Before the early 1970s, Höfner instruments were not assigned serial numbers. However, some instruments manufactured before that time may have a stamped or written date of production on the back of the headstock. These particular guitars were sold by the English company Selmer and the Dutch company Van Wouw.
Table of Contents
Where to Find Höfner Serial Number?
To find the serial number, examine the back or the top edge of the guitar’s headstock. For semi-hollow and acoustic models, check the label located within the upper f-hole.
Selmer Serial Number
Between 1953 and 1971 Höfner produced a series of guitars for the British distributor Selmer Company. These models were often similar to the Höfner standard range but usually had small differences in detail.
The ‘Selmer‘ guitars were given serial numbers, usually stamped on the back of the headstock, or typed on a label that is visible in the F-hole. Guitars distributed in Europe, the US, and other countries did not have a serial number until 1976.
The Dutch distributor Van Wouw also used a serial number system which deviates from that of Selmer. This can lead to confusion when a Van Wouw appears where Selmer guitars have been distributed.
Van Wouw serial numbers were stamped in the workshop on the top edge of the headstock. The list below is therefore not by definition the year of manufacture, the numbers were stamped after the instrument was imported.
Some Höfner dealers placed their labels on the back of the head with numbers. These are not ‘Selmer’ serial numbers.
Van Wouw serial number Chart
| Import Year | Serial Numbers |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 1921, 2116, 2224, 2531 |
| 1961 | 3204, 3215, 3267, 3351, 3596, 3894, 3959, 4072 |
| 1962 | 4506, 4748, 5253, 5284, 5390, 5486 |
| 1964 | 7095 |
| 1965 | 7598 |
| 1966 | 8573 |
The tables below with Selmer serial numbers are incomplete and not accurate. The serials are based on delivery documents that have been preserved. These documents may have been inaccurate.
You can consult the tables(*) to determine the production date of a Höfner guitar, but you also have to consider other things, such as the pick-ups and pot meters. Also on these elements are manufacturing data that can lead you approximately to the production date of the guitar.
As you can see in the tables, there are many overlaps (duplicates) of the serial numbers. The different models can therefore carry the same serial number.
* Information is obtained from authentic Höfner documents.
Acoustic, Archtop, and Semi-Acoustic Guitar Serial Numbers
Committee, Ambassador Guitar Serials Chart (1958-1969)
| Year | Committee | Committee Electric | Committee Thinline | Ambassador |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 2564 – 2950 | |||
| 1959 | 2564 – 3270 | |||
| 1960 | 3271 – 3677 | 1100 – 1175 | ||
| 1961 | 3721 – 3744 | 1182 – 1257 | 1176 -1237 | |
| 1962 | 3745 – 3792 | 1258 – 1326 | 1238 – 1305 | |
| 1963 | 3793 – 3954 | 1355 – 1411 | ||
| 1964 | 3965 – 4108 | 1327 | 1420 – 1517 | |
| 1965 | 4109 – 4177 | 1518 – 1653 | 50 – 177 | |
| 1966 | 4178 – 4189 | 1617 | 178 – 273 | |
| 1967 | 4190 – 4247 | 274-360 | ||
| 1968 | 4248 – 4258 | |||
| 1969 | 4259 – 4264 |
