Thin jazz Guitar

[tonesofpgh]

Hey everyone, I am trying to help my dad find a thin jazz box. He used to have a John Stowel model Hofner very thin that he really regrets selling. They are now nearly impossible to find. They only made like 32 in the violin finish that he had. What can you fine people recommend as a replacement? He's definitely looking for something about the same thickness. Thanks much!


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[Jim Soloway]

Contact forum member Hammertone. He has a very long association with Hofner. He's a good guy and he has access to all kinds of Hofner guitars that no one else can find anywhere. Maybe he can arrange something for you.

[tonesofpgh]

Contact forum member Hammertone. He has a very long association with Hofner. He's a good guy and he has access to all kinds of Hofner guitars that no one else can find anywhere. Maybe he can arrange something for you.

Thank you, I'll send him a message.


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[Cunamara]

Hammertone is the first (and possibly) last stop you'll need to make. Also, Reverb.com is a potential source:

Electric Guitars | Reverb

[hotpepper01]

Hofner still makes thinlines. Thin President would come somewhat close. Another possible source could be German sites or Ebay.DE

Hofner Archtop Guitars

[Ray175]

Hofner have reissued the Verithin

Hofner Verythin - CT Electric Guitar

Does it compare with the 1960s and 70s models ? don't know, but could be worth checking out? US dealer/importer is

Musical Distributors Group (MDG)
1 South Corporate Drive
Riverdale,
NJ 07457
Phone: +1 973-335-7888
Fax: +1 973-335-7779
www.musicaldistributors.com
[email protected]

[joaopaz]

[mispeltyoof]

Look at the Peerless Renaissance. Virtual ES330 copy. Pure thin archtop,no central block so very light ,excellent playability and sound with Epiphone style P90s and good price. Doc Doscos your man in US and a member here.

[Hammertone]

I'm on the case!

In terms of the German-made electrics, Hofner still makes a few Verythins in Germany every year as Gold Label models. They have been doing this for the past five or six years. They did a few with
-natural finish/smoked eucalyptus rims&backs/perloid binding;
-trans-amber finish/maple tops,rims&backs, featuring Amber pickups;
-black finish, gold-plated parts
-matte natural finish/birds-eye maple rims&backs;

These typically have laminated spruce tops, solid spruce blocks, ebony boards, regular f-holes, full-sized humbuckers, and stop tailpieces - kind of a combination of the features of the Verythin Classics and the Verythin Standards made from @2000-2010. Last year's version is matte black, with lovely yellow-red hot rod flames painted on it, and a Bigsby, below. Looking forward to this year!

They also make the Thin President in Germany on a limited basis, which is a bit deeper than the Verythin (@2" rims as opposed to 1 1/4" rims). these typically come in black, white and red with laminated spruce tops, solid spruce blocks, ebony boards, regular f-holes, full-sized humbuckers, and Bigsby or trapeze tailpieces.

I have a few German-made Verythin Classics in stock as well as New Presidents, Jazzicas and Chancellors, if anyone is interested. Once they are gone, they are gone. Hard to get more since they don't really make them anymore, except for the occasional one-off.

No shortage of fine Chinese-made Hofners - inexpensive CT Verythins have been available for ten years, and represent an excellent value for folks looking for that kind of instrument. I encourage all of you to run out and buy a few!

[tonesofpgh]

Sent you a msg regarding the very thin classic/JS...at work so can't call yet...


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[Doctor Jeff]

That is a beautiful guitar--I would regret selling it as well!

As noted, there are a lot of thinline options out there, but maybe not one quite as unique as the Hofner.

The Gretsch Streamliner seems to be a similar size and style, but with different pickups of course.

A Gibson 339 would be another option in a smaller body (not as thin I don't think).

Here's another interesting guitar that I've never seen or played, just see their ads online a lot: B and G guitars. I think they're made in Israel. The online demos sound quite interesting.

B&G Guitars

And of course the usual Peerless, Godins, etc. that may or may not be what your dad is looking for (center block, humbuckers, etc.).?

[Doctor Jeff]

BTW I played that Loar in a shop. Cool little guitar, not much acoustic sound to speak of. As others have said, the fit and finish and playability on the Loars is not as consistent as with others.

Personally for a non-cutaway archtop with a P90 I would go with the Godin Kingpin, but that's my preference.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Is he looking for a smaller body? I would check out Eastman El Reys. Despite the lack of f-holes, they are hollow, with some models having a bridge block.

[joaopaz]

The Gretsch Streamliner seems to be a similar size and style, but with different pickups of course.

I have it, it's a cool guitar. The hollow center block makes it quite light and the sound is a bit more acoustic.

I'd say it's a tad smaller than a regular 335, very comfortable.

The sound is actually what I like the most, it can sound jazzy and retain a different character.

