Höfner

The Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG is a German company that manufactures plucked and bowed string instruments.

History

The company was founded in 1887 by the guitar and violin maker Karl Höfner and had its headquarters in Schönenbach (now Luby in the Czech Republic ). Beginning of the 20th century, the company grew into the largest manufacturer of stringed and plucked instruments on the German-speaking and has since been known internationally due to the solid quality of the instruments.

In the 1910s and 1920s, the acoustic guitar ( classical guitar ) was added to the production portfolio. In this sector, the Höfner GmbH has been a market leader. As a result of the Second World War, the company headquarters to Bubenreuth was transferred to Bavaria.

Mid -1950s, the idea of ​​a hollow-body electric bass was implemented. This bass, which is produced under the model name Hofner 500/1 to the present day by Höfner, became known as the unofficial nickname Beatle Bass, because Paul McCartney played on this model of Höfner and still plays. This instrument made ​​the Höfner GmbH one of the most sought after manufacturers of electric basses. ( The mold was occasionally EB- 1 compared to the Gibson " violin bass ", though this one is built completely different than solid wood instrument. )

After the family Höfner became part of the Boosey & Hawkes Group in 1994, an English traditional company that was active both in the field of music marketing as well as in instrument, large sums were invested in the modernization of production technology in Höfner. In 1997, the branch factory in neighboring Haguenau has been extended with a new building and moved the company's headquarters from Bubenreuth there.

In 2003, Höfner GmbH was taken over by the company The Music Group, as the Boosey & Hawkes Group disposed of the instrument division. 2004 Höfner was in the way of a management buy-out under the direction of Klaus Schoeller and Ulrike Schrimpff as Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG back to an independent family business.

In addition to the built in Höfner models in Germany, there are now very inexpensive Höfner guitars, which are made in China.