The Höfner instrument making company was originally founded by Karl Höfner in 1887. Originally located in Schonbach (in the area now called Czechoslovakia), Hofner 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 Hofner 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 Höfner 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. Distributed in the U.S. by CMI (Classic Musical Instruments) of Pleasant Prairie, WI.

HÖFNER Electric Guitars Models

HÖFNER MODEL 450E Image

HÖFNER MODEL 450E

- archtop hollowbody, laminated maple top, back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, white celluloid band position markers, bound top, celluloid pickguard, 3-per-side tuners, f-holes, lyre tailpiece, 1 pickup mounted at the fingerboard, no...

HÖFNER COLORAMA CUSTOM Image

HÖFNER COLORAMA CUSTOM

- double cutaway body, rosewood fingerboard, two German-made humbucker pickups, three knobs, chrome hardware, available in Black or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 2004-present.

HÖFNER MODEL 182 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 182

- double cutaway, one piece maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, four-on-one-side tuners, dot position markers, two pickups, two volume controls and three sliding tone controls, black pickguard, available in Red, Ivory, Ice Blue, or Shaded...

HÖFNER MODEL 500/1 (BEATLE BASS) Image

HÖFNER MODEL 500/1 (BEATLE BASS)

- violin-shaped body, spruce top, maple back and sides, two pickups, two volume and two tone controls on early models, two volume and three sliding tone controls on production since circa 1959, lyre tailpiece, dot position markers, two-per-...

HÖFNER MODEL 125 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 125

- single cutaway, arched top and back, celluloid bound top and back, 3-per-side tuners, lyre tailpiece, dot position markers, 1 adjustable pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone control, black pickguard, available in Shaded Brown finish and Blonde (Mo...

HÖFNER MODEL 455/S/E1 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 455/S/E1

- archtop hollow body, laminated maple top and back, black and white celluloid bindings on top, back and f-holes, red-white celluloid inlays on the headstock, 3-per-side tuners, white pickguard, lyre tailpiece, celluloid band position...

HÖFNER COLORAMA SPECIAL Image

HÖFNER COLORAMA SPECIAL

- double cutaway body, rosewood fingerboard, two P-90 pickups, four knobs, chrome hardware, available in Black or Trans. Red finish, mfg. 2004-present.

HÖFNER MODEL 183 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 183

- Stratocaster-shaped body, four-on-one-side tuners, dot position markers, two pickups, two volume controls and one tone switch, white pickguard, mfg. 1975-1983.

HÖFNER MODEL 500/2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 500/2

- single cutaway design similar to Model 125, spruce top, maple back and sides, lyre tailpiece, 2-per-side tuners, dot position markers, 2 pickups, 2 volume controls and 3 sliding tone switches, white pickguard, available in Shaded Brown fi...

HÖFNER MODEL 126/E2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 126/E2

- same as Model 125 except has 2 pickups, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, available in shaded brown finish, mfg. 1954-1970, also available in Blonde finish (Model 126/b/E2), mfg. 1956-1967.

HÖFNER MODEL 185 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 185

- offset double cutaway design, four-on-one-side tuners, celluloid band position markers, two pickups, two volume and two tone controls, pickup control switches, black pickguard, mfg. 1962-1983.

HÖFNER MODEL 500/4 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 500/4

- arched top, double cutaway, f-holes, lyre tailpiece, 2-per-side tuners, dot position markers, 2 pickups, 3 rotary controls and a toggle switch, black pickguard, available in Brown Burst finish, mfg. 1969-1988.

HÖFNER MODEL 128/E2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 128/E2

- same basic design as Model 125 except has flame maple back and sides, bound fingerboard, mother-of-pearl headstock inlays and fingerboard position markers, available in Gold/red Shaded finish with black sides and Blonde finish (Model 128/...

HÖFNER MODEL 456/S/B/E2  Image

HÖFNER MODEL 456/S/B/E2

- archtop hollow body, single cutaway design, flame maple back and sides, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, black pickguard, 3-per-side tuners, red, black, or white headstock, lyre tailpiece, celluloid band position markers, 2 adjus...

HÖFNER MODEL 457/S/E1 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 457/S/E1

- archtop hollowbody, single cutaway design, spruce top, flame maple back and sides, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, headstock decorated with gold plated clef and staff, 3-per-side tuners, celluloid band position markers, white pi...

HÖFNER MODEL 186 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 186

- single cutaway body similar to Telecaster, four-on-one-side tuners, dot position markers, two pickups, one volume and one tone control, pickup selector switch, covered bridge, available in ivory finish, mfg. 1971-73.

