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:
HOFNER MODEL 495 ACOUSTIC A rather unusual
guitar, with the five-piece neck of the contemporary President model,
including Lily of the Valley headstock inlays, but mounted on a 20" long
by 16" wide flattop body, with narrow waist and circular soundhole. Hofner
themselves seem to have been pretty confused with this model, as generally it
was produced with nylon strings but it would seem that a few were also fitted
with steel strings! Solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back & sides.
Binding and purfling to the body edges, but none to the neck. Neck bolted to
body by means of "Stauffer-Legnani " system, which as well as
holding the two together, also offers a degree of neck rake adjustment. Available with (495/S) or without (495) body cutaway, and intended as a
mid-range acoustic guitar.
HOFNER MODEL 499(i) ACOUSTIC A top-quality
acoustic with a similar "Grand Auditorium" style body to the above 495 model. It also had
the Lily of the Valley headstock and five-piece neck, but instead of dot
markers, inlaid MoP "double arrow head" fret markers were used,
together with binding to the neck. The 499
was fitted with steel strings, rather than nylon as in the case of the 495. A
solid spruce body top was used, certainly initially, with best quality laminated flame maple back and sides.
A cutaway version (499/S) was also available as well as the non-cutaway body
(499). Early models have a plain scratchplate, but this was later given a
floral design. Later guitars also have an inlaid decoration on the front face
of the body at the bottom end of the guitar. Neck bolted to body by means of
"Stauffer-Legnani " system. A wider, more Gibson-like,
headstock was fitted around the time when adjustable truss-rods were
introduced in 1960.
HOFNER MODEL 496 ACOUSTIC This model appears to
be virtually identical to the 499(i) above, although I suspect that by 1962, a
laminated spruce body-tops could well have been used instead of solid spruce. I can only assume that Hofner must
have decided to free up the 499 model number for later use. In the
1970's, the guitar got single enclosed tuners, and a rather ugly-looking wide soundhole rosette that was also used on the 4910 (see below). The 496 was generally finished in red-sunburst, whereas the
499 is usually brown-burst with also some blonde examples. "Stauffer-Legnani
bolting system used initially, until the Hofner patented neck/body
joint rake adjustment was fitted for a few years from around 1968. After
that, a normal glued neck/body joint was used.
2. MID/LATE 1960's SERIES
Model
Year of Introduction
Final Year of Production
6-String
Guitars:
491 ("Western" in
UK)
1964
1985
491E ("Western
Electric" in UK)
1967
1985
447 & 448
1968
1970
489 ("Arizona" in
UK)
1968
1992
489 Matt
1972
1992
489G
1972
1992
489E
1969
1986
4890
1969
1985
4890E
1970
1985
499(ii) 6 String
1971
1974
12-String
Guitars:
492 ("Western
12-String" in UK)
1964
1985
492E ("Western Electric
12-String" in UK)
1964
1985
492PA
1982
1985
499(ii)
1967
1975
499E
1967
1975
490 ("Arizona
12-String" in UK)
1968
1992
490Matt
1973
1992
490G
1969
1992
490E
1969
1986
4900
1969
1985
4900E
1969
1985
HOFNER MODEL 447 & 448 "FOLK GUITARS" There is in the Hofner
price lists of 1968, 1969, & 1970, a reference to the Hofner 448 model, but
it is not in any of Hofner's catalogues of
that period. It is however in the c1970 Sorkin US Catalogue, together
with another similar guitar called the Hofner 447. The 448 features a smaller than usual
body (lower bout width of 14½") with a laminated spruce top and
laminated mahogany back & sides. The 447 has the same small body
and general features of the 448, but its body including the top is made
entirely from mahogany laminate. Both models are referred to as "Folk
Guitars", and were presumably aimed at the younger end of the market. A
guitar with a 1968
body date has now been found which I am pretty sure is
an early example of the 448 model (CLICK
HERE). A feature of this particular guitar is that it has a
steel adjustable bridge/tailpiece which is screwed directly onto the body
top.
