View Full Version : Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photos
I am looking for some information on this Hofner Mandolin. I cannot find a serial number but it has (some numbers I cannot read written above Special on the label). I am in the dark about this so I would appreciate any help i could get as to the age, Model and Value......I know Guitars but not Mandolins....Thanks
MikeEdgerton
Apr-06-2019, 9:19pm
Some catalog images can be seen here (https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/117561-Hofner-Mandolin). Every thread with the word Hofner in it on the cafe can be found here (https://www.google.com/search?q=hofner+site:mandolincafe.com&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4t6-A9bzhAhVsUN8KHS6eBMkQ_AUICSgA&biw=1920&bih=916&dpr=1). As far as value goes they aren't really valuable. It's not a Beatle bass sort of thing.
Cobalt
Apr-07-2019, 6:28am
I am looking for some information on this Hofner Mandolin.
Are you sure about the name, it looks like HoBner to me?
175880
The Hofner logo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B6fner) for comparison looks like this:
175881
I myself have an instrument with the Hobner name (see pictures), it sounds reasonable, but is cheaply made, I'm not sure where it came from, but I doubt that it is what it purports to be.
175882175883
Cobalt
Apr-07-2019, 7:32am
It seems to bears some resemblance to the Givson:
175885
You're right it is a Hobner………….Thanks for the Info......I thought it was a Hofner
allenhopkins
Apr-07-2019, 7:30pm
OMG, a "fake" Hofner? With a Hobner logo obviously designed to replicate the Hofner logo, and fool the unwary?
Anyway, here's a Hobner on eBay for $140. (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hobner-Mandolin-/192822791967)
And this website (https://www.flipkart.com/musical-instruments/hobner~brand/pr?sid=ypu&otracker=categorytree) has pix of Hobner guitars with prices listed in Indian rupees -- might suggest country of origin (cf. Post #4 above).
Jeff Mando
Apr-08-2019, 9:13am
It seems they have overlooked rule #1 of counterfeiting: only counterfeit something there is a demand for.......:confused:
Yea i was thinking the same thing
MikeEdgerton
Apr-08-2019, 3:27pm
When that was made they had a market. They weren't manufacturing fake Rolex watches for the masses, they probably sold everything they made wherever it was they were selling it. You can't put it into a context where you think about who would think it was a real Hofner. To be honest, a real Hofner mandolin isn't worth all that much either.