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 22 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. 

[Stub Mandrel]

On 17/12/2025 at 06:47, BlueMoon said:

I guess Macca would be a an obvious candidate if he were interested in a sideline business venture. He’s shrewd, so maybe not.

 

Just saw this on Facebook from Macca:

 

It is very sad to see Höfner go out of business. They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties. I have loved it ever since. It’s a wonderful instrument to play: lightweight, and it encourages me to play quite freely. It also offers pleasing variations in tone that I enjoy. So, commiserations to everyone at Höfner, and thank you for all your help over the years. - Paul
 

[ajkula66]

7 hours ago, Dad3353 said:

 

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.

 

Gibson never gave up on the 335, but on the Les Paul back in 1960.

 

They have also been making mandolins which are arguably the best in business since 1894 and still had to file for bankruptcy protection a couple of years ago.

 

Times change.

 

 

[police squad]

I've recently had 2 violin basses, a contemporary union jack bass and a 1964 bass.

both are marvellous instruments but the '64 is just amazing. 

recently sold the union jack bass but the '64 is going nowhere. 

It is so easy to play

[Bass Direct]

14 hours ago, jd56hawk said:

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. 

It would definitely make a difference, thats for sure

[Chienmortbb]

18 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

Except it was made by HOHNER, not Höfner.

I stand corrected, I should have known as I had a “project” Jack bass for a while. 

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, police squad said:

I've recently had 2 violin basses, a contemporary union jack bass and a 1964 bass.

both are marvellous instruments but the '64 is just amazing. 

recently sold the union jack bass but the '64 is going nowhere. 

It is so easy to play

 

To my mind the fact that Chris Wood, a highly creative virtuoso player known as much for his electric as for his upright playing, chooses to use a Hofner pretty much exclusively (occasionally seen with a Fender also), speaks volumes. I've never played one and often thought about it, but then remember that I really don't appear to get on with short scale basses

[Chienmortbb]

I don’t suppose this offering from a fellow German company helped https://www.thomann.co.uk/harley_benton_beatbass.htm

HB Beat Bass

Edited 7 hours ago by Chienmortbb

[kodiakblair]

On 17/12/2025 at 23:58, ajkula66 said:

Tina is the only one on that list who played a Hofner for most of her career. 

 Tina's gear list, on wiki, tells a different tale 😀

 

Equipment

Höfner 500/2 Club Bass[29][30] – Two pickup with single-cutaway hollowbody, purchased in 1978

Fender Musicmaster Bass[29] Used in early Talking Heads performances including Talking Heads: 77

Fender Mustang Bass[29] Used in early Talking Heads performances, seen on Saturday Night Live performance

Veillette-Citron Standard 4 String[29] – Neck Through, teal green

Fender Precision Bass – Used in early Talking Heads performances[30]

Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass[29] – used in early Talking Heads performances

Fender Jazz Bass[29] – Used for Tom Tom Club live performances

Steinberger L-Series Bass[29] – Seen during Little Creatures period

Fender Swinger Guitar – Seen in Stop Making Sense during the performance of "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)"

Chapman Stick[citation needed]

[scrumpymike]

17 hours ago, Cato said:

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.

I'd say that he's already done more than enough for Hofner. Without the Macca factor, they might not have lasted this long.

[ajkula66]

3 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

 Tina's gear list, on wiki, tells a different tale 😀

 

 

I'm well-aware of most of these basses being used by her, but whenever I think of TW I picture her with a Hofner for some reason, possibly because that's what she was playing when I saw them in '82 (I think ?) as well...

[scrumpymike]

1 hour ago, ajkula66 said:

I'm well-aware of most of these basses being used by her, but whenever I think of TW I picture her with a Hofner for some reason, possibly because that's what she was playing when I saw them in '82 (I think ?) as well...

Funny that, I always think of her as playing a Gibson Les Paul Triumph but that's probably because I gigged a pair of '70s Triumphs for years  in the late '80s-early '90s. Mind you it was like having a tree-trunk hanging round your neck. Which is why that mere slip of a lass Tina changed to something lighter. The Hofners would certainly fit the bill weight-wise.

[kodiakblair]

2 hours ago, ajkula66 said:

possibly because that's what she was playing when I saw them in '82 (I think ?) as well...

Do you think there's a large number of folk, who saw TH 43 years ago, are planning on buying a Hofner and would that number save the company ?

 

See it's all well and good trawling up photos from decades ago but most who were inspired or influenced by those artists have already scratched that itch.