Hofner Guitars HA-GA05

Manufacture: Germany
Size: Grand Auditorium Cutaway
Top: Solid Spruce
Back & Sides: Flamed Maple
Preamp: B Band
Tuners: Grover oil bath
Neck: mahogany satin
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Varnish: Gloss

At first glance, the look of the instrument strongly suggests the Chinese industrial production. A high gloss varnish (but very late after the specifications of fabic), some minor finish defects, a bottom and sides tackles, a spruce top and white veining very shallow ...

At the same time, looking closer, there are some nice details: setting the truss-road through the head and not by the crate, wooden access cover, Grover, 18-10 binding wood handle satin head plated with real bone nuts, dowels perloïd ... many more features encountered on high-end models.

The Hofner blows out hot and cold. It is unclear whether we are dealing with an instrument input (Yamaha FG) or Midrange (Guild Gad). This hybrid is part of its charm and gives it a certain originality, provided you like the light wood.

UTILIZATION

The satin neck is thin, and very enjoyable to play. The shape and the large auditorium cutaway part to the comfort of the instrument. The setting is perfect.

SOUNDS

The look of the guitar could let fear of disappointment, but the acoustic sound is very good for an instrument in this price range. Despite the merits of maple, which generally favors the brightness, the sound of the Hofner is round and warm, and bass are present. The showing is respectable but not spectacular, with good balance throughout the registers, and despite the youth of the woods, the tone is appealing and should improve with time.

For an instrument rather intended to use electro, acoustic sound is a real nice surprise, and after having tested more than 20 guitars in the shop, it was part of the trio, along with two Dreadnought (a Tanglewood a Washburn).

Compared to the dreadnought bass and clear highs, this produces a pure Hofner acoustic guitar sound, sweet and balanced with good bass and good mids present. The treble is not flashy or metallic.

This sound very melodic and quite neutral so the foremost intended to picking and finger-style. For chord playing, or for those seeking a more distinctive, it is better to turn to another model.

In electro, the result is simply excellent. We find the same acoustic sound very pure and very neutral when playing unplugged. The mic preamp and B-band are wonderful: the sound is clean and clear, without this side and artificial nazillard found in most piezo.

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar excel with its originality and unusual nature. The acoustic sound is very good, and far exceeds what one might expect from an instrument in this category (grand auditorium cutaway maple back and midrange). As for the electro sound, it is simply perfect.

A daring choice, but will provide a real pleasure to players of finger-picking.