DATING HÖFNER GUITARS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS
Prior to the early 1970s, Höfner instruments were not assigned serial numbers. However, some instruments manufactured before that time may have a stamped or written date of production on the back of the headstock. These particular guitars were sold by the English company Selmer and the Dutch company Van Wouw.
Where to find the serial number
To find the necessary information, examine the back or the top edge of the guitar’s headstock. For semi-hollow and acoustic models, check the label located within the upper f-hole.
To determine the production year of your Höfner guitar, you can use Höfner Serial Numbers Decoder or refer to the explanation of the dating system PROVIDED BELOW.
Karl Höfner was born in 1864 in Schönbach, Bohemia, which was then a part of Austria. After completing his studies with Anton Schaller in 1887, he founded his company as a luthier in Schönbach, where his high-quality instruments quickly gained popularity across Europe. In 1919, Karl’s sons, Josef and Walter, joined the company, and exports rapidly expanded, solidifying Höfner’s reputation worldwide as a premier producer of fine stringed instruments.
In addition to violins, cellos, and double basses, Höfner began manufacturing guitars in the 1930s, with the first models featuring curved tops and bottoms and steel strings. Following World War II, the company relocated first to Möhrendorf in Bavaria in 1948, and then to Bubenreuth, where it opened in 1950. Höfner quickly regained its place in the global market, with its product line expanding to include models like the President, Committee, and the now-famous Beatle Bass (500/1), all of which were designed and developed by Walter.
The rising popularity of rock ‘n’ roll music in the 1960s led to increased demand for Höfner guitars, which became the company’s primary export product. In addition to archtop models, Höfner began producing semi-acoustic, solid body, and various bass guitar models. Due to space constraints in Bubenreuth and increased demand, a second factory was built in Hagenau.
Höfner’s market share suffered from competition with American guitar manufacturers, leading to the closure of its English distributor, Selmer. Gerhilde Höfner, Walter’s daughter, and her husband Christian Benker ran the company from the 1970s to the 1990s, a time during which competition from Japan and China posed significant challenges for Höfner’s independence. As a result, Höfner was sold to the British company Boosey & Hawkes on January 1, 1994.
Boosey & Hawkes also owned Roderich Paesold, a bow manufacturer in Bubenreuth, which was merged with Höfner in 1995 as part of its “Instrument Division.” However, both companies remained independent in terms of production and sales. In 1997, Höfner moved from Bubenreuth to its second factory in Haguenau, which had more modern production facilities, and a new building was added.
In 2003, “Instrument Division” was sold to the British investment consortium “The Music Group” (TMG), and at the end of 2004, Höfner (as part of “Instrument Division”) was sold to Klaus Schöller and his wife Ulrike Schrimpff. Klaus, who had worked at Höfner since 1989, became General Manager, and Ulrike became Chief Financial Officer.
In 2009, Höfner opened a branch in Beijing, which it owns entirely. As one of the few companies, the Chinese government granted Höfner an export license. Instruments produced in Beijing have equivalent quality to those produced in Germany, thanks to the constant exchange of personnel between the two locations.
Serial numbers
Between 1953 and 1971 Höfner produced a series of guitars for the British distributor Selmer Company. These models were often similar to the Höfner standard range but usually had small differences in detail.
The ‘Selmer’ guitars were given serial numbers, usually stamped on the back of the headstock, or typed on a label that is visible in the F-hole.
Henri Selmer, founder Selmer Entreprise, Paris – Ben Davis, founder Selmer Company, Londen Henri Selmer Ben Davis Guitars distributed for Europe, the US and other countries did not have a serial number until 1976.
The Dutch distributor Van Wouw also used a serial number system which deviates from that of Selmer. This can lead to confusion when a Van Wouw appears where Selmer guitars have been distributed.
Van Wouw serial numbers were stamped in the workshop on the top edge of the headstock. The list below is therefore not by definition the year of manufacture, the numbers were stamped after the instrument was imported.
Import year
Serial numbers
1960
1921, 2116, 2224, 2531
1961
3204, 3215, 3267, 3351, 3596, 3894, 3959, 4072
1962
4506, 4748, 5253, 5284, 5390, 5486
1964
7095
1965
7598
1966
8573
Some Höfner dealers placed their own label on the back of the head with numbers. These are not ‘Selmer’ serial numbers.
