Höfner files for insolvency

[BassAgent]

Just now, BigRedX said:

 

Except it was made by HOHNER, not Höfner.

Details schmetails😁

[Dad3353]

15 hours ago, ajkula66 said:

...Time for a change.

 

Why..? I don't understand this perpetual need for 'change'. If it's Good, it's Good. New stuff, old stuff... Nothing needs to be 'changed' just for 'changes' sake, does it..? 

[ajkula66]

11 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

 

Why..? I don't understand this perpetual need for 'change'. If it's Good, it's Good. New stuff, old stuff... Nothing needs to be 'changed' just for 'changes' sake, does it..? 

 

It's not "change for the sake of change". It's about staying afloat.

 

As for "good"...Hofners were always lagging behind Framus and Hoyer when it came to quality, even 50 years ago. IMO, that is.

 

Cool conversation pieces nevertheless.

 

 

[Woodinblack]

18 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

 

Why..? I don't understand this perpetual need for 'change'. If it's Good, it's Good. New stuff, old stuff... Nothing needs to be 'changed' just for 'changes' sake, does it..? 

 

Clearly something did as the company collapsed.

[Dad3353]

2 minutes ago, ajkula66 said:

 

It's not "change for the sake of change". It's about staying afloat.

 

As for "good"...Hofners were always lagging behind Framus and Hoyer when it came to quality, even 50 years ago. IMO, that is.

 

Cool conversation pieces nevertheless.

 

Hofner have been making concert-quality violins, cellos etc for decades; I don't know what change is expected there.

Gibson gave up on the 335 (poor sales...) but made a mint when the fashion changed, and now they are a key product 'with the Epiphone versions selling well, too...). We don't know what financial issues Hofner may or may not have, nor how to fix these; maybe it's time for a change, but maybe they'd be better off sticking to what they do best..? Speculation, all off it.
Disclaimer : I have many Hofner guitars and basses, (mostly vintage...), and find them to be excellent for my style and tastes. None of them come anywhere near the description 'boat anchor'. I do not (nor can I ...) play 'slap' bass, nor punk rock. Chord-melody is more 'my thing', and noodling. Peace.

[scrumpymike]

3 hours ago, tegs07 said:

Don’t Hofner still make high quality hand built acoustic instruments?

 

Strongly suspect that their financial situation is more to do with a sluggish economy and high energy costs. I doubt Macca can help, unless he can broker a peace agreement with Russia.

If Macca is still as pally with Putin as the video of his band playing in Red Square would suggest, he may yet be the best bet we've got.

[scrumpymike]

I briefly owned a Hofner Club bass, the Contemporary version IIRC. Didn't get on with it at all but I still have an inexplicable urge to own a violin bass. All down to Macca and the extent to which he (and the Beatles) shaped my muso apprenticeship.

 

Happy days!! 

[Reggaebass]

18 hours ago, RichT said:

Robbie Shakespeare of Sly & Robbie

There’s a bit of a story about that one if anyone is interested, it was one of Aston Barrett’s early basses originally ,and when he started touring with the wailers he gave it to Robbie, Robbie thinks he might have played the Hofner on the Wailers Concrete Jungle recording 

[prowla]

3 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

The Hofner Verithin was quite common in the 60/70s and my first electric 6-string guitar was a Hofner red solid body with one pickup. It played really well BUT it did not look like a Fender or a Gibson, in those days I was a little more fickle than I am now. The Hofner Jack bass really was a fine instrument IMHO, except for having the name and lots of writing on the body. 

 

3 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

Except it was made by HOHNER, not Höfner.

 

Mine...

 

[jd56hawk]

5 hours ago, Bass Direct said:

Not sure how much I agree with this, we still sell many per year

I can't remember where I heard it, but after the "Get Back" movie, Hofner sold 2 or 3 times more McCartney basses than the year before. 

Edited 3 hours ago by jd56hawk

[Kev]

So assume this is a no, I'm not going to help 😅

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17qsDtrm3N/

[Cato]

I can't imagine Paul McCartney would want to be spending his time & money trying to save a failing business at this point in his life.

[ASW]

On 17/12/2025 at 17:03, Hellzero said:

As I wrote earlier Macca could do it as he said he could have bought Fender when they were close to bankruptcy...

 

That said Peter Jackson could certainly do it too.

 

I'm not sure I understand why Paul McCartney would be interested in buying Hofner. He's played the same one for the past 60 years has he not? It doesn't appear like he's a prolific buyer of Hofner basses, but I could be wrong.