HOFNER MODEL 489, 489 Matt, 489G ACOUSTICS, & 489E ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC Hofner's
budget flattop acoustic, and the longest running Western model. Laminated spruce body top, with flame maple back &
sides and a rosewood fingerboard. The Hofner patented rake-adjustable
neck/body joint was used throughout the whole production period on this model. Body binding, but no
purfling was provided. From that point on, all other details were very
variable depending on what period the guitar was made. Body bracing changed
almost immediately from X-bracing to parallel; necks were both maple and
mahogany, bridge/tailpieces and rosette designs changed several times!
Initially, up to around 1972, the body shape had round shoulders. This was
then changed to a square, more dreadnought-style, shoulder shape. The
basic 489 model and the 489E electric version were finished in polished
clear lacquer. Three years after their introduction though, Hofner
offered a matt finish (489 Matt) and a sunburst finish
(489G). A neck rake adjustment system was fitted throughout the
production period of this model. The 489 was supplied to
Selmer London from 1968 through into the mid-1970's and was marketed in the
UK under the name "Hofner Arizona 6-String", Catalogue No: 5152.
HOFNER MODEL 4890 ACOUSTIC & 4890E ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC This
model seems to have been an up-graded version of the 489, with a little
purfling around the body and a more evident soundhole rosette. A laminated spruce top and flame maple back
& sides was used, but the back and sides
was finished to a dark brown, instead of the clear natural finish on the
489. Initially, Hofner fitted an adjustable bridge to the 4890, but this
soon reverted back to the fixed type. A square shouldered body shape was
adopted for the 4890 from the outset. The 4890 was supplied to
Selmer London from about 1970 through into the mid-1970's and was marketed in the
UK under the name "Hofner Blue Grass 6-String", Catalogue No:
5157.
HOFNER MODEL 491 ACOUSTIC & 491E ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC Hofner'
mid-range acoustic flattop, with a laminated spruce body top and laminated mahogany back
& sides. A higher degree of decoration was also used than on the 489,
with more binding/purfling to the body edges, and for most of the production
life a bound fingerboard although this seems to have been dropped in the
last years. A proper mosaic soundhole rosette was used from the late 1960's
onwards. Early examples of the 491 have the "dagger" headstock decoration that
was popular with Hofner at that time, and this seems to have been replaced
for two or three years by a "double-diamond" when the model was
re-vamped in 1973. The 491 held onto its round shoulder
body shape for a little longer than the 489, finally being changed to square
shoulders in 1973. Generally this model had a glued-in neck, but a
neck-rake adjustment system like that fitted to the 489 was employed for a
few years from 1968. The 491 & 491E were supplied to Selmer
London from 1964 through to the mid-1970's and were marketed in the UK
under the name "Hofner Western", Catalogue Nos: 5154 and
5155.
HOFNER 499(ii) 6 String ACOUSTIC A top-quality
acoustic flattop with a "fine spruce" top and rosewood back & sides, which was quite simply a six string version of the 499(ii)
12-string guitar described below. A "Double Diamond" headstock
decoration slightly different to that used on the 12-string version, inlaid
in mother of pearl, seems to have been used on the 499-6 string. The production of this guitar ran in
parallel for two or three years with Hofner's long-standing top-of-the-range
acoustic, the 496 model. (See First Series above.)
HOFNER MODEL 490, 490 Matt, 490G 12-STRING ACOUSTICS, &
MODEL 490E 12-STRING
ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC These guitars are the 12-strng versions of the
budget-range 489 six-string acoustic described above. In the linked
catalogue scans, I have attempted to show the many changes that took place
regarding headstock and scratchplate shapes, types of bridge/tailpiece used,
and different soundhole rosettes. The body shape changed from rounded to
square-shoulder shape at the same time as the 489. The 490 was
supplied to Selmer London from 1968 through to the mid-1970's and was
marketed in the UK under the name "Hofner Arizona 12-String",
Catalogue No: 5153.
