1958 Hofner President

Roland

I used to gig one of these in my student days. It even went on a trip to Germany. So I’ve done a bit of research a few years ago. The Straten compensator dates the guitar to a narrow range. The serial number would help date it more precisely.

In addition to resetting the neck might also need unbending. Mine is no longer playable, and I only keep it for sentimental reasons.

ICBM

sinbaadi said:

It doesn't owe us anything at the moment so we're a little conflicted as to what to do with it. 

Not sure I would be up to resetting the neck myself, what can that sort of thing run to? ££

Probably between £100 and £300, depending on how difficult it is to get out cleanly. It doesn't look like the heel has split at the joint under the neck section, which is at least a bonus - they often do. (But check that.)

Add £100 or so for the electrics, if you want to get the dead pickup (it will be) rewound, or a bit more for both of them. Personally, I would try to find some more appropriate switches as well, although getting the exact original type may be difficult, or expensive if you do find any.

You could easily spend £300 to £500 on it, especially if it needs a fair amount of fiddling as well - and as Roland said, it may still have neck issues (no truss rod) and not be especially playable, but at least it will be functional and probably last another fifty years or more.

If that sounds too much, you're probably best leaving it alone entirely. Leave it tuned down so any issues with the neck joint don't get worse.

Jimbro66

guitars4you said:

Massive nostalgia attached to such guitars - Anyone starting off copy Lonnie Donegan and Tommy Steele etc or indeed our USA hero's was playing such European arch tops

And here he is in 1957 playing a very similar Hofner. He was very popular back then as a sort of polite Brian Setzer of the day  -  without Brian’s playing skills. (That may well have been Mr Play-in-a-Day himself handling Tommy’s guitar parts).

https://youtu.be/wtB_XOpjhzU?si=JKEXFkbUzJFyNJ4O

guitars4you

Jimbro66 said:

guitars4you said:

Massive nostalgia attached to such guitars - Anyone starting off copy Lonnie Donegan and Tommy Steele etc or indeed our USA hero's was playing such European arch tops

And here he is in 1957 playing a very similar Hofner. He was very popular back then as a sort of polite Brian Setzer of the day  -  without Brian’s playing skills. (That may well have been Mr Play-in-a-Day himself handling Tommy’s guitar parts).

https://youtu.be/wtB_XOpjhzU?si=JKEXFkbUzJFyNJ4O

Hard to imagine today, the impact such guys had on the youth of the day 

sinbaadi

Roland said:

I used to gig one of these in my student days. It even went on a trip to Germany. So I’ve done a bit of research a few years ago. The Straten compensator dates the guitar to a narrow range. The serial number would help date it more precisely.

In addition to resetting the neck might also need unbending. Mine is no longer playable, and I only keep it for sentimental reasons.

It's #3837, I did find a couple of good websites which helped me come to the year 1958, but would stand to be corrected.

ICBM

sinbaadi said:

It's #3837, I did find a couple of good websites which helped me come to the year 1958, but would stand to be corrected.

It’s definitely late 1957 or early 1958, from the combination of headstock shape and control panel type.

https://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofnerfs/factfiles/presfact.html

57Deluxe

I got my (modern?) take on this model in 1985 and is a stalwart to my playing - I use it as my acoustic!  *BUT* it rocks like a demon - think Billy Duffy's White Falcon - that!

Roland

ICBM said:

sinbaadi said:

It's #3837, I did find a couple of good websites which helped me come to the year 1958, but would stand to be corrected.

It’s definitely late 1957 or early 1958, from the combination of headstock shape and control panel type.

https://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofnerfs/factfiles/presfact.html

I’d go with 1958. This President with a slightly earlier serial number is dated to 1958 in Gordon Giltrap and Neville Marten’s book:

OilCityPickups

Just been playing the 1965/6 4600 in the workshop prior to the customer collecting it. ... aside from the strings that are on it being WAY too light (probably a 9 or 9.5 set, I'd happily gig with it. Neck is Gibson style chunky rather than half a telephone pole like some older ones ... the frets are original and barely marked. and the action is as low as my modern Gretsch. With newly rewound pickups it's punchy and quite biting in the bridge pickup - fatter but not bloated in the neck position. 
The tremolo unit is a real revelation - smooth, stays in tune and is easier to re string than a Bigsby!  Quite jealous actually.

Pierrederesistance

Is this an old Hofner thread now? I often see Presidents and am quite tempted. I've liked Hofners ever since my Dad got this maybe 30 years ago, and old Vienna. I've found VERY little info about them but what I could find dates it to about 63. 
It's a wonderful thing, with a gorgeous aged finish, and a beautiful but slightly out of place flame maple veneer (I assume) on the back and sides but, alas, not a brilliant guitar.


https://i.imgur.com/1O2Z8H5.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/Br43JQL.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/XxKBqpw.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/aUIwTXw.jpeg

maltingsaudio

You say you’ve inherited it so I’m assuming some sentimental value. Therefor apologies for being in the hang it on the wall after a good dust and polish, then spend the 3 or 400 quid you will have to spend to get it anywhere near playable on a modern equivalent. , camp.

I’ve never felt the love for any vintage Hofner