President guitar serial Number Chart (1958-1971)
| Year | President | President Thinline | President 66 | President 66 Thinline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 3480 – 5100 | |||
| 1959 | 5101 – 6319 | |||
| 1960 | 6320 – 7967 | 600 – 681 | ||
| 1961 | 7968 – 8002 | |||
| 1962 | 8003 – 8125 | 682-787 | ||
| 1963 | 8126 – 8308 | 788-962 | ||
| 1964 | 8355 – 8727 | 963 – 1059 | ||
| 1965 | 8728 – 8976 | 1135 | 1 – 143 | |
| 1966 | 8977 – 8986 | 144 – 273 | ||
| 1967 | 8987 – 8996 | 1 – 124 | 274 – 360 | |
| 1968 | 8997 – 8999 | 125 – 280 | ||
| 1969 | 9000 – 9002 | |||
| 1970 | 9003 – 9026 | |||
| 1971 | 9027 |
Senator Guitar Serial Number Chart (1958-1971)
| Year | Senator | Senator Thinline | Senator 66 | Senator 66 Thinline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 4404 – 7800 | |||
| 1959 | 7801 – 9301 | |||
| 1960 | 9302 – 11400 | 1088 | ||
| 1961 | 11401 – 11702 | 1089 – 1227 | ||
| 1962 | 11703 – 12079 | 1228 – 1309 | ||
| 1963 | 12080 – 12680 | 1310 – 1404 | ||
| 1964 | 12726 – 13516 | |||
| 1965 | 13517 – 13674 | 100 – 194 | 1 – 90 | |
| 1966 | 13675 – 13768 | 1660 | 195 – 325 | 91 – 151 |
| 1967 | 326 – 405 | 152 – 189 | ||
| 1968 | 406 – 459 | 190 – 191 | ||
| 1969 | 460 – 468 | 192 | ||
| 1970 | 469 – 485 | |||
| 1971 | 486 – 569 | 193 |
Club guitars Serial Number Chart (1958-1971)
| Year | Club 40 | Club 50 | Club 60 | Club 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 255 – 420 | 479 – 650 | 1 – 180 | |
| 1959 | 421 – 820 | 651 – 1158 | 181 – 588 | |
| 1960 | 821 – 1534 | 1159 – 1779 | 589 – 1296 | |
| 1961 | 1535 – 1674 | 1780 | 1297 – 1607 | |
| 1962 | 1675 | 1608 | ||
| 1967 | 4190 – 4247 | 1 – 147 | ||
| 1968 | 4248 – 4258 | 148 | ||
| 1969 | 4259 – 4264 | 149 – 154 |
Congress, Verithin, Violin guitar serial number (1958-1971)
| Year | Congress | Verithin | Verithin 66 | Violin Guitar 459 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 5809 -7800 | |||
| 1959 | 7801 – 8800 | |||
| 1960 | 8801 – 9917 | – 350 | ||
| 1961 | 9918 – 10958 | 351 – 699 | ||
| 1962 | 10959 – 12278 | 700 – 1238 | ||
| 1963 | 12279 – 13371 | 1239 – 2223 | ||
| 1964 | 13422 – 14331 | 2260 – 3313 | ||
| 1965 | 14332 – 14891 | 3314 | 1000 – 1190 | |
| 1966 | 14892 – 15141 | 1191 – 1293 | 1 – 170 | |
| 1967 | 15142 – 15366 | 1294 – 1388 | 171 – 200 | |
| 1968 | 15367 – 15456 | 1389 – 1398 | ||
| 1969 | 15457 – 15471 | 1399 – 1404 | ||
| 1970 | 15472 – 15517 | 1405 – 1408 | ||
| 1971 | 15518 – 15523 | 1409 – 1411 |
Vienna, Flamenco guitar serial number (1958-1971)
| Year | Vienna | Flamenco |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 468 – 700 | 4527 – 5100 |
| 1960 | – 849 | – 5433 |
| 1961 | 850 – | 5434 – 5688 |
| 1962 | 981 – | 5689 – 6270 |
| 1963 | 1189 – 1556 | 6271 – 7074 |
| 1964 | 7111 – | |
| 1965 | 1763 – 2014 | 7567 – 7888 |
| 1966 | – 2289 | – 8338 |
| 1967 | – 2414 | – 8463 |
| 1968 | – 8511 | |
| 1969 | – 8556 | |
| 1970 | – 2424 | – 8571 |
| 1971 | – 8575 |
Solid-Body Guitar Serial Number
Galaxie, Super 173, Colorama Serials database (1961-1970)
| Year | Galaxie | Super (173) | Colorama I | Colorama II |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | – 499 | – 891 | ||
| 1962 | 1154 – 1299 | 892 – 1700 | ||
