Early 1980's HOFNER MODEL A2 HL
SEMI-ACOUSTIC GUITAR
ALAN EXPLAINS ABOUT HIS GUITAR:
"The A2 has only had one owner, from
whom I bought it earlier this year (2007). He told me
that, living near the factory in the late 70's as a teenager, he
had called in one Saturday hoping to buy a guitar......but with limited
funds! As he describes it, he spent a happy afternoon with Christian
Benker playing everything that was for sale. Sensing that he was
not sure what to buy, Herr Benker disappeared to a large cupboard and
reappeared with the A2. It was a prototype, dated Dec '79; the
production model being launched the following year. All the
switches and knobs were persuasive it seems and Christian was quite
happy to sell it, without a case, at a reasonable price!!! It has
lived near to Bubenreuth ever since.
Fortunately for me, it's original owner never quite took to it and went
back to his old Strat. Consequently, it is just like new. It
is really lovely to play although at the moment I can't replicate the
same sound twice - far too many switches!! I
need to experiment with strings as well. Currently I have my
favourite D'Asquito SS Flatwound 11's on, but they seem to emphasis the
Bass register. I suspect the A2 is rather bassey anyway so I may
try Thomastics instead."
MICHAEL, THE GUITARS ORIGINAL OWNER, EXPLAINS ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE ELECTRICS:
"The black toggle is for changing the pickups. Three locations for
mixing both pickups and to separate the indivdual bridge or
neck-pickup, as is usual.
The two silver toggles are for each humbucker. The left position
looking down the guitar in playing position is humbucking style, the
neutral position is for single-coil, and the right is for "out of
phase". You can combine the three switches as you like! The sound
changes from fat to hollow.
The volume pot is with correction of the high-frequency; that means if
you play with low output or with high output, the high frequencies are
on the same level. You don't have to play with the Volume on 10 to hear
the best tone.
The next knob is the tone control. It works very straight and efficient through the hole range.
The last knob is a so called "low range filter". The endorser at the
Höfner factory told me that this function is for revealing the
natural sound-spectrum of the guitar. He also said, it doesn't work
together with the tone control, because you are lifting the heights and
the other is depressing the depths. I think really that the best way is
to experiment for one's self though!
All three knobs are working for all pickups."
Return to VISITORS'
GALLERY - HOFNER ARCHTOPS & SEMIS