Peerless songbird vs hofner verythin

[Own]

Hi, right now I am standing on selection between two semi accoustic electro guitars indicated in the subject. I play jazzy blues and fusion in styles of Al di meola, Pat metheny, Latin blues and bossa and interested in warm saturated sound closed to gibson. Many people recommended me Peerless guitars but occasionally I found Hofner better within price category of 500 euro. I will be thankful for any opinions!

[s1track3d]

I play jazzy blues and fusion in styles of Al di meola, Pat metheny, Latin blues and bossa and interested in warm saturated sound closed to gibson.

I would go for the Hofner Verythin as it is a semi hollow and more versatile in my opinion. The songbird is a fully hollow with p90 pickups.

[neatomic]

epiphone dot gets you close to gibby 335 style..fits your budget too

from thomann-




cheers

ps- i like the hofner verythins too

[Own]

I think that the wood quality of the Sound-bird is worst compared to Verythin, isn't it? I checked some videos and found that Sound-bird especially on clean channel sounds like cheap plywood even I would prefer more p90 pickups.
Interesting video

On other side more expensive Korean models like Jazz city of Revolver sounds much better but it unfortunately out of my budget :-(

[Own]

BTW what I found that all comp-temporary Hofner Verythin models are made in China
Hofner Verythin Deluxe Transparent Black gitaar
although initially the manufaction and assembly was entirely in Germany. Does the quality of such new modern guitars are changed due to the translocation of guitar factory to asia?

Thanks!

Gleb

[Klatu]

They used to make two lines: one manufactured in Asia and another in Germany. The German produced versions were considered to be higher end instruments. Now since Hofner has pulled out of the American market, I haven't followed their lines very closely at all, but I think the rule may still hold true.

[mr. beaumont]

The Chinese ones are pretty good, much more 335 like in feel. On par with similarly priced Epiphones, Ibanez, etc.

The German made ones, if you can find one used, are many steps above, and a very different feeling guitar. If you can do ebay, there's almost always one floating around out there for about 1k or just under, an absolute steal at that price.

I lust over many types of guitars...but my Verythin has completely satisfied any semi-hollow GAS, going on 5 years now.

[Own]

And how do you think the general quality of the assembly in which case is better Korean's Peerles or china's Hofners?

[mr. beaumont]

I think the Peerless are pretty highly regarded, I personally have never run across a Peerless branded Peerless--but I have played Peerless made Epiphones which were quite good--I beleive the Peerless branded models are even nicer.

Does Peerless offer a more "335" model? Those guitars you are comparing are VERY different.

[Hammertone]

They used to make two lines: one manufactured in Asia and another in Germany. The German produced versions were considered to be higher end instruments. Now since Hofner has pulled out of the American market, I haven't followed their lines very closely at all, but I think the rule may still hold true.

Actually, Hofner is still in the North American market, distributed by MDG since 2012. In addition to various Hofner basses made in Germany as well as in China, they continue to offer various guitars, mostly made in China, with a few made in Germany. On the guitar side in North America:

Classical guitars
- various models, made in Germany

Steel-string Acoustic Guitars & Resonator Guitars
- various models, made in China

Electric Guitars
- Shorty - made in China
- Verythin Deluxe - made in China - @24 3/4" scale
- Verythin CT/Contemporary - made in China - @24 3/4" scale
- Verythin LTD CT/Contemporary - made in China - special colours, w/Bigsby B-70 - @24 3/4" scale
- Verythin Custom, Special, Singlecut w/Bigsby (B-70) - made/painted in China, assembly/setup in Germany w/some German parts - @24 3/4" scale

Very Limited Production:
- Verythin Standard (Limited Editions of 6 or a dozen every other year or so) - made in Germany - @25 1/4" scale
- Thin President - made in Germany - @25 1/4" scale
- New President - made in Germany - @25 1/4" scale
- Jazzica Custom - made in Germany - @25 1/4" scale - a few "LE Zane Carney" models should be available sometime this year
- Chancellor - made in Germany - @25 1/4" scale
- New Committee - made in Germany - @25 1/4" scale
- Club 50 - made in Germany

[Duotone]

I have bought a new German made Verythin Standard (1 out of 5 made by luthier Thomas Stühlein) via an EBay auction rather cheap for ~850 EUR. It has a very clear, bell-like and very airy sound. Not as woody sounding as my Epi Casino. But very very nice for Jazz.


The neck profile is slightly asymmetric and the best playing one of all my guitars.

[Hammertone]

I have bought a new German made Verythin Standard (1 out of 5 made by luthier Thomas Stühlein) via an EBay auction rather cheap for ~850 EUR. It has a very clear, bell-like and very airy sound. Not as woody sounding as my Epi Casino. But very very nice for Jazz. The neck profile is slightly asymmetric and the best playing one of all my guitars.

Congratulations!
Please post some pix of the guitar.

Hooray for Verythins!

[mr. beaumont]

I have bought a new German made Verythin Standard (1 out of 5 made by luthier Thomas Stühlein) via an EBay auction rather cheap for ~850 EUR. It has a very clear, bell-like and very airy sound. Not as woody sounding as my Epi Casino. But very very nice for Jazz.