HOFNER MODEL 4900 12-STRING ACOUSTIC & MODEL 4900E 12-STRING ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC Just
as with the 4890, this is the up-graded version of the 490 12-String, with
laminated spruce top and laminated flame maple body back & sides. The
4900 was supplied to
Selmer London from about 1970 through into the mid-1970's and was marketed in the
UK under the name "Hofner Blue Grass 12-String", Catalogue No:
5158.
HOFNER MODEL 492 12-STRING ACOUSTIC & MODEL 492E, 492PA 12-STRING
ELECTRIC-ACOUSTICS To continue the pattern, the 492 was based on
the 491 6-string guitar, with laminated spruce top and laminated mahogany body back &
sides. It would appear from the illustration in the 1964 Hofner catalogue,
that initially the 492 had a slotted headstock. This must have been changed
very quickly to a conventional drilled headstock though, as there don't seem to be many
492 guitars around with a slotted headstock. This feature was apparently
continued by Keller in Spain with their Spanish-made
12 string. The 492 & 492E were supplied to Selmer
London from 1964 through to the mid-1970's and were marketed in the UK
under the name "Hofner Western", Catalogue Nos: 5156 and
5157.
HOFNER MODEL 499(ii) 12-STRING ACOUSTIC & MODEL
499E 12-STRING ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC Top-of-the
range 12 String, with best quality spruce top, laminated rosewood body back
& sides, and an ebony fingerboard. Mother of pearl inlaid block fret markers to fingerboard, as well as a mosaic soundhole rosette
of course. The design of the headstock decoration seems to have been
an elongated fluted arrow head in mother of pearl.
3. 1970's SERIES
Model
Year of Introduction
Final Year of Production
6-String Guitars:
4910
1975
1985
4910E
1975
1985
4912
1975
1985
4914
1976
1985
4916
1983
1985
4916PA
1983
1985
4990/6
1975
1985
4990/6E
1982
1985
600 Django
1974
1977
600 E Django
1974
1975
600 E1 Django
1974
1975
12-String Guitars:
4920
1975
1985
4920E
1975
1985
4990
1975
1985
4990E
1975
1985
4916/12
1982
1985
4916/12PA
1982
1985
HOFNER MODEL 4910 ACOUSTIC & MODEL 4910E
ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC A development from the 491 dreadnought, and
therefore with laminated spruce top and laminated mahogany back & sides. The
4910 had a simple purfled line decoration around the soundhole, rather than
the heavy mosaic rosette of the 491. Single sealed Schaller tuners were
fitted. The body back has a slightly rounded profile. The neck/body joint
was fully glued throughout the production life.
HOFNER MODEL 4912 ACOUSTIC The 4192 was
introduced at the same time as the 4910, and was intended as a mid to high
range instrument. It featured a body cutaway, as well as the individual
enclosed Schaller tuners and low-key soundhole purfling of the 4910. The
body top was spruce, with flame maple back & sides. The guitar was
finished with a clear lacquer to the body top and sunburst to the sides and
back. Add to all that the mother of pearl fingerboard block inlays, and one
has a very attractive guitar!
HOFNER MODEL 4914 (DOVE) ACOUSTIC Based
very much on the G----n Dove, this guitar had a (probably laminated) spruce top with flamed maple
sides and the options of either a striking red sunburst finish, or a natural
finish. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, both with mother of pearl inlays.
And of course..........that very ornate scratchplate with the dove in the
tree.
HOFNER MODEL 4916 ACOUSTIC & MODEL 4916PA
ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC A short-lived professional standard jumbo, with
body cutaway. Spruce top and rosewood back & sides, the body edges
were heavily purfled with a ring of matching purfling around the soundhole.
Mother of pearl "double diamond" inlay to the headstock and block
markers to the fingerboard.
HOFNER MODEL 4990/6 ACOUSTIC & MODEL 4990/6E
ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC An upgrade of the 499(ii) guitar which it
replaced in 1975, and still a top-of-the-range dreadnought model with spruce top and rosewood back & sides. Plenty of purfling around the body
edges, mother of pearl fingerboard block inlays, and also the full mosaic soundhole rosette of the 499 was retained
initially - going against the then current
Hofner thinking. Within a short time however, the full mosaic had been
replaced by narrow circles of purfling.
