Hofner Guitars Verythin Classic

The Hofner Verythin Classic is a reissue of the company's original highly noted semi hollow body guitar from the sixties called the Verythin. It has a very thin (!) double cutaway body with a center block of wood down the body a-la a Gibson ES335 guitar. It features a German spruce top (unusual wood for any electric guitar), flamed maple back and sides, a maple neck, an ebony fretboard with 22 frets and block inlays, Schaller M6 tuners, a roller bridge (again, a tad unsual to find, since this is a fixed bridge instrument) and a pair of Hofner 514 mini humbuckers, It also comes with a nice hardshell case and is made in Hofner's premier factory in Germany.

UTILIZATION

The design of this guitar is fairly ergonomic to me. Compared to a typical Gibson ES-335 or a similar copy, the guitar is bigger overall (in its shape) but it is definitely a thinner instrument than a 335 and it also feels lighter to me. It's not noticable at first but after a while of holding it and playing it, the guitar does feel lighter overall. The shape is like a slightly bigger and thinner version of the ES335, so it's really a matter of whether you like a big body. It's thin and easy to get your arms around it, but the body is still fairly bulky and some players who are used to a solidbody guitar might not like that. The upper fret access on this guitar is fairly good due to the non-blocky neck joint.

Getting a good sound out of this guitar is pretty simple. It's wired with two Hofner 514 mini humbuckers and the same dual volume/dual tone control layout as a typical Gibson 335. It's a great instrument for jazz or blues players looking for a slightly different take on the classic double cutaway semi hollow guitar.

SOUNDS

I've tried this guitar through a few different amplifiers as well as unplugged on its own. Before it was plugged in, I tested it acoustically to see what kind of tonal properties it had, especially as compared to the famed Gibson or Heritage models. It has a loud and resonant tone that almost sounds closer to the Gibson ES-330, a fully hollow version of the 335 that was manufactured with P90 pickups. It might be because the guitar contains a lot of maple wood which is quite bright in its tonality, but the guiar has an extremely resonant unplugged tone that has a good controlled low end, strong but netrural midrange, and a sparkling top end that works especially well for arpeggiated chords.

Plugged in the guitar has a really cool sound as provided by the Hofner humbuckers. The neck pickup has a wonderfully thick and throaty tone that lends itself quite well to complicated jazzy chord voicings and bebop esque lead lines too. The middle position (both pickups on) has a crisp and jangly tone that kind of reminds me of a Rickenbacker type guitar, and the bridge pickup has a perfect controlled snarl that is excellent for gritty blues or R&B stylings.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I think the Hofner Verythin Classic is a wonderful alternative to a typical Gibson or other ES style guitar. Its got a look and feel of its own, and the tones available are definitely high class. At about $2,800 new these guitars aren't cheap, but you can pick them up for about $1,500 used if you look - definitely a killer deal for a more obscure yet still very well made and beautiful semi hollow body guitar.

Guitar made in Germany by hand (not by children, it's better for the conscience!) As the guitars of yesteryear, AAA spruce top, back, but it is also completely flame (beautiful).
22 frets and an ebony fingerboard.
binding on any guitar.
micro "made in" mail Höfner and breathtaking turns the knobs + on + the sound is round and jazzy, especially with the neck pickup. We switch the type of a single coil to a large double trouble-free.
2 volumes, 2 tones, a 3 position switch, 2 pickups.
bridge-type tensioner HOFNER.
handle rather large, like 59 or gibson godin profile.
9 / 10 as requiring a small run-time adaptation for small hands

UTILIZATION

As I said before, the handle is quite manly, but you get used to because it wide enough (at least it's not a classic no longer!) But it is great for arpeggios, chords jazz all twisted! !
even the sweeping and tapping, and other virtuosity not to be avoided with a properly tuned guitar.
The treble is excellent access to
Ergonomics is good, it is comfortable, the guitar is well balanced, not heavy either.
whatever settings the sound is terrible (Electronic crazy!) it sounds.

SOUNDS

I love the beautiful sounds clear, very round typed jazz, bossa and I must say that this guitar would come out better in this area than Gretch (country, Brian Setzer) or Gibson ES models (sometimes a bit limited time level finishing) also in my opinion is a direct competitor, the shape of the guitar is not without recalling, if not crunch it sounds not bad either (creedence, BB King) good blues guitar also has to sustain almost that as long as my Les Paul Classic (1993).
I play with a mesa f30 with which it déglinque,.
on the other hand is not suitable for very large terrible distos (dissection, angra, Fear Factory, is finally a scratching at the base of jazz!) but OK for the rest.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought it new a year ago.
The guitar is beautiful, a very good build quality (it must be seen in real life, the photos do not) domed table back flame wood binding on any guitar, gold hardware, ebony short HOFNER n has not wanted to do things by halves.
Great sound especially clear, but the guitar is versatile, and the body width not too big can increase the sound feedback without fear imminent.
The guitar comes in a case such beautiful tweed.
While the handle is a bit wide at first, but with a well-tuned action that rolls even for small hands.
value for money is to go. Too bad the guitar is poorly distributed.
I do it again this choice because it is a guitar with a real personality!, and then when you fly the fate of your people (well what the experts, not bystander!) hua come see you! What is your scratch c is a HOFNER! actually the brand rather discreet.
So if you have a good paw and you like the sound clear, jazz, crunch, blues, overdrive, and long sustain evil (even sounds clear!) This guitar is for you.

edit 17/12/2010: RAS, the table begins to take an amber hue that makes the guitar even more beautiful than before, still happy with the play, and Déguène in concert.