Hofner Club 50

Made in 1961 in Europe ("distrubuted by Selmer London" on the headstock), with two "toaster/toastrack" pickups. No f-holes but obviously hollow inside, as it is very lightweight. Natural finish which is completely worn off the front of guitar but still intact on the back and sides, this doesn't look accidental or from normal wear, I guess it was someone's idea of a custom job. Quite a small body with a cutaway. Only about 18 frets, including a "zero fret" just in front of the nut, so a decent size of the neck actually is fretless and unuseable. Nevertheless looks quite pretty in an almost art-deco-meets-garbage-tip kind of way. Came with the original case which is in pretty poor condition and held together with gaffer tape but at least has pretty green velvet inside.

Pickups sound amazing, the guitar is freakishly resonant and sounds great through an amp. Poor acoustic sound however, this is a guitar clearly designed to be amplified. Not so hot when distorted though, but if you're looking seriously at a guitar like this then heavy distortion probably isn't your bag anyway. It's a one-trick pony which is only really good for 50s-60s style leads but it does this well, at least sonically.

Strange Hofner bridge means exact intonation adjustment is literally impossible. Action was hideously high, getting towards slide-guitar height, and if you were to bring the strings down any lower to the board they would hit the pickups, which were set far too high on this instrument. I had to get someone to actually cut out some of the wood inside the guitar so I could sink the pickups down a bit further just to make it playable. Even after this adjustment it's still an extremely high action and frankly feels awful to play, almost painful. Knobs were also missing and switching was rattly before I fixed it. Will not stay in tune either even after several professional setups.

The neck had a big crack in it (which was repaired) before I bought it and it cracked again in a different place while in my possession, just from string tension and temperature change, and I didn't even have heavy or tightly-wound strings on it. The animal hide glue it's stuck together with barely holds it together and the headstock decoration creaks like loose bathroom tiling when touched. Pickguard feels wobbly like it will drop off even after I added stronger parts in it to stabilise it. Jack also was loose and rusty and needed a complete rebuild. I'm afraid to even bend strings on this thing let alone take it out to a gig. Strictly studio and wall ornament use only!

Never dealt with the company.

I've been playing guitar for over 20 years and this is by far the worst electric guitar I've ever owned. It's got a great sound but it's such a workout to actually get that sound out of the guitar, that it barely seems worth the trouble. I picked it up cheaply but to be honest you could get a better constructed, more durable and probably better sounding guitar for the same price by buying one of the better Squier Strats and changing the pickups. The Hofner does make a nice wall decoration though, and it's also good for bragging rights as a collector's item. It's a unique instrument, but it's worth remembering that unique doesn't always mean good, practical or useful. They sure don't make them like this anymore, and for that guitar players worldwide should be thankful.

Made in 1961 and has the 'toaster' pickups. This has a laminated top and beautiful flamed maple back. Similar to a Les Paul in shape and size but is hollow bodied and so light it nearly floats. The neck is very narrow measuring some 40-41mm. Came with original twin vaolume knobs and 3 slide switches controlling treble, bass and rythmn/lead. Pickguard was missing which is not unusual with these as the 60's players wanted the Les Paul look. Quoted #80 sterling for a copy replacement so made my own. Interestingly, the original pickguard was fixed to the neck with small nails! This is a very small guitar .. almost three quarter size.

I've owned Martin, Guild, Ovation acoustic guitars but this, when amped up, is on a different planet. Also have an Epi Sheraton which, whilst being a great guitar, is nowhere near this Club 50. How Hofner ever managed to produce a guitar like this with such a wonderful tone, and in the '60's, beats me. Unamplified, the sound is thin but the body is only 2 inches deep and is ok for practicing but not much else. Electrics not as versatile as modern day stuff. On my guitar, you either have bass on and treble off or vice versa but there doesn't seem to be any variation available in between. Re-wiring the knobs and switches can change this... so I'm told.

Have played guitars with better necks (better feel, that is) but can't explain why. Perhaps it's just in the setup.

Has lasted 43 years and looks like lasting the same again. I pick it up, plug it in and play it.

Not applicable

I love this guitar so much I'm looking for another. Crazy isn't it ... I'm scared someone is going to walk off with it so I want a back-up.

it has the shape and measures of a les paul but the weight is that light as it plays. 2 single coil diamond pick-ups.
tuners are not origininal and so the controlplate. the rest is original.. ;-)it has als a nice bridge with fretwire.
The back of the body is very nice flamed...the top is plywood.
I think my club 50 is `62 or `63 when i look at the headstock and the diamond pick-up. The top was painted silver ;-( but i made it in it`s original color blonde.

it sounds great...it`s not a heavy metall guitar but you like this sound or not... ;-)

nice finishing (good hofner quality) and accurate and the neck is very thin but plays good and fast. the back of the body has a nice tigerstripe...the top is plywood.

it plays very light and accurate...an almost 40 years oldie and still very good!
I trust that thing!

there are some dealers with original parts...if I would collect a whole club 50 with their parts it cost me 2.000 euro ;-(

i have a LP custum, strat+, SG etc. but if if my house is on fire, i think that old guitar is wat i take with my old pictures ;-)

THis 1966 guitar is the less fancy version with two humbucking, bar magnet pickups. Dot inlays, less binding, and a simple Hofner script logo differentiate it from the 60. The guitar seems to be made entirely of maple. The top is tight grained and the back is wonderfully flamed. the body is finished in a light sunburst that lets the grain show through. This guitar is the size of a Les Paul but, as it is completely hollow, is lighter than most acoustics. The bridge uses pieces of fretwire, imbedded in a series of slots and movable - it is surprizinglt effective. The controls feature a rythym/solo switch which is a volumn boost - kinda cool!

I was using a Gretsch to get those early Beatles sounds, but this does it better. Unplugged, it has a loud and satisfying acoustic sound, due to the hollow body and thin woods. Plugged into my Fender Tweed and with both p/u on it sounds like...well, an amped acoustic ( think J-160E). The bridge p/u alone is twangier then my Gretsch, more like a Tele. Ply the neck p/u and you'll swear that your playing a 17" archtop - absolutely "creamy" (the dairy product, not the band).

This guitar was 35 years old when I got it, so who knows how many times its been set up or even if the frets were changed. As it is right now, the action is low wth no buzzes or muting and it plays in tune all up and down the neck. Hofner was known for, at times, working at cross purposes. Example: Everything is fitted beautifully but the tailpiece and pickguard are attached with finishing nails!

The guitar looks fragile, like a viola, but it may be tough as nails. Since 99% of my playing is done on my living room sofa with my wife accompanying me on mandolin, its ruggedness is of no concern. I don't think that I'd loan to Pete Townsend, though

I've never delt with the company. "Musicground" in Leeds, England has a huge inventory of Hofner parts. I bought a NOS pearl pickguard from them and they were interested and helpful

I like the esoteric stuff. I've owned Hummingbirds and Corvettes, Streamliners and Duo Jets. Next to my Epiphone Casino, this is my favorite electric. AND IT WAS CHEAP