| 1963 | – 3147 | 824 – 1156 | 1300 | 2154 – 2902 |
| 1964 | 3318 – 4437 | 1157 – 1348 | 944 – 963 | 2953 – 3638 |
| 1965 | 4438 – 4537 | 1349 | 964 – 979 | 3639 |
| 1966 | 4538 – 4637 | 980 – 1001 | ||
| 1967 | 4638 – 4737 | 1002 – 1012 | ||
| 1968 | 4738 – 4759 | |||
| 1969 | 4760 – 4858 | |||
| 1970 | 4859 |
Super Solid, V2, V3 Serials database (1961-1963)
| Year | Super Solid II | Super Solid III | V2 | V3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | – 650 | – 1209 | ||
| 1962 | 651 – 773 | 1210 – 1838 | ||
| 1963 | 774 | 1839 | 2039 |
Bass Guitar Serial Number
Bass Committee, President, Senator, Verithin Serials Chart (1959-1971)
| Year | Committee Bass | President Bass | Senator Bass | Verithin Bass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 1 – 199 | |||
| 1960 | 200 – 601 | |||
| 1961 | 602 – 643 | |||
| 1962 | 644 – 822 | |||
| 1963 | – 272 | – 168 | 823 – 947 | – 256 |
| 1964 | 281 – 321 | 179 – 430 | 968 – 1868 | 309 – 540 |
| 1965 | 322 – 353 | 431 – 514 | 1869 – 2058 | 541 – 658 |
| 1966 | 515 – 538 | 2059 – 2294 | 659 – 664 | |
| 1967 | 2295 – 2351 | 665 – 670 | ||
| 1968 | 2352 – 2375 | 671 – 672 | ||
| 1969 | 2376 – 2388 | 673 – 674 | ||
| 1970 | 2389 – 2397 | 675 – 679 | ||
| 1971 | 680 – 681 |
Bass Artist, Solid, 500/1, 500/2 Serials Chart (1960-1971)
| Year | Artist Bass | Solid Bass | 500/1 | 500/2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | – 1020 | |||
| 1962 | 329 – 1160 | 231 – 617 | 1021 | |
| 1963 | 1161 – 1949 | 618 | – 311 | |
| 1964 | 1950 – 2250 | 352 – 1830 | ||
| 1965 | 2251 – 2275 | 1831 – 2511 | ||
| 1966 | 2276 – 2301 | 2512 – 3064 | ||
| 1967 | 2302 – 2306 | 3065 – 3170 | ||
| 1968 | 2307 – 2309 | 3171 – 3263 | ||
| 1969 | 2310 – 2311 | 3264 – 3347 | ||
| 1970 | 2312 – 2313 | 3348 – 3429 | ||
| 1971 | 3430 – 3463 |
Bass 6 500/10 Serials Chart (1960-1961)
| Year | Bass 6 500/10 |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 1 – 204 |
| 1961 | 205 |
Hofner Serial Number 1975-1984
In the table below, you can see the guitar serials from 1975 to 1984 years.
serial number Chart 1975 – 1984
| From | To | Serial numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 12-05-1975 | 19-09-1979 | 401600 – 403600 |
| 27-11-1979 | 08-10-1980 | 208624 – 210510 |
| 08-10-1980 | 19-05-1981 | 210511 – 211740 |
| 19-05-1981 | 14-10-1981 | 211741 – 212358 |
| 14-10-1981 | 23-03-1982 | 212359 – 213188 |
| 23-03-1982 | 17-12-1982 | 213189 – 214283 |
| 17-12-1982 | 05-03-1984 | 214284 – 215676 |
Hofner Serial Number 1986-1999
During this period, the Hofner instruments received a new 6-digit serial number.
The first digit stands for the year of construction. This means that a serial number starting with eg 8, in 1988 or 1998 has been built.
The second and third for the month, and the fourth and fifth for the day of the month.
The last digit is the sequence number of the guitar that was made that day.
Example: 805107.
8051007 is the 7th instrument built on 10 May 1988 or 1998.
Hofner Serial Number Since 2000
In the year 2000, the first digit was replaced by a letter (see below).
The letters I and O have been skipped to prevent confusion with 1 and 0.
Example: M06085.
Serial number M06085 is the 5th instrument built on 8 June 2011.
