Whether the A2 was used as the basis for prototyping the AZ is not known.    Certainly the resulting AZ was in the end nothing like the A2.    The A2 had already established itself as a high quality model but the AZ,  from the outset,  was the ultimate spec.    It boasted an entirely new body, with hand carved top and bottom,  a more classical shape with stylised f-holes.   All Hofner's know-how was concentrated on creating a tonal masterpiece with huge, ringing acoustic volume.     Coupled with Attila's trademark pickup (the Shadow AZ)  this lead to an outstanding jazz guitar.

The neck and headstock was also re-designed and Christian Benker told me that Attila insisted on an entirely new headstock shape with more weight at the top to balance the guitar.

So, trying to make sense of #082 is not straightforward.   As can be seen from the following photographs,  it mates an AZ body to an A2 neck.     I was of the view originally that this was a prototype or perhaps a transition model made during the running down of the A2 and the starting up of the AZ, however,  I have been working on this guitar recently and have spent a lot of  time examining it in great detail.    I now feel it is more likely that it was a Special Customer Order.   

The AZ fingerboard is more radiused than usual and not to everyone's liking.   I can believe that a customer commissioned an AZ Award (it was built with the correct AZ Award gold hardware) but with the more conventional A2 neck and specifying the AZ sunburst.

And so #082 appears to be a very early AZ Award Special but in Sunburst which Attila himself preferred.