From my personal collection of classic, rare & vintage jazz archtops.  guitar

#108   Hofner 450 DeLuxe.       

This lovely late 70's/early 80's guitar has been in a private collection in Germany since new.   I acquired it directly from that collection and it is still like new.

The 450 was Hofner's longest running archtop from 1954 - 1984.   There was a cutaway version from 1961 - 70 but it was the non-cutaway style that survived.   Initially it was a budget model, plain and simple.    Later it was re-designed with a more modern construction with an updated body shape styled closely on Gibson's ES-150.

Made entirely of Maple with laminated top, back and sides, the neck of this guitar is  made of Hard Rock Maple which is still used for all current Hofner archtops.

Price £1175    Special

For pics and full details, just click on the pic.

Rodebald Hoyer was known for his excellent selection of tone woods and his archtops were renown for superb tone with massive acoustic volume.    So this big voice, powerful acoustic archtop is set-up for Big-Band work as a part of my Rhythm Section collection.

This is a very attractive, hand-carved Bavarian archtop that really looks good  and sounds rich and vibrant.   Rodebalds are a well kept secret and are seriously undervalued simply because they are generally unknown.

Price £685     Worth much more   

For pics and full details, just click on the pic

This superb Guild was hand made by the highly skilled craftsmen at Guild's Custom Shop.  Using only the best woods,  it combines a Benedetto Scale neck with Guild's version of the classic Johnny Smith electrics.   Quite exceptional!    Massive acoustic voice.

For this Custom Shop Special, Guild chose to use a long scale neck, the same as used on X-700 Benedetto models.   It plays really nicely and sounds fantastic.

It also departs from Guilds normal practice by having a bound pickguard (also like a Benedetto)!

In one careful ownership since new, it is outstanding with just a few signs of age.   You just have to play it!

Price £3950     Magnificent.

For pics and full details, just click on the pic.

#099  NYS-2FH     2012.   Made to Order.   1 of 1

Made to my personal spec.  Perfect! 

The NYS-2 is the small body New Yorker at 15.5" wide, 2.75"deep with a 24.75" scale.   

I personally prefer this size  -  it is comfortable, lightweight and easy to play, retaining all the tone, depth and character of the full sized models when amplified.

The catalogue NYS has a mini humbucker (and its a very good guitar)  but I wanted the tonal spectrum of a full sized humbucker.  It really brings this guitar alive.     Additionally it is finished in Custom Violinburst, with body mounted controls and a solid, carved Ebony pickguard.   It looks stunning and its tone is amazing.  It is the only one in this spec.

Price £4350     Stunning  

For pics and full details, just click on the pic

#034  NYS-2     2005.     A REAL PLAYERS GUITAR.

This has been my favourite guitar for a long while. 

The NYS-2 is the small body New Yorker at 15.5" wide, 2.75"deep with a 24.75" scale.   

John D'Angelico first made a small-bodied archtop in 1951.   Now, when many top jazz guitarists are playing small body archtops,  its clear that the NYS-2 was way ahead of its time.

I personally prefer this size  -  it is comfortable, lightweight and easy to play, retaining all the tone, depth and character of the full sized models when amplified.

This 2005 guitar has a superb jazzy feel as befits an archtop of quality.   Mellowing nicely.

Price £3650     So Jazzy.    

For pics and full details, just click on the pic 

HOFNER and SELMER VINTAGE CATALOGUES.

Five MINT collectors condition Hofner and Selmer catalogues.

I also have a collection of Vintage and very old catalogues on CD.

Please ask.

DUE TO CURRENT LOCKDOWN  -  ALL PARTS SHIPMENTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.

HOFNER MEMORABILIA.   UNIQUE!

This is NOT a headstock Fascia.

It is THE original Workshop MASTER,  from the Bubenreuth factory,  kept by me as a memento of a factory visit a long while ago!

This is simply a nice, original and genuine item of memorabilia to hang in your workshop!

The Inlay is set into a hard resin based fibre board.

The pic below shows the word MASTER written in Chalk.

It was used as a pattern and a guide in the days when headboards were inlaid by hand.

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