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Höfner

Höfner is a German company that designs and manufactures stringed instruments. The brand is best known for its hollow-body, violin-shaped electric basses and guitars, and for its long history in violin making.

The firm began as a family workshop in the 19th century making violins and other bowed instruments;

Beyond the violin bass, Höfner produces a range of electric and acoustic guitars, basses, and classical stringed

Today Höfner continues to operate as an international supplier of stringed instruments, with production and distribution

after
World
War
II
it
expanded
into
electric
instruments.
Its
most
famous
model,
the
Höfner
500/1
bass—often
called
the
violin
bass—was
released
in
the
1950s
and
became
widely
known
after
Paul
McCartney
of
the
Beatles
used
one
on
stage
and
in
the
studio
during
the
early
1960s.
instruments.
The
design
philosophy
emphasizes
a
blend
of
traditional
craftsmanship
with
modern
electronics,
and
its
instruments
are
recognizable
for
their
distinctive
shapes
and
tonal
character.
in
Germany
and
other
regions.
The
brand
remains
associated
with
mid-range
to
professional
instruments
and
retains
a
clear
place
in
the
history
of
popular
music
through
its
signature
bass
and
other
models.