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Hey guys,
I know it's been a while since I last posted. I'm normally one to watch on the "sidelines" of forums, but maybe I'll become more active soon.
I've been looking around at archtops recently, both acoustic and electric, as the only guitars I've had are solidbody electrics and a flattop acoustic, and I love the feel and vibe and sound I get from an archtop when I play them. I stumbled across this.
but it feels like there's something wrong with it. In the information I find on the web, that model isn't supposed to have the Hofner brand inscribed on the headstock, rather on the body, but the fretboard inlays do seem correct for the date...
I more or less am wondering of anyone's opinion here before I consider contacting the seller. What also concerns me is how long the listing's been up, normally those types of listings close in a month at most...
Thanks for any help! I hope to be more involved in this awesome community
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06-17-2012 10:58 PM
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I got the page with no listing.
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Not opinion, but fact:
Nice clean-looking early-mid 1960's Model 450.
Not '57.
Piece of shit original plastic bridge can easily be replaced with a period-and-Hofner-correct wooden bridge. That will improve the sound 100%. I can line you up with one easily. I'm in Toronto.
Sometimes these listing languish - it means nothing.
I recommend it- these are really great guitars, far nicer than most of today's 16" laminated guitars. FWIW, I've owned, bought, sold and restored over a hundred Hofner archtops since 1980.
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Yup, I didn't get a listing.
Originally Posted by tstrahle
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Looks like this:
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Thanks for the speedy response! Originally Posted by Hammertone
So would the 900$ price be reasonable do you think?
Side Note: The link I posted works for me...
Here it is again: RARE! 1957 Hofner 450 Archtop Acoustic Guitar and Hardcase
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Those were a poor man's Gibson back in the day. They were not well respected.
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A plywood Hofner much like this one was my first archtop which I bought second hand as a teenager in 1968 for the enormous sum of what in US $ equals 50,- including case. There were a lot of those for sale used back then. As has been written, they were not highly respected back then. I lent my Hofner to a friend in 1973 and he still has it. It still plays OK.
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Why not get a recently made Godin or Eastman with no issues?
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He says it's a "player". You might want to ask about fret wear, etc..
Joe
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It's on the high end of the range, which is more like $500 - $900, in my opinion. There is no specific value because not enough of these are sold to have a firmly established value. I personally would pay closer to the bottom of the range, but it's certainly worth playing the guitar to determine how well it performs and then making a reasonable offer. Originally Posted by capt_kurk
Recent prices for Godin and Eastman suggest that it should sell closer to the bottom or middle of the range.
These can be very nice guitars - thin laminated plates that are very responsive, (sometimes) very comfortable necks. Long scale, like Fender. Neck joint that is VERY easy to work on when a neck reset is required (usually onece every 40 years).
If you really like it but can't come to terms with the price, remember that these do come up for sale on a regular basis in Ontario - lots of them were imported to Canada in the 1960's, when trade barriers made American-made guitars stupidly expensive here.
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That works out to @$330 in today's dollars. You got an excellent deal back then. Originally Posted by oldane
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As nice as I find the Godin guitars, (especially the Uptown, I've liked every one I've tried) I can't help but feel there's something missing. Also, on most of their necks, they feel like my acoustic (a nice Simon and Patrick). Nothing wrong with that, but not necessarily what I'm looking for right now. The Godin though is still a consideration :P Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
Also, the Hofner's never mentioned to have any issues :PLast edited by capt_kurk; 06-18-2012 at 11:56 PM.
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Haha, look what I just found: Hofner Guitars Internet Community • View topic - Hofner 450?
This confirms more the year of construction to be around 1963/64.
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I just remembered another question I have, more involving guitars in general, but it applies here:
Brass frets? I know in general, brass is a bit softer than steel. I wonder how much it will affect the sound as well? I'm a little hesitant going to try the guitar, it's by no means a short drive...
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It's a never ending debate whether stainless steel frets sound different from ordinary nickel silver. Some say they do, some say they don't to any significant degree. I suppose the same goes for brass. Luthiers sometimes hate to work with stainless steel frets because they are so hard, takes so much effort and their expensive files wear out so fast. Originally Posted by capt_kurk
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Hi,
Im new to hofner and salvaged a hofner 450 serial number #5780 for $200. The neck is completely separated from the body. I'm keen to know anything about these guitars. I searched online and can not find this serial number anywhere- It's on the paper label and stamped in the head. do you have any insight? And do you have spares?
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Hofner did not put paper labels in its domestic guitars like the 450.
Various distributors did stamp and label the guitars they got from Hofner.
Please post pictures of the guitar and the label and I'd be happy to sort it out for you.
Or go here for some fun reading:
Hofner Guitars - Steve Russell's Vintage Hofner Website - Index PageLast edited by Hammertone; 05-14-2016 at 02:10 PM.
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Hi
Thanks for your info.
I'm confused by this model. I searched inside the body with a light and mirror and no dates.
It has no hofner decals anywhere.
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That looks like a fun little project. It looks like it's in great shape as well.
Nothing confusing about this bog-standard-looking Model 450.
As mentioned, Hofner generally did not put serial numbers on their guitars. But they did so specifically for guitars distributed by Selmer, while other distributors applied their own serial numbers.
The number 394 on the neck pocket and the heel is simply an internal factory code that matches that specific neck to that specific body.
The stamped serial number at the edge of the headstock is a distributor's number, not a manufacturer's mark.
The printed guarantee is also most likely from the distributor or possibly from the retailer.
The guitar neck has a trussrod, so it must be from the 1960s, not the 1950s.
Plenty of these low-end Hofners are missing their decals, and pleny of them don't have internal date stamps or markings - these were lower-end guitars produced in quantity, so no one really cared too much.
You can get the same style bridge in rosewood - it is still being made by Teller in Germany, is easy enough, to find, is historically "correct", and is vastly superior to the existing bridge in every conceivable way. The existing black plastic bridge is a functional, top-staining, tone-sucking piece of garbage.Last edited by Hammertone; 05-14-2016 at 02:10 PM.
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thanks heaps for your help!!!
Can I ask one more question? Where would a period correct Hofner decal be on this guitar? I see them on afew places on the body and the head
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Branded (woodburned) just below the bridge on the treble side, some later ones with decal in that spot, until the late 1950s. Originally Posted by friar dave
Decal on upper bass bout is standard from the late 1950s to sometime in the early 1960s.
Decal on headstock is standard starting sometime in the early 1960s.
One or the other is standard - lots of overlap.
Probably factory correct examples with both as well as none.
You need to understand that nobody cared about any of this - it just didn't matter.
And today, nobody cares about any of this - it just doesn't matter.Last edited by Hammertone; 05-14-2016 at 11:08 PM.
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