HÖFNER MODEL 500/5 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 500/5

- arched top, single cutaway design, f-holes, 2-per-side tuners, lyre tailpiece, bound top, 2 pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, dot position markers, white pickguard, mother-of-pearl headstock inlay (lillies), available in Shaded Brown fin...

HÖFNER MODEL 459 (II) Image

HÖFNER MODEL 459 (II)

- violin-shaped body, 3-per-side tuners, celluloid band position markers, lyre tailpiece, 2 pickups, white pickguard, bound top, available in Brown Burst finish, mfg. 1967-1970.

HÖFNER MODEL 457/S/E2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 457/S/E2

- same as Model 457/S/E1 except has 2 adjustable pickups and either 2 volume controls and 3 sliding tone switches or 2 volume and 2 tone controls, available in Brown Sunburst and Blonde (Model 457/S/b/E2) finishes, mfg. circa 1961-1970.

HÖFNER MODEL 187 (I) Image

HÖFNER MODEL 187 (I)

- double sutaway design similar to SG, solid mahogany body, two-per-side tuners, mother-of-pearl block position markers and headstock inlays, two pickups, two volume, two tone controls, toggle switch, white pickguard, covered bridge, mfg. 1...

HÖFNER MODEL 500/8 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 500/8

- arched top, double cutaway with florentine style horns, f-holes, celluloid band position markers, 2-per-side tuners, mother-of-pearl headstock inlays (lillies), 2 pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, toggle switch, black pickguard, availabl...

HÖFNER MODEL 4572 (II) Image

HÖFNER MODEL 4572 (II)

- arched top, double cutaway design, 2 in. thick body, 3-per-side tuners, white celluloid binding on top and f-holes, 2 pickups, 2 volume and 2 tone controls with toggle switch or 1 volume and 2 tone controls, f-holes, black pickguard,...

HÖFNER MODEL 4574 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 4574

- arched top, double cutaway design, flame maple back and sides, spruce top, 1.75 in. body, bound top, back and f-holes, 3-per-side tuners, celluloid band position markers, mother-of-pearl headstock inlays (bell flowers), 2 pickups, a varie...

HÖFNER CLUB BASS (MODEL H500/2) Image

HÖFNER CLUB BASS (MODEL H500/2)

- single cutaway hollow body, spruce top, flame maple back and sides, three-piece maple/beech neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, two-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, trapeze tailpiece, floating white pearl pickguard, two humbu...

HÖFNER MODEL 462/S/E1 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 462/S/E1

- archtop hollow body, selected spruce top, flame maple back and sides, 2-piece tailpiece, eliptical sound holes, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, 3-per-side tuners, headstock has gold plated clef and staff, celluloid band fingerbo...

HÖFNER MODEL 188 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 188

- six-string bass, offset double cutaway design, celluloid band position markers, three pickups, tremolo bridge, mfg. 1963-1970.

HÖFNER MODEL 4577 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 4577

- arched top, single florentine cutaway, 3-per-side tuners, 3 dot position markers, f-holes, 2 pickups, 1 volume & 1 tone control & a toggle switch, lyre tailpiece with vibrato bar, black pickguard, available in Brown Burst finish,...

HÖFNER MODEL 462/S/E3 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 462/S/E3

- archtop hollow body, same as Model 462/S/E3 except has 3 adjustable pickups and 1 volume and 3 tone controls, pickup selector switch, available in Light Brown Varnish finish, mfg. circa 1954-1970.

HÖFNER VINTAGE 62 REISSUE BASS (MODEL 500/1-62) Image

HÖFNER VINTAGE 62 REISSUE BASS (MODEL 500/1-62)

- violin style bound hollow body, arched solid German spruce top, laminated flame maple back and sides, two piece neck, rosewood fingerboard, 22-fret neck, pearl dot position markers, trapeze tailpiece, pearloid pickguard, bound top and bac...

HÖFNER MODEL 463/S/E2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 463/S/E2

- archtop hollow body, single cutaway design, sapeli mahogany back and sides, selected spruce top, bound mahogany fingerboard, wooden inlays and celluloid bindings on top and back, wooden inlays around the f-holes, harp tailpiece, 3-per-sid...

HÖFNER T2S Image

HÖFNER T2S

- arched top, double cutaway design, flamed maple body with sustain block, bound top, back and f-holes, mother-of-pearl position markers, two 052 pickups, stop tailpiece, 3-per-side tuners, black pickguard, available in Walnut Brown and Sah...

