Höfner files for insolvency

[kodiakblair]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

the rest is history.

Aye, he had £30 to spend but a Fender cost £100 so he bought the Höfner.

 

If he'd had a bigger budget he'd have bought a Fender, Höfner would never have got the Beatles association lifeline and went bust decades ago 👍

[Stub Mandrel]

11 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Höfner (correct spelling

 

This is interesting.  Apparently in the early years those exported to the uk had the spelling 'Hofner' to downplay their German origin at a time when that was disadvantageous in the UK.

 

In English the nearest equivalent of ö is œ. I posted a link to the German pronunciation above, closer to 'herfner' than 'hoffner' although the latter is almost universal in the UK.

 

Œ is often pronounced as an 'e' in the UK (compare 'Phœbe'), I suspect Hugh Heffner's original family was closer to 'Höfner'.

[Hellzero]

10 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

In English the nearest equivalent of ö is œ.

It's not the nearest equivalent, it's the other way to write it, just like in German, where any vowel with an umlaut (which is a totally German word) can be written this way. 😉

[p4ul]

12 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

German pronunciation above, closer to 'herfner' than 'hoffner'

[jd56hawk]

On 19/12/2025 at 12:23, LeftyJ said:

Höfner posted an update on their socials today to clarify one or two things:

 

Dear musicians, Höfner fans & friends,
some of you may have already heard: our company has been going through a difficult period - especially since the introduction of the US tariffs - and filed for insolvency on Thursday, 11 December 2025.

 

We would like to clarify a few things: We are not discontinuing production, distribution or our media channels. In Germany, there is a three-month period before the actual insolvency procedure is opened. This period offers the opportunity to consolidate the company and restructure it for a better future.

 

Within this period, we will continue to build and sell our instruments and the Höfner team is doing its best to provide you with the support, service and warranties you expect.

We would like to express our appreciation to all of you who continue to support us even in these difficult times!

 

Thank You!
The team at Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG

Thanks.

Now maybe we won't have to see any of those ridiculous "Paul McCartney should buy Hofner!" posts.

[Sparky Mark]

I expect the Chinese Hofner (Contemporary and Ignition) violin basses outsell the German built ones many, many times over, which couldn't have helped.

As an example, out of curiosity I bought a couple of the cheapest Hofner Ignition violins to decide a) whether I liked violins at all, and b) which pickup positions I preferred. I chose the Ignition basses because their construction is a little closer to the hollow body originals, not having the full maple centre block of the Contemporaries.

I then very briefly owned a genuine German violin bass, but to be honest, the Ignitions got pretty darn close sound, feel and weight-wise so the German went back and I still have the Ignition. It may get gigged when I need a featherweight shortscale in my old(er) age.

It's a shame when anything "iconic" disappears, but such is commerce. 

[JohnDaBass]

While working in a music store in the early 70's (Sound Centre Cardiff 71 to 75) Hofner Galaxy basses and Verthin basses did not attract the same attention as the “Beatle Bass”. The Verthin was a fine instrument with a good range of tones, light and comfortable to play. Gibson and Fender dominated the market, while Hofners had low resale value.  

At the time my own bass guitar route was Hagstrom Futurama to Fender Musicmaster to Gibson EB3.

It’s ironic how those basses which did not receive too much love at the time are now commanding prices from £750 upwards.

Last year I purchased a Hofner Shorty for lounge noodling and “leave-in-the-car” backup. With an old set of La Bella Deep talking flat wounds the Shorty has a lovely range of tones from warm & woody to typical Hofner “Beatle Bass” thump.

 

 

Happy days !!

[ASW]

On 18/12/2025 at 14:19, ASW said:

Does anyone know the difference between the German Artist series basses and the other German basses. Looks like the vintage ones are a "relic" finish, but not sure what the differences between the other models are.

 

 

Does anyone have an answer to this? 

[Sparky Mark]

16 minutes ago, ASW said:

 

Does anyone have an answer to this? 

Artist series are just based upon specific models in Hofner' history. Google AI is your friend.

[BassAgent]

And Google AI is often wrong.

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, Sparky Mark said:

Artist series are just based upon specific models in Hofner' history. Google AI is your friend.

 

I know you were being sarcastic, but Google anything is most definitely *not* your friend.

[BassAgent]

The difference is only the finish. The vintage reissues have nitro lacquer. The Artist series have a thin poly finish. Someone at Talkbass asked Höfner a few years back:

Quote

I had written to Hofner and had asked what the differences would be between the Artist version and their other German made violin basses? Their answer was clear and concise - it the thin poly finish .

So, as usual, Google AI is wrong.

Edited Saturday at 16:16 by BassAgent

[ASW]

27 minutes ago, Sparky Mark said:

Artist series are just based upon specific models in Hofner' history. Google AI is your friend.

 

That seems the opposite of what I understood... which is very little, but I do know that there are more year specific models and they are considerably more expensive than the Artist models!

 

I do use Google AI, but take what it says with a pinch of salt as it is often inaccurate. The benefit of a bass guitar forum is that I can get answers from a range of people, some of which will be experts in the field and can give sources of their info and be questioned further (usually with logical responses unlike AI). 

 

Thanks for responding though. I particularly like the Eggle bass in your profile pic (at least I think it is). I've never seen one in the wild but am a fan of their New York guitars. 

 

 

[ASW]

23 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

The difference is only the finish. The vintage reissues have nitro lacquer. The Artist series have a thin poly finish. Someone at Talkbass asked Höfner a few years back:

So, as usual, Google AI is wrong.

 

Thanks for this. There seems quite a big price difference for a different finish. £1700 vs £2500 approximately. If that's the only difference, then I'm keeping my eye out for a used Artist Club Bass as very keen to buy one after trying a Club at Wunjo in London. 