HOFNER MODEL 600 ACOUSTIC, & MODELS
600E, 600E1 ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC (DJANGO MODEL) Hofner's very
creditable attempt at a Selmer Maccaferri inspired instrument, although not
all the features of the Maccaferri were incorporated into the 600 model.
This guitar was of top quality, with a body of all solid woods - a cedar
wood top and rosewood back & sides. An ebony fingerboard and hand carved
rosewood bridge was provided, and all this resulted in a very expensive
instrument indeed - over four times the price of the 4990/6 model ! The
Django model was offered with the choice of a fitted pickup, with or without
volume/tone controls.
HOFNER MODEL 4916/12 ACOUSTIC 12-STRING & 4916/12PA
ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC 12-STRING The 12-string version of the 4916 cutaway
jumbo described above. Both the 4916 and the 4916/12 were available fitted
with a piezzo pickup and pre-amp (PA version.)
4. 1980's SERIES
Model
Year of Introduction
Final Year of Production
6-String
Guitars:
Chrysalis
1988
1991
Chrysalis Special
1991
1991
HW10
1986
1992
HW12
1986
1992
HW12PA
1986
1992
HW14
1986
1992
HW14PA
1986
1992
HW16
1986
1992
HW16PA
1986
1992
HW18
1986
1992
HW18PA
1986
1992
12-String
Guitars:
HW11
1986
1992
HW13
1986
1992
HW13PA
1986
1992
HW15
1986
1992
HW15PA
1986
1992
HW17
1986
1992
HW17PA
1986
1992
HW19
1986
1992
HW19PA
1986
1992
HOFNER CHRYSALIS ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC This
model is indicative of the changes in design philosophy that were taking
place at Hofner from the mid-1980's onwards. Based on a Jumbo-style cutaway
body, features such as a body-width taper, elliptical soundhole, stylish
rounded neck heel, and a narrow slotted headstock made this guitar stand out
from the crowd. The turquoise and claret sunburst finish options completed
the statement. Solid spruce body top, with maple back & sides. A piezzo
pickup built into the bridge and a Passac Acoustic Equilizer were fitted as
standard.
I haven't been able to find any information as yet about the
short-lived Chrysalis Special.
HOFNER HW10, HW12 ACOUSTIC; HW12PA ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC;
HW11, HW13 12-STRING ACOUSTIC; HW13PA 12-STRING ELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC The
HW was the range that Hofner used in 1986 to sweep away (almost) all their old
and over-complex ranges of existing flattop models. The old 489/490 models
were retained, presumably to allow Hofner to still provide budget-priced
acoustics. However, all the old favourites like the 491/492 and 4990 models
were sent packing. The HW 10/11/12/13 guitars were the basis of the
range, initially with laminated spruce tops and ovankol back & sides. (Ovankol is
similar in appearance to rosewood, but much more available in both
environmental and financial terms.) The tops were changed to solid spruce throughout the range in early 1988.They had one-piece mahogany necks, with
rosewood fingerboards. A simple straightforward dreadnought acoustic. Clear
matt finishes were applied to the body tops, with a choice of matt or gloss
finish to the rest of the guitar. A bridge piezzo pickup was available as a
factory option.
HOFNER MODEL HA01 ACOUSTIC Hofner's
final, and much reduced, range of acoustic flattops, prior to the transfer
of acoustic flattop production to China in 2001. All models in the HA range
however had solid spruce tops. The HA01 was given a laminated mahogany back
& sides, with a mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard. A respectable
amount of purfling was given to the body sides and as circular strip
decorations around the soundhole. A piezzo bridge & pre-amp was available
as a factory fitted option. Left-handed instruments were also advertised as
being available.
HOFNER MODEL HA43 ACOUSTIC The old
4916/HW18 model, but with a plainer headstock, a reduction in decoration
that Hofner compensated for by using split block fingerboard markers.
Oh,.....and the scratchplate had disappeared by the time that the guitar was
called the HA43. Still a very tasty guitar though!
