The Höfner instrument making company was originally founded by Karl Höfner in 1887. Originally located in Schonbach (in the area now called Czech Republic), Höfner produced fine stringed instruments such as violins, cellos, and double basses. Karl's two sons, Josef and Walter, joined the company in 1919 and 1921 (respectively), and expanded Höfner's market to North American and the Far East. Production of guitars began in 1925, in the area that was to become East Germany during the "Cold War" era. Following World War II, the Höfner family moved to West Germany and established a new factory in Bubenreuth in 1948. By 1950, new production facilities in Bubenreuth and Hanenau were staffed by over 300 Hofner employees.
The first Höfner electric archtop debuted in the 1950s. While various guitar models were available in Germany since 1949 (and earlier, if you take in the over 100 years of company history), Höfners were not officially exported to England until Selmer of London took over distributorship in 1958. Furthermore, Selmer's British models were specified for the U.K. only - and differ from those available in the German market.
The concept of a violin-shaped bass was developed by Walter Höfner (Karl's son) in 1956. Walter's idea to electrically amplify a bass was new for the company, but the hollow body model itself was based on family design traditions. The 500/1 model made its debut at the Frankfurt Music Fair the same year. While most people may recognize that model as the Beatle Bass popularized by Paul McCartney, the Höfner company also produced a wide range of solid, semi-hollow, and archtop designs that were good quality instruments.
Until 1997, Höfner products were distributed by EMMC (Entertainment Music Marketing Corporation, which focused on distributing the 500/1 Reissue violin electric bass. In 1998, distribution for Höfner products in the U.S. market was changed to Boosey & Hawkes Musical Instruments, Inc. of Libertyville, Illinois. Boosey & Hawkes wasted no time in introducing three jazz-style semi-hollow guitar models, which includes a New President (Model HP-55) model guitar. Distribution was handled by the Music Group until 2005. In 2006, CMI (Classic Musical Instruments) took over distribution, (Höfner history source: Gordon Giltrap and Neville Marten, The Höfner Guitar - A History; and Tony Bacon, The Ultimate Guitar Book, Current Höfner product information courtesy Rob Olsen, Höfner).
Instruments currently produced from 1887-1949 in Schonbach, and 1950-present in Bubenreuth, and Hagenau, Germany. Acoustic instruments are currently produced overseas. Distributed in the U.S. by CMI (Classic Musical Instruments) of Pleasant Prairie, WI.

HÖFNER Acoustic Guitars Models

HÖFNER MODEL 455 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 455

- archtop hollowbody, laminated maple top, back and sides, rosewood fingerboard with white celluloid inlays, three-per-side tuners, black and white celluloid binding on top, back, and f-holes, red-white celluloid inlays on headstock, white...

HÖFNER HAS01 Image

HÖFNER HAS01

- dreadnought style, spruce top, catalpa back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black pickguard, chrome hardware, Natural finish, disc. 2005.

HÖFNER HAS05 Image

HÖFNER HAS05

- dreadnought or grand concert style, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, full binding, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, shell pickguard, gold-plated hardware, Natural finish, disc. 2005.

HÖFNER MODEL 4550 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 4550

- similar to the Model 455 except features a larger archtop body, laminated maple top, back and sides, bound top, back, fingerboard, and f-holes, rosewood fingerboard, celluloid band position markers, white pickguard, three-per-side tuners,...

HÖFNER HAS07 Image

HÖFNER HAS07

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, full binding, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, shell pickguard, gold-plated hardware, Natural finish, disc. 2005.

HÖFNER MODEL 456 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 456

- archtop hollowbody, flame maple back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, celluloid band position markers, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, red, black, or white headstock, white pickguard, lyre tailpiece, three-per-side tuners, avail...

HÖFNER MODEL 457 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 457

- archtop hollowbody, nicely flamed maple back and sides, spruce top, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, headstock decorated with gold-plated clef and staff, three-per-side tuners, celluloid band position markers, available in Brown...

HÖFNER HA-GC/HA-GA/HA-JC-03 Image

HÖFNER HA-GC/HA-GA/HA-JC-03

- grand concert (GC), grand auditorium (GA), or Jumbo cutaway (JC) body style, solid spruce top, exotic lacewood back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side Grover tuners, rosewood bridge, B-Band A3.2 pickup and electronics, Natura...

HÖFNER MODEL 458 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 458

- archtop hollowbody, laminated maple top and back, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, celluloid band position markers, decorated headstock, three-per-side tuners, white pickguard, lyre tailpiece, available in highly polished Black f...

HÖFNER HA-GA/HA-JC-05 Image

HÖFNER HA-GA/HA-JC-05

- grand auditorium (GA), or jumbo cutaway (JC) body style, solid spruce top, flame maple back and sides, mahogany wood binding, rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side Grover tuners, rosewood bridge, B-Band A3.2 pickup and electronics, Natural...

HÖFNER HA-GC/HA-GA/HA-JC-07 Image

HÖFNER HA-GC/HA-GA/HA-JC-07

- grand concert (GC), grand auditorium (GA), or jumbo cutaway (JC) body style, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany wood binding, rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side Grover tuners, rosewood bridge, B-Band A3.2 pickup and ele...

HÖFNER MODEL 461/S Image

HÖFNER MODEL 461/S

- archtop hollowbody, single cutaway design, bound top, backand f-holes, additional small oval soundhole in the traditional location, harp tailpiece, three-per-side tuners, blackand white celluloid decoration on the headstock with stylized...

HÖFNER MODEL 462 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 462

- archtop hollowbody, flamed maple back and sides, selected spruce top, elliptical sound holes, two-piece tailpiece, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, headstock has gold plated clef and staff, celluloid band position markers (one wi...

HÖFNER MODEL 463 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 463

- archtop hollowbody, sapeli mahogany backand sides, selected spruce top, bound mahogany fingerboard, split trapezoid position markers, wooden inlays and celluloid bindings on top and back, wooden inlays around f-holes, harp tailpiece, thre...

HÖFNER MODEL 464/S Image

HÖFNER MODEL 464/S

- archtop hollowbody, single cutaway design, spruce top, flame maple back and sides, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, eliptical sound holes, one additional rhombic soundhole located in the traditional position, celluloid band posit...

HÖFNER MODEL 465 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 465

- archtop hollowbody, well selected fine spruce top, rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard, woodand celluloid bindings on top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, MOP headstock inlays (bell-flowers) and position markers (one narrow rectangl...

HÖFNER MODEL 470/S Image

HÖFNER MODEL 470/S

- archtop hollowbody, single cutaway design, selected spruce top, best quality flame maple back and sides, wooden flower inlays on back, ebony fingerboard and headstock, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, three-per-side tuners, MOP h...

HÖFNER MODEL 471 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 471

- archtop hollowbody, enlarged body, selected spruce top, flame maple back and sides, florentine cutaway, celluloid bound top and back, ebony fingerboard with split trapezoid MOP inlays, elaborate headstock inlays, three-per-side tuners, ha...

HÖFNER MODEL 477 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 477

- archtop hollowbody, spruce top, flame maple back and sides, florentine cutaway, three-dot position markers, three-per-side tuners, harp tailpiece, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, black pickguard, available in high polish Yellow-...