan shaped detail now incorporated on truss rod cover.
Truss-rod
First time introduced; two layer bell shaped cover B/W, fixed with three screws.
Top
Now constructed of three layer laminate with superior selected spruce for blonde models.
1961- FEATURES
All as detailed for 1960 but having the following variations.
Machineheads
Individual open backed; nickel plated with ornate back plates.
Pearloid floral shaped knobs.
Brass topped nickel plated posts.
Nickel plated standard solid bushes (7mm).
Nickel plated tuners.
Steel cogs (15 teeth).
1962- FEATURES
Major design changes took place this year.
Headstock
Simplified shape, now similar to that used on all other models but having slightly larger dimensions;.
HOFNER logo and other standard details retained.
Fan shaped detail on truss rod cover.
Machineheads
Individual enclosed; brass back plates.
Pearloid plain shaped knobs.
Nickel plated posts.
Nickel plated standard solid bushes (7mm).
Nickel plated tuners.
Steel cogs (15 teeth).
Nickel plated covers; heart shaped ;single screw fix to back plate.
Nut
Three ply: pearloid/R/ pearloid.
Neck
All as detailed for 1955.
Scale-length
650mm.
Truss-rod
All as detailed for 1960.
Frets
Nickel plated standard frets, stopped short of neck binding.
Top
All as detailed for 1960.
Body
All as detailed for 1955; dimension increased to 540 x 455 x 78mm.
F-holes
All as detailed for 1955.
Pickguard
Clear acrylic with gold pin stripe and gold Hofner logo.
Bridge
Acoustic models have ebony adjustable as detailed for 1954 (Hofnercat.nr.72/20) electric models have micromatic adjustable bridge with ebony base (Hofner cat.nr.72/23).
Tailpiece
Nickel plated lyre type; hinged and fixed to rim with four pins; HOFNER engraved across top.(not always present)
1963-1969 FEATURES
The Committee model remained unchanged throughout this period excepting the electrics which are detailed under a separate heading.
© Ramsay McKinnon 2006.