HÖFNER THIN PRESIDENT Image

HÖFNER THIN PRESIDENT

- single cutaway semi-hollow body, German spruce top, flame maple back and sides, two f-holes, European hard rock maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, three-per-side tuners, adj. ebony bridge, ebony tailpiece, raise...

HÖFNER DELUXE VIOLIN BASS (MODEL 5000/1) Image

HÖFNER DELUXE VIOLIN BASS (MODEL 5000/1)

- violin-style bound hollow body, arched German spruce top, tortoise body binding, laminated flame maple back/sides, solid European hard rock maple neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl double dot inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/r...

HÖFNER MODEL 465/S/E2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 465/S/E2

- archtop hollow body, single cutaway design, well selected fine spruce top, rosewood back and sides, wood and celluloid bindings on top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, mother-of-pearl headstock inlays (bell-fowers) and fingerboard position...

HÖFNER Thin President E2 Image

HÖFNER Thin President E2

- similar to the Thin President, except has an optional Retro B-style tremolo with roller bridge, two humbucker pickups, four knobs (two v, two tone), and a three-way pickup switch, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2006-disc.

HÖFNER MODEL 470/S/E2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 470/S/E2

- archtop hollow body, single cutaway design, selected spruce top, best quality flame maple back and sides, wooden flower inlays on back, ebony fingerboard and headstock, gold plated hardware, bound top, back, fingerboard and f-holes, 3-per...

HÖFNER MODEL 471/E2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL 471/E2

- large archtop hollow body, selected spruce top, flame maple back and sides, florentine cutaway, celluloid binding on top and back, ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlays, 3-per-side tuners, black pickguard, lyre tailpiece, 2 pickup...

HÖFNER MODEL AL2 Image

HÖFNER MODEL AL2

- archtop hollow body, single cutaway design, spruce top, flame maple back and sides, wooden inlays on back, bound top and back, mother-of-pearl position markers, 1 pickup in the neck position, 1 volume, 1 tone control, 3-per-side tuners, l...

HÖFNER MODEL AZ Image

HÖFNER MODEL AZ

- archtop hollow body, single cutaway design, solid spruce top, flame maple back and sides, mother-of-pearl split block position markers, bound top and back, chrome hardware, lyre tailpiece, wooden pickguard, f-holes, 3-per-side tuners, ava...

HÖFNER MODEL AZ AWARD Image

HÖFNER MODEL AZ AWARD

- archtop hollow body, same as Model AZ except has V-style tailpiece, ebony fingerboard, gold plated hardware, available in Blonde or Bordeaux Red Sunburst finish, mfg. 1982-1991.

HÖFNER CHANCHELLOR (MODEL HC-V) Image

HÖFNER CHANCHELLOR (MODEL HC-V)

- 17 in. bout single cutaway hollow body, solid spruce top, solid maple back and sides, three-per-side tuners, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with MOP block inlays, ebony tailpiece, ebony bridge, single humbucker pickup, ebony accents and...

HÖFNER JAZZICA CUSTOM (MODEL HJCL/HJ5-I) Image

HÖFNER JAZZICA CUSTOM (MODEL HJCL/HJ5-I)

- single rounded cutaway semi-hollow bound body, solid carved German spruce top, laminated African Anigree back/sides, two bound cat's-eye f-holes, European hard rock maple neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block in...

HÖFNER NEW PRESIDENT (MODEL HNP/HP55-I) Image

HÖFNER NEW PRESIDENT (MODEL HNP/HP55-I)

- single rounded cutaway semi-hollow bound body, solid carved German spruce top, laminated flamed African Anigree back/sides, two f-holes, European hard rock maple neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlay, thre...

HÖFNER NIGHTINGALE (MODEL HN35-I) Image

HÖFNER NIGHTINGALE (MODEL HN35-I)

- dual rounded cutaway semi-hollow bound body, laminated bird´s-eye maple top/back/sides, two bound f-holes, solid German spruce sustain block, European hard rock maple neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlay,...

HÖFNER VERYTHIN CLASSIC (MODEL HVC) Image

HÖFNER VERYTHIN CLASSIC (MODEL HVC)

- double cutaway semi-hollow bound body, German spruce top, highly flamed African maple back and sides, asymmetrically profiled European maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with genuine MOP inlays, gold plated hardware, solid spruce tone...

HÖFNER VERYTHIN STANDARD (MODEL HVS) Image

HÖFNER VERYTHIN STANDARD (MODEL HVS)

- similar to the Verythin Classic, except has an entire laminated flame maple body, rosewood fingerboard with abalone dot inlays, and nickel-plated hardware, based on the original 1960 model, available in Cherry, Natural Amber, or Sunburst...