[police squad]

Yep its the laquer 

[snorkie635]

55 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

I know you were being sarcastic, but Google anything is most definitely *not* your friend.

Damn! I thought I'd finally found one, and you've taken even that from me!

[Sparky Mark]

2 hours ago, ASW said:

Thanks for responding though. I particularly like the Eggle bass in your profile pic (at least I think it is). I've never seen one in the wild but am a fan of their New York guitars. 

No problem; sometimes you just have to provoke a response. LOL.

Yes, it's a Patrick Eggle New York bass. Took me a few years to find it on Ebay after a local bass player sold it on Reverb. 

 

Edited Saturday at 18:43 by Sparky Mark

[Minininjarob]

Always a shame to see a company struggle but to be honest I’m not surprised. I reckon the Beatles connection has kept them in business for a long time but as the people who wanted to copy Sir Macca have reduced in numbers have reduced over the years it seems inevitable. You have to remember than the people who saw the Beatles in person are probably over 75 and more so the direct link to their onstage work has pretty much disappeared. 
As much as people on here would like to think otherwise the Beatles, while respected and loved, are a lot less relevant now than they have ever been. So relying on a link to them to sell instruments is never going to last forever - ok they might not have relied on that link solely but if not why have I never heard of anything else they have made or if they have brought out newer products. 
I got into bass about 4 years ago and even though I’m middle aged I never even considered one of their instruments. I know quite a few bass players and no one has ever talked about them, played a violin bass, least of all bought one. 
As I said before, it’s a real shame but what sort of future do they have if we are being realistic about their chances?? 

[risingson]

2 hours ago, Minininjarob said:

Always a shame to see a company struggle but to be honest I’m not surprised. I reckon the Beatles connection has kept them in business for a long time but as the people who wanted to copy Sir Macca have reduced in numbers have reduced over the years it seems inevitable. You have to remember than the people who saw the Beatles in person are probably over 75 and more so the direct link to their onstage work has pretty much disappeared. 
As much as people on here would like to think otherwise the Beatles, while respected and loved, are a lot less relevant now than they have ever been. So relying on a link to them to sell instruments is never going to last forever - ok they might not have relied on that link solely but if not why have I never heard of anything else they have made or if they have brought out newer products. 
I got into bass about 4 years ago and even though I’m middle aged I never even considered one of their instruments. I know quite a few bass players and no one has ever talked about them, played a violin bass, least of all bought one. 
As I said before, it’s a real shame but what sort of future do they have if we are being realistic about their chances?? 

Just getting through this thread with some interest. Part agree with what you’re saying but I’d disagree with their lack of relevance of late. As mentioned already, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala has quietly put the Violin Bass back on the map in the past 12 years or so and they’ve been picked up by more than a few modern bands, who I suspect have wanted to be seen and heard playing something distinctly different to just another Fender. 
 

You’re right of course that McCartney will forever be ubiquitous with the brand and for good reason. They are truly distinctive sounding, played with a pick pretty unbeatable when recorded, that means a lot of bass players and producers alike value the tone of the Hofner still. I also think that they fit a gap for guitarists transitioning to bass given the string spacing and scale length, which gives them an additional target reach. 

[scrumpymike]

Did anybody else watch the Jools Holland Hootenanny on NYE? A pretty turgid event as usual but I was interested to see and hear The Kooks' bass player laying down some neat bass lines with a pick on a Hofner Club bass.

[Sparky Mark]

11 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

Did anybody else watch the Jools Holland Hootenanny on NYE? A pretty turgid event as usual but I was interested to see and hear The Kooks' bass player laying down some neat bass lines with a pick on a Hofner Club bass.

Yep, saw that and thought of this thread.

[snorkie635]

17 hours ago, risingson said:

Just getting through this thread with some interest. Part agree with what you’re saying but I’d disagree with their lack of relevance of late. As mentioned already, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala has quietly put the Violin Bass back on the map in the past 12 years or so and they’ve been picked up by more than a few modern bands, who I suspect have wanted to be seen and heard playing something distinctly different to just another Fender. 
 

You’re right of course that McCartney will forever be ubiquitous with the brand and for good reason. They are truly distinctive sounding, played with a pick pretty unbeatable when recorded, that means a lot of bass players and producers alike value the tone of the Hofner still. I also think that they fit a gap for guitarists transitioning to bass given the string spacing and scale length, which gives them an additional target reach. 

 

So what is the string spacing on a Hofner violin bass then?

[Marti T]

String spacing at the bridge is about 15mm on my violin bass (Hofner, German artist series)

 

40mm width at the nut

 

I got it recently on a whim, never tried one before and didn't expect to like it

 

I love it, unique and unlike anything I've ever played!

 

It came with very heavy gauge black tape wound strings with a high tension - makes we want to play with a pick which I rarely choose to do

[risingson]

3 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

 

So what is the string spacing on a Hofner violin bass then?

No clue sadly, I can only speak from experience and say it’s fairly tight. Not at all like many short scale basses à la Mustang. Probably lends itself better to being played with a pick than with fingers, although anything is possible. 

[Grahambythesea]

6 hours ago, Marti T said:

String spacing at the bridge is about 15mm on my violin bass (Hofner, German artist series)

 

40mm width at the nut

 

I got it recently on a whim, never tried one before and didn't expect to like it

 

I love it, unique and unlike anything I've ever played!

 

It came with very heavy gauge black tape wound strings with a high tension - makes we want to play with a pick which I rarely choose to do

I had a Violin bass and many years ago learnt on a borrowed Senator bass. The spacing at the bridge is about 14mm which I found too close for finger style playing, my other basses are 18/19 mm. I think they lend themselves to plectrum playing. Almost all their basses are short scale which I suspect also lead to there lack of popularity back when everyone else was using long scale.