Not much love for Höfner Archtops?

[Woody Sound]

I wonder if they're like the JCT 117.

[Hammertone]

Same thing, just newer.

The first run of these was made in Korea, because the Chinese supplier wasn't quite set up for them.
Subsequent production was all Chinese.

Here's a Chinese-production "HCT-J17" made sometime in the last 12 years. Ebay item #153993749143. Essentially the same as the current Bluto version, with the older pickup. No idea if it comes from the same Chinese contractor. Note the lame f-holes - these seemed to vary a bit over time, from decent Gibson-copy f-holes to Gumby f-holes.
Also note the price, and the "make offer" option. This seller sells random junk and obviously knows nothing about guitars - someone will get a screaming deal.

[Hammertone]

Here's an original "J-5" from Korea - I'm installing a Hofner OEM pickup for a customer to replace a generic Johnny Smith-style floater. These typically came in trans-red or "Cinnamon" (brownish-red). The wood bits are rosewood dyed to look like ebony.

[Gitterbug]

The folks over at Hofner sometimes forget to describe things the way they actually are because that would interrupt their beer-drinking and over-all rest/lunch/nap/surf-the-net schedules.

Apparently, it stems from real-life experience. In 2017, I visited the Frankfurt Musikmesse together with my son, who was doing business with Höfner. At some point, the company rep looked at his watch and said: "Gosh, it's almost beer o'clock." Off we went to the nearest whetting-place.

[Arnesto]

Here's an original "J-5" from Korea - I'm installing a Hofner OEM pickup for a customer to replace a generic Johnny Smith-style floater. These typically came in trans-red or "Cinnamon" (brownish-red). The wood bits are rosewood dyed to look like ebony.

that red one looks great, I had a verythin ct and was a great semi for the price. But I m not a semi hollow guy

[AndyTsundoku]

Anyone know if these have a nitro finish?

[Hammertone]

Anyone know if these have a nitro finish?

If you are asking about the Chinese and Korean Hofner-branded archtops, they all have catalyzed poly finishes.

Plenty of German-built Hofner archtops also have catalyzed poly finishes, something Hofner started doing in the 1960s, unfortunately. Some have shellac finishes. Some have nitro-cellulose lacquer finishes. A handful even have wax finishes.

[Hammertone]

Someday I’m gonna get me one of these:

1960s Verithins are lovely guitars when properly set up and configured. I used to buy and sell them on a regular basis. They should be easy enough to find in Europe, and not particularly expensive. Here's my personal Verithin: