Höfner - The Final Days

[Happy Jack]

A month ago, I posted that I really needed to cut down on the space currently occupied Chez Happy by Höfner Heaven.

That went better than expected, so I'm now taking the collection down to its true hard core of just five basses.

Regrettably, this makes trades really quite difficult for me.

One photo + link to piccies + link to main reference website + brief description for each.

Guide prices aren't set in stone - I'm quite prepared to accept more.

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[size=5][b]Höfner 500/1 RI-63 Violin hollow-body bass / 2006 / £650[/b][/size]

[attachment=23550:500.1_20...Front__2.JPG]

Piccies at [url="http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=45It2s124q%2BMHZHtwWeovA%3D%3D"]http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=45It2s...ZHtwWeovA%3D%3D[/url]

This is a current model so there's no point in posting info-links.

I've had this from new, it's in mint condition and lives in its original case. Hand-made in Germany by proper luthiers, absolutely stunning when you have it in your hands.

Very lightweight, iconic looks, short-scale thud when you play down by the nut, gorgeous woody tone when you play between 5th & 12th frets.

The strap shown is not included, but the hard case is. The case is frankly not great - it's not very rugged and wouldn't stand up to rough treatment. As a storage box, however, it's excellent.

Why sell? Because I have a truly superb 1964 Violin bass in museum condition. No point in having a modern copy (no matter how lovely) when you have the original sitting next to it.

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[size=5][b]Höfner 500/5 semi-acoustic (Active Electronics) / 1971-73 / £750[/b][/size]

[attachment=23551:500.5_19...Front__2.JPG]

Piccies at [url="http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=45It2s124q%2BOOpNwFuTmpw%3D%3D"]http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=45It2s...pNwFuTmpw%3D%3D[/url]

Information at [url="http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/vintagehofner/basses/bas8.html"]http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/vintagehofn...asses/bas8.html[/url]

Probably the best of all the Höfner basses, the 500/5 was in continuous production for about 20 years. Wonderful tone plugged or unplugged, lightweight, good-looking, immense fun to play.

Steve Russell's [i]vintage Hofner[/i] website is the best resource on the net for all things Höfner. You won't find this exact model there, because it's the only one in captivity. Until I found this bass in Germany, no one knew that Höfner had ever made a 500/5 with Active Electronics.

A hard case is included.

Why sell? Because I have two other 500/5s that I love even more - a 1959 'Sutcliffe' and a 1968 which is the best-sounding Höfner I've ever had. I can't really justify owning two; I certainly can't justify owning three!

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[size=5][b]Höfner 185/E2 solid-body bass / 1967-ish / £225[/b][/size]

[attachment=23552:2009_Bas...otos_121.jpg]

Piccies at [url="http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=38pY0BMp2u4Ty0e1yA6Fvw%3D%3D"]http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=38pY0B...0e1yA6Fvw%3D%3D[/url]

Information at [url="http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/vintage-hofner/bass/bas6.html"]http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/vintage-hofner/bass/bas6.html[/url]

This was the basic workhorse Höfner bass, loosely modelled on a J-bass. Simple and reliable, a much cheaper alternative to a Mustang. Controls are V/V/T/T with separate on/off switches for each pickup.

This example has a lovely Ivory finish with a reasonable amount of crazing due to age.

A padded gig-bag is included. A hard case can be made available, but at extra cost.

Why sell? I have four other solid-body basses, and this one just isn't getting played these days.

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[size=5][b]Höfner Club 60 guitar / 1958 / £650[/b][/size]

[attachment=23553:2009_Bas...otos_045.jpg]

Piccies at [url="http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=38pY0BMp2u4wBJNMc3CSjw%3D%3D"]http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=38pY0B...JNMc3CSjw%3D%3D[/url]

Information at [url="http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofner/archtops/arch9.html"]http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofner/archtops/arch9.html[/url]

Enough mother-of-pearl to make the toilet seat an endangered species, frets you could use as a loft ladder, yup this is THE spirit of 1950's British rock'n'roll.

Every GB rocker owned a Höfner Club at some point in their early career (Lennon had a Club 40, Harrison had a Club 50, etc. etc.) and they remain brilliant guitars to play.

Forget shredding, forget Hendrix licks, just go with Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly and this guitar will take you straight back to 1958.

This example has clearly been a player for all its 50 years, and it's "craggy" in a Clint Eastwood sort of way. It's all original and plays like a dream.

Don't be fooled by the Les Paul looks. This is a hollow-body guitar and weighs next to nothing.

The original (yes, original) hard case is included.

Why sell? I play bass.

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All these fine instruments are available to inspect and play in Chiswick, London W4.

Jack
07786 251295

Edited April 11, 2009 by Happy Jack

[dr1]

any trades? (probably not as you want to reduce your arsenal,but,still...)

[tayste_2000]

That 185 is very nice

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='tayste_2000' post='459516' date='Apr 10 2009, 06:44 PM']

That 185 is very nice[/quote]

Hi Steve, I've still got your Dynacord amp (despite one of my guitarists trying to buy it off me this afternoon ). If you were planning to collect it any time soon rather than in July, then you can try out the 185 while you're at it.

[tayste_2000]

Working on it

[Happy Jack]

3-day bump.

[Happy Jack]

One week bump.

[Happy Jack]

OK, the 185 is now SOLD.

Despite a fair bit of interest, the other three are still with me. I'll probably list them on eBay tonight (might be out tonight) but open to sensible offers in the meantime.