The neck profile is slightly asymmetric and the best playing one of all my guitars.

I have the asymmetric carve on the neck of mine too...fantastic neck.

Yeah, pics!

[neatomic]

the hofner diamond mini hum pickups are the wildcard..great pickup..much more interesting than just another generic humbucker....

cheers

ps- voila!

[Duotone]

Pics? It's a pleasure:






Please note the all black fingerboard without any inlays and the three dots on the headstock with the golden logo. I changed the stock witch-hat control knobs for teacup knobs, which suit the rounded geometry of the guitar much better, to my taste.

Here's one more, in the Hammertone style:

[Hammertone]

Gorgeous!
Yours is from the 2014 Limited Edition run of Black/Gold Verythin Standards - five made. Here's one of mine, from the 2014/15 Limited Edition run, with matte finish, birds-eye rims/back - six made. Hofner's strategy of world domination continues!

Essentially the same specs, different cosmetics:
- solid spruce block, carved to fit the inner curves of the top and back plates
- spruce-laminated top
- maple or anigree-laminated rims/back
- 1 piece maple neck, ebony board
- Schaller hardware
- Schaller PAF-style humbuckers
- 25 1/4" scale

[Own]

Thanks so much guys!!

You Hofners indeed looks very nice!

Btw taking back to China's models
what are the principal differences between those two models
- Verythin Deluxe - made in China - @24 3/4" scale
- Verythin CT/Contemporary - made in China - @24 3/4" scale

assuming that of course the wood quality should differs between German's and China's models will the electronics be at least the same quality?


Gleb

[Duotone]

The Deluxe features a smaller body.

[Duotone]

Gorgeous!
Yours is from the 2014 Limited Edition run of Black/Gold Verythin Standards - five made. Here's one of mine, from the 2015 Limited Edition run, with matte finish, birds-eye rims/back - six made. Hofner's strategy of world domination continues!

Thanks for that information, Hammertone! I didn't know that. You're quite a Höfner encyclopaedia!

Gorgeous!
Yours is from the 2014 Limited Edition run of Black/Gold Verythin Standards - five made. Here's one of mine, from the 2015 Limited Edition run, with matte finish, birds-eye rims/back - six made. Hofner's strategy of world domination continues!

That's beauty as well, for sure! I'm always getting a little envious with regards to the blonde ones, (especially the John Stowell model).

[Own]

What is about that guy?
The customer told me that is some special model from the Korea. Is it right?

[Doctor Jeff]

That Hofner looks super nice!

Unfortunately, at least here in the midwest Hofner archtops are not to be found, so not on my radar screen. I'm sure in Europe the situation is different...

It's also hard to find Peerless, but at least they can be easily ordered from Guitars'n'Jazz or off Ebay without too much trouble.

Heritage is also hard to find, except for the rare model that shows up in vintage shops. Eastman used to be rare, but I'm starting to find quite a few dealers these days.

[Own]

could someone to track agains serial number of that black Hofrer's its real place of manufaction?

Thanks!

Gleb

[mr. beaumont]

If it says CT, it's China.

All German made Hofners have signed labels, to the best of my knowledge...Hammertone?

Hubert Kaa signed my beauty.

[Own]

Here the question is not related to China but rather to Korean's model. I really didn't find on those pics the standard title Made in China which can be easily detected on modern CT models.

[Hammertone]

If it says CT, it's China. All German made Hofners have signed labels, to the best of my knowledge…Hammertone? Hubert Kaa signed my beauty.

All Verythin Classic, JS and Standard models are signed by Hubert Kaa or Thomas Stuhlein. German-made Verythins have labels that say "Made in Germany" printed on them.

Here the question is not related to China but rather to Korean's model. I really didn't find on those pics the standard title Made in China which can be easily detected on modern CT models.

CT models are made in China. I have never seen a Korean-made Verythin. "Made in China" is indicated on a small adhesive paper label usually attached to the back of the neck just above the volute, and easily/often removed.

...Btw taking back to China's models
what are the principal differences between those two models
- Verythin Deluxe - made in China - @24 3/4" scale
- Verythin CT/Contemporary - made in China - @24 3/4" scale
assuming that of course the wood quality should differs between German's and China's models will the electronics be at least the same quality? Gleb

As mentioned, the Deluxe has a smaller body - it's a Mini-me Verythin. German-made Verythins have mostly German hardware whereas Chinese-made CT Verythins have Korean and Chinese hardware. The electronics on the German-made Verythins are higher-quality than those on the Chinese-made CT Verythins.

That Hofner looks super nice! Unfortunately, at least here in the midwest Hofner archtops are not to be found, so not on my radar screen. I'm sure in Europe the situation is different… ...

Listings on ebay for new instrument are easy enough to find in for American retailers. Big guys like Sweetwater, MF/Music123, Sam Ash sell them. Smaller independent retailers on ebay, like RocknRollVintage, BarryClarkMusic, EddiesGuitars, bayviewmusic and more sell them.