[Hammertone]

Reasonable approximation:

[Hammertone]

Or this one:

[gitman]

A Gibson ES-125T might fit the bill :

Vintage 1959 Gibson ES-125T | Reverb

[feet]

the thin presidents are neat, but they need to bring the thin committee back. with the bird's eye back and all the pearloid binding and stuff. those things were neat. probably the best looking guitars they ever made. that didn't have the cool frog headstock, at least.
the single cut very thins would be perfect if they were fully hollow, had better inlays and were actually made in germany. that blue one is a handsome instrument, indeed.

[Hammertone]

the thin presidents are neat, but they need to bring the thin committee back. with the bird's eye back and all the pearloid binding and stuff. those things were neat. probably the best looking guitars they ever made. that didn't have the cool frog headstock, at least.
the single cut very thins would be perfect if they were fully hollow, had better inlays and were actually made in germany. that blue one is a handsome instrument, indeed.

I wouldn't hold my breath on a thinline Committee, but how about one of these? It's thinline, hollow, 16" wide, has a 16th fret neck/body joint, and is made in Germany. Probably a half-dozen around.

[Hammertone]

If you prefer a more traditional vibe, a half-dozen or so of these were made with 14th fret neck/body joints, in white or red:

[pants]

Reasonable approximation:

What model is this? It makes me salivate.

[Hammertone]

What model is this? It makes me salivate.

This is a representation of a Hofner Verythin John Stowell with two pickups and a violin finish, or a Verythin Classic dressed up with John Stowell-style hardware. I have one in stock that is for sale that has not had hardware installed or holes drilled for controls, so I used the miracle of Photoshop.

[feet]

i will never give up on (or own, probably) an old thinline committee. those are just the coolest things in the world. i also literally have no idea how they sound, of if a modern pickup can be wedged into one. but i'll probably keep poking around ebay until my dying day. they ever so rarely come up in europe, but they are a continent away and modded and old and beat up and missing parts and the neck is upside down so its a huge risk. but i do like to peep.

wish it was easier to keep track of modern hofners. i don't suppose that many make it out here, so they don't bother. they have these cool one-offs that never see the light of day. you'd think they'd post them on their website, which has been upgraded from "completely useless" to "largely useless". you never have a sense of what is available, possible or on the table. not that i could afford one. hoping to pounce on a devalued one from a desperate seller on ebay or reverb is my best/only shot if i were ever to buy.

not a red guy so that one is obviously right out, but it seems to have nice specs, aside from that headstock (the boring 90s one?) and the pointy cutaway.

the white one (it is white, right?) is much prettier, but for the price it is sure to command, i'd have liked to see a pickguard, neck binding, an ebony board and a rounded cutaway. but given my recent experiences with 12 fret acoustics and casinos, i like the idea of the neck being buried in the guitar.

so what are these guitars you've posted? do they have names? colors aside, are they regular models or just one offs for funsies?

If you prefer a more traditional vibe, a half-dozen or so of these were made with 14th fret neck/body joints, in white or red:

[Hammertone]

i will never give up on (or own, probably) an old thinline committee. those are just the coolest things in the world. i also literally have no idea how they sound, of if a modern pickup can be wedged into one. but i'll probably keep poking around ebay until my dying day. they ever so rarely come up in europe, but they are a continent away and modded and old and beat up and missing parts and the neck is upside down so its a huge risk. but i do like to peep.

Here's a NOS '60s Thinline 468 (functionally the same as a Thin New Committee) set up with new (modern repro) hardware for a customer. 1 3/4" deep rims, 18" wide:

wish it was easier to keep track of modern hofners. i don't suppose that many make it out here, so they don't bother. they have these cool one-offs that never see the light of day. you'd think they'd post them on their website, which has been upgraded from "completely useless" to "largely useless". you never have a sense of what is available, possible or on the table. not that i could afford one. hoping to pounce on a devalued one from a desperate seller on ebay or reverb is my best/only shot if i were ever to buy.

It's all part of Hofner's plan for world domination!

not a red guy so that one is obviously right out, but it seems to have nice specs, aside from that headstock (the boring 90s one?) and the pointy cutaway. the white one (it is white, right?) is much prettier, but for the price it is sure to command, i'd have liked to see a pickguard, neck binding, an ebony board and a rounded cutaway. but given my recent experiences with 12 fret acoustics and casinos, i like the idea of the neck being buried in the guitar.

I'd be happy to guide you through the listings of various Thin Presidents found on the Hofner website as well as through the past few years, most of which do have neck binding, ebony boards and rounded cutaways, along with occasional spruce blocks. I'll even throw in a pickguard!

so what are these guitars you've posted? do they have names? colors aside, are they regular models or just one offs for funsies?

The red one is a "Thin Florentine President Vintage Red" with a product code HTP-F-VR-O, where H=Hofner, TP=Thin President, F=Florentine, VR=Vintage Red and O=comes with a case. It's listed on the Hofner website under "Archtop LTD Editions." Where it's even shown with a pickguard! The white one never made it to the Hofner website, but it would probably have been called a "Thin Florentine President Vintage Ivory" - my notes indicate that it was listed with various codes.

[tonesofpgh]

My dad ended up getting a good deal on a Verythin Classic from reverb...thank you all so much for your help!


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