Selmer serial numbers
The tables below with Selmer serial numbers are incomplete and not accurate. The series are based on delivery documents that have been preserved. These documents may have been inaccurate.
You can consult the tables(*) to determine the production date of a Höfner guitar, but you also have to take other things into consideration, such as the pick-ups and pot meters. Also on these elements are manufacturing data that can lead you approximately to the production date of the guitar.
As you can see in the tables, there are many overlaps (duplicates) of the serial numbers. The different models can therefore carry the same serial number.
* Information is obtained from authentic Höfner documents.
Archtops and Semi Acoustic Guitars
YEAR
Committee
Committee Electric
Committee Thinline
Ambassador
1958
2564 – 2950
1959
2564 – 3270
1960
3271 – 3677
1100 – 1175
1961
3721 – 3744
1182 – 1257
1176 -1237
1962
3745 – 3792
1258 – 1326
1238 – 1305
1963
3793 – 3954
1355 – 1411
1964
3965 – 4108
1327
1420 – 1517
1965
4109 – 4177
1518 – 1653
50 – 177
1966
4178 – 4189
1617
178 – 273
1967
4190 – 4247
274-360
1968
4248 – 4258
1969
4259 – 4264
YEAR
President
President Thinline
President 66
President 66 Thinline
1958
3480 – 5100
1959
5101 – 6319
1960
6320 – 7967
600 – 681
1961
7968 – 8002
1962
8003 – 8125
682-787
1963
8126 – 8308
788-962
1964
8355 – 8727
963 – 1059
1965
8728 – 8976
1135
1 – 143
1966
8977 – 8986
144 – 273
1967
8987 – 8996
1 – 124
274 – 360
1968
8997 – 8999
125 – 280
1969
9000 – 9002
1970
9003 – 9026
1971
9027
YEAR
Senator
Senator Thinline
Senator 66
Senator 66 Thinline
1958
4404 – 7800
1959
7801 – 9301
1960
9302 – 11400
1088
1961
11401 – 11702
1089 – 1227
1962
11703 – 12079
1228 – 1309
1963
12080 – 12680
1310 – 1404
1964
12726 – 13516
1965
13517 – 13674
100 – 194
1 – 90
1966
13675 – 13768
1660
195 – 325
91 – 151
1967
326 – 405
152 – 189
1968
406 – 459
190 – 191
1969
460 – 468
192
1970
469 – 485
1971
486 – 569
193
YEAR
Club 40
Club 50
Club 60
Club 70
1958
255 – 420
479 – 650
1 – 180
1959
421 – 820
651 – 1158
181 – 588
1960
821 – 1534
1159 – 1779
589 – 1296
1961
1535 – 1674
1780
1297 – 1607
1962
1675
1608
1967
4190 – 4247
1 – 147
1968
4248 – 4258
148
1969
4259 – 4264
149 – 154
YEAR
Congress
Verithin
Verithin 66
Violin Guitar 459
1958
5809 -7800
1959
7801 – 8800
1960
8801 – 9917
– 350
1961
9918 – 10958
351 – 699
1962
10959 – 12278
700 – 1238
1963
12279 – 13371
1239 – 2223
1964
13422 – 14331
2260 – 3313
1965
14332 – 14891
3314
1000 – 1190
1966
14892 – 15141
1191 – 1293
1 – 170
1967
15142 – 15366
1294 – 1388
171 – 200
1968
15367 – 15456
1389 – 1398
1969
15457 – 15471
1399 – 1404
1970
15472 – 15517
1405 – 1408
1971
15518 – 15523
1409 – 1411
Acoustic Guitars
YEAR
Vienna
Flamenco
1958
468 – 700
4527 – 5100
1960
– 849
– 5433
1961
850 –
5434 – 5688
1962
981 –
5689 – 6270
1963
1189 – 1556
6271 – 7074
1964
7111 –
1965
1763 – 2014
7567 – 7888
1966
– 2289
– 8338
1967
– 2414
– 8463
1968
– 8511
1969
– 8556
1970
– 2424
– 8571
1971
– 8575
Also a way to find out the estimated production year, (in the case of an electrical model) is to look at the potentiometers. Unscrew the plate worth the potentiometers on its mounted loose, and turn it over. There are a variety of numbers on the bottom of the potentiometers. 128KΩ of 250KΩ with a number.
