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Höfner files for insolvency
- Thread starter Johnny Alien
- Start date
In that case I must know its weight
And at least there won't be any discussion about flats/no flats. Sad to see the impact that tariffs is having on a global company, though.
Very sad to hear they filed for bankruptcy. I always liked their company but could never afford their German made basses. I really kind of wanted one for several reasons but ultimately I probably wouldn't play it as much as I do a Jazz or Precision at this point. However, if I ever won the lottery... there would be signs lol.
It's a brand that seems to have fallen into relative obscurity bar the Beatles connection. What they could do to create things that would sell better, I don't know. There are many Far Eastern clones, so there's not much to be gained there for the brand as a whole, but it's rather the people working there I am concerned about, especially right before Christmas 
. If Fender or whomever buys it up, I hope production continues. Perhaps Thomann fancies a premium brand?
. If Fender or whomever buys it up, I hope production continues. Perhaps Thomann fancies a premium brand?
Well they aren't obscure among studio musicians. In practically every interview I see with one they say the've got a Beatle bass and use it for recording.
Paul McCartney has the spare cash to invest.
I wanted to be careful with using the exact legal term because I was not sure if insolvency mapped directly to what we think of with bankruptcy in america
referencing McCartney as above:
stereogum.com
Paul McCartney Mourns Höfner, Maker Of His Iconic Bass
Ever since the early Beatles days, Paul McCartney’s signature instrument has been the Höfner 500/1 violin bass guitar. In 1961, an 18-year-old McCartney bought the instrument in Hamburg for £30. That was McCartney’s primary instrument for the Beatles’ entire run. His bass was stolen in 1972, and...
stereogum.com
Really? I can't think of the last time one did. I've heard several talk about having a hollow body but it's always something other than a Beatle bass.
I am not saying he has the moral obligation to step in, but he has the resources. But if I win a big Euromillions jackpot (although actually playing it would help my chances) over Christmas, I'd consider it. Although I have literally no idea how much buying Hofner would cost.
Paul has saved the bass side of their business for 60 years.
Don't be ridiculous. Their songs are still very well known. The thing is just that nobody wants to sound like them anymore.
And there they also lag far behind the competition especially in quality control.
I had a german one and sold it. It is far from set it and forget it. With the change from winter to summer it would require tons intonations and the neck and tuners are not that great for tuning stability in the first place. I sold it because I felt spending more time setting it up than actually playing it.
While it is very sad, I have to be honest. I am surprised they lasted this long. Other than their Beatles bass, they haven't produced anything interesting or notable. They could have easily jumped on somthing like the multiscale trend a lot earlier. Their guitars aren't really something great either. Everything looks like it hasn't been changed since the 60s. Also doesn't seem to have kept the pace with modern production equipment. Sad that they struggle, but also sadly not unexpected.
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That's a fair point. It probably would have gone under years ago without the association with The Beatles.
Hofner does make other forms of guitars, but archtop guitars are favoured for jazz but it always struck me that kids rarely start with jazz and that jazz musicians tend to be much less driven by GAS. Outside school purchases of cheap instruments Hofner doesn't do any more, how many violins get sold? Hofner used to be a relatively economy brand.
I friend of mine had one of the cheapest early 1960s Hofner 335 type of guitars but one day it folded in half. When a friend of mine got into jazz for his 50th I got him a 1950s Ivor Mairants (OEM - I am not sure, possibly Framus) archtop which has been solid. Well, it's hollow, but you know what I mean. No pickup on that one unless you add one of the end-of-fretboard ones.
I friend of mine had one of the cheapest early 1960s Hofner 335 type of guitars but one day it folded in half
. When a friend of mine got into jazz for his 50th I got him a 1950s Ivor Mairants (OEM - I am not sure, possibly Framus) archtop which has been solid. Well, it's hollow, but you know what I mean. No pickup on that one unless you add one of the end-of-fretboard ones.
Laying here with the flu and was going to let this go….. I sat in the living room with mom in my Flintstones jammie’s in 63 and watched the boys on Ed Sullivan. Now sixty-odd years later my wife and I having adopted two more youngsters to raise, I am keenly in tune to the younger generation. They are constantly bombarded with my “old” music. They also like to plunder my dresser drawer for my old rock & roll Teeshirts. I can assure you, they love the “retro” imagery. However no, they have zero interest in knowing the catalog….. And besides, if it were simply a matter of the sound. These days that it as simple as a twist of the knob. Electronics dictate sound these days. …… I still think a 1957 Chevy is the greatest car ever built. But I can assure you that it drives like a bus compared to the cars of today. It is fashion that changes. And sadly, Höfner fashion is no longer in vogue.
Sure. But he didn’t have a good experience with his first business venture at Apple.
