THE HOFNER COMMITTEE - FACT FILE

The Committee reigned supreme as the "regular" top-quality archtop in the Selmer catalogue. There was of course the Committee Deluxe and Golden Hofner models, but only about 100 or so of those exclusive guitars (including thinlines) were ever produced between 1958 and 1962. The Committee however was introduced in 1953, and was in continuous production until about 1969. Electric Committees were still appearing in the Selmer catalogues in 1972.

There are several examples of this model in the Archtops and Collections sections of the Visitors' Gallery. In this Fact File, I have therefore attempted only to describe the features of the Committee at the various stages in its evolution. The headstock changes are perhaps the most positive method of illustrating the various stages, and hence these are illustrated below. I have not identified the changes to the pickups on the electric versions. These follow the general pattern of Hofner electrics changes.

Please note that the evolution described below should only be taken as a guide, and not as 100% gospel. Hofner being Hofner, there was a degree of overlap between the various stages, and not every Committee falls exactly into the pattern.

1954 - 1956:

Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.
Lower Bout width: 17.5"
Plain white binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.
Usually a plain clear perspex scratchplate, but the very earliest (less than 20?) were fitted with a bound tortoiseshell scratchplate.
Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.
Plain white binding to neck.
Six fret markers on fingerboard.
No truss rod.
Large "frondose" headstock without HOFNER name, but with large "Fishtail" inlay at top.
Machine heads are 3-on-a-plate classical guitar type, with plastic surrounds on barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons.
Rosewood fingerboard, with ebony inlaid at fret marker locations.
"Lyre" style tailpiece.
Rosewood two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.) - although some Committees of this period are fitted with the simpler single plastic saddle bridge.
Hofner logo stamped into body top just below, and to treble side of, bridge.
Only an acoustic version offered.

1956 - 1957:

Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.
Lower Bout Width: 17.5" on both acoustic and electric versions.
White or Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.
Plain clear perspex scratchplate.
Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.
White or Marbled binding to neck.
Initially six, later eight, fret markers on fingerboard.
No truss rod.
Large "frondose" headstock without HOFNER name, but with large "Fishtail" inlay at top.
Machine heads are single, open units, with solid brass barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons.
Rosewood fingerboard, with ebony inlaid at fret marker locations.
"Lyre" style tailpiece.
Rosewood two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.)
Hofner logo stamped into body top just below, and to treble side of, bridge.
Acoustic, with full-bodied twin pickup electric versions also offered from 1957.
Oval shaped control consul on electric versions.

1958 - 1959:

Carved solid spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides, however with laminated spruce body tops beginning to dominate.
Lower Bout Width: 17.5" on both acoustic and electric versions.
Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.
Plain clear perspex scratchplate.
Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.
Marbled binding to neck.
Eight fret markers on fingerboard.
No truss rod.
Large "frondose" headstock with HOFNER name. Fishtail on earlier guitars replaced at top of headstock with "Micky Mouse ears".
Machine heads are single units, with solid brass barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons.
All ebony fingerboard with rosewood inserts at fret locations.
"Lyre" style tailpiece.
Ebonised two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.)
Hofner logo decal on bass side of body top bout.
Acoustic and full-bodied electric versions offered. Thinline electrics offered from 1959.
Initially Oval and then Rectangular shaped control consuls on electric versions.

1960 - 63:

Laminated spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides., with occasional carved spruce body tops
Lower Bout Width: 17.5" on both acoustic and electric versions.
Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.
Plain clear perspex scratchplate.
Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.
Marbled binding to neck.
Eight fret markers on fingerboard.
Truss rod fitted to neck.
Large "frondose" headstock with HOFNER name. "Micky Mouse ears at top of headstock.
Machine heads are single units, with solid brass barrels. Ornate floral plastic buttons.
All ebony fingerboard with rosewood inserts at fret locations.
"Lyre" style tailpiece.
Ebonised two piece bridge, with individual string saddles made of fret wire (adjustable in slots.)
Hofner logo decal on bass side of body top bout.
Full-bodied and Thinline electric versions offered, as well as Acoustic.
Rectangular shaped control consul on electric versions.

1963 - 1964:

Laminated spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.
Lower Bout Width: 18".
Heavy Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.
Eight fret markers on fingerboard.
Clear perspex scratchplate, gold embossed around the edges, with Hofner script logo in gold.
Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.
Heavy Marbled binding to neck.
Truss rod fitted to neck.
Conventional size headstock with HOFNER name. "Micky Mouse ears at top of headstock.
Machine heads are single enclosed Van Ghent units. Plane oval plastic buttons.
All ebony fingerboard generally from 1964 onwards.
"Escutcheon" style tailpiece.
Ebonised two piece bridge, with individual fret wire string saddles. "Micromatic" bridge fitted to electric versions.
Full-bodied and Thinline electric versions offered, as well as Acoustic.
Four rotary controls plus three way pickup selector fitted to electrics.

1964 - c1969:

Laminated spruce body top, and birdseye maple back and sides.
Lower Bout Width: 18" on electric versions.
Heavy Marbled binding, with multiple black/white purfling to body.
Clear perspex scratchplate, gold embossed around the edges, with Hofner script logo in gold.
Five piece flamed maple/mahogany laminated neck.
Heavy Marbled binding to neck.
Eight fret markers on fingerboard.
Truss rod fitted to neck.
Conventional size headstock with HOFNER name, but without "Micky Mouse ears at top of headstock.
Machine heads are single Van Ghent enclosed units. Plane oval plastic buttons. Last models were fitted with new enclosed units with metal buttons.
All ebony fingerboard.
"Escutcheon" style tailpiece.
Ebonised two piece bridge, with individual fret wire string saddles. "Micromatic" bridge fitted to electric versions.
Full-bodied and Thinline electric versions offered, as well as Acoustic.
Four rotary controls plus large three way pickup selector fitted to electrics up to about 1966/67. Then three rotary controls plus smaller three way pickup selector switch.

July 1955 Selmer advertisement featuring the Hofner Committee.