Hohner HG-340

It's my understanding that these Limited Edition Hohners were made between 1977-80. These were made in Japan. This is a traditional dreadnought body style very much influenced by Martin. . This has a very tightly grained solid spruce (Sitka?) top with a laminated Maple back and sides. The Flame in the Maple is stunning and as nice as anything I have seen on any guitar at any price. Has the original gold tuners. Not sure what brand they are but still work great after all these years and even still look pretty good. I have seen and owned a few of the Limited HG series guitars. An HG-300 and several HG-310's. They are all nice guitars but this one is special. Lots of Tortoiseshell binding with accentuating purfling on all surfaces, (back, neck, headstock). It's just absolutely a gorgeous guitar but not as flashy and gaudy as the HG-320 which has abalone all over it. I have added an Ibeam active pickup because I play at Church and it sounds great through the sound system.

I have replaced the stock saddle with a tusq compensated one. Easy enough to do. Just a little sanding and they drop right in. I am also using the new Elixir Phosphor bronze strings (light gauge) on it and I am LOVING the sound! resonates forever. Might be a little bright for some but sounds as good or better than many $2000 - $3000 guitars I have owned. I've owned Martins, Taylors, Guilds, Gibsons, Larivees and even a santa Cruz. This guitar compares favorably with the best of them. I know it sounds crazy but I'm serious. And it looks as good as any of them.

I don't know about factory set up and obviously you can't buy one from the factory anyway. The fit and finish however are remarkable. Beautiful work on the binding and purfling and nice inlay on the headstock. The only minor negative is that I believe the finsh was applied after the neck was joined as is common and there is a slight finsh flaw at the neck joint. No biggie but that all I could find fault with!

Definitely a solid well built guitar. I would recommend any of the Limited Edition Hohners from this era. It's survived almost 30 years at this point and still looks great.

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I've been playing off and on for 35 years. I've owned quite a few high end guitars. There are some great guitars being made overseas right now at reasonable prices. This Hohner however really suits me. It plays and sounds great. Flatpick fingerstyle or just banging away. I've been buying and selling guitars on eBay for about 7 years and have never seen one of these come up for sale. The uniqueness makes it special to me. If I lost this guitar I would be very sad because I don't think I could replace it. I didn't really realize how special it was when I found it in a pawn shop 7 years ago but have since come to appreciate it a lot. I plan to keep it forever. I also have a Martin M-36 that I plan to keep. The sound is not quite as bright as the Hohner but it also is a very verstile guitar. Believe me, I have much more invested in the Martin. If I really needed the money, I would sell the Martin and be perfectly happy with my Hohner HG-340

These Dreadnaught Style "Limited Edition" Acoustics were made between 1977-1980, I bought mine new in 1978, there is a "Hand Made for Hohner" wood veneer applique and "Made in Japan" printed on the Hohner Label. It has 20 Frets, Book Matched Solid Spruce Top, Book Matched Curly Maple Back and Sides, Maple Neck with a Rosewood Fingerboard, Rosewood Bridge, Gloss Finish with the Spruce Top mellowing nicely, Gold Plated Tuners. There is some nice Binding and Inlay work with subtle Dot Markers. The Maple on this guitar would be appreciated by anyone !!!! It listed for $440 new, but I paided $250 with a lined case and a new set of strings.

Rich/Full with enough Brightness to Punctuate if necessary.

I play a mix of styles and it seems to go along with whatever direction I take it.

Anyone that has played or heard this guitar is impressed !!!!!

Not sure if the music store I bought it from had done any pre-display setup adjustments, but I did not change anything until I had it
re-setup about 15 years ago. I have been playing it since then with no changes. The book matching of the Top and Back were nicely done. There is what appears to be some glue washout at the binding at the top of the headstock and a little glue on one of the Braces
inside the sound hole, but they are the only manufacturing flaws that
I would have comment on. After 26 years, I have added a couple of minor dings, but it is still in excellent shape. I would have given it a 10 if it wasn't for the Glue issues. It is a subtly beautiful guitar.

I don't gig, but have no doubts that it would stand up to it and I would have no problems going without a backup.

Have never needed it, but they were recently very responsive via email on some questions that I had on this one and a couple of other Hohners that I have.

I only wish that they (Hohner) would see it in their hearts to let us know who really made these guitars for them, I would like to give my thanks to them for a well done job.

I have been playing about 32 years and have a couple other acoustics, a Les Paul copy and a couple of Basses, But, without a doubt, this is my Main Guitar !!!! I have made the rounds of the local music stores over the years and tried out low to high end guitars of all makes and this thing still matches up to the best out there !!!

Doug from Gregg George's, Thanks !!!! (I still have the Gregg George's Decal on the back of the Headstock.)

Buy it again? Where's my Wallet !!!!

Have not found much on the net on this model, would be nice to hear others feedback and once again would like to know who really made these for Hohner.