The justjazzguitars collection of
vintage and rare jazz archtops.
#092 Hofner 456.
1957 Blonde.
A nice, straightforward
456, Maple top in Blonde with a Hofner Type 513 pickup
assembly. Not to be confused with a type 513
pickup. (very different).
The original jack output
was a continental 60's co-axial screw-in type -
awkward, ugly and in the way! I
asked James Payze to replace the output socket with a Rhythm
Switch. The switch has a trim pot controlling
the amount of "cut". At the moment it is
set to cut the volume to about 70% on Rhythm which feels
right but it is adjustable.
Hofners classic 50's 456
headstock which it shared with the 457 on a 3 piece neck.
This is really
nice 1957 456. The 456 is identical to the more
common 457 except that the 456 has a Maple top whereas the
457 has Spruce. Laminates in both cases so purely
decorative.
As
a pre-truss-rod example, it has that thicker neck profile
necessary to keep the neck straight and true.
It plays really well and is in superb condition with the
most amazing finish for a 55 year old guitar -
hardly a mark on it.
The single-coil
pickup gives it that true 50's sound although I suspect that
the pickup assembly is a 60's unit!