Hofner serials letter decoder (since 2000)
| Letter | Year |
|---|---|
| A | 2000 |
| B | 2001 |
| C | 2002 |
| D | 2003 |
| E | 2004 |
| F | 2005 |
| G | 2006 |
| H | 2007 |
| J | 2008 |
| K | 2009 |
| L | 2010 |
| M | 2011 |
| N | 2012 |
| P | 2013 |
| Q | 2014 |
| R | 2015 |
| S | 2016 |
| T | 2017 |
| U | 2018 |
| V | 2019 |
| W | 2020 |
| X | 2021 |
| Y | 2022 |
| Z | 2023 |
The production date of Höfner guitars from the 50s, 60s, and 70s are usually older than the serial number indicates. After it came from its own storage or from Höfner, the serial number was placed by the distributor/dealer.
For example, an instrument with a serial number that was stamped in January 1960 was already produced in 1959.
Dating Selmer/Hofner Guitar by Potentiometers
Also, a way to find out the estimated production year, (in the case of an electrical model) is to look at the potentiometers.
Unscrew the plate worth the potentiometers on its mounted loose, and turn it over. There are a variety of numbers on the bottom of the potentiometers. 128KΩ of 250KΩ with a number.
With the potentiometer code, you can check the manufacture date of the potentiometer.
Höfner history
Karl Höfner was born in 1864 in Schönbach, Bohemia, which was then a part of Austria. After completing his studies with Anton Schaller in 1887, he founded his company as a luthier in Schönbach, where his high-quality instruments quickly gained popularity across Europe.
In 1919, Karl’s sons, Josef and Walter, joined the company, and exports rapidly expanded, solidifying Höfner’s reputation worldwide as a premier producer of fine-stringed instruments.
In addition to violins, cellos, and double basses, Höfner began manufacturing guitars in the 1930s, with the first models featuring curved tops and bottoms and steel strings. Following World War II, the company relocated first to Möhrendorf in Bavaria in 1948, and then to Bubenreuth, where it opened in 1950.
Höfner quickly regained its place in the global market, with its product line expanding to include models like the President, Committee, and the now-famous Beatle Bass (500/1), all of which were designed and developed by Walter.
The rising popularity of rock ‘n’ roll music in the 1960s led to increased demand for Höfner guitars, which became the company’s primary export product. In addition to archtop models, Höfner began producing semi-acoustic, solid body, and various bass guitar models. Due to space constraints in Bubenreuth and increased demand, a second factory was built in Hagenau.
Höfner’s market share suffered from competition with American guitar manufacturers, leading to the closure of its English distributor, Selmer.
Gerhilde Höfner, Walter’s daughter, and her husband Christian Benker ran the company from the 1970s to the 1990s, a time during which competition from Japan and China posed significant challenges for Höfner’s independence. As a result, Höfner was sold to the British company Boosey & Hawkes on January 1, 1994.
Boosey & Hawkes also owned Roderich Paesold, a bow manufacturer in Bubenreuth, which was merged with Höfner in 1995 as part of its “Instrument Division.” However, both companies remained independent in terms of production and sales.
In 1997, Höfner moved from Bubenreuth to its second factory in Haguenau, which had more modern production facilities, and a new building was added.
In 2003, “Instrument Division” was sold to the British investment consortium “The Music Group” (TMG), and at the end of 2004, Höfner, as part of “Instrument Division,” was sold to Klaus Schöller and his wife Ulrike Schrimpff. Klaus, who had worked at Höfner since 1989, became General Manager, and Ulrike became Chief Financial Officer.
In 2009, Höfner opened a branch in Beijing, which it owns entirely. As one of the few companies, the Chinese government granted Höfner an export license. Instruments produced in Beijing have the equivalent quality to those produced in Germany, thanks to the constant exchange of personnel between the two locations.
Höfner has always felt like something from the past to me. Their unique vintage design makes it hard to believe they are still being produced today. I’ve never encountered them in my area. But once, at a musical instrument exhibition in Germany, I was lucky enough to hold one in my hands. It was a memorable experience. I like guitars of a different type, but it was very unusual and special. I can imagine one day buying a Höfner for myself and starting a band playing music from those distant years. Who knows? 🙂