ELECTRICIZED

Hofner President Electric Archtop

1956-1971
Spruce, Maple, Mahogany, Rosewood

Another superb Hofner. The President Electric was a variant of the acoustic model of the same name, which started off in 1953. It is easily recognized by its triple dot inlays and single cutaway (venetian or florentine). Early models had black bar pickups (pictured). Hear it

Photo from Vintagehofner

Gibson ES-5

1949-1962
Maple, Rosewood

The ES-5 was first revealed at the 1949 NAMM convention as “the supreme electronic version of the famed Gibson L-5”. It was the first Gibson model to feature three pickups. That is also the first Gibson to feature volume knobs with a 0-10 graduation. The original price tag was $395, which was well below the price of a Super 400.

A four-way switch was eventually added in 1956 and the model was renamed “ES-5 Switchmaster”. A year later, the P-90s were replaced by the legendary PAF pickups. The Es-5 was reintroduced between 1995 and 2006 as a Custom Shop model.

Golden Hofner

1959-1962
Maple, Spruce, Ebony

Hofner’s holy grail. Rather fatty, its 18” body size is the largest body ever made by Hofner. Mother-of-pearl roses inlays florish through a zero-fret 11 piece laminated neck. Came in three versions (acoustic, electric and thinline).

Sold exclusively in the UK by Selmer, about 100 goldens ended in british homes. The rest of the world had to accomodate with the Hofner 470 model, very similar but smaller in size and with different inlays. If you’re curious, here is a ton of pictures and more details.

Rodebald Hoyer

1962 - ?
Spruce, Rosewood

Feel free to marvel at this 1962 Rodebald Hoyer Guitar. That’s probably what the skilled German Archtop maker was expecting you to do. The Flame shaped F-holes carved in its solid spruce body are typical from the early sixties.

Photo and more about Rod Hoyers at Lacquercracks

1966 Gibson Super 400 with a custom retrofit pickup. It was not unusual for players to mount pickups on Super 400, Gibson’s biggest acoustic archtop. Gibson replied to this trend by launching the 400CES in 1951 (basically a Super 400 with a pickup. )

As the name says, this blog is dedicated to electric guitars. But how can I resist to this fantastic 1928 Gibson L5? How would it be possible not to talk about the current exhibition at the New York Metropolitan, even though it’s mostly about acoustic guitar? Must Go.

c 2008 Gretsch G100BKCE Synchromatic archtop guitar. Can’t say no to a gretsch, especially when it bears such finish.

German luthier Stephan Hahl handcrafts stunning guitars. The Hahl Jazz Supreme Deluxe archtop guitar screams masterpiece before even listening to it, and would render high quality acoustics plugged as well as unplugged. Detail that kills: the knobs position.

2 years before the LP goldtop, Gibson released an 3/4 sized archtop: 1950 Gibson ES140 with single cutaway. Would that model have been of any inspiration to Les Paul (and clearly byrdland)?

guitar-porn:

A 1956 Hofner 457 Archtop Guitar.

nice full fret inlays