Hofner Committee Gloss Natural 1960 Modified Hollow Body Electric Guitar

This is a modified Hofner Committee Hollow Body guitar in Natural finish. The Committee was the top end of Hofner’s archtop offerings in the Selmer catalogue, and was produced exclusively for sale in the UK. The model was introduced in 1953, and was in continuous production until around 1969. Both acoustic & electric models were available, both sporting luxurious appointments, high quality materials & plenty of ornamental features such as the headstock design & inlay work, not to mention ornate binding & purfling. The Committee was listed in the 1960 catalogue at a price of 63gns, equivalent to £66.15 in decimal terms, and worth in excess of £1900 in today’s money.

The electronics have been added at some stage in the guitar’s life - likely quite recently due to the condition of the wiring & pickups which appear almost brand new. Please see ‘Electrics’ in the Luthier Report below for further details. This electric conversion has been tastefully performed, with what appear to be modern equivalents of the Hofner 511 Staple pickup being installed. The original 1960 Committee electrics would have sported a small control panel, as was common on a lot of Hofner electric instruments.

The Maple neck plays very nicely, with a profile which might be described as a smooth ’D’ profile well suited to a wide range of playing styles and techniques. The Ebony of the fretboard is pleasant under the fingers and provides a luxurious playing surface to explore. The archtop body is comfortable in the arms in both standing & seated positions, and even at 65 years old, the instrument retains a sense of luxury that is very pleasing. The Staple type pickups do a great job of capturing the acoustic tone of the instrument, and with the independent volume & tone controls ensure that you are able to dial in just the right tone for any musical situation. Well preserved & tastefully modified, this is a beautiful instrument that is ready to serve as a musical companion to its new owner for many more years.