2005 Hofner Jazzica

[jdazey]

After a year and a half of looking, I bought my first archtop yesterday. New to my house is a 2005 Hofner Jazzica. It's virtually new as the seller bought it new an put it away, never bonded with it and never played it. It still smells new. No fret wear, no dings, no scratches, it's mint. It also has what are probably the original (roundwound) strings and the action is very high. Lowering the bridge should take care of the action, and I'll wait a few days before deciding on the strings.

The acoustic sound is less than I hoped for. I think that's my problem, not the guitar's. Plugged in it sounds wonderful, more than I hoped for. This is my first foray into amplified sound as well as archtops. I can see there's a _lot_ to learn, but boy is it going to be fun.

Sorry, no pics until I figure out how to store them somewhere.

Joe
(Trying to get 50 posts in before the end of the decade)

[Spook410]

After focusing on flat top guitars and owning some pretty good ones over the years, I'm finding there is some acclimation to the acoustic sound of an archtop. It is different. Thanks for sharing the your new acquisition and we look forward to pics. (picasaweb or photobucket work fine for online storing/sharing of photos)

[mr. beaumont]

After a year and a half of looking, I bought my first archtop yesterday. New to my house is a 2005 Hofner Jazzica. It's virtually new as the seller bought it new an put it away, never bonded with it and never played it. It still smells new. No fret wear, no dings, no scratches, it's mint. It also has what are probably the original (roundwound) strings and the action is very high. Lowering the bridge should take care of the action, and I'll wait a few days before deciding on the strings.

The acoustic sound is less than I hoped for. I think that's my problem, not the guitar's. Plugged in it sounds wonderful, more than I hoped for. This is my first foray into amplified sound as well as archtops. I can see there's a _lot_ to learn, but boy is it going to be fun.

Sorry, no pics until I figure out how to store them somewhere.

Joe
(Trying to get 50 posts in before the end of the decade)

You got a "lifer" as your first archie...sweet.

The jazzica is meant to be plugged in, but I do find the unplugged tone pleasant enough.

[marshall]

I'm happy for you and your first archtop,never played one but have heard it and good things and good things about it.May you play often and well.

[docbop]

Congrat's nice guitar. I almost got one a couple weeks ago, but found a deal on something else. Having an archtop is nice the full sound, many a beefier neck (my preference) and acoustic enough to practice at any hour.

I'm sure you will dig it.

[jdazey]

Thanks for your comments everybody. I have some nice flattops, but nothing to compare to the sound of this Jazzica. I'm getting used to the unusual shape of the body and the 16 frets to the body neck, getting to like it a lot. I'm getting to the point in life where I didn't want to spend a lot of time working my up through intermediate archtops. I think Mr B is right, this one's a lifer.

Joe

[Hammertone]

Congrats on getting a great guitar. Blonde? Sunburst? Violin? Black? Canary Yellow?

Acoustic sound out of the Jazzica is strictly a bonus - it's purpose-built to be amplified. I just restrung my blonde Jazzica, moving from rounds to Monel flats. mmmmmm.....

Until you can get your mad photo skilz happening, here's a proxy for Jeff (heh, heh) :

[msr13]

Nice. Nice. Nice! Congrats on a beautiful guitar.

[Rustic]

I love the ebony detail around the "f" hole.

[whatswisdom]

New to my house is a 2005 Hofner Jazzica. It's virtually new

How much $$ did it cost?

[Hammertone]

Lovely pictures! How is the pickup fastened? That's NOT an ordinary pickup mounting ring.

You are so right - it's just not normal. That floating setup takes a Hofner pickup mounting ring, removes the two little bottom tabs (for top mounting), screws into the end of the neck with two little screws countersunk through the plastic , and - presto changeo! - the pickup is suspended by four teeny screws (two on each side). It actually works quite well.

(...and where's that Canary Yellow one, eh..? Eh..?)

Did someone say yellow?

[Hammertone]

There are some really sweet Jazzicas in this thread! Where did the yellow one come from?
Joe

The guys in Germany have a nice sense of humour.
It's the latest in a series of nutty colours applied to fancy jazz guitars, including:
- lime green and pumpkin orange Chancellors
- red and dark green New Presidents
with more to come, presumably.

Hmm, that didn't work the way I hoped it would. How do you guys get your photos in the post?
Joe

In Photobucket, if you're looking at a group of pix ad put your cursor over the photo, you get a little pop-up menu. If you look at a larger single image, the "Links" menu should appear somewhere on the page. The bottom item in that menu is "IMG code". Just put your cursor over the content of the little box next to IMG - soemtimes you need to click, sometimes not. The content will change to say "copied".

Then, put your cursor in the reply window of the forum, and "paste". The correct code will appear without the need for any other typing. Then save your reply. The picture should appear. Like this:



Nice bearclaw.

[jdazey]

Thanks. Here are the rest:

[jdazey]

How much $$ did it cost?

When the seller dropped the price from $1500 to $1100, I grabbed it.
_____________________________
05-28-2012 07:11 PM Hammertone
Congrats on getting a great guitar. Blonde? Sunburst? Violin? Black? Canary Yellow?

Acoustic sound out of the Jazzica is strictly a bonus - it's purpose-built to be amplified. I just restrung my blonde Jazzica, moving from rounds to Monel flats. mmmmmm.....
____________________________
Yes, strings are on the list along with a truss rod adjustment. The acoustic sound is nice enough but not on the order of an 18" Goodman I played recently. OTOH, the Goodman cost three times as much and had a 1 5/8" nut. Too narrow for me. I couldn't ask for more with Jazzica plugged in.

Thanks everyone for chiming in.
Joe

[mangotango]

When the seller dropped the price from $1500 to $1100, I grabbed it.

About £700 ?? Wow, that's a real bargain.

And do you know what, when somebody mentioned yellow, I instantly thought "errmmm, no...."; but seeing that picture, it doesn't look half bad, y'know. May be different in the flesh, but would be interesting.......

Joe, gotta say, what a great guitar for first dipping your toes in the archtop waters. You may never need another....that's not to say you mightn't want one; but hey, that's GAS, mate!

Wish you well to play it.

[mr. beaumont]

$1100? You STOLE that guitar. Great job, excellent find, and show of patience!

[PTChristopher]

>>> $1,100

Wow. Now that is a bargain. Congrats again.

Chris

[neatomic]

nice!..congrats..hofners are highly underrated (except by hammertone! haha)

if your interested in replacing floater, you might check out a zoller

here's attila and jim raney checking out their zoller equipped hofners



enjoy

cheers

[mr. beaumont]

Those floating pickups are not like typical minibucker crap. Hofner's pickups are excellent.

[jbucklin]

If it's like most new guitars, pickups, etc. My ears will eventually adapt. I had an Eastman with a floater that never sounded good plugged in.

[citizenk74]

Gorgeous guitar. Give the pup a little time. Play it in good health!

[NoReply]

Probably the picture angle but don't all Jazzica's have the tapered body, thinner around the neck and thicker at the tail? Isn't that one of the unique features of the guitar.

[Archie]

I find Honfer pickups to be surprisingly bad, especially the Diamond series.

[jbucklin]

I'm playing it on a gig right now and finally put the sound hole plugs in. Massive feedback. And the room has the worst acoustics! We're in a corner that is a horrible bass trap.

[Max405]

Did the plugs help?
JD