Hofner Verithin - Cherry Red - 1963

The German made Hofner Verithin was introduced in 1960 to the UK and Australian markets. Structurally the similarities are close to the Gibson ES-330 as it is fully hollow, without the centre block of the ES-335. This particular Hofner has spent its life in Australia, which can be attributed to some very cool vintage 1960s/1970s stickers on the case (Artcraft, Consolidated Neon, Thredbo).

The Hofner Verithin lives up to its name. The side thickness is just shy of 1 1/4”, which is a 1/2” thinner than an ES-335 or ES-330. It is one of the thinnest hollow body guitars you’re likely to find. 

The body of this guitar is in great condition with very little wear and damage to the finish or hardware. The frets are original, as are the open back Hofner tuners, which work quite well with an acceptable amount of play in them. 

At a glance (without removing the innards) the pots appear to be replacements. The knobs have been replaced, possibly at the same time. The neck pickup is not functional. We’ve not determined whether its a wiring malfunction or the pickup itself, however, the 44 gauge enamel wire on these early Hofner pickups is very thin and susceptible to corrosion. 

This guitar will need structural repair if it is to be played conventionally. At 5mm, the action on this guitar is high, this is largely attributed to a slight bend at the neck/body join. In order to rectify this, a neck reset with reinforcement to the body/neck join area may be in order. 

Having said that, this guitar is a very worthy candidate for a good overhaul. The finish, binding and appointments are all in great shape. The figured maple back looks stunning and the cherry red finish really draws the eye. This is a great option for someone that wants a very cool, unique and affordable vintage guitar project. 

 
Brand: Hofner 
Model: Verithin
Year: 1963
Country: Germany
Case: OHSC
Serial: 2XXX
Colour (Body): Cherry Red  
Colour (Neck): Cherry Red
Finish Type: Nitro
Body Material: Maple/Spruce
Neck Material: Maple/Beech/Maple
Fretboard Material: Rosewood  
Nut: White plastic
Scale Length: 25.5”
Fret Number: 22
Board Radius: 9.5”
Action: 5mm
Neck Profile: Med D  
Nut Width: 43.1mm
12th Fret Width: 50.8mm
1st Fret Depth: 22.3mm
12th Fret Depth: 23.5mm
Pickups: Hofner “Staple”
Resistance: Neck= N/A Bridge = 8.48k
Electronics: Modified
Knobs: Aftermarket
Pickguard: 5 ply
Hardware: Nickel/chrome
Mods, repairs: wiring
Weight: 2.18kg