With the potentiometer decoder you can decipher the manufacture date of the potentiometer.
Solid Body Guitars
YEAR
Galaxie
Galaxie
Colorama I
Colorama II
1961
– 499
– 891
1962
1154 – 1299
892 – 1700
1963
– 3147
824 – 1156
1300
2154 – 2902
1964
3318 – 4437
1157 – 1348
944 – 963
2953 – 3638
1965
4438 – 4537
1349
964 – 979
3639
1966
4538 – 4637
980 – 1001
1967
4638 – 4737
1002 – 1012
1968
4738 – 4759
1969
4760 – 4858
1970
4859
YEAR
Super Solid II
Super Solid III
V2
V3
1961
– 650
– 1209
1962
651 – 773
1210 – 1838
1963
774
1839
2039
Bass Guitars
YEAR
Committee Bass
President Bass
Senator Bass
Verithin Bass
1959
1 – 199
1960
200 – 601
1961
602 – 643
1962
644 – 822
1963
– 272
– 168
823 – 947
– 256
1964
281 – 321
179 – 430
968 – 1868
309 – 540
1965
322 – 353
431 – 514
1869 – 2058
541 – 658
1966
515 – 538
2059 – 2294
659 – 664
1967
2295 – 2351
665 – 670
1968
2352 – 2375
671 – 672
1969
2376 – 2388
673 – 674
1970
2389 – 2397
675 – 679
1971
680 – 681
YEAR
Artist Bass
Solid Bass
500/1
500/2
1960
– 1020
1962
329 – 1160
231 – 617
1021
1963
1161 – 1949
618
– 311
1964
1950 – 2250
352 – 1830
1965
2251 – 2275
1831 – 2511
1966
2276 – 2301
2512 – 3064
1967
2302 – 2306
3065 – 3170
1968
2307 – 2309
3171 – 3263
1969
2310 – 2311
3264 – 3347
1970
2312 – 2313
3348 – 3429
1971
3430 – 3463
YEAR
Bass 6 500/10
1960
1 – 204
1961
205
1975 – 1984
From
To
Serial numbers
12-05-1975
19-09-1979
401600 – 403600
27-11-1979
08-10-1980
208624 – 210510
08-10-1980
19-05-1981
210511 – 211740
19-05-1981
14-10-1981
211741 – 212358
14-10-1981
23-03-1982
212359 – 213188
23-03-1982
17-12-1982
213189 – 214283
17-12-1982
05-03-1984
214284 – 215676
1986 – 1999
During this period, the Hofner instruments received a new six-digit serial number. The first digit stands for the year of construction, the second and third for the month, the fourth and fifth for the day of the month. The last digit is the sequence number of the guitar that was made this day. This means that a serial number starting with eg 8 in 1988 or 1998 has been built. Example: 805107 8051007 is the 7th instrument built on 10 May, 1988 or 1998.
2000 to present
In the year 2000 the first digit was replaced by a letter. A=2000 B=2001 C=2002 D=2003 E=2004 F=2005 G=2006 H=2007 J=2008 K=2009 L=2010 M=2011 N=2012 P=2013 Q=2014 R=2015 S=2016 T=2017 U=2018.
This system can therefore continue until 2023 (Z). The letters I and O have been skipped to prevent confusion with 1 and 0. Examle: M06085 M06085 is the 5th instrument built on 8 June, 2011.
The production date of instruments from the 50s, 60s and 70s are usually older than the serial number indicates. After it came from its own storage or from Höfner, the serial number was placed by the distributor/dealer. For example, an instrument with a serial number that was stamped in January 1960 was already produced in 1959.
FAQ
How can I tell what year my Höfner guitar was made?
Prior to the early 1970s, Höfner instruments were not assigned serial numbers. However, some instruments manufactured before that time may have a stamped or written date of production on the back of the headstock. These particular guitars were sold by the English company Selmer and the Dutch company Van Wouw.To determine the production year of your Höfner guitar, you can use the serial number decoder or refer to the explanation of the dating system.
How do I find Höfner guitar serial number?
To find Höfner serial number, examine the back or the top edge of the guitar’s headstock. For semi-hollow and acoustic models, check the label